We face reality every day. Our dreams and ambitions are sometimes sidelined by cruel reality checks. But we do love to take a dip in concepts that are out of this world. We wonder if we could go back in time and fix some mistakes.
But unfortunately, that reality is still far away from us and imagination is all we have. What is not yet achievable by science or technology is presented in front of us in the form of stories.
Maybe we will experience those mind-bending concepts in reality someday or maybe we won’t. So, on that note here are 20 sci-fi movies you must watch that will leave you questioning reality.
Here's a list of the best sci-fi movies that will make you question the reality
1. Sunshine (2007)
To address the crisis of the dying Sun, a group of astronauts pilot the Icarus II. The mission was to reignite the dying star with a stellar bomb. With the Earth’s fate upon their shoulder, the astronauts face several difficulties owing to mental stress and equipment malfunctions.
As challenges kept increasing, the crew started losing members. Finally, the physicist Capa was able to deliver the payload, and the fate of the world was saved.
2. Ghost in the Shell (1995)
Curious of her true identity cyborg agent Major Motoko tries to track an infamous hacker. ‘The Puppet Master’, who has a knack for illegally hacking into the computerized mind of a cyborg-human hybrid, is wanted.
Although restrained by strict policies, The main character of this sci-fi movie, Motoko couldn’t stop wondering about her human side and what it would have been like if she had more human traits in her. The case turns in a different direction after Motoko and her partner track down the hacker.
3. Arrival (2016)
Linguist Louise Banks, also a mother who lost her daughter to an incurable disease, was recruited by US Army Colonel Weber to study one of the twelve extraterrestrial spacecraft hovering over Earth.
Louise and Ian try to communicate with the ‘heptapods’. The sci-fi movie primarily focuses on human perception of aliens, which is a ‘threat’ from the beginning. Finally, Louise and Ian were able to convince General Shang of China to withdraw his attacks on the spacecraft.
4. Tenet (2020)
This sci-fi action thriller by Christopher Nolan is about a secret agent, known only as the Protagonist, who learns to manipulate time to stop a world-ending threat. The story revolves around the term ‘inversion’, where objects and people can move backward through time.
With the help of Neil, his mysterious partner, the Protagonist uncovers a plot by a Russian arms dealer, Sator, who uses inversion technology for personal gain. The movie is a mind-bending mix of time loops, action, and teamwork.
5. Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991)
Young John Connor, future leader of the human resistance is the last line of defense against the artificial intelligence Skynet. Being hunted by a powerful, shape-shifting robot called the T-1000, John and his mother Sara are constantly on the run. To protect them a reprogrammed T-800 is Sent from the future.
T-800 faces difficulties in putting down the assassin as it keeps regenerating back to its old form despite T-800’s desperate attempts to finish it off. We experience a beautiful connection between a robot and a young boy in mortal peril.
6. Upgrade (2018)
In this slick mix of revenge and sci-fi where Grey, an auto mechanic, gets paralyzed in a brutal attack that also kills his wife, Asha. Enter STEM, an experimental AI chip implanted in his spine, giving him superhuman abilities.
With STEM’s help, Grey embarks on the path of revenge and hunts down the people responsible, but things take a wild turn when the AI starts calling the shots. All along the intention of the AI was to take control of Grey’s mind and in the end, it succeeds.
7. Inception (2010)
Two accomplished extractors, Dom and Arthur have a unique way of retrieving information. They rely solely on experimental dream-sharing technology to infiltrate the subconscious layer of their target’s mind.
Dom is hired for a complex mission to implant an idea into a target’s subconscious. As a payment for this mission, his client Saito promises to clear Dom’s criminal record. Dom assembles his team of three for this task and moves forward with his plans.
8. Aliens (1986)
Ripley returns to face her worst nightmare, an entire colony overrun by xenomorphs. This time, she’s got space marines, big guns, and a flamethrower, but the aliens aren’t going down without a fight.
Add a tough kid named Newt, a traitorous company guy, and a queen alien who’s seriously ticked off. It’s all-out war, with Ripley proving once again why she’s the ultimate sci-fi action hero. "Game over, man!"
9. Another Earth (2011)
This one is a thoughtful indie sci-fi film where Rhoda, a bright young woman is wrecked by guilt after a fatal car crash that puts her friend John in a coma and kills his pregnant wife and son. Rhoda crosses paths with a mysterious second Earth that mirrors our own.
While grappling with the idea of meeting her alternate self, she tries to make amends with the man whose life she ruined. It’s a mix of deep emotions, second chances, and mind-bending “what-ifs,” wrapped in a quiet but powerful sci-fi vibe.
10. Moon (2009)
Moon is about Sam, a lonely guy running a mining operation on the moon with just an AI assistant, GERTY, for the company. Near the end of his three-year contract, strange things start happening, and Sam uncovers a shocking secret about his job and himself.
It’s a quiet, emotional ride that blends sci-fi with questions about identity and humanity, proving space can be just as isolating as it is intriguing.
11. The Man from Earth (2007)
Professor John Oldman drops a mind-blowing revelation at his farewell party. He claims that he’s been alive for more than 14 millennia and relocates every 10 years to stop people from noticing that he is not aging.
As his friends grill him with questions, the night turns into a wild mix of philosophy and history. It’s a smart, talky movie that feels like a casual hangout until the deep ideas sneak up on you.
12. Primer (2004)
Primer is a sci-fi movie about two engineers, Aaron and Abe, who accidentally invent a time machine in their garage.
What starts as an experiment involving electromagnetic reduction of an object’s weight, turns into a tangled mess of timelines, self-doubt, and ethical dilemmas. It’s confusing, intense, and not for the faint of heart, but if you love puzzles, it’s a must-watch.
13. Coherence (2013)
This movie is about a dinner party gone wrong when a passing comet causes parallel realities to collide. Alternate versions of the eight friends come to reality and chaos breaks in no time.
As the night goes on, friendships fray, secrets come out, and everyone starts questioning who they can trust. It’s a tense, mind-bending thriller that messes with your sense of reality in the best way possible.
14. Predestination (2014)
Predestination follows a time-traveling agent on a mission to catch a terrorist, but things start to escalate really fast. It’s a wild ride of identity swaps, paradoxes, and questions about fate, all wrapped up in a story that’ll keep you guessing the outcome until the very end. If you love mind-bending time travel movies, this one’s a keeper.
15. Donnie Darko (2001)
Donnie Darko is about a troubled teen who starts seeing visions of a creepy bunny named Frank, who says the world’s ending.
As Donnie grapples with time travel, alternate realities, and his own teenage anger issues, he tries to figure out what’s real and what’s not. It’s a darkly poetic, weirdly wonderful movie that’ll mess with your mind.
16. Interstellar (2014)
Interstellar follows a group of astronauts on a mission through a wormhole to find a new Earth. They face cosmic challenges and emotional dilemmas, all while dealing with time anomalies that mess with their heads. We see Joseph Cooper, a former NASA test pilot, find his way back to his beloved daughter, only he is younger than her.
17. About Time (2013)
About Time is a charming time-travel romance where Tim discovers he can rewind his life to fix mistakes and relive precious moments. At first, he uses his new power to impress women and avoid awkward situations, but as he matures, he realizes it’s about making the most of every moment, not just about changing the past.
Tim learns that life’s beauty lies in the little things, the connections we make, and appreciating every second as it happens.
18. Groundhog Day (1993)
This fantasy comedy is about Phil, a grumpy weatherman who gets stuck reliving the same day over and over again in a tiny town where a groundhog predicts the weather. At first, he’s just annoyed, but as he cycles through the day endlessly, he starts to figure out how to get things right.
From learning the piano to mastering ice sculpting, Phil tries everything to break the loop, but eventually realizes it’s about self-improvement and finding meaning in the monotony. It’s a hilarious, touching movie about second chances and making the most of every day.
19. Edge of Tomorrow (2014)
Edge of Tomorrow is a sci-fi action flick where a soldier caught in a time loop relives the same brutal battle against alien invaders over and over. Each death resets the day, and he uses every opportunity to learn, adapt, and improve his skills to finally win the war.
With the help of a tough soldier, he becomes a hero, but not before facing an endless loop of pain, failure, and some seriously cool combat moves.
20. Source Code (2011)
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Source Code is about a soldier who wakes up in someone else’s body on a train that’s about to explode. His mission is to relive the same few minutes over and over, trying to identify the bomber and prevent the attack.
As he dives deeper into the puzzle, he discovers more about his own life and the mysteries of the time loop. It’s a smart, thriller with a hint of romance and some serious existential questions. You’ll be hooked from the first loop to the last.
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