A veritable treasure trove of sci-fi is available to watch on Amazon Prime; much is free to view with your standard subscription and even more is available if you feel like paying a little more. So settle back and soak up some superb sci-fi from the safety of your sofa.
Movies
1. Alien
Synopsis: The crew of a deep space commercial hauling ship is unwittingly re-routed while in hypersleep to investigate the origins of a mysterious transmission. Once awake, they travel to the surface of a desolate planet and discover a giant derelict spacecraft…and a thoroughly unpleasant alien parasite. Things get progressively worse after that.
Why you should watch: Simply put, “Alien” is not only one of the best sci-fi movies ever made, it’s one the best movies ever made. Period. The production design is extraordinary, the story is simple but brilliantly effective, the tension is built up flawlessly and the performances from every member of the cast are incredible. Sigourney Weaver, Veronica Cartwright, John Hurt, Tom Skerritt, Yaphet Kotto, Harry Dean Stanton and Ian Holm star in what is probably Ridley Scott’s finest film.
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2. Alien 3
Synopsis: Written as a direct successor to the epic sequel “Aliens,” this picks up the story of the USS Sulaco survivors, Ripley (Sigourney Weaver), Hicks (Michael Biehn), Bishop (Lance Henriksen) and Newt (Carrie Henn). Unfortunately — and er, somehow — an alien facehugger made it aboard the Conestoga-class troop transport ship, causing an electrical fire the automatic emergency escape procedures to activate. Consequently, Ripley et al crash land on Fiorina 161, a maximum security prison. When a series of strange and deadly events occur shortly after her arrival, she realizes that she too has unwittingly brought along another unwelcome visitor.
Why you should watch: The production of this movie was fraught with problems, to say the least, so much so that director David Fincher wanted his name removed from the credits. And despite some slightly suspect events in the first few minutes that weren’t necessary really, if there was actually going to be a third “Alien” movie, it actually has a mostly solid story, strong cast and ingenious set pieces. The special edition features an extended chase sequence through the maze of tunnels within the prison facility, but this theatrical release is still worth a watch.
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3. Alien: Resurrection
Synopsis: Two hundred years after the events of Alien 3 and [spoiler alert] Ripley’s death, she is cloned onboard a military vessel, outside of any borders or jurisdiction, from blood samples taken from Fiorina 161, specifically to grow a Ripley that has the alien queen inside her. It’s surgically removed and lays eggs. Since this grand experiment hasn’t exactly been authorized, a band of smugglers provides the hapless crew of a hijacked commercial transport in stasis as fodder for the facehuggers. Needless to say, the aliens get loose and the military ship begins its automated return back to Earth.
Why you should watch: This foray into the “Alien” franchise is by far the weirdest. The third act climax is pretty…out there. A great cast — including, Ron Perlman, Dominique Pinon, Michael Wincott, Winona Ryder and Sigourney Weaver — sadly can’t stop this from also being the weakest entry into the anthology (we’re not including the disappointing prequels in that assessment). There are however, some nice set pieces and the production design is of the high standard we’ve come to expect from “Alien” movies.
Free with a STARZ trial on Prime Video
4. Apollo 13
Synopsis: The world watched in wonder as Apollo 11 landed on the lunar surface. However, now that the Russians had been beaten to the Moon, public interest in the Apollo program began to fade. But that all changed when the crew of Apollo 13 suffered a near-catastrophic oxygen tank explosion that crippled their spacecraft while en route to the Moon. Everyone at Mission Control and the astronauts themselves worked tirelessly to improvise a solution that could return them safely back to Earth.
Why you should watch: Despite being forced to include some Hollywood-style over-dramatization (Apollo astronauts were super composed and that just wouldn’t make for a thrilling movie), this Ron Howard-directed movie starring Tom Hanks, Bill Paxton and Kevin Bacon is extremely enjoyable and the culture and atmosphere of 1970s NASA is faithfully reproduced, not to mention how accurate the production design is, including the environment suits and spacecraft interiors. The soundtrack to this movie is another delight and features the angelic vocals of Annie Lennox.
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5. Battle Beyond the Stars
Synopsis: In what is to all intents and purposes “Seven Samurai” set in space, a young farmer, Shad (Richard Thomas) sets out to recruit a band of mercenaries to defend his peaceful planet, which is under threat of invasion by the evil tyrant Sador (John Saxon) and his army of Malmori mutants. Sador possesses a deadly “stellar converter” beam weapon on his formidable warship and threatens to use if the people of Akira don’t surrender to his rule.
Why you should watch: This B-movie with a bigger budget than most has an important part to play in the history of sci-fi cinema. It launched the career of James Cameron, who was working in the art department and this is where he met his future production partner and wife Gale Anne Hurd, which resulted in “The Terminator” and “Aliens.” Producer and director and B-movie maestro, Roger Corman, sadly had to use much of his budget just to pay overpriced stars George Peppard and Robert Vaughn, but the end result is still good fun, plus the James Horner soundtrack is great (this was his first major motion picture score).
Free with Amazon Prime
6. The Blackout
Synopsis: The Earth has been attacked by a mysterious force from space, but it’s not like any attack you might imagine. The whole planet has been robbed of power and plunged into darkness; nothing works, anywhere…with the exception of a random circular area of eastern Europe, encompassing part of western Russia, southern Finland, Belarus and northern Ukraine. It turns out that the position of the Moon relative to Earth shielded this part of the world from the deadly energy weapon fired from far outside the range of lunar orbit. Now, as the actual alien invasion begins, military forces gather inside the “circle of life” in a desperate effort to save all life as we know it.
Why you should watch: This is a Russian indie sci-fi flick that is extremely enjoyable. It has high production values despite not having a blockbuster budget, the performances are good, and an unusual story with a good twist at the end makes this a solid sci-fi movie worth making time for.
Free with Amazon Prime
7. District 9
Synopsis: Nearly 30 years after a giant spacecraft appeared over Johannesburg, South Africa, the alien refugees are still suffering and have been forced to live in in squalor a militarized ghetto called District 9. When a powerful munitions corporation is contracted to evict the refugees, one of their lowly employees is accidentally exposed to an alien biotech chemical and his body begins to change.
Why you should watch: It’s not often that a sci-fi director makes such an impact with his or her debut feature film, but that’s exactly what Neill Blomkamp did with “District 9.” It’s nothing short of brilliant; an extremely well-directed, powerful statement on persecution and prejudice in South Africa through the filter of actual aliens. A sequel has been written, but fans of the original are still waiting, me included.
Free on Amazon Freevee
8. Encounter
Synopsis: Malik Khan, a decorated Marine (Riz Ahmed), goes on a rescue mission to save his two young sons from an strange, alien threat. As their journey takes them in increasingly dangerous directions, the boys will need to leave their childhoods behind. However, is this this threat real, or is it all in Khan’s mind?
Why you should watch: If you have a thing for extreme close ups of insects, then this movie is definitely for you. If you enjoyed Invasion then you’ll probably enjoy this; it’s a beautifully filmed, character-driven sci-fi. OK, it has a few plot holes, and it even suffers from a few clichés, but thankfully, these can be fairly easily overlooked. You’ll soon get drawn into the enthralling “is-he, isn’t-he” plot, which is boosted further by phenomenal performances from Ahmed and Lucian-River Chauhan and Aditya Geddada, who portray his two sons.
Free with Amazon Prime
9. Galaxy Quest
Synopsis: The cast of an old, 80s based syndicated science fiction television series (based very loosely on “Star Trek: The Original Series”) survive on fan conventions, personal appearances and superstore opening ceremonies. With little or no acting work, they dwell on what their lives once were. But at one particular convention, a group of desperate aliens recruit the former cast for a real adventure in space and they find themselves playing their characters for real in a game of death with a particularly unpleasant alien warlord.
Why you should watch: Often called one of the best “Star Trek” movies ever made, this is a wonderfully creative and hilariously funny sci-fi comedy. Based loosely on a real incident that happened to William Shatner, this entertaining story covers many sci-fi tropes in an endearing and amusing way. An out-of-this-world cast includes Tim Allen, Sigourney Weaver, Tony Shalhoub, Sam Rockwell and the late, great Alan Rickman. Watch this and then watch the documentary about the movie “Never Surrender: A Galaxy Quest Documentary.”
Free with Amazon Prime
10. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
Synopsis: Arthur Dent’s house has been scheduled for demolition to make way for a new bypass, but this is the least of his problems as it turns out that the planet Earth has been scheduled for demolition to make way for a new hyperspace express route. Thankfully though, it also turns out that his friend Ford Prefect isn’t from Guildford after all, but in fact from a small planet somewhere in the vicinity of Betelgeuse, and has been long aware of the Earth’s impending demise. Together they manage to escape and along the way learn the true history of the universe.
Why you should watch: For decades, fans of the works of Douglas Adams ached for a “Hitchhiker’s” movie as until this attempt in 2005, there had only been the underrated 1981 TV mini series (see TV Shows below) and the radio drama adaptations. Tragically, despite a dynamite cast including Martin Freeman, Yasiin Bey, Zooey Deschanel and Sam Rockwell, many of subtleties and nuances of the source material — that the 1981 series manage to capture — are lost. However, it’s good fun and Stephen Fry is almost as good as the legendary Peter Jones as the Voice of The Book. Hulu was rebooting this series, but Space.com has since learned that sadly is no longer the case.
Free on Amazon Freevee
11. Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)
Synopsis: Dr. Miles Bennell (Kevin McCarthy) returns to his small town practice to find several of his patients suffering the paranoid delusion that their friends or relatives are impostors. At first he’s skeptical, especially when the alleged doppelgangers are able to answer detailed questions about their victim’s lives, but he’s eventually persuaded that something peculiar is going on and becomes determined to find out what it is.
Why you should watch: This is truly classic science fiction and should be held in similar regard to other epic, groundbreaking sci-fi movies of the late 50s, including “The Day The Earth Stood Still,” “The Day the Earth Caught Fire” and “The Thing From Another World.” It’s actually based on a serialized story by Jack Finney that appeared in Collier’s magazine in November 1954 and was published in book form the following year. An uncomplicated plot together with incredible performances from McCarthy and the angelic Dana Wynter make this a case study in how to produce a thrilling sci-fi/drama screenplay featuring an early and extremely effective example of flashback storytelling.
Free with Amazon Prime
12. Moonraker
Synopsis: For no real reason other than he believes mankind has squandered its chance for life on Earth, billionaire bad guy Hugo Drax, plans to kill off all of humanity — no animals would be hurt — with the super-deadly toxic nerve gas. Mass-produced from a rare orchid, the gas would be launched in torpedoes-of-sorts from an orbiting space station, which forms part of Drax’s new space empire. Naturally, perfect physical human specimens would later return to Earth and form the foundation of a new race that will worship Drax as their god. British Secret Service agent James Bond must do everything in his power to prevent this.
Why you should watch: Roger Moore is arguably the weakest Bond out of the bunch and many of his seven servings as Britain’s super spy look somewhat dated upon rewatching. That said, if you’re Gen X or older, they do occupy a unique and special place in cinematic culture. “Moonraker” marked the first outing to space for James Bond as the franchise fell over itself to capitalize on the sudden interest in everything sci-fi following the recent runaway success of “Star Wars.” (Although Sean Connery nearly made it to low Earth orbit in “You Only Live Twice.”) Incidentally, all of the Bond movies are now on Amazon Prime…because they own them now.
Free with Amazon Prime
13. Never Surrender: A Galaxy Quest Documentary
Synopsis: Filmmakers and stars discuss the filming and social effects of “Galaxy Quest,” a parody-of-sorts of “Star Trek: The Original Series” with insightful and entertaining commentary not only on science fiction, and the success of “Star Trek” itself, but on the real-life actors themselves.
Related: ‘Galaxy Quest 2’ is ‘a fabulous script’ according to Tim Allen
Why you should watch: Who isn’t a fan of “Galaxy Quest”? It’s often called the second best “Star Trek” movie ever made (after “The Wrath of Khan” of course) and you might think you know all the trivia connected with the making of “Galaxy Quest,” but this documentary made by the Screen Junkies team will still surprise you. The cast talk about their experiences making the movie and how close the TV series actually came, before the tragic, untimely departure of the great Alan Rickman. You’ll laugh and you’ll cry a little bit, but most of all, you’ll enjoy the best movie about fandom in another, new way as a result of watching this documentary. Tim Allen, Sigourney Weaver, Sam Rockwell, Tony Shalhoub, Justin Long, Wil Wheaton, Brent Spiner, Rainn Wilson, Missi Pyle and Dean Parisot, all share their thoughts on this epic sci-fi comedy.
Free with Amazon Prime
14. Prometheus
Synopsis: Upon discovering evidence in a cave in the Hebrides that life here began out there, an accomplished archaeologist (Noomi Rapace) along with her partner (Logan Marshall-Green) and a 17-man crew embark on an ambitious, deep-space scientific expedition funded by Peter Weyland himself (played to perfection by Guy Pearce). The team sets foot on the rocky terrain of a desolate exomoon to investigate the existence of the extraterrestrial species known as the “Engineers.” But a terrifying discovery threatens not only the outcome of the mission but also the very future of humankind.
Why you should watch: Ridley Scott’s “Alien” prequel looks incredible, but sadly, a terrible story sucks all the substance from the stunning visuals and incredible production design that one has come to expect from Scott. As a standalone movie, it’s enjoyable, but as far as actually making any sense whatsoever within the “Alien” or universe or timeline…well, forget it. Despite their best efforts, the phenomenal cast can’t save it either. Along with those already mentioned, Charlize Theron, Michael Fassbender and Idris Elba also star and Benedict Wong once again plays Benedict Wong.
Free on Amazon Freevee
15. RoboCop (2014)
Synopsis: In the not too distant future, multinational conglomerate OmniCorp is at the center of robot technology. Now the giant corporation wants to incorporate their controversial technology to the domestic market and they see a golden opportunity to do it. When Alex Murphy — a loving husband, father and honest cop doing — is critically injured in the line of duty, OmniCorp sees their chance for a part-man, part-robot police officer. OmniCorp envisions a RoboCop in every city and even more billions for their shareholders, but they never counted on one thing: there is still a man inside the machine pursuing justice.
Why you should watch: This movie should’ve been a worthwhile remake, at least as good as the original. However, ludicrous amounts of interference from Sony studio executives ensured that it would never reach its full potential, despite the best efforts of director José Padilha, who has publicly talked about the experience. He wasn’t even allowed to produce an R-rated movie, this is PG-13; a far cry from the original. Even a frankly mind-blowing cast, including Joel Kinnaman, Michael Keaton, Samuel L. Jackson, Jackie Earle Haley and Gary Oldman, tragically couldn’t save it. But, it’s still worth a watch, not least for the interesting reinterpretations that have been woven into the fabric of story.
Free with Amazon Prime
16. Runaway
Synopsis: Set in the near future, robots are commonplace in society, in every home and working in factories and on farms. John Ramsey (Tom Selleck) works in a special division of the police department called the Runaway Squad that solely deals with malfunctioning droids. He and his new partner, Officer Thompson (Cynthia Rhodes) stumble onto the homicidal plot of an insane scientist (played deliciously by Gene Simmons) to create killer robots.
Why you should watch: Still enjoying the success of “Magnum PI” on TV, this was an interesting move by Selleck and he carries it off very well. The 80s were an exciting testbed for sci-fi — and in fact Amazon has a number of classic examples available to watch — and this is fun, action-adventure romp, with some creative ideas. (It’s written and directed by Michael Crichton.) Rather than simply being an overelaborate robot repair team, it seems every time a domestic droid malfunctions, it somehow threatens a human life. Simmons’ evil scientist character also has a cool handgun that locks onto a target and fires target-seeking projectiles.
Free with Amazon Prime
17. Stargate
Synopsis: A down-on-his-luck archaeologist, whose unusual theories about aliens and ancient Egypt are ridiculed by his peers, is recruited to decipher an ancient hieroglyph on mysterious giant ring-like device found in Giza in the 1920s. It turns out that his theories were actually correct and he’s able to unlock the device, which then activates a wormhole portal between worlds on different sides of the galaxy.
Why you should watch: This is the movie that spawned one of the most successful television sci-fi spin-off franchises in history. Kurt Russell stars as Colonel Jack O’Neill and James Spader as Dr. Daniel Jackson, two roles that were perfectly filled by Richard Dean Anderson and Michael Shanks in the TV show.
Free with Amazon Prime
18. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
Many of the “Star Trek” movies are currently on Amazon Prime Video, including “The Motion Picture,” “The Search For Spock,” “The Undiscovered Country,” “Generations,” “First Contact,” and “Insurrection,” but rather than have these dominate our movie section, we’ve chosen to focus on just two, the two best.
Synopsis: With the assistance of the Enterprise crew, Admiral Kirk must stop an old nemesis, Khan Noonien Singh, from using the life-generating Genesis Device as the ultimate weapon.
Why you should watch: This is not just the best “Star Trek” movie ever made, it’s one of the best movies ever made, period. Based on the events of “The Original Series” episode “Space Seed” (S01, E22), this movie brings out the very best acting from its star, William Shatner as he contemplates old age, his role in Starfleet and then gets walloped by a surprise attack from a long-forgotten foe and has to deal with being unexpectedly reunited with his estranged son. A brilliant story that doesn’t rely on dazzling the viewer with unnecessary visual effects and shows how starships should — and would — do battle, together with an incredible and moving score by great, late James Horner, make this is must-watch.
Free with Amazon Prime
19. Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home
Synopsis: To save Earth from an alien probe, Admiral James T. Kirk and his fugitive crew go back in time to San Francisco in 1986 to retrieve the only beings who can communicate with it: humpback whales.
Why you should watch: This was a complete breakaway from anything that had ever been done in “Star Trek” before and few, if any, sci-fi franchises could’ve pulled it off. Like much of “Trek,” it taps into the sociological climate of the time, but this doesn’t use subtle analogies or metaphors to convey the message, instead it just slaps you right in the face with it. The idea is wild and the plot is simple, but the execution is brilliant. It’s old-school “Trek” at its very best, combining some well-placed humor, some equally well-placed drama, emotional performances and…a very important theme.
Free with Amazon Prime
20. The Time Machine (2002)
Synopsis: Based on the classic sci-fi novel by H.G. Wells, scientist and inventor, Alexander Hartdegen (Guy Pearce), is determined to prove that time travel is possible. His determination soon becomes desperation as he’s beset by a personal tragedy that now drives him to want to change the past. Testing his theories with a time machine the he creates, Hartdegen is hurtled 800,000 years into the future, where he discovers that mankind has become both the hunter and the hunted.
Why you should watch: This is a not unreasonable adaptation of the original novel. Yes, one or two small elements have been tweaked or changed, but all things considered, this is quality, classic sci-fi. A stellar cast led by Guy Pearce helps as he’s joined by Jeremy Irons and Samantha Mumba to name just two. Perfect Sunday afternoon science fiction.
Free with Amazon Prime
21. The Tomorrow War
Synopsis: Set in the present day, a group of time-travelling soldiers from the future appear during the Qatar World Cup final and announce that in just 30 years in the future, all of mankind is on the brink of annihilation by race of particularly unpleasant aliens. Among those chosen to travel forward in time is former soldier (naturally) and schoolteacher Dan Forester (Chris Pratt) who teams up with both seasoned veterans and raw recruits to save the human race.
Related: ‘The Tomorrow War’ won’t win any awards, but it’s watchable
Why you should watch: This is very much a popcorn sci-fi blockbuster, equal to the likes of “Independence Day” or “Battle: Los Angeles,” and in fact you will notice the influence of other sci-fi movies like “The Thing” or “Edge of Tomorrow” and “Millennium” throughout. And while this won’t win any awards for the story writing, it’s wanton destruction on a massive scale.
Free with Amazon Prime
22. What We Left behind: Looking Back at Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Synopsis: Showrunner Ira Steven launched the fundraising campaign a couple of years ago and what followed was an incredible tribute documentary looking at the history of “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine” that features interviews with almost every member of the cast, including Nana Visitor, Terry Farrell, Rene Auberjonois, Alexander Siddig and Andrew Robinson. Sadly though, Avery Brooks’ contribution is limited to archive footage.
Why you should watch: If you’re a fan of “DS9” than this is a must-watch; not only are the insights intriguing and often emotional, but the fictional first episode of a hypothetical new series, crafted together in a writers room packed full of the best writers in “Star Trek” is inspired. There’s a look back at the early reviews (and how negative they were), the casting decisions and the issues faced throughout production. This documentary also marks the first time any footage from “DS9” has been remastered in high definition including a portion of the main battle sequence from “Sacrifice Of Angels” (S06, E06).
Free with ads via IMDB TV
TV shows
1. The Expanse
Synopsis: A police detective in the asteroid belt, the first officer of an interplanetary ice freighter, and an earth-bound United Nations executive slowly discover a vast conspiracy that threatens the Earth’s rebellious colony on the asteroid belt. Along the way, evidence of alien life is discovered and a series of ring gates located near Uranus are unlocked that lead to totally new locations through the universe. Meanwhile, the major factions in the Solar System (Earth, Mars, the Outer Planets Authority and the Belters) fight amongst themselves and ultimately threaten all life on Earth.
Why you should watch: “The Expanse” has well and truly earned its place among the titans of TV sci-fi, up there along with “Battlestar Galactica” and “Babylon 5.” It’s by far the most cerebral sci-fi currently on television. You can catch up on everything that happened in Season 1 to 3 here, and a lot happened. Then you can catch up with everything that happened in Season 4 here. Personally, we believe seasons 1 and 2 were ever so slightly better than 3 and 4, but that doesn’t in any way mean they’re not worth watching. Then along came Seasons 5 and 6 and blew everyone’s socks off. It is brilliant. The plot is incredibly complex and engaging and the individual performances are exceptional.
Free with Amazon Prime
3. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
Synopsis: Arthur Dent’s house has been scheduled for demolition to make way for a new bypass, but this is the least of his problems as it turns out that the planet Earth has been scheduled for demolition to make way for a new hyperspace express route. Thankfully though, it also turns out that his friend Ford Prefect isn’t from Guildford after all, but in fact from a small planet somewhere in the vicinity of Betelgeuse, and has been long aware of the Earth’s impending demise. Together they manage to escape and along the way learn the true history of the universe.
Why you should watch: This one is a real treat and will unquestionably appeal to fans of British humor and more specifically, the epic humor of Douglas Adams. Made in 1981, this is still (tragically) the best adaptation that’s been brought to either the big or small screen. The visual effects certainly haven’t stood the test of time, but that’s not why you’re watching it; you’re watching it because it shows beautifully how the relationship between Arthur Dent (Simon Jones) and Ford Prefect (David Dixon) develops.
Free with Amazon Prime
4. Humans
Synopsis: Set in a parallel present, the latest must-have gadget for any middle-class family is a “synth” — a technologically advanced, a highly-developed robotic servant, eerily similar to its human equivalent. In the hope of transforming the way they live, one strained suburban family purchases a refurbished synth only to discover that sharing life with a machine has far-reaching and chilling consequences.
Why you should watch: Based on the Swedish science fiction drama Äkta människor, this was an adaptation written by the British team Sam Vincent and Jonathan Brackley, that lasted for three, eight-episode seasons before it was sadly cancelled. The concepts in this show aren’t particularly groundbreaking, but what makes it compelling viewing is the quality of writing, high production values and stellar casting. It’s a compelling analysis of human nature and our reactions to technology and it beautifully reflects so many issues facing us, in the real world, today.
Free with Amazon Prime
5. The Man in the High Castle
Synopsis: Loosely based Philip K. Dick’s novel, this alt-history story looks at what the world might look like if World War II had ended differently. In this dystopian scenario, the Axis powers won the war, leading to the USA being divided into three zones: Imperial Japanese, Nazi and a buffer zone between the two. Despite the oppression, hope emerges when some mysterious cans of film turn up that seem to show a parallel world — and even more bizarrely, footage of different versions of the same people. A woman, Juliana Crain (Alexa Davalos) believes the films contain the key to freedom and is determined to find their elusive guardian — the man in the high castle.
Why you should watch: Alt-history is a difficult genre to perfect without descending into a cascade of clichés. If you’re a fan however, you should definitely check out the works of Harry Turtledove (opens in new tab), a writer who nails it every single time. This show can be hard going at times and the Juliana Crain character can be extremely frustrating. That said, Rufus Sewell, who plays Obergruppenführer John Smith, is magnificent to watch. There are four seasons, and yes, the show does dip a little bit in the middle, but it picks up in the fourth season. Stick with it.
Free with Amazon Prime
6. Night Sky
Synopsis: The series centers around Franklin and Irene York, a couple who years ago discovered a chamber buried in their backyard which inexplicably leads to a strange, deserted planet. They’ve carefully guarded their secret ever since, but when an enigmatic young man enters their lives, the Yorks’ quiet existence is quickly upended, and the mysterious chamber they thought they knew so well turns out to be much more than they could ever have imagined.
Why you should watch: It’s very much a character driven story, with almost all the focus on Sissy Spacek’s and J.K. Simmons’ characters as they struggle with getting old. If you enjoyed “Invasion” on Apple+ last year, then you’ll definitely enjoy this. It’s slow paced, but the incredible performances easily carry this and it will be interesting to see where exactly the writers take us.
Free with Amazon Prime
7. Space: 1999
Synopsis: Moonbase Alpha is a research colony nestled in the Lunar crater Plato. Along with scientific study, it also monitors silos of atomic waste from Earth stored on the Moon’s far side. On September 13th 1999, disaster strikes; a build up of magnetic energy causes an explosive chain-reaction of the waste, blasting the Moon out of Earth’s orbit and off the plane of the ecliptic, out of the Solar System. The inhabitants of Moonbase Alpha are trapped, unable to return to Earth and wander the galaxy on their unique celestial spacecraft.
Why you should watch: From the mind of Gerry Anderson, who also gave us “Thunderbirds,” this one benefitted from an amazing cast, including the phenomenal Martin Landau, together with Barbara Bain and Nick Tate. The first season is currently available to watch and while many of the practical effects look dated today, don’t forget that this show — and especially the first season — contained some pretty horrific scenes, in particular, “Dragon’s Den” (S01, E08), that mentally scarred many young sci-fi fans at the time.
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8. Tales From the Loop
Synopsis: A small backwater town has a scientific research facility built underneath it, exactly like the Large Hadron Collider at the CERN facility that lies on the Franco-Swiss border near Geneva, Switzerland. But the people of this town experience all kinds of weird events and strange phenomena. Each episode follows one townsperson, or a particular group of townspeople, and their experiences with “the loop.”
Why you should watch: What an incredibly brilliant idea. Why wouldn’t a super-accelerated particle smasher designed to uncover the mysteries of the universe not create super-weird events and interdimensional portals?! The premise of this show is quite possibly one of the most simple and effective we’ve ever seen. Using the existing notion of a sub-atomic research facility, which we’re all already familiar with, as a frame for a “Twilight Zone”-style, “X-Files”-esque, episodic show featuring stories about the “strange and unexplained” is genius. Strong writing and exceptional casting make the week-by-week adventures of the fictional town of Mercer, Ohio addictive viewing.
Free with Amazon Prime
9. Thunderbirds
Synopsis: In the near future, a billionaire philanthropist has used his extensive knowledge, resources and wealth to create a non-profit, independently operated rescue organization. Using specifically designed, technologically advanced vehicles, including two supersized aircraft, two space vehicles and a submarine, the father — Jeff Tracey and his five sons, Scott, John, Virgil, Gordon and Alan — constantly monitor events around the world and then selflessly rush to the scene, wherever it might be, to save lives and avert total disaster.
Why you should watch: The man behind “Thunderbirds,” Gerry Anderson, also gave the world “Space: 1999,” “UFO,” “Captain Scarlet” and “Space Precinct.” Some of his shows were live action and others, like “Thunderbirds,” were made using puppets. This was done largely to make the demanding special effects scenes possible and as a result, this show features some of the very best model work ever seen on either the large or small screen. The original “Thunderbirds” show is a classic and should be enjoyed as such.
Free with Amazon Prime
10. Upload
Synopsis: When a computer programmer Nathan Brown (Robbie Amell) dies prematurely, his socialite girlfriend pays the expensive fee to have his consciousness uploaded to the exclusive Lake View resort for the recently deceased. However, depending on what she chooses to accept to pay for, he finds some simple elements of his life are restricted. As Nathan adjusts to digital heaven, he begins to develop feelings for with his customer service representative in the real world, Nora (Andy Allo). She is struggling with the pressures of her job, her dying father who does not want to be uploaded and her own growing feelings for Nathan while slowly coming to believe that Nathan was murdered.
Why you should watch: “Upload” was with a doubt one of the highlights of last year; creator Greg Daniels (“Parks and Recreation” and “The Office”) did a phenomenal job of creating a believable, dark comedy, set in the very near future, with so many worryingly realistic plot elements. Sadly though, the second season lacks the less-is-more magic that Season 1 had and takes the story into a very different place. If you were a fan of the first season, this is still worth a watch…but it’s not quite as good.
However, the show has been picked up (opens in new tab) for a third season, so fingers crossed now that the pandemic isn’t affecting production schedules quite so much and that the writers can tap into the magic that made the first season so good.
So there you have it! A look at our picks for the best sci-fi movies and TV shows on Amazon Prime. You can sign up for Amazon Prime here (opens in new tab). After the 30-day free trial, a subscription costs $12.99 per month or $119 for the year.
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