There is no better way to distract yourself completely than by escaping into worlds that are different from ours. Thankfully, with the digital age we live in and with the advancements made by the entertainment industry, we can easily transport ourselves into imaginary realms while sitting in our living rooms. Calling streaming services a portal seems far-fetched, but it’s accurate, isn’t it? Among the many giants ruling the territory, there is Tubi, which packs more than just what serves the mainstream audience.

Within Tubi’s archives, there are some truly phenomenal science fiction movies you need to check out ASAP. From towering kaiju monsters battling one another to low-budget indies waiting to warp your mind, Tubi’s collection of movies in the US has no limits. But describing these moments is like looking at a favorite vacation spot from a distance. To feel the full warmth and wonder requires you to genuinely sit down and immerse yourself in the movies. But first, let’s count down the action-fueled and somewhat puzzling sci-fi gems that Tubi houses.

Updated on May 15th, 2024, by Soniya Hinduja: This article has been updated with additional content to keep the discussion fresh and relevant with even more information and new entries.

18 Pacific Rim (2013)

A summer blockbuster that mixes sci-fi mastery with spectacular monster mayhem. Pacific Rim is set in the late 2020s when enormous aliens known as Kaijus begin rising from an interdimensional portal located at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. Having no regard for human life, they start attacking the coast and cities. To combat the colossal beasts, humans design equally towering robots, name them Jaegers, and embark on a mission to fight the invasion back.

Colossal Machines and Battles

Pacific Rim is directed by Guillermo del Toro, who co-wrote the screenplay with Travis Beacham. Nothing short of an epic, the live-action movie pulses with brilliant CGI clashes between Jaegers and Kaiju. The movie reminds you of Godzilla, but it is also ripe with emotional character drama and grounded themes of humanity. Featuring an outstanding cast of talents like Charlie Day, Idris Elba, Charlie Hunnam, and Rinko Kikuchi, the movie is both a visual treat for seasoned fans and a gateway to introduce newcomers to sci-fi.

17 Paprika (2006)

Satoshi Kon’s fourth and final feature film before his passing, Paprika is a surrealist science fiction animation set in the near future. In it, we follow Dr. Atsuko Chiba, a gifted scientist in control of a device called “DC Mini,” which allows therapists to enter their patients’ dreams and better them using constructive methods. After a criminal steals the prototype for this revolutionary device to blur dreams and reality for people, Atsuko must track town the thief and stop society from descending into chaos.

Dazzles With its Reality-Bending Premise

Despite being vibrant and immersive in its animation, Paprika is also quite disturbing to watch. While the visual style used to bring a person’s consciousness and dreams to life is unique and artistic, the exploration of fantasy worlds is just as uncanny. This is why Paprika achieves what few other sci-fi titles can. It does not rely on giant monsters or otherworldly species in order to hypnotize the viewers. Instead, through a wildly imaginative lens, it challenges and understands the nature of dreams.

16 Snowpiercer (2013)

The movie that began director Bong Joon-ho's journey to international stardom, Snowpiercer is a post-apocalyptic science fiction thriller that follows life after an attempt at solving global warming destroys and freezes everything over. The only remaining survivors are people on the titular train that circles the globe on a perpetual journey. The year is 2031 and a class system has evolved within the train, where the poor stay in the tail section and are oppressed, and the rich control the supplies. Curtis leads an underclass rebellion for freedom and change.

Visually Stunning and Thought-Provoking

Snowpiercer is adapted from a French climate fiction graphic novel Le Transperceneige illustrated by Jacques Lob, Benjamin Legrand, and Jean-Marc Rochette. Director Bong transforms it into an epic examination of societal inequalities. The creative settings, stimulation tension between the classes, and brutal and bloody action layers the film’s narrative quite deftly. Chris Evans and Tilda Swinton excel in their roles and the movie’s dystopian setting acts as an example of the genre’s potential for social commentary and spectacle at the same time.

15 The Terminator (1984)

While the initial reactions to the movie were lukewarm, in retrospect, The Terminator came to be regarded as an endlessly entertaining sci-fi adventure. In the movie, a cyborg assassin known as a Terminator is set back in time from 2029 to 2014 with a mission – to kill Sarah Conner, whose unborn son might grow up to lead the human resistance against machines in the post-apocalyptic future. However, Kyle Reese is a lone warrior who is also sent back in time to protect Sarah.

The Movie That Reinvented the Sci-Fi Genre

Co-written by James Cameron and Gale Anne Hurd, and directed by Cameron, the movie is one that revolutionized the sci-fi genre forever. Additionally, it also established Arnold Schwarzenegger as an unforgettable icon. Linda Hamilton and Michael Biehn are equally mesmerizing. In a way, The Terminator fuses several elements of both genres with time travel tropes and practical effects that are still impressive and influential today, and created a minimalist thriller on a considerably low budget.

14 Ghostbusters (1984)

A classic supernatural comedy, Ghostbusters centers around three paranormal researchers, Peter Venkman, Raymond Stantz, and Egon Spengler, who get fired from their jobs as professors at Columbia University. They decide to continue their investigations into paranormal encounters and capture ghosts by forming a team of “Ghostbusters.” Equipped with proton packs and genius traps, their established business faces newer, more dangerous apparitions when New York falls under threat.

A Spooky and Absurd '80s Delight

In one of history's most perfect on-screen pairings, we witness Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, and Harold Ramis indulge in truly zany, laugh-out-loud adventures as they bust ghosts using awe-inspiring gadgets. Supporting turns from Rick Moranis and Sigourney Weaver elevated the narrative. Ivan Reitman's direction brings out the best in the genre; from the otherworldly vibes to the iconic music. Overall, Ghostbusters is a generation-defining sci-fi masterpiece that paved the way for a memorable form of entertainment within and outside the franchise.

13 Gamera: Guardian of the Universe (1995)

Gamera and Godzilla had very different Shōwa eras. Both ended up being marketed primarily to children, but Gamera left the serious road far earlier than the Big G. But, with the Heisei trilogy, Gamera not only got serious again but delivered the three best films of the entire franchise.

Impressive Monster Moments

A handful of the Shōwa era Gamera movies are on Tubi, including the original (the only one from that era truly worth watching). But, only the first of the Heisei trilogy, Gamera: Guardian of the Universe is present and accounted for. But, that's okay, because even without the other two, this first installment of the trilogy captures every element of what's made these films work (e.g. a solid sense of fun, a pace that isn't too fast), plus monsters with top-tier designs, a franchise first.

12 Hardcore Henry (2016)

Did you ever think you'd get to experience a movie shot entirely from a first-person perspective? A science fiction action film, no less? Enter Hardcore Henry. We view the world through the eyes of Henry — with over ten separate actors providing his performance — as he awakens inside an airborne laboratory. Estelle (Haley Bennett), a scientist, reveals to Henry that an accident left him without the use of his voice and limbs. After giving Henry a serious upgrade in the form of cybernetic limbs, the lab is attacked before Henry is jettisoned to safety in an escape pod. Without the use of his voice, and with the help of a mysterious stranger, Henry now has only two goals in his life: get revenge and reunite with Estelle.

A Fascinating and Unique Premise

Hardcore Henry has been lovingly described as a tribute to video games, and it shows in its incredibly dynamic set pieces. Henry's cybernetic implants, along with the futuristic tech that fills the film's plentiful action scenes, are given a hefty amount of weight with its unique cinematography. It even features a dystopian twist by the time the credits roll.

11 Donnie Darko (2001)

Richard Kelly hit the ground running when his feature-length directorial debut, Donnie Darko, hit theaters in 2001. A young Jake Gyllenhaal stars as the titular character, a troubled teen whose frequent bouts of sleepwalking lead him to cross paths with a strange bunny rabbit creature. After being told that the world is going to end, down to the exact date and time, Donnie returns to his home. Shortly afterward, he realizes that he narrowly escaped death upon finding a detached jet engine in the rubble of his room. How did this ultimately happen, and is the bunny rabbit behind it all? Jena Malone, Drew Barrymore, James Duval, and Mary McDonnell appear in the film's cast alongside Gyllenhaal.

A Mysterious and Compelling Story.

Donnie Darko drew significant attention during its original release for its bizarre premise and its immense star talent. Its cinematography captures the dreamlike wandering of Donnie's sleepwalking sessions, and its non-traditional narrative allows the audience to walk away with a plethora of interpretations. Appropriately enough, some view it as a classic science fiction film that still holds up.

10 Destroy All Monsters (1968)

Before Godzilla fought King Kong, the gargantuan reptile kaiju faced off with just about every one of his monstrous rivals in 1968's Destroy All Monsters. Set in an alternate future where the Earth's numerous kaiju have been centralized on Monster Island, Destroy All Monsters sees chaos ensue when an alien invasion sets the creatures free under telepathic control. All eleven monsters, ranging from Godzilla to Gorosaurus, are let loose to ravage the globe, leaving humanity to fend for itself against their combined might.

A Wild and Chaotic Monster Marathon

Destroy All Monsters is to Godzilla what Avengers: Endgame is to the MCU. It was originally intended as the climactic finale of the Godzilla franchise, and the sheer number of rubberized suits and destructive practical effects clearly demonstrate it. There's a fun time to be had with all the wanton destruction of Destroy All Monsters, even if its success inadvertently prompted future films to come.

9 Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla (1974)

The MonsterVerse has plenty of kaiju they can adapt, and hopefully, they do it as well as Godzilla vs. Kong's Mechagodzilla. But, the original, alien-crafted incarnation of Mechagodzilla is still tops. While there's debate over whether Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla or Terror of Mechagodzilla is the better film, it's a moot point since both are on Tubi.

Campy Kaiju Fun

Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla is far more ridiculous than Terror, with monkey-like aliens decked out in truly preposterous clothing. There's an appeal to that, as there is a solid pace and more brutal monster fights than usual. It may have been the beginning of the end of the Shōwa era, but Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla is a winner nonetheless.

8 The Thing From Another World (1951)

If you're feeling a bit of déjà vu, it's not unsubstantiated. The Thing from Another World, originally released in 1951, would serve as the source material for John Carpenter's The Thing, one of the greatest remakes ever made. Thankfully, the black-and-white original still works as a compelling science fiction story more than half a century after its original release. It focuses on a United States Air Force base at the North Pole, which becomes a house of horrors when its crew discovers the presence of an alien spaceship within the ice — along with a monstrous creature lying dormant inside. The film is partially infamous for its director credit, as it remains contested to this day whether Christian Nyby or Howard Hawks deserve the credit for directing.

Chilling in More Ways than One

While some elements of The Thing from Another World would be transplanted into Carpenter's remake, this deliberately subdued predecessor focuses less on gore and more on the intense drama of the situation. The alien, being comprised of plant-like material this time around, also gets some genuinely intimidating moments, including a shockingly impressive fire stunt.

7 The Crazies (1973)

Acting as one of George A. Romero's few forays into science fiction, 1973's The Crazies is markedly different from his numerous films in the Living Dead franchise. However, that doesn't necessarily mean it avoids tackling similar themes. The film sees the residents of a picturesque American town coming under the influence of a new biological weapon. But instead of outright killing those it affects, it drives the town's residents into a violent frenzy. The military, ill-equipped to handle such a viral threat, attempts to secure the town before the weapon can spread elsewhere.

A Good Predecessor to the Living Dead Trilogy

Though The Crazies trends more towards straightforward horror than science fiction, it's a surprisingly gritty production that would preface the later films in Romero's Living Dead trilogy. The utilization of science in warfare is a common theme you'll see addressed throughout its brief runtime, and when combined with a bleak ending, it reflects humanity's capacity to invent the cruelest munitions imaginable.

6 Gojira (1954)

The first and best installment of Godzilla's Shōwa era (and overall) is utterly unlike the remainder. Even the other solo Godzilla films, such as The Return of Godzilla, which makes an effort to be Cold War grim and succeeds in that, don't hold a candle to Gojira's impact. It's as effective a drama as it is a monster movie.

The Original and Best Godzilla Adventure

There's an intimacy to Gojira that's far from the bombastic installments that would follow down the line. It's character-focused all throughout. From the love triangle at the center to the boots-on-the-ground approach to Godzilla's attacks, what this movie really shows is people's reactions to disaster, not necessarily the disaster itself.

5 Phantasm (1979)

Phantasm is easily one of the most surreal and entertaining horror franchises ever put to film. Produced near the end of the 1970s, this Don Coscarelli film sees a group of friends taking on a mysterious entity known only as the Tall Man, played by the late Angus Scrimm. Though the Tall Man resembles an elderly undertaker, underneath his innocuous visage hides an evil that could only come from the farthest reaches of the galaxy. If you're still not convinced, perhaps his arsenal of intergalactic weaponry will change your mind.

A Sci-Fi Cult Classic

Phantasm was, by all means, an independent production through and through. Though its low budget and strange atmosphere divided critics at the time of its release, it has since become a beloved cult classic in the world of horror and sci-fi. Scrimm is iconic as the villainous Tall Man, and the individual relationships found between Michael Baldwin, Bill Thornbury, and Reggie Bannister make for characters we want to see succeed.

4 Coherence (2013)