12 Best Sci-Fi Horror Movies All Time

The sci-fi and horror genre are two of the most famous genres in the masses. The way crowds flock to the theatres to see these movies, no other genre can afford. But what happens when the forces of the two are unified? Magic. Or at least the illusion of it. Incredible stories aren’t born being restricted and unimaginative, but being bold and innovative. The two most prominent parts of these two genres are the aforementioned qualities. Here is the list of top sci-fi horror movies ever made. You can watch some of these best movies on Netflix or Hulu or Amazon Prime.

12. Dawn of the Dead (2004)

The film marked the advent of Zack Snyder’s brilliance and exuberant style. A remake of the original 1978 flick of the same name, ‘Dawn of the Dead’ is a fierce equal. Following on similar footsteps, the narrative starts innocuously with a beautiful nurse returning home after a long and tedious shift. She and her fiancee wake to a girl staring at them and viciously attacking them on stimulation. The nurse manages to escape and meets up with other survivors amidst an impending apocalypse. They make haven at a mall, enjoying and despairing life. Snyder does a great job in asserting his style in a well-made film. It oozes of his trademark styles and heavily derives from his frequent use of rock music to embellish and intensify the narrative.

11. 30 Days of Night (2007)

A deserted Alaskan town finds itself as a feasting place for ravished vampires when darkness takes over. An intrepid couple stands between life and death. The surprisingly good aesthetics and character dynamics make ’30 Days of Night’ a riveting watch, perfect for your weekend night!

10. Life (2017)

Simply put, ‘Life’ was a missed opportunity. With an intriguing story-line and an overly scary villain, they had the tools to develop this into one of the best horror franchises in the business. A group of scientists historically discover life beyond earth. Conducting tests and bathing in their groundbreaking discovery, little does the group know what lies ahead of them, when the life-force assumes the shape of a blood-hungry crucifier. The astronauts run for their lives as Calvin, the affectionately named life-force, intends to kill them. The cast gave solid performances, especially Jake Gyllenhaal, who outdoes himself everytime he takes to the screen.

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9. World War Z (2013)

Films like ‘World War Z’ are the reasons why the zombie genre is still alive. A breathtaking effort from the cast and the producing team, the plot focuses on an impending rabies virus that’s making humans rabid and blood-thirsty. Gerry Lane, a former UN employee, and his family barely flee the infected areas and are brought onto a safe ship. In return, his friend and former colleague Thierry sentients him of the UN’s will to send him on an expedition to find a cure. Such gloriously crafted movies, with a conscious sense of humanity at the core, are why we watch movies. And anyone who says Brad Pitt is all looks, maybe you are no brains.

8. Cloverfield (2008)

‘Cloverfield’ is one of the first in the Cloverfield series of films. The third part is set for release in the fall of 2018, something which has sent the fans of the franchise into a frenzy. The plot focuses on a group of friends, who while enjoying a birthday party, witness a huge monster taking over the city, with the decapitated head of the Statue of Liberty falling right in front of them. They then try to move to a safer place and leave behind the macabre thing. Shot in a found-footage style, ‘Cloverfield’ presents JJ Abram’s prodigal genius into making and selling a film. Vividly realistic and thoroughly disturbing, this epic piece of sci-fi horror is sure to get you grabbing to the edge of your seat.

7. I Am Legend (2007)

There are very few films which have been able to capture the state of solitude and rigorous discipline the way ‘I am Legend’ has. A survival-thriller movie, the backdrop of the film is set amidst a dystopian future, where a virus has wiped out humanity and made them into something horrifying. Hunting in the day, Robert and his loyal dog are the only two humane presence in the city until he discovers a mother-son duo on one of his hunts. The painfully emotional movie is a great watch for your troubled mind. The clarity of thought reflects in a smartly planned and executed movie. Will Smith is at his vintage best, and the climax is certainly mesmerizing.

6. It Comes At Night (2017)

I can’t recall many movies which were as complete and stimulating as ‘It Comes At Night’. A post-apocalyptic world has been obliterated by a plague that has threatened to wipe out humanity. Survivors are few in number and distinctly aware of what happens outside at night. Paul is a survivor with his family. One fateful day, he has an intruder, who claims innocence by saying he thought the house was deserted. Seemingly convinced with his side of the story and his pleading to save his family’s life, Paul sets out with him to rescue them. The dim-lighting and dark, somber aesthetics give an eerie and chilling feeling. The well-thought story and terrific performances make this a must-watch.

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5. 10 Cloverfield Lane (2016)

What an actor John Goodman is. I personally believe he deserves a lot more credit than he is given. His brilliant characterizations never go amiss and are effectively capable of moving mountains. A thoroughly engaging narrative and a familiar tone as its famed predecessor, ’10 Cloverfield Lane’ goes one better and creates a mysterious and sinister story-line, which is more contained and better handled this time. A young woman finds herself in an unknown room, vaguely remembering her breakup and accident hours ago. The abductor, rather the savior, is an old man, who claims there’s an apocalypse going on outside, and the only place safe is in his basement. Truths about his family and past life indicate danger to the girl’s life. Winstead is terrific in her portrayal of a disheveled, but sharp woman. All in all, better than the previous one, and many other sci-fi horrors.

4. Night of the Living Dead (1968)

For years now the importance of this movie has prevailed as sanctimonious. The quirky plot involves radiation emanating from a fallen satellite which causes the recently deceased to rise from the grave and seek the living to use as food. Visionary and deeply conflicted in its idea, the glorious film almost romanticizes with the ideas of cannibalism and gory-zombies. Rumours percolating papers at that time hinted it to be a not-so-distant reality, but ultimately turning into one of the greatest horror films ever made.

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3. The Thing (1982)

John Carpenter is an underrated director. His films are fairly well-received and loved by the audiences. Deeply disconcerting and uncomfortable to watch, ‘The Thing’s is revolutionary filmmaking at its best. In remote Antarctica, a group of American research scientists is disturbed at their base camp by a helicopter shooting at a sled dog. When they take in the dog, it brutally attacks both human beings and canines in the camp and they discover that the beast can assume the shape of its victims. A resourceful helicopter pilot (Kurt Russell) and the camp doctor (Richard Dysart) lead the camp crew in a desperate, gory battle against the vicious creature before it picks them all off, one by one.

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2. Aliens (1986)

‘Aliens’ is a sequel to he 1979 movie sans an ‘s’. Yes, you read that right. The top two spots are occupied by the Ridley Scott created Alien-franchise, which just goes on to show his contributions to films in general. Cameron helmed this one and was fairly successful in imprinting his class all over it without compromising the sanctity of the first one. Ripley, the protagonist of the previous film, is sent back to the doomed planet of LV-426. He must take up the challenge of fighting the Alien Queen and her ferocious offspring. The classic is deemed to be one of the best films ever made, and we can’t really contest that.

1. Alien (1979)

The first of the franchise was a superb, taut horror film set in space where the alien is a vicious monster that will kill all in its path, just to do it. From the exploding chest of poor John Hurt through the gutsy courage of Ridley, portrayed by Sigourney Weaver in the film that made her famous, director Ridley Scott owns the audience. All the frights work, the creature is truly terrifying, the performances are excellent, there is treachery aboard the ship, and finally an encounter that leaves one twisting in their seat. One of the first films in the genre, (both) where a woman was the hero, with no apologies.

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12 Best Science Fiction Horror Movies Ever