These are all movies I've seen and recommend. This work is, and shall strive to be always a work in progress. If you're a fan of Sci-Fi, hopefully you'll find something you've never seen here.
It's hard to classify any as the "best" with so many different sub-genres and preferences out there. Therefore, I feel like the most important to have at the top are the movies people don't know about.
"Under-the-radar" films in this list are smaller release or not well recieved despite their quality. This category is strictly " hard sci-fi ."
If you want more recommendations, check out emvan's 1997+ list here on IMDB. I've been using it to find new movies for many years now and it's introduced me to tons of titles, actors and directors I now consider my some of my favorites. Most of my picks here are on his list already but we definitely have different tastes in sub-genres.
It's hard to classify any as the "best" with so many different sub-genres and preferences out there. Therefore, I feel like the most important to have at the top are the movies people don't know about.
Under-the-radar Sci-Fi Movies
"Under-the-radar" films in this list are smaller release or not well recieved despite their quality. This category is strictly " hard sci-fi ."
Anti Matter (2016)
Colossal (2016)
The Congress (2013)
Coherence (2013)
Upstream Color (2013)
Cargo (2009 - Russian)
Solaris (2002 - American Version)
Frequencies (2013)
Flatland (2012)
Free on Youtube as of this posting.Videodrome (1983)
Southland Tales (2006)
See also The Prequel Comics which explain a lot more.The Fountain (2006)
Strange Days(1995)
The Abyss (1989)
Infinity Chamber (2016)
The Girl with All the Gifts(2016)
Batteries Not Included (1987)
Primer (2004)
Dark City (1998)
Watch the Director's Cut or the plot will be spoiled in the first 5 minutes.Wider-Release, Lesser known "Hard Sci-Fi" Movies
Sphere (1998)
A Scanner Darkly (2006)
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
Europa Report (2013)
Memento (2000)
Moon (2000)
Midnight Special (2016)
Phenomenon (1996)
Synchronicity (2015)
Wall-E (2008)
This movie is on the list despite its wide release and popularity becasue of the disturbing number of people I've met who hadn't seen it yet. If you're this far down the list and haven't seen Wall-E, go watch Wall-E.Predestination (2014)
The Zero Theorem (2013)
ARQ (2016)
Gattaca (1997)
Children of Men (2006)
The Machine (2013)
Extracted (2012)
Waterworld (1995)
I Origins (2014)
Brazil (1985)
Under-the-radar Softer Sci-Fi Movies
The Frame (2014)
Resolution (2012)
The Endless(2017)
Watch "Resolution" above first!Prospect (2018)
John Dies at the End (2012)
Sorry to Bother You (2018)
The Lobster(2015)
Snowpiercer (2013)
If you want more recommendations, check out emvan's 1997+ list here on IMDB. I've been using it to find new movies for many years now and it's introduced me to tons of titles, actors and directors I now consider my some of my favorites. Most of my picks here are on his list already but we definitely have different tastes in sub-genres.