Us Weekly has updated its list of must-watch sci-fi films available on Netflix, adding Independence Day from 1996 and Dune from 1984. The roundup features a mix of classics and recent releases, catering to fans of aliens, dystopian futures, and time travel. All titles are streaming on the platform as of February 2026.
In its February 2026 edition, Us Weekly published a curated selection of 12 science fiction movies streaming on Netflix, emphasizing diverse themes from alien invasions to multiverse adventures. The list includes longstanding favorites and newer originals, with two recent additions: Roland Emmerich's Independence Day (1996), starring Will Smith as pilot Captain Steven Hiller, Jeff Goldblum as satellite engineer David Levinson, Bill Pullman as President Thomas J. Whitmore, and Randy Quaid as Russell Casse. The film depicts a global human resistance against attacking aliens, culminating in a counterattack on July 4th, praised for its Oscar-winning special effects and high-stakes action despite a thin plot.
The other addition is David Lynch's Dune (1984), featuring Kyle MacLachlan as Paul Atreides, who leads the Fremen to reclaim Arrakis from the Harkonnens. Noted for its eccentric atmosphere and stylish flair, the adaptation includes a rock score by Toto and Sting's portrayal of Feyd Rautha, though it lacks the coherence of later versions by Denis Villeneuve.
Other entries cover Neill Blomkamp's District 9 (2009), an Oscar nominee exploring alien refugees and apartheid metaphors through characters like Wikus van de Merwe (Sharlto Copley) and Chris Johnson (Jason Cope). Keanu Reeves stars in Johnny Mnemonic (1995), a cyberpunk tale based on William Gibson's work, where his character risks death from implanted data. Jet Li leads The One (2001) as multiverse counterparts battling for power, opposite Jason Statham.
Recent Netflix originals include Our Times (2025), a Spanish rom-com with Lucero and Benny Ibarra as time-traveling scientists; The Adam Project (2022), directed by Shawn Levy with Ryan Reynolds meeting his younger self (Walker Scobell) and Mark Ruffalo; Stowaway (2021), starring Anna Kendrick, Toni Collette, and Daniel Dae Kim in a Mars mission crisis; What Happened to Monday (2017), featuring Noomi Rapace as seven sisters hiding from overpopulation laws under Willem Dafoe; Oxygen (2021), a claustrophobic thriller with Mélanie Laurent trapped in a pod aided by A.I. M.I.L.O. (Mathieu Amalric); Spaceman (2024), Adam Sandler's dramatic role as cosmonaut Jakub Procházka with a telepathic alien spider voiced by Paul Dano and Carey Mulligan; and They Cloned Tyrone (2023), starring John Boyega, Jamie Foxx, and Teyonah Parris uncovering cloning conspiracies.
Us Weekly describes the collection as ideal for viewers seeking psychoactive spice, killer robots, or dystopian narratives, all accessible on Netflix.
