20 of our favorite Sci-Fi Horror Films
If you’re a lover of horror films the horror/sci-fi genre probably shares a warm place in your heart. For me, some of the most terrifying horror films have science fiction elements. These films share a commonality of taking you to another worldly place but are also grounded in some kind of scientific realism…that makes you think “Is this actually possible?!” I certainly don’t think we’re alone. So, the idea there could be creatures out there in the universe that could come taunt, take over or just plain end mankind is just completely disturbing and spine-chilling.
Enjoy these films that range from fun to downright terrifying! From classics to more modern, take a look at our favorite hair-raising horror/sci-fi films to watch streaming.
*Please note: These films are listed in alphabetical order. Streaming availability is posted according to the publish date. Please check your local listings or the linked Just Watch page for streaming updates!
10 Cloverfield Lane (2016): A young woman and man are held in an underground bunker by a terrifying man who insists that a catastrophic event has left Earth uninhabitable and dangerous. They have to figure out how to find out if what he says is real…
Completely different in tone from the original Cloverfield film but incredibly well-acted and compelling. Suspenseful at every turn and stars John Goodman, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, and John Gallagher Jr. It’s honestly a MUST watch.
Watch the trailer here.
Streaming: PLUTO TV and available for rental.
Alien (1979): A space merchant craft picks up an unknown transmission as a distress call. They go to investigate and when one of the crew is attacked by a mysterious life form they soon recognize that their nightmare has just begun…with no way out. Directed by Ridley Scott, Alien is one of the most incredible horror sci-fi films of all time! I still have nightmares about Facehuggers…
“In space, no one can hear you scream.” Starring Sigourney Weaver, John Hurt, Harry Dean Stanton, and more!
Watch the trailer here.
Streaming: Amazon Prime Video, Watch AMC, and available for rental.
Aliens (1986): Fifty-seven years after surviving a nightmarish disastrous attack aboard her spacecraft by relentless space aliens, Officer Ripley awakens from deep hyper-sleep alarming everyone to the dangers awaiting them to no avail. It’s up to Ripley to destroy them once and for all. In case you were wondering…yes they’re gluttons for punishment.
Some would argue that Aliens is even better than its predecessor. I feel that the first two Alien films are unmatched in the horror sci-fi sub-genre. Still just as terrifying 35+ years later.
Watch the trailer here.
Streaming: Fubo, Showtime, DirecTV, and available for rental.
Attack the Block (2011): In this incredibly clever and terrifying film a group of young kids in the inner city of South London fight to defend their block from the sudden alien invasion.
Attack the Block has all the fun that you’d expect from an Edgar Wright film! Definitely see this becoming a classic.
Starring John Boyega (Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens), Jodie Whitaker (Broadchurch, Doctor Who), and Nick Frost (Shaun of the Dead)
Watch the trailer here.
Streaming: Starz, DirecTV, and available for rental.
Bird Box (2018): Suddenly, a dark presence wills most people to end their lives violently causing the near extermination of the human race. Very few are able to escape but five years after the mass slaughter, a mother and her two children make a desperate flee to reach safety.
This film is just so frightening. Overall, the idea of something out there that you can see that can kill you has always been the most ominous to me. Bird Box is incredible and deserves all the praise it’s given. I feel like Sanda Bullock should have been nominated for an Academy Award but films in this genre are often snubbed. Also starring, Sarah Paulson (One of my favorite actresses ever).
Watch the trailer here.
Streaming: Exclusively on Netflix.
Cloverfield (2008): On a night to celebrate a group of friends must risk their lives to save one theirs during an attack on New York city the likes no one has seen! Starring Lizzy Caplan and T.J. Miller.
This found footage film directed by Matt Reeves and produced by J.J. Abrams is still groundbreakingly scary! It’s rooted in the true fears and manic hysteria that would occur during a disaster of this proportion in a big city. Cloverfield is just so good it warranted two more films in the universe. One of which we recommend, 10 Cloverfield Lane. (seen above)
Watch the trailer here.
Streaming: HBO, HBO Max, MAX Go, DirecTV, and available for rental.
Critters (1986): A posse of alien creatures called Crites flee from an alien prison transport vessel and touch down near a small farm town on planet earth, but are in hot pursuit by two shape-shifting bounty hunters.
This is an 80s classic! Starring heavy hitters like Dee Wallace, M. Emmet Walsh, Billy Zane, and Lin Shaye! Equal parts scares and campy fun. If you’ve already seen Critters and love it check out our retrospective on the entire Critters franchise!
Watch the trailer here.
Streaming: HBO Max and available for rental.
Dark Skies (2013): The Barrett family’s harmonious suburban life is destroyed by a growing series of troubling events. They soon realize that a terrifying and destructive force is after them and they don’t know how to stop it.
Whether you believe in life beyond the planet earth or not this film will leave you petrified and wonder what is out there… Starring Kerri Russell and Josh Hamilton.
Watch the trailer here.
Streaming: Netflix, Showtime, and available for rental.
Event Horizon (1997): A space expedition goes to investigate a crew that disappeared into a black hole and are met with strange happenings as they realize a malevolent entity is on board with them and must be stopped.
Directed by Paul W.S. Anderson (Resident Evil, Mortal Kombat) Event Horizon to date is still one of my favorite sci-fi horror films. Duality, parallel universes, and that playback scene!!! If you’ve seen it you know.
Watch the trailer here.
Streaming: HBO, HBO Max, MAX GO, DirecTV, and available for rental.
Happy Death Day 2U (2019): A direct sequel from the original Happy Death Day, Tree realizes that dying over and over was easier than the dangers lying in wait for her.
The original Happy Death Day on its own has an element of slasher meets Sci-Fi with the main character continuously repeating the same day over and over. This film takes a deep dive into the reasons why that was happening and has Sci-Fi all over it. Happy Death Day 2U is a fun ride!
Watch the trailer here.
(WARNING: If you have not watched the first film view it BEFORE you see this trailer. It’s SPOILER CITY.)
Streaming: Spectrum subscription and available for rental.
The Hidden (1987): A cop and an FBI agent chase to find out why normal everyday citizens are becoming violent uncontrollable criminals.
The Hidden is a cult classic! Starring Kyle MacLachlan (Twin Peaks, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D, Blue Velvet), Micheal Nouri, Claudia Christian, and Chris Mulkey.
Watch the trailer here.
Streaming: Available for rental only.
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978): Unknown seeds arrive on earth from outer space, and strange pods begin to grow to invading San Francisco, California. These seeds replicate the citizens into emotionless doppelgangers in an attempt to take over the world. This sci-fi classic STILL haunts me to this day. Starring Donald Sutherland, Brooke Adams, Leonard Nimoy, Jeff Goldblum, and more!
I love this version in particular but you can also check out the 1956 original, and the 1994 adaptation Body Snatchers.
Watch the trailer here.
Streaming: Tubi, Hoopla, Fubo, PLUTO TV, and available for rental.
The Invisible Man (2020): Cecilia’s abusive ex- commits suicide and leaves her a widow and his fortune. She believes he’s staged his own death to torture her and Cecilia struggles to prove that she is being hunted by him and he’s still alive.
This adaptation of the H.G. Wells 1933 classic produced by Blumhouse Productions is a home run! Starring Elizabeth Moss (The Handmaid’s Tale, Us), and Oliver Jackson-Cohen (The Haunting of Hill House, The Haunting of Bly Manor).
Watch the trailer here. (This trailer shows too much honestly. Just watch it!)
Streaming: MAX GO and available for rental.
The Mist (2007): A strange mist reigns on a small town unleashing creatures beyond their wildest nightmares. A small group bands together to survive but it quickly turns into a fight for their lives against the beats and themselves.
Nothing more terrifying than unknown creatures from another planet wreaking havoc on earth and taking no prisoners! What’s even scarier than what’s outside is what happens to humankind in a crisis. Brought to you by Frank Darabont (The Walking Dead) This film is so good! Be warned: The ending will haunt you for days.
Watch the trailer here.
Streaming: Available for rental only.
Pitch Black (2000): A commercial carrier ship and its crew are stranded on a planet full of savage monsters that come out to devour at dark. The crew soon finds out a month-long eclipse is on the horizon and it’s a race to save their lives.
Fun Fact: Pitch Black went on to gross over $53 million worldwide and garnered two successful sequels: The Chronicles of Riddick and Riddick. According to Wikipedia, in 2006, Diesel agreed to make a cameo appearance in Universal’s film The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift in exchange for the ownership of the rights to the Riddick franchise and character.
Watch the trailer here.
Streaming: Peacock and available for rental.
Prometheus (2012): A space expedition follows clues to the origin of mankind. A research team finds a construction on a secluded moon and they discover they’re not alone.
Directed by Ridley Scott and written by Damon Lindelof (Lost, Watchmen) and Jon Spaihts, Prometheus is the origin of the Alien we’ve all come to know and love. The climax of the film will have you white-knuckling and clenching your seats! Starring Michael Fassbender, Charlize Theron, Idris Elba, and Guy Pearce.
Watch the trailer here.
Streaming: Fubo, AMC+ through The Roku Channel and Amazon Prime Video, DirecTV, Sling, and available for rental.
Scanners (1981): In this David Cronenberg classic, a scientist instructs a young man with an advanced telepathic gift named “scanning”, to put an end to a dangerous Scanner with unimaginable psychic powers wielding war against the rest of society.
This 1980s film reveals the terrifying possibilities when humans put 100% of their brain capacity at work. The ending of Scanners is creepy and haunting. Starring Jennifer O’Neill, Stephen Slack, and always stellar and intimidating Michael Ironside (Total Recall, Starship Troopers, Watchers). That opening scene is a doozy!
Watch the trailer here.
Streaming: HBO MAX, The Criterion Channel, and available for rental.
Slither (2006): A meteor lands on earth and alien creatures take over a quaint small town, turning its inhabitants into shadows of their former selves and into horrific monsters.
James Gunn’s (Guardians of the Galaxy), the feature film directorial debut Slither is all the things you hope it would be. Terrifying, suspenseful, fun, and just plain nasty. Starring Elizabeth Banks, Nathan Fillion, Michael Rooker, and Dustin Milligan (Schitt’s Creek).
Watch the trailer here.
Streaming: Tubi, Spectrum On Demand, and available for rental.
They Live (1988): They Live follows the story of Nada, (played by WWE Wrestling star Roddy Piper) a down on his luck man, who becomes a construction worker and inadvertently finds himself in the middle of a conspiracy to take over the world!
This John Carpenter film opened to mixed reviews and received minor success at the beginning but over the years has become a John Carpenter cult classic!
“I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass… and I’m all out of bubblegum.”
Streaming: Peacock and available for rental.
The Thing (1982): In this classic John Carpenter film, a research team in Antarctica is stalked by a shape-shifting alien entity that materializes as its victims.
Starring in this super freaky alien terror classic is Kurt Russell, Keith David, T.K. Carter, Wilford Brimley, David Clennon, and more!
Streaming: Starz, DirecTV, and available for rental.
Looking for more? You can find more general Married to Horror selections by checking out our recommendations and lists. Take a peek at our Master Watch List where you can find an array of horror films sorted by title, platform, rating, and more!
Did we miss any of your favorites? Comment below or email us at contact@marriedtohorror.com! Follow our Facebook group Married to Horror and follow us on Twitter and Instagram @marriedtohorror.
