Pondering what to view whilst awaiting the next instalment of Alien: Earth on Disney+?
Search no more.
We've compiled a selection of five remarkable science fiction films that are certain to satisfy your craving for body horror, cosmic thrills and existential terror.
What's more, they're all accessible on streaming services.
The programme from Fargo creator Noah Hawley has garnered glowing reviews thus far, with enthusiasts and critics alike praising the nostalgic nods to the original spacecraft slasher and contemplations on artificial intelligence.
With an entire weekend remaining before the series resumes, here's an overview of five overlooked sci-fi gems to occupy your time, reports the Mirror.
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Ad Astra
Beyond the body horror and spine-chilling sexual metaphors, the Alien franchise epitomises the terror-inducing vastness of space like no other.
If you're seeking a film with comparable levels of rich atmosphere alongside a stunningly crafted vision of the cosmos, look no further than the underappreciated masterpiece Ad Astra, featuring Brad Pitt.
This brooding space epic follows the F1 star as an astronaut who undertakes an interstellar voyage to uncover the truth regarding his absent father, portrayed by Tommy Lee Jones.
One five-star Letterboxd review described it as "one of the most meditative and breathtakingly exquisite outer space epics ever made."
Ad Astra is available to stream on Disney+.
Gattaca
This overlooked sci-fi masterpiece from the 1990s unfolds in a near-future world where mankind has developed an unhealthy fixation with genetic flawlessness, chillingly echoing numerous themes found in Alien.
Ethan Hawke takes on the role of Vincent, a young 'In-Valid' who manages to penetrate the biological aristocracy by masquerading as a paralysed swimming champion, played by Jude Law.
Driven by his ambition to participate in an expedition to Saturn's moon Titan, he gradually discovers sinister secrets lurking just below the veneer of this supposedly flawless new civilisation.
One five-star Google review declared: "One of the best sci-fi movies ever made.
"I saw a clip in Biology class (we were studying gene editing), fell in love, and promptly watched the whole film.
"Since then, I've re-watched it countless times, and countless more sci-fi films, and this one still stands out from all of them."
Gattaca is available to stream on Prime Video.
Color Out of Space
Should you be seeking more grotesque body horror and spine-tingling Lovecraftian menaces from beyond, Color Out of Space might be precisely what you're looking for.
Featuring Nicolas Cage, this little-known thriller from 2019 chronicles a family who relocate to a farm seeking refuge from the cacophony of contemporary existence. Grave mistake.
Following a meteor's crash landing in their garden, they slowly develop an obsession with an extraterrestrial hue that starts to contaminate and transform everything within its reach, themselves included.
"This thing is going to be a cult classic," one Letterboxd user promised.
"It's got the blueprints of a wild premise and a truly off the rails Nic Cage performance.
This horror film doesn't depend on cheap scares, but instead trusts your own imagination to fill in the blanks. Boasting impressive visuals and body horror reminiscent of Cronenberg, *Color Out of Space* is a truly devastating experience.
You can watch *Color Out of Space* on Prime Video.
Crimes of the Future
On the subject of David Cronenberg, his iconic masterpiece, "The Fly", is available to stream on Disney+. However, if you're a big fan of "Alien", you've likely already seen it. In that case, why not try one of his more recent films?
In *Crimes of the Future*, a disturbing sci-fi thriller, the concept of body horror is taken to a whole new level. The film crafts its unique suspense narrative around a performance artist who specialises in surgery and stumbles upon a sinister conspiracy to unveil the next stage of human evolution.
Viggo Mortensen, Léa Seydoux, and Kristen Stewart star in this peculiar peek into the future, which one keen Google reviewer observed "showcases [Cronenberg's] mastery over the ghastly and the gruesome".
Controversial and deliberately challenging, it's clear why it might not appeal to everyone. However, those who appreciate Cronenberg and his taste for the macabre will find it a treat.
You can watch Crimes of the Future online via streaming onBBC iPlayer.
Prey
The Predator franchise, which began in 1987 with the iconic Arnold Schwarzenegger film, has long been linked to Alien, even resulting in a couple of enjoyably corny crossover fighting games in the noughties.
Despite their separate journeys since then, director Dan Trachtenberg's reboot of the Predator series – the same director who gave us the brilliant *Prey* in 2022 – opens the door for these two franchises to potentially reunite.
Having been gripped by this nail-biting thriller, which sees Amber Midthunder as an 18th-century Comanche warrior battling the iconic Predator, fans will soon get stuck into the highly anticipated follow-up, *Predator: Badlands*.
Set in the future, this chapter unfolds on a far-flung planet and features Elle Fanning playing a synthetic lifeform crafted by Weyland-Yutani from *Alien*. Could a Xenomorph be about to put in a surprise appearance?
You can watch Prey on Disney+.
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