Kick off your new year with these epic sci-fi movies on Prime Video

The third installment in the Star Trek film franchise may not hit as hard as the previous episode, Wrath of Khan, but it still delivers. A surprising amount of spirituality fills the story here, which finds Captain Kirk commanding the USS Enterprise (against the wishes of the Federation) to search for his longtime friend and cohort Mr. Spock, who died early and mysteriously. resurrected

A Quiet Place: The First Day takes the audience to the beginning of the alien invasion. Although it may not be a necessary entry in the franchise – like, for example, 10 Cloverfield Lane, which is also on this list – the film digs its heels into the human experience in the midst of a cataclysmic disaster of the other world. Come for the disaster, stay for the cute cat.

Highlander star Christopher Lambert famously says, “There can only be one,” in the cult classic film. There has been more than one entry in this series, but this is the only one worth watching. The film travels back in time to explore an ancient battle between two immortal warriors. It’s the camp you’d expect from an 80s sci-fi movie, there’s humor throughout, and Sean Connery is in it. What’s not to like?

Based on Philip K. Dick’s novel, We Can Remember It for You Wholesale, Total Recall follows an average construction worker who is fed up with his life and turns to a company called Rekall for help. The goal is to have false memories planted in his brain to simulate a trip to Mars, but what he ends up discovering is that his entire life has been an implanted lie and now he is wanted dead. It sounds heavy, but doggonit, this movie is a ton of fun.

Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country ventures into intriguing political territory as Captain Kirk is framed for the assassination of a high-ranking Klingon. Spock takes on a sort of Sherlock Holmes role — even reciting a quote from the famous literary detective in the film — as he sets out to solve the crime and prove Kirk’s innocence. Bonus points go to the casting of Christopher Plummer as the villainous Chang.

In John Carpenter’s post-apocalyptic cult classic, it’s 1997 in New York and the city has been devastated by war. Manhattan was turned into a giant walled prison. After the president is taken hostage, former Special Forces officer (and current prisoner) Snake Plissken (Kurt Russell) is recruited to save the day in exchange for his own freedom.

The superb 2012 adaptation of the Judge Dredd comics is a delicious smorgasbord of ultra-violence. Karl Urban lifts the character from his Sylvester Stallone debacle and, with the help of Alex Garland’s script and Pete Travis’ direction, Dredd remains a worthy entry in the comic book adaptation game.

This jaw-dropping cult classic stars Jake Gyllenhaal as a misunderstood high school student who, after seemingly surviving a freak accident, begins to travel through time. In the process, he discovers the joy of being alive and in love. Themes of depression, repression and alternate universes fill this delightfully strange film. Also, let’s not forget that giant demon rabbit named Frank.

Thematically reminiscent of the classic silent film Metropolis, Dark City follows a fugitive wanted for murder who has no recollection of committing the crimes. Is he guilty? Or is it possible that he has gone completely nuts? The underground world he finds himself in, which is made up of a bunch of otherworldly beings known only as The Strangers, keeps him and the audience guessing for most of the film. The film’s visual aesthetics and effects are well worth the price of admission. This was way ahead of its time.

10 Cloverfield Lane is a fascinating psychological thriller that develops into something unexpected supernatural. Technically a sequel to Cloverfield – which means it’s absolutely a sci-fi film – this entry explores the monstrous nature of reality and the metaphorical monsters it can create. The tight cast delivers, but John Goodman’s Howard is a force to be reckoned with.