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Space.com’s year-end ranking puts Frankenstein first, followed by The Fantastic Four: First Steps and Ash. Its fourth position pairs two Predator films, so the five numbered places cover six movies. This is one critic’s selection, not a definitive consensus: other year-end rankings choose different winners.
Space.com’s top five sci-fi movie picks for 2025
The list below follows Space.com’s December 27, 2025, ranking. Its placements and genre descriptions reflect that publication’s editorial judgment; they are not the result of a controlled comparison or a claim of firsthand viewing.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
![Silent Running [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51E47AaX91L._SL160_.jpg)
|
Silent Running [Blu-ray] | $7.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
![The Andromeda Strain [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51mGffepuAL._SL160_.jpg)
|
The Andromeda Strain [Blu-ray] | $7.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
![James Cameron's Story of Science Fiction [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41U3E6NoMVL._SL160_.jpg)
|
James Cameron's Story of Science Fiction [Blu-ray] | $24.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
![*Batteries Not Included [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51EhshKgoUL._SL160_.jpg)
|
*Batteries Not Included [Blu-ray] | $8.34 | Buy on Amazon |
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Frankenstein
Guillermo del Toro’s adaptation stars Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi, Mia Goth, and Christoph Waltz. Space.com places it at No. 1 because Mary Shelley’s story combines Gothic horror with speculative scientific experimentation. Calling it science fiction depends on using a broad definition of the genre, so its place on a sci-fi list is open to reasonable debate.
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The Fantastic Four: First Steps
Directed by Matt Shakman, the film sets its superhero story in a retro-futurist version of 1960s New York. Space.com highlights the team’s confrontation with Galactus and the Silver Surfer as the science-fiction spectacle behind its No. 2 placement.
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Ash
Flying Lotus directs Eiza González and Aaron Paul in this sci-fi horror story set on an alien exoplanet. Space.com describes a rescue mission that gives the film a Lovecraftian edge.
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Predator: Killer of Killers and Predator: Badlands (tied placement)
Space.com groups the animated anthology Killer of Killers with the live-action Badlands at No. 4. Its descriptions distinguish their tones: Killer of Killers leans toward the franchise’s savage intensity, while Badlands takes a more humorous buddy-story approach.
Rank #2
The Andromeda Strain [Blu-ray]- Polish Release, cover may contain Polish text/markings. The disk has English audio.
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28 Years Later
Danny Boyle directs a film written by Alex Garland, set decades after the Rage Virus spread through England. Space.com places this virus-driven horror story at No. 5.
Why other rankings name different winners
“Best” changes with the method and the category. Space.com offers an editorial ranking; Metacritic orders its best-reviewed films by Metascore and requires at least seven professional reviews for its annual list. Rotten Tomatoes’ Golden Tomato award covers a combined Sci-Fi & Fantasy category, not science fiction alone.
Rank #3
| Source and method | 2025 sci-fi or sci-fi/fantasy winner | What the result means |
|---|---|---|
| Space.com: critic’s editorial ranking, published December 27, 2025 | Frankenstein (No. 1) | A critic’s genre framing and ordering, including a broad definition that admits Gothic speculative fiction. |
| Metacritic: best-reviewed films ranked by Metascore; at least seven professional reviews required | Resurrection (87 Metascore, reported by Metacritic in 2026) | A review-score aggregation, not the same kind of judgment as a single editorial list. |
| Rotten Tomatoes: Golden Tomato winner in its combined Best Sci-Fi & Fantasy Movies category | Companion | An award result for a broader combined category, not a direct head-to-head ranking of sci-fi films alone. |
These results answer different questions; they do not establish one universally agreed best film. The rankings are useful as distinct watchlists, rather than as scores on a shared scale.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Is Frankenstein a sci-fi movie?
It can be, if science fiction includes stories built around speculative scientific experimentation. That is the broad boundary Space.com uses to include Shelley’s Gothic tale. Readers who reserve “sci-fi” for a narrower set of conventions may classify it primarily as horror instead. The disagreement is about genre definition, not whether the film belongs on Space.com’s list.
Where to watch these 2025 movies
Streaming rights change over time and differ by country. Space.com’s article labels some titles with platforms, including Netflix for 28 Years Later and Disney+ for The Fantastic Four: First Steps, but those labels are a dated reference, not a guarantee of current availability in your region. Check the service’s current catalog or a local listings source before subscribing or renting.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
