Kick off the 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 its predecessor, The 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 will of the Federation) to search for his longtime friend and cohort, the previously deceased and mysteriously resurrected Mr. Spock.

A Quiet Place: Day One takes audiences back to the very beginning of the alien invasion. While it might not necessarily be an entry in the franchise — like, say, 10 Cloverfield Lane, which is also on this list — the film delves into the human experience amid an alien cataclysmic disaster. Come for the disaster, stay for the cute cat.

Highlander star Christopher Lambert says ‘There can only be one’ in the cult classic film. There is more than one entry in this series, but this is the only one worth watching. The film travels back in time to explore an age-old battle between two immortal warriors. It’s got the camp you’d expect from an 80s sci-fi flick, there’s humor throughout, and Sean Connery is in it. What don’t I like?

Based on the novella by Philip K. Dick, We can recall it for you wholesale, Total Recall follows an ordinary construction worker who is bored with his life and turns to a company called Rekall for help. The goal is to plant false memories 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’s wanted dead. It sounds heavy, but this movie is a lot of fun.

Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country enters intriguing political territory as Captain Kirk is accused of murdering a high-ranking Klingon. Spock takes on the role of Sherlock Holmes – he even recites 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 villain Chang.

In John Carpenter’s post-apocalyptic cult classic, it’s 1997. in New York and the city is ravaged by war. Manhattan has been 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 buffet of ultraviolence. Karl Urban elevates the character from Sylvester Stallone’s decline, and with the help of Alex Garland’s script and Pete Travis’ direction, Dredd remains a worthy place in the crowded comic book adaptation game.

This jaw-dropping cult classic stars Jake Gyllenhaal as a misunderstood high school student who, after seemingly surviving a crazy 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 weird film. Also, let’s not forget that giant demon bunny 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 insane? The underground world he encounters, which consists of a bunch of extraterrestrials known simply as The Strangers, keeps him and the audience guessing for much of the film. The film’s visual aesthetics and effects are well worth the price of admission. This one was way ahead of its time.

10 Cloverfield Lane is a gripping psychological thriller that unfolds in something unexpectedly supernatural. Technically a sequel to Cloverfield — which means it’s absolutely a sci-fi movie — this entry explores the monstrous nature of reality and the metaphorical monsters it can create. The tight-knit cast delivers, but John Goodman’s Howard is a force to be reckoned with.