Streaming Finds: Tracking down sci fi and fantasy shows of interest available on the streaming services.

While subscription-based streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon’s Prime Video currently dominate the market, there are quite a number of free services out there that have a fair amount of offerings as well. Streamers like Tubi TV, Sony Crackle, Vudu Free, and Popcornflix all have a decent catalog of movies and TV shows which they have available for free streaming. They do run ads, but usually a tolerable amounts with shorter breaks than what you see on most linear ad-supported channels. If you are looking to do some streaming without getting committed to a monthly subcription cost, these services are worth checking out. To get you started, below is a list of ten notable science fiction movies that are currently streaming for free across these four services.

1. Star Trek: First Contact (1996): This is the first of the Trek movies to exclusively feature the cast of The Next Generation (the prior film, Generations, was a crossover with TOS) and is considered the best with that crew. The Borg travel back in time to change Earth’s history and the U.S.S. Enterprise must follow them in a desparate attempt to restore the timeline. This movie makes good use of the TNG cast while also exploring the past of the Star Trek universe. It is available to stream for free on Tubi TV, PopcornFlix, and Sony Crackle as are Star Trek: Generations and Star Trek: Nemesis.

2. Akira (1988): This cyberpunk Anime is a game-changer and a must-watch even if you are not an animation fan. Taking place in a post-apocalyptic future, it follows a young man who has developed powerful telekinetic abilities that threaten those who control the spralling complex known as Neo-Tokyo. The Anime draws heavily from Blade Runner and set the tone for the Japanese animation that would follow in the years to come. This one definitely counts as an important sci fi entry and the dubbed version is streaming for free on Tubi TV.

3. Moon (2009): This retro-sci fi film gave Duncan Jones his feature film directorial debut and is definitely worth seeking out. It follows a lone man tasked with running a mining operation on the Moon and draws heavily from such sci fi classics as 2001: Space Odyssey and Silent Running as far as its look at feel. It’s scope may not be as cosmic as those two, but it delivers an engaging tale that asks what it means to be human and in control of your own destiny. It also relies heavily on practical effects, eschewing the CGI overload that today’s blockbusters revel in. It definitely counts as throwback sci fi, but it is also an excellent genre entry. It is available for streaming for free on Sony Crackle.

4. Gattaca (1997): This is another sci fi movie that is less interested in sfx-overload and more focused on telling a good story. It is a “biopunk” film that takes place in a future where eugenics dictate the fate of people as the “valids”, those classified as genetically superior, are separted from those of lesser stock designated as “in-valids”. The film did not get much attention when it first came out, but it has since become recognized as a sci fi classic. It is available to stream for free on Sony Crackle.

5. Starship Troopers (1997): This 90’s update of the classic Robert Heinlein sci fi novel of the same name mixes biting humor with jarheads-vs.-aliens action and delivers a roller-coaster ride of a film. It takes plenty of liberties with its source material which focused on space marines locked in a war with arachnid-like extra-terrestrials, but it offers an interesting spin on the highly political novel and gives it a cynical edge. This one is definitely more shoot-em-up than intellectual sci fi, but it is an enjoyable genre entry and it would go on to launch multiple spin-off films as well as a CGI television series. It is available for streaming on Vudu Free, though you will have to created a logon.

6. Lifepod (1993): This 90’s made-for-TV sci fi film has been mostly forgotten, but it is worth seeking out. It aired on FOX back in 1993 when that network was trying to make a place for itself next to the other broadcast net,s and offers a space-based remake of Alfred Hitchcock’s classic film Lifeboat. It takes place aboard an emergency escape ship launched into space after an interplanetary passenger liner is destroyed. A group of survivors must face the dangers of space and a possible saboteur while hoping for an unlikely rescue. It definitely has some cheesiness to it seeing as it was made on a television budget. But the creative staff and the actors do a good job of making the most out of a small production. This is an interesting little sci fi sleeper and it is streaming for free on IMDb TV and Vudu Free, both of which require a logon.

7. Europa Report (2013): This found-footage film came out a few years back and has since developed a reputation as a sci fi sleeper. It follows a mission to Jupiter’s moon of Europa that does not go quite as planned. It makes effective use of the found-footage format while also delivering a decent sci fi film. The movie did not make a huge impact when it first came out, but has become somewhat of a cult film and is worth giving a look. You can stream this one for free on PopcornFlix.

8. Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977): This classic alien-encounter film from Steven Spielberg hearkens back to the beginning of the Blockbuster Era (it hit the big screen about six months after Star Wars debuted), and it is a must-watch genre entry. Note that it has not dated quite as well as some of the other sci fi movies from the 70’s and it does derail a bit in the middle (and talk about blatant product-placement with that Budweiser ad), but the beginning and ending of the movie make it a near masterpiece. If you have never seen it, now is the time. And if it has been a while since you watched it, time to revisit the magic. It is available for streaming on Sony Crackle.

9. The Man from Earth (2007): Would you believe that you could have an excellent (perhaps essential) sci fi movie with no special effects and with nothing more than people sitting around talking? Well, Man from Earth accomplishes just that. Coming from the late Jerome Bixby–sci fi writer and veteran of the original Star Trek and Twilight Zone shows–this movie focuses on a man who has lived for 14 millennia. He never stays in one area for long and as he prepares to move on once again, he recounts his story to a group of friends. This may sound like a snooze-fest of a movie, but the excellent (and award-winning) script and top-notch performances keep it moving along quite nicely. Not your typical sci fi film, but definitely an important genre entry. It is available for streaming on Vudu Free once you setup a logon.

10. The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension (1984): Surely this movie needs no introduction as most sci fi fans are well-versed on the adventures of the brain surgeon / rocket scientist who also rocks out with the Hong Kong Cavaliers. A nice mix of parody, irreverent humor, and sci fi homage, this one has since become a genre classic. Sadly, we never got the promised follow-up film. But if you have never seen the first movie (or have not revisited in a while), now is the time to give it a look. It is streaming for free on Vudu Free once you setup a logon.

Click on the following links for a comprehensive list of the Sci Fi TV Shows available on Netflix | Prime Video | Hulu | Other Services

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