Although next year’s busy movie schedules are full of all kinds of movies, not least the now-familiar mixture of remakes and superhero sequels, there’s also a heartening number of potentially excellent science fiction films to look forward to.

In compiling this list, we’ve concentrated exclusively on movies that aren’t either sequels to hit films, or remakes – so apologies in advance to RoboCop, Catching Fire and Star Trek Into Darkness. Instead, we’ve tried to highlight some of next year’s original genre movies, from epic, expensive action thrillers to low-budget, low-key dramas.

Whatever your particular taste in sci-fi is, you’ll surely find at least one movie to pique your interest in the selection below.

Cloud Atlas

In an industry often criticised for its lack of risk-taking and ambition, Cloud Atlas stands out as a true anomaly. The work of no fewer than three directors – Tom Tykwer and the Wachowskis, it’s an adaptation of David Mitchell’s prize-winning, mind-boggling book of the same name.