It’s a holiday weekend, which probably means you have some down time. What better activity, while you’re digesting that leftover Turkey, than catching up on some of 2016's best scifi and fantasy films ?
The films below are currently available to stream (or to buy on Blu-ray) and had a relatively small or unsuccessful release, so we’re guessing you missed at least some of them. Most importantly, they’re good! .
Synchronicity
This ultra small scifi mind-bender is one of those films that you watch and immediately want to dissect. It’s about a group of friends who create time travel and then get paranoid about people attempting to steal it. Or have they already? Read more about it here.
Lazer Team
The team behind Rooster Teeth crowd-sourced this surprisingly polished and funny movie about a group of regular guys who split up elements of an alien super suit that makes its wearer invincible. For a movie as small as this is, you’ll be surprised how good it looks.
Southbound
This horror anthology tells multiple stories that dive into lots of weird, creepy places, all in a vast, desert wasteland. Come for the creepy cults, stay for the awesomely-designed creatures and gross-out surgery. Read more about it here.
The Witch
The Witch isn’t a fast or flashy movie, but it sucks you in with its realism and eventually knocks your socks off with its climax. It’s terrifying and ballsy if you just give it a chance to cast its spell. Read our review.
10 Cloverfield Lane
This movie was a decent sized hit at the box office but, in case you missed it, you should check it out. It’s about a young woman who is mysteriously locked in a bunker and told the world is ending around her. Great performances and a killer ending make this one worth your while. Read our review and more here.
Midnight Special
Midnight Special is a film very much made in the mold of ‘80s scifi, with a little more heart and modern effects. It’s about a boy with special powers and the people who are ready to give their lives to get him where he needs to be. Read our review and more here.
The Lobster
Imagine a world where, if you don’t have a significant other by a certain point in your life, you are discarded and turned into an animal. That’s just part of this weird, hilarious, and subversive film. Read our review.
Hardcore Henry
The world’s first, wholly POV action film is light on story and character but heavy on incredibly impressive visual effects and stunts. You are put into the eyes of a cyborg on a mission to save the woman he loves and, holy crap, the things you’ll see are insane. Read our review and about the making of the film here.
Elstree 1976
This fascinating documentary follows several actors who played teeny, tiny roles in a movie you may have possibly seen before, by the name of Star Wars. It certainly has its lulls, but the best parts make it worth watching. Read our review.
High-Rise
The messed up exploits of an apocalyptic apartment building are the subject of this visceral thriller starring Loki, a.k.a Tom Hiddleston. Read our review.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows
Yes, for real. This movie, of course, got a huge release but bombed horribly. Which sucks because it’s lightyears better than the crappy first film. If you had any interest and skipped it, we highly recommend righting that wrong. Read our review.
Swiss Army Man
A man stranded on a deserted island is ready to kill himself when a dead body washes up on the beach. What follows is a weird, funny but ultimately uplifting tale of a man, a corpse, and what simply companionship can do for the human spirit. Read our review.
Kubo and the Two Strings
Again, this movie also got a pretty wide release but audiences, for the most part, didn’t show up. It just came out on Blu-ray and it’s a gorgeous, exciting adventure you’ll be glad you took. Read our review and about the making of the movie here.