11. Edge Of Tomorrow (2014)


In a refreshing take on time travel and alien invasion narratives, director Doug Liman presents audiences with a film dedicated to the consequences of human actions. In Edge of Tomorrow, an alien race has attacked the earth, forcing the planet into a war that threatens the existence of the human race. Major William Cage (Tom Cruise) is thrust into the fighting without any training and dies shortly after his entrance, only to wake up and start the war all over again. Stuck in a time-loop, Cage fights and dies countless times alongside Special Forces warrior Rita Vrataski (Emily Blunt), learning valuable information with every encounter. Every loop brings them closer to defeating the enemy.

Emily Blunt is a power-house in this movie and arguably shines brighter than Cruise, the king of action movies himself. If you enjoy time travel but are bored of the same storylines, this movie will definitely refresh your spirit.

10. The Martian (2015)


In another marvel from director Ridley Scott, The Martian is a claustrophobic and intense film that showcases the lengths at which someone will go to survive. During a mission on Mars, astronaut Mark Watney (Matt Damon) and the rest of his team are hit by a surprise storm, forcing the crew to abort their mission and return back to Earth. Watney is left behind and presumed dead. The astronaut has to fend for himself with meager supplies. He manages to get word back to NASA that in turn, rallies together with other international space agencies, devising a plan to bring Watney back home. Matt Damon is utterly captivating in the role of Watney, and The Martian might just be one if his best performance to date.

9. Oblivion (2013)


The post-apocalyptic world of Oblivion has viewers guessing even in the final scenes of the film. Directed by Joseph Kosinski, this movie had audiences question the nature of reality, while contemplating the negative impacts of blind faith in authority figures. Jack Harper (Tom Cruise) is one of the last repairmen on earth, tasked with fixing drones after a terrain-altering war ravaged the world. When a mysterious crew crash-lands near his station, Harper’s reality begins to crack, and he is forced to reevaluate his life and the causes of the war. This movie goes from an interesting new take on the future in the beginning, to a mind-blowing and amazing unique story by the end. Mystery after mystery is thrown at the audience with barely any breathing time, causing audiences to feel as though they are losing their minds along with the characters.

8. Prometheus (2012)


As a prequel to the Alien franchise, director Ridley Scott uses Prometheus to explain how the famed alien creatures came into existence. That answer opens the door to a whole slew of more philosophical questions about human nature and the meaning of life. The film follows Elizabeth Shaw (Noomi Rapace) and Charlie Holloway (Logan Marshall-Green) as they embark on an expedition through space to find who they believe may be the creators of the human race.

The science-based expedition soon turns deadly, and the crew must defend their lives against a mutated species in order to get off the planet. It's no secret that Ridley Scott hated a couple of the Alien sequels — via Prometheus, Scott returns the franchise back to the quality of the early films. It's a thought-provoking and philosophical story while being tense and action-packed at the same time.

7. Arrival (2016)


Directed by Denis Villeneuve, Arrival explores the ideas of connection and how we make sense of the world through forms of language. After a number of alien space ships land on the earth, the US military enlists the help of linguistics professor Louise Banks (Amy Adams) to help communicate with the beings inside. While prominent nation leaders argue about what to do with the aliens, Banks must decipher the alien language and determine whether they are friendly or potential enemies. In the end, the film takes a twist that no one sees coming. This movie refuses to be labeled as one thing in particular and that's what makes it so interesting. There are elements of drama, levity, and mind-bending science-fiction. Likewise, Amy Adams is a tour-de-force and steals the show every time she's on screen.