Robots and artificial intelligence. Far-flung galaxies and planets. Futuristic realms and alternate universes. Anyone craving a round-up of the best sci-fi films?

Science fiction is a genre that ignites our imaginations and transports us from our normal lives to mind-bending worlds. And given the pretty bleak state of the world we’re in right now, a good immersive sci-fi flick is just what we need.

Our fascination with what the future might look like launched the sci-fi genre way before our technology-obsessed age, with authors such as Isaac Asimov and H.G. Wells writing fantastical adventures and dystopian tales in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Their classic novels even inspired some of the best-loved sci-fi films of our generation (I, Robot; The War of the Worlds; and more recently, The Invisible Man starring one of our all-time faves, Elisabeth Moss).

More recently, hit shows such as Stranger Things have reignited our love of science fiction and fantasy, giving a fresh take on dark underworlds and ghoulish otherworldly monsters – something once associated with teenage boys reading comic books. Did Millie Bobby Brown make sci-fi cool again? Or are all now just embracing our inner nerd with pride?

Whatever you think, there’s never been a better time to delve into the world’s offering of sci-fi flicks from Interstellar to Jordan Peele’s Nope and AI classic Her. Read on for our pick of the best sci-fi films around.

If you love a good watch check out the other best Netflix documentaries, true crime documentaries and date night movies, or our ultimate roundup of the best tv series in the meantime.