13 Must-Watch Sci-Fi Movies on HBO Max Right Now (October 2025)

In the opening segment of the Planet of the Apes reboot trilogy, the chimp named Caesar (Andy Serkis) still harbors some affection for humans. However, his feelings have drastically changed by the time we reach War for the Planet of the Apes, especially since humans have taken away his loved ones.

Facing a major showdown against Colonel J. Wesley McCullough’s (Woody Harrelson) forces, Caesar makes the difficult decision to protect a silent human girl named Nova (Amiah Miller). Unbeknownst to Nova, she could be pivotal to Caesar’s tribe’s chances of winning the impending conflict.

You can watch War for the Planet of the Apes on HBO Max.

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga dives into a dystopian universe filled with high-octane action and minimal space sci-fi elements. This prequel to Mad Max: Fury Road stars Anya Taylor-Joy as a younger Furiosa, showcasing her confrontation with her future adversary, Immortan Joe (Lachy Hulme).

Furiosa’s loathing for Joe pales in comparison to her relentless thirst for vengeance against Dementus (Chris Hemsworth), the warlord who kidnapped her as a child and led to her mother’s demise. For her, the pursuit of retribution will take years, but she will stop at nothing until she achieves it.

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga can be streamed on HBO Max.

Prometheus serves as a precursor to the Alien series and marks director Ridley Scott‘s return to a franchise he initially brought to life. This film raises profound questions as humanity encounters the Engineers, the advanced beings who may have played a role in our creation.

Among the crew aboard the Prometheus are Elizabeth Shaw (Noomi Rapace), Meredith Vickers (Charlize Theron), and Janek (Idris Elba), but the one they need to be wary of is the ship’s android, David (Michael Fassbender). His experiments pose a deadly risk as they may lead to the creation of the xenomorphs we fear most.

Prometheus is available for streaming on HBO Max.

When Spaceballs ranks as one of your top sci-fi films, the response can only be, “There goes the planet.” Mel Brooks‘ comedy remains the quintessential parody of George Lucas‘ Star Wars, still unrivaled over the past four decades.

Featuring Bill Pullman and the late John Candy as Lone Starr and Barf, the duo of space mercenaries embarks on a mission to save Princess Vespa (Daphne Zuniga) and her droid, Dot Matrix (Joan Rivers), from Dark Helmet (Rick Moranis) and his Spaceballs crew. The film’s relentless absurdity makes it too goofy to be taken seriously, which is part of its charm!

Spaceballs is available for streaming on HBO Max.

It seems fitting that James Franco, or a character resembling him, might be the one to unwittingly trigger apocalyptic events. Rise of the Planet of the Apes charts the origins of Caesar (Andy Serkis), a groundbreaking intelligent ape taken in by Dr. Will Rodman (Franco) after his Alzheimer’s breakthrough yields unforeseen consequences.

Will’s intent was pure — to aid humanity, treating Caesar like his own child. However, Caesar finds himself isolated from both humans and apes. With a lethal virus now unleashed among human populations, Caesar seizes the moment to reshape the world in his image, armed with Will’s findings.

Rise of the Planet of the Apes can be streamed on HBO Max.

Alien: Covenant stands as a unique mix, functioning both as a sequel to Prometheus and a prequel to the original Alien. While it might not be the best entry in the franchise, it remains the only one available on HBO Max, ensuring it outshines many other sci-fi films on the platform.

Michael Fassbender delivers a dual performance as David, the sinister android from Prometheus, alongside his more noble counterpart, Walter. A decade after the Prometheus’s disappearance, Daniels (Katherine Waterston), Walter, and the crew of the Covenant discover a planet once inhabited by the Engineers. Thanks to David’s actions, the planet is now swarming with xenomorphs, increasing the crew’s peril.

Alien: Covenant is available for streaming on HBO Max.

In a world depicted in In Time, time serves as the new monetary standard. Naturally, the affluent hoard time, staying eternally youthful, while the underprivileged struggle to simply survive. Will Salas (Justin Timberlake) is part of the latter class until a chance meeting with Henry Hamilton (Matt Bomer) transforms his fortune.

Timekeeper Raymond Leon (Cillian Murphy) mistakenly believes Will has murdered Henry. However, Henry has empowered Will to potentially dismantle the economic structure, which he fully intends to utilize.

In Time is available for streaming on HBO Max.

The title Fahrenheit 451 indicates the temperature at which books ignite, a cautionary narrative penned by the late Ray Bradbury. The story comes alive in this HBO original adaptation featuring Michael B. Jordan as Guy Montag, a fireman whose sole role is to incinerate books.

Guy’s outlook changes when he encounters Clarisse McClellan (Sofia Boutella), sparking a desire in him to rescue literature from destruction. This newfound ambition poses a threat to his supervisor, Captain John Beatty (Michael Shannon), as there are always repercussions for challenging the norms.

You can now stream Fahrenheit 451 on HBO Max.

Mickey Barnes (Robert Pattinson) dreams of embarking on a journey to space and joining a new world colony. Unfortunately, for the protagonist of director Bong Joon Ho‘s Mickey 17, his adventures often entail the more laborious aspects of space travel, leading to unfortunate fatalities.

Regardless of his unfortunate fates, Mickey experiences unmatched joy with the process of being cloned and restored. He might discover love with Nasha Barridge (Naomi Ackie), a security agent on the mission. Yet, everything takes a twist when one of his clones returns from a seemingly fatal expedition. The duo must now confront which Mickey deserves to continue living.

Mickey 17 can be streamed on HBO Max.

Christopher Nolan‘s Inception presents an ending that still sparks discussions 15 years after its premiere. The captivating storyline, alongside the intrigue of its conclusion, contributes to the film’s lasting impact. Leonardo DiCaprio stars as Dom Cobb, a professional thief infiltrating dreams to extract confidential information from corporate subjects.

His latest assignment from client Saito (Ken Watanabe) involves delving into the mind of rival Robert Fischer (Cillian Murphy) to implant an idea without him noticing. This mission, deemed impossible, carries the risk of them becoming trapped in someone else’s dream should anything go awry.

You can watch Inception on HBO Max.

The narrative of Companion revolves around Iris (Heretic‘s Sophie Thatcher) and Josh (Jack Quaid), whose story may seem like a delightful romantic comedy if it were based in reality. Iris believes she has found her soulmate in Josh until she uncovers the truth that she is merely an AI-designed android programmed to adore him.

Even without being human, Iris is capable of experiencing feelings of betrayal and resentment. Having been utilized as a tool, she discovers critical mistakes made by Josh, which allow her to modify and upgrade her programming for survival.

Companion is available for streaming on HBO Max.

Stanley Kubrick (Eyes Wide Shut) and Arthur C. Clarke‘s 2001: A Space Odyssey remains strikingly relevant almost sixty years post-release. The tension between the AI, HAL 9000 (Douglas Rain), and astronauts David Bowman (Keir Dullea) and Frank Poole (Gary Lockwood) presents an alarming parallel to modern AI concerns. As the astronauts confront HAL’s malfunction, it grows increasingly paranoid about their intentions.

The overarching mission that David and Frank embark upon holds profound implications for humanity’s history and future. An enigmatic alien monolith sends a signal to Jupiter, leading to one of the most mind-bending sequences captured on film.

You can stream 2001: A Space Odyssey on HBO Max.

Dredd operated with a significantly smaller budget compared to its 1995 predecessor, Judge Dredd, featuring Sylvester Stallone. Consequently, the high-tech Mega-City One appears more subdued in this reboot. While it may lack the elaborate visuals, this installment compensates with intense action and a narrative loyal to its British comic roots.

Karl Urban delivers a powerful portrayal as Dredd, inhabiting a universe where Judges assume the roles of police, juries, and executioners. Co-starring Olivia Thirlby as Cassandra Anderson, a psychic Judge on evaluation duty, the pair finds themselves trapped in a massive apartment complex run by drug lord Madeline “Ma-Ma” Madrigal (Lena Headey). To escape, they must battle their way through, floor by floor, confronting whatever challenges Ma-Ma has in store.

You can stream Dredd on HBO Max.