The Discovery

A scientist makes a phenomenal discovery when he finds evidence that the afterlife is real—which leads to mass suicides on Earth. Two years later, his estranged son returns to his home to find his father has set up a colony for those who attempted suicide—and he has another secret about the other world. Available to stream on Netflix.

Alien: Covenant

Ridley Scott's latest addition to the Alien franchise is a prequel to his 1979 original (and a sequel to the polarizing Prometheus). A crew of Americans travel through space to colonize a new planet; upon discovering another inhabitable planet, they take a detour to scope out the new land. Crisis ensues, naturally, when their team is picked off one by one by deadly xenomorphs. But this action-packed thriller has a philosophical side, touching on Scott's favorite themes of humanity and creation. Buy/rent on Amazon and iTunes.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

The sequel to Marvel's comic blockbuster picks up where the original left off, with this ragtag group of space outcasts scrambling to keep their crew together as their leader Star Lord discovers that his father is alive (and in space). Keeping the spirit of the previous installment alive, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 brings the return of its irreverent, comic cast of characters that makes it one of the most fun Marvel properties yet. Buy/rent on Amazon and iTunes.

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War for the Planet of the Apes

It's not your parents' campy Planet of the Apes franchise, and the third installment in the latest reboot of the series has come a long way from the first (a silly origin story starring James Franco). Here we have Andy Serkis doing some of his best motion-capture work as Caesar, the ape who leads an army against his human enemies. It's dark, brutal, and smartly written, and features a knockout performance from Woody Harrelson as the cold and obsessive man hell-bent on destroying the apes. Buy/rent on Amazon and iTunes.

Wonder Woman

Wonder Woman's appearance on the big screen was a long time coming, and her first stand-alone feature was well worth the wait. Patty Jenkins's epic serves as an origin story for the Amazon superhero, and its third act has all of the typical comic book movie cliches. But it's also charming, funny, impeccably filmed, and features a star-making performance from Gal Gadot—the sole bright spot in DC's dismal cinematic universe. Buy/rent on Amazon and iTunes.

Kong: Skull Island

No one needed (or, frankly, asked for) this new King Kong feature. But it's a rollercoaster ride of action, adventure, and legitimate comedy. Just after the Vietnam War, a government-led expedition seeks to explore a mysterious island that has surfaced on satellite imagery in the South Pacific. But their exploration is cut short when the crew discovers it's inhabited by one giant ape—and he's not the only massive creature who's roaming about. Buy/rent on Amazon and iTunes.

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Marjorie Prime

In the near future, a service provides holographic versions of departed loved ones. The 86-year-old Marjorie has one of her own: a recreation of her late husband when he was still in his prime that brings back happy memories to her life. Her grown children, however, are less enthused—particularly Marjorie's son, who must come face-to-face with his father as an adult. Buy/rent on Amazon.

Thor: Ragnarok

One of the most woefully serious characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Thor was never primed to be a comedy star—that is until acclaimed director Taika Waititi breathed fresh life into the franchise, cutting the fat from the overwrought superhero genre and allowing Thor to flex some comedic muscles. Joined by the Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Chris Hemsworth's hero finds himself imprisoned on a strange planet where he must fight against his fellow Avenger in a gladiatorial battle for the delight of Jeff Goldblum's Grandmaster—all the while trying to escape this torment in order to save his home from the deadly Hela (Cate Blanchett). Pre-order on Amazon.

Blade Runner 2049

The much-anticipated sequel to Ridley Scott's cult classic may have come 35 grueling years after the original (and didn't meet box office expectations). But Blade Runner 2049 is a visual masterpiece, with director Denis Villeneuve (fresh off from earning an Oscar nomination for Arrival) not only matching his predecessor's style but continuing its mystery and widening the scope of this dystopian future well beyond a dark and gritty Los Angeles. Pre-order on Amazon and iTunes.

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Okja

Snowpiercer director Bong Joon Ho returns with another delightfully mad sci-fi satire, this time following a young girl named Mija and her bizarre, giant pig-like companion named Okja. Their friendship is put to the test when the Mirando Corporation seizes Okja and takes him from his home in the woods of South Korea to New York; Mija follows in hot pursuit, encountering eco-activists, devious capitalists, and one purely manic Jake Gyllenhaal. Tilda Swinton also delivers a diabolical double-role in this dark, yet touching, adventure. Available to stream on Netflix.

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