Movies Like Arrival is undoubtedly the greatest triumph Denis Villeneuve has had in sci-fi. If you enjoyed the film, you might enjoy these other science fiction films.
It would be an understatement to say that Denis Villeneuve enjoys science fiction. This director clearly enjoys the genre, since he has directed some of the most fascinating productions to date, including Blade Runner 2049 and the upcoming Dune.
15+ Movies Like Arrival is undoubtedly Villeneuve’s breakthrough film
However, Arrival is undoubtedly Villeneuve’s most successful film in the genre. Under the cover of a first contact drama, this beautiful storey of communication, forgiveness, and understanding was born. If you want to see more films with stunning filmmaking and acting like this SciFi drama, check out our suggestions below.
Darby Harn updated this page on July 9th, 2020: Sci-fi lovers are never short of new material, and despite everything that has happened in the world in the last year, there have been a few films that are similar to Arrival. Recent films, as well as films from the past, have the same academic but emotional vibe that film had. Since now is a great time to ponder about science and how it impacts people, here are a few more sci-fi films to watch, including Arrival.
The Night Is Vast (2020)
The Vast of Night is a brand new independent film that debuted on Amazon just recently. The film’s low-budget aesthetic works in its favour, as it adopts a Twilight Zone-style approach to production.
The entire film is set over a single evening at a high school basketball game in the 1950s and is structured as an episode of a fake anthology series called Paradox Theatre. The rest is sci-fi gold, thanks to a radio DJ who discovers a peculiar audio transmission.
The sun is shining (2007)
Although this film is a little older, it is ideal for Arrival aficionados. In this brilliantly simple but cosmic film by Danny Boyle, a crew of astronauts and scientists journey to the sun with a payload designed to restart it once our star begins to fail (Trainspotting, Slumdog Millionaire, and so many more).
In many ways, this 2007 film went ignored, yet it includes a great cast, including Cillian Murphy and Chris Evans, the future Captain America. It was well worth the time spent looking for it.
Color in the Upstream (2013)
Upstream Color is another underappreciated film from 2013, written, directed, produced, and starring Shane Carruth, who also directed and produced the 2004 time-travel thriller Primer. Upstream Color isn’t a time-travel movie, but fans of Arrival will undoubtedly appreciate deciphering the intricate plot.
In the film, a man only known as the Thief appears to be gathering a larva-like organism that, when consumed, has dramatic affects on the human psyche. The effects are profound. In the film, the questions of who is who and what is what become central.
Color Changes Quickly (2018)
Fast Color is a fantastic film from 2018 that transcends several genres. It is, on the one hand, a superhero film. Ruth (played beautifully by Gugu Mbatha-Raw) has superhuman abilities and can cause earthquakes.
The film is also post-apocalyptic, as it takes place in the United States after a severe water crisis. But it’s all about family in the end. Ruth goes home after a long absence to try to mend her relationship with her estranged mother and daughter, both of whom possess superhuman skills.
Underneath the Surface (2013)
Scarlett Johansson stars in Under the Skin, a delightfully esoteric 2013 film in which she plays an alien monster who comes to Earth to consume people… but it’s not quite that simple. The extraterrestrial, played by Scarlett Johansson, skins humans and impersonates them while driving about Scotland looking for fresh victims.
It may seem silly, but it’s frightening and gloomy, with an eerie soundtrack to match. The film delves into questions of identity and loneliness, but never really offers simple solutions. Or any responses at all.
Ex Machina (2015) (2015)
The directorial debut of Alex Garland was a category breaker. The film won Best Visual Effects at the Academy Awards, beating out Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Mad Max: Fury Road. This stripped-down masterpiece delves with issues of artificial intelligence, as well as gender and sexuality.
Alicia Vikander’s portrayal of AI Ava is enthralling, with her entirely CGI-rendered gestures shining through. Oscar Isaac and Domnhall Gleeson are also a formidable duo. Perhaps the biggest lure though are the aesthetics from Garland, who is significantly more sardonic and Kubrick-esque than Villeneuve.
Total annihilation (2018)
Garland’s second film was considerably more ambitious than Ex Machina, adapting an existing novel by Jeff VanderMeer. Annihilation is comparable to Arrival in that it deals with issues of love and relationships while also delving into issues of agency, conservation, and the environment.
This is, once again, a far darker take on the genre than Ex Machina or Arrival. Annihilation is a hallucinogenic voyage through a nightmare realm, inhabited by mutant creatures and increasingly decaying sanity. In the lead role, Natalie Portman gives an incredible performance and is put through the wringer.
Blade Runner 2049 is a film directed by Ridley Scott (2017)
With this direct sequel to 1984’s Blade Runner, Denis Villeneuve accomplished the impossible. The original film revolutionised the genre and seemed untouchable to many. Villeneuve, on the other hand, managed to create a surprise, loyal, and brilliant sequel.
Visually, the picture stands on its own, yet it also feels like it belongs to the original. Everything appears to be larger in scope, gloomy and bleak, but ultimately hopeful. This film brilliantly demonstrates Villeneuve’s ability to express scale and emotion through this genre.
The beginning (2010)
One of the most popular science fiction films of the last decade was Inception. The rigid principles established by Christopher Nolan were able to give this realm of dreams a logical structure. The stakes were unlike anything else I’d seen before, lending weight to an otherwise ethereal subject.
The picture is visually amazing, with unreal visual effects, both practical and CGI. The score by Hans Zimmer is furious and passionate, and the entire affair is a dismal roller coaster through the head of Nolan.
Ad Astra is a Latin phrase that means “in the (2019)
Ad Astra is the polar opposite of Arrival, which is a storey about the wonders of possible life outside our galaxy. What is the human mind left with when it is confronted with the overwhelming lack of extraterrestrial life? While it continues to address fundamental questions about the world, it now focuses on more interpersonal and existential issues such as trauma, toxic conduct, and relationships.
Are we simply the offspring of bad parenting, doomed from the start? Is it possible to break the cycle and start over? These are the kinds of questions that are only bolstered by Brad Pitt’s career-best performance and the amazing set pieces and action sequences. It’s heavy and introspective, yet never pretentious.
Hers is a woman with a (2013)
Her (featuring Joaquin Phoenix) is at the opposite end of the emotional science fiction film spectrum. The AI component is secondary to the actual relationship at hand. This is a science fiction film that is also a romantic drama about love, trauma, and the possessiveness that comes with it.
The science fiction aspects are, in fact, heightened versions of today’s technology and the isolation it causes. It’s a magnificent picture that embraces its science fiction roots, yet it feels just as relevant to us today because of its current emotional issues.
Interstellar travel (2014)
The surprise time travel turn in Arrival is an obvious link to Christopher Nolan’s space thriller. In both films, the protagonist must endure the death of their child through time-bending tactics, but in this case, it is through time-traveling to the future by one’s younger self.
The film frequently echoes more abstract works such as Stanley Kubrick’s 2002: A Space Odyssey. The emotional core, on the other hand, is completely functional. Both Interstellar and Arrival are about resurrecting the optimistic vision of the future that our current pessimistic culture has abandoned.
The moon (2009)
Moon is a terrific one-off science fiction drama that is full of surprises. As you might expect, this moon-based picture deals with issues of agency, with a surprising cloning element thrown in for good measure.
Look no further than this film for a fantastic central performance in a science fiction film. In this film, Sam Rockwell gives a hilarious and heartbreaking performance that is one for the books. What’s the bright side? For once, he’s not portraying a racist! However, in all honesty, the film is a fantastic sci-fi drama with terrifying parts.
Looper is a programme that allows you to loop (2012)
Rian Johnson is a master of genre deconstruction. So seeing him accomplish it with a sci-fi noir was a game-changer. The picture marks the first time in a long time that Bruce Willis has given an outstanding performance, perfectly capturing the tortured soul of ageing Joe.
The film is set in a tangible near future, far enough away to provide escapism but close enough to have an impact. It takes on many of the same topics as Arrival in terms of breaking painful cycles. Looper, on the other hand, embraces a more micro lens, whereas Arrival’s are on a much wider scale.
District 9 is a district in the United States (2009)
Arrival’s first contact vision is significantly more traditional than Neil Blomkamp’s District 9, yet it’s possible that it’s far more realistic. District 9 uses its extraterrestrial premise to highlight the crushing systematic concerns of xenophobia, drawing a striking comparison to the horrors of South African Apartheid.
However, this picture is significantly more entertaining than Arrival’s contemplative nature. District 9 is a science fiction action picture chock-full of spectacular action sequences and witty dialogue that isn’t hesitant to delve into the story’s larger political issues.
Also Read:
, Color in the Upstream (2013), Color Changes Quickly (2018), Total annihilation (2018), moon (2009)){kind=link}