After Yang and 4 Other Most Inventive Sci-Fi Movies Released in the 2020s

Science fiction continues to dominate the big screen. But there are still sci-fi films that not only make big money at the box office, but also push the boundaries of the genre, offer new perspectives, and find creative solutions to overcome budget constraints.

1. Mad God, 2021

A soldier descends into a dungeon and goes through the nightmares of a post-apocalyptic world – there are creepy creatures, industrial machines, and a constant cycle of death and suffering.

This is what an animation by Phil Tippett looks like – he is a famous special effects supervisor who worked on Jurassic Park, Star Wars and Robocop and then spent 30 years to realize his dream project.

Mad God accomplishes the task without words, taking the viewer through a sickening world – truly unique and amazing. A real gift for fans of old sci-fi, not to mention the fact that this will be the most terrifying animated experience of your life.

2. After Yang, 2021

A husband and wife try to repair the android Yang, who has become almost a relative for their young daughter. After Yang is a melancholic drama about a future landscape in which humans and technology are closely intertwined.

The family as a fundamental social institution is the main theme from which director Kogonada develops his charming cinematic reflection.

The film leaves the viewer with warm feelings – an attitude that is sorely lacking in futuristic cinema, which has infected viewers with its icy outlook on the future.

3. Nope, 2022

Jordan Peele's Nope entered the cinema as one of the most controversial sci-fi films of recent years. The director of the horror Get Out went for a bizarre hybrid – Peele combined the concept of an alien invasion movie with a western, crossing comedy and horror at the same time.

Brother OJ and sister Emerald want to film a UFO to get rich and learn more about the strange flying saucer that visits their ranch.

4. Memoria, 2021

Jessica is regularly awakened at night by a dull and mysterious sound. She embarks on a journey to discover its meaning.

Science fiction would seem to have no place in Memoria, a slow-moving film by Thai director Apichatpong Weerasethakul, in which the camera follows Tilda Swinton for two hours through the Colombian countryside.

But through its meditative rhythm, Weerasethakul leads us down an unexpected path – for him, there are no limits to the genres or methods of presenting the material. Memoria is an impressive audiovisual experience, bringing the film closer to media art than cinematography.

5. Robot Dreams, 2023

Lonely Dog gets a robot friend to help him explore 80s Manhattan. But on a trip to the beach, his trusty companion breaks down, leaving Dog alone once again.

While Disney and Pixar are a bit stuck, Spanish animator Pablo Berger takes matters into his own hands. Robot Dreams is a heartbreaking variation on the theme of The Iron Giant, in which there is no room for drama and contrived fairy tales.

Bright, but unpretentious in style and animation, Berger's movie explores the phenomenon of loneliness and separation, transferring the action to the sci-fi genre.