Summer is sizzling and what better way to get into the mood than seeing a sci-fi thrill ride to make the time go by in a fun way? How about some jam-packed action? A little twist and turn? Maybe some pure craziness all throw together in a cinematic fashion? Say less.

It’s all about what’s available both on the big screen and some hidden streaming gems ready for your viewing pleasures. Check out three must-see flicks and a bonus fourth one worthy of watching.

For eons, the human population has speculated whether or not our planet is the only planet to sustain life, and whether or not human beings and other species we share the earth with are the only inhabitants of our universe. Technological achievements and advancements such as landing on the moon and placing a rover on Mars are just a few examples of how our curiosity for the extraterrestrial has captivated us as humans. 

Our curiosity has given way to some out-of-this-world creations in the TV and film industry. With movies like ET The Extra-Terrestrial(1982) grossing approximately $440 million domestically and Jurassic World: Dominion (2022) raking in over $1 billion internationally, this science-fiction genre has become increasingly popular among movie-goers, TV-watchers, book readers, video gamers, and more. Even more interestingly, there are a handful of tropes that cause us to think about the way we interact with technology on and outside of our planet and the potential consequences of our exploration and advancements. 

Here is a list of popular sci-fi movies and their respective tropes that you need to add to your watchlist this summer.

1. Alien: Romulus (2024)

While scavenging the deep ends of a derelict space station, a group of young space colonizers come face to face with the most terrifying life form in the universe. As the 7th installment of the Alien franchise, this film has a ‘Bad Aliens’ trope as the characters in the movie are fighting for their lives to escape these horrifying creatures. Alien: Romulus will be in theatres August 16, 2024.

2. The Beast

The year is 2044: artificial intelligence controls all facets of a stoic society as humans routinely "erase" their feelings. Hoping to eliminate pain caused by their past-life romances, Gabrielle (Léa Seydoux) continually falls in love with different incarnations of Louis (George MacKay). Set first in Belle Époque-era Paris, Louis is a British man who woos her away from a cold husband, then in early 21st Century Los Angeles, he is a disturbed American bent on delivering violent "retribution." Will the process allow Gabrielle to fully connect with Louis in the present, or are the two doomed to repeat their previous fates?

This movie’s trope relates to AI and the dangers of its potential capabilities. Released on April 5, this movie can be streamed on Apple TV. 

3. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (2024)

The new Apes movie is set many years after the conclusion of 2017's War for the Planet of the Apes. Many ape societies have grown from when the Moses-like Caesar brought his people to an oasis, while humans have been reduced to a feral-like existence. Some ape groups have never heard of Caesar, while others have contorted his teaching to build burgeoning empires. In this setting, one ape leader begins to enslave other groups to find human technology, while another ape, who watched his clan be taken, embarks on a journey to find freedom. A young human woman becomes key to the latter's quest, although she has plans of her own.

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes is a great example of the ‘Animal is the new man’ trope as the apes have taken over the world. This film was released on May 10 and is available in theatres everywhere.

4. Leave the World Behind (2023)

Bearing grim news of an unknown enemy and the shocking certainty that the city succumbs to chaos, a sharp-dressed stranger and his young companion disrupt Amanda's and Clay's much-needed family vacation. But the information the unwanted couple brings is inconceivable. Now, a complex, multilevel mystery unfolds before everyone's eyes, whether they like it or not. After all, the unsuspecting tourists have already encountered a series of mysterious, logic-defying incidents during their brief stay. As a result, vague disbelief and a palpable sense of threat ratchet up the tension, rendering modern technology unreliable. And the question remains: in a rapidly disintegrating world where nothing makes sense, what can you do to protect your own and what used to be your cherished ordinary life? 

Released to Netflix subscribers on December 8, 2023, his film has a strong apocalyptic, end-of-the-world vibe and is still available for streaming.