The Greatest 1-2 Punch In Sci-Fi Movie History Is Now Streaming On Netflix

Published Sep 2, 2026, 12:22 PM EDT Anthony is a news reporter and a guide writer who has covered the entertainment industry for five years. He has covered a wide range of genres, including aviation incidents and international crime, and has a keen eye for details that may slip under the radar. When he's not writing, Anthony can be found at Brands Hatch race track or at home watching indie horror movies nobody has heard of. Movie sequels, both inside and outside the sci-fi genre, are notoriously difficult to get right, especially when the original is so beloved. It's an issue that can plague any genre as directors scramble to achieve so much with another title. That movie ultimately needs to catch lightning in a bottle a second time, build on what made the original a success, and add enough to the overall story so it doesn't retread old ground. The stakes are high, and a bad sequel can ultimately doom an entire franchise if it fails to find an audience. Sequels may be high risk, but the best enhance what came before, turning a standalone story into a multipart tale worth telling. Batman Begins, for example, introduced audiences to Christian Bale's Caped Crusader, propped up by a phenomenal cast including Liam Neeson as Ducard. The sequel, The Dark Knight, is iconic for Heath Ledger's legendary interpretation of the Joker. Kill Bill is another great example, telling a blood-soaked revenge story, even though it was always planned as two parts. The sci-fi genre is also no stranger to 1-2 punches. Terminator and Terminator 2: Judgment Day remain sci-fi action classics decades later. A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back introduced audiences to a story in a galaxy far, far away that is still going strong today. However, another great 1-2 punch in the genre is now available to watch on Netflix, and both titles are arguably required viewing if you love sci-fi horror. Alien Remains An Unbeatable Sci-Fi Horror Masterpiece Credit: MovieStillsDB Ridley Scott's Alien premiered in 1979 and introduced audiences to one of the most terrifying creatures in movie history. The Xenomorph is a horrifying monster, with abilities that only become more shocking as the story unfolds. Alien stars Sigourney Weaver as Ellen Ripley, a Warrant Officer on the Nostromo spacecraft. One of her crewmates disturbs an alien pod, and a Facehugger lunges out and attaches to him. The crew brings him onto the ship despite Ripley objecting, and things seem fine as the spider-like creature appears to die. Moments later, audiences are treated to arguably one of the most shocking sci-fi scenes of all time when the alien bursts out of its host's chest. Alien becomes a nightmarish survival-horror movie as a rapidly growing killing machine skulks through the corridors of the Nostromo. It's hard to overstate how terrifying the Xenomorph was when it was released because there was very little like it. The movie also tells quite a personal survival story, as the crew members are clearly not trained soldiers, nor do they have guns or other conventional weapons to deal with an existential threat. The 1979 classic leans heavily into horror with its intimidating creature and shocking death scenes. Alien is also quite different from the sequel, which pivoted away from the original's scares and provided an entirely different experience for fans. Aliens Changed Genres From Alien And Is Just As Great James Cameron directed Aliens, which released in 1986. The movie continues where the original left off, with Sigourney Weaver reprising her role as Ripley. We see the authorities mocking Ripley for her account of events on LV-426, as the colonists have never reported such a creature. However, communications abruptly stop, prompting a military response with Ripley as an advisor. The oddly charismatic gung-ho marines are a highlight of Aliens, and it's clear early on that the 1986 title will be a very different movie from the original. Aliens has some scary moments, but it's more of a sci-fi action film than a sci-fi horror. The scale is also far grander, with a sprawling colony settlement infested with Xenomorphs. Ripley and the Marines' battle for survival is intense as they struggle to stay one step ahead of the aliens. They also find Newt (Carrie Henn), a young girl who's managed to prevail alone against all odds. Alien and Aliens remain a remarkable sci-fi pairing because they are so different, yet complement each other as few other sequels do. Besides the Xenomorph and Ripley, there's almost no overlap, and both flesh out the franchise lore with a unique delivery that's survived the test of time. Alien Movie(s) Alien, Aliens, Alien 3, Alien Resurrection, AVP: Alien vs. Predator, Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem, Prometheus, Alien: Covenant, Alien: Romulus TV Show(s) Alien: Earth Video Game(s) Aliens: Colonial Marines, Alien: Isolation, Alien: Isolation 2 First Film Alien First TV Show Alien: Earth Genres Sci-Fi, Horror, Action