15 must-see sci-fi shows and films coming in 2018
In honor of Netflix’s latest sci-fi series Altered Carbon premiering on Friday, we thought it was about time to share some other must-see sci-fi shows and movies coming in 2018 that are making us feel palpably cosmic with excitement. The Marvel Cinematic Universe continues its march forward with an upcoming spate of movies blending science fiction and action. But a lot of other crossover shows and features are worth looking out for this year – blending fantasy, drama, and horror with enough sci-fi tropes to keep fans of the genre invested. Not to mention a fair amount of straight-up sci-fi projects are simmering without dipping their toes into the waters of other genres for their story. Start prepping your schedule accordingly – the following 15 TV series and films are our picks of the choicest of the pack.
1. Black Panther
Release date: February 16, 2018. Ryan Coogler’s highly anticipated addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe looks visually stunning, genuinely thrilling, and stacked full of talent like Michael B. Jordan and Lupita Nyong’o. Rachel Morrison, who recently received an Oscar nomination for her work on Netflix's Mudbound, handled the cinematography – if it didn't have enough going for it already. Watch the trailer for Black Panther. Released February 16, 2018; major critical and commercial success. Sequel Black Panther: Wakanda Forever released November 2022.
2. Mute
Release date: February 23, 2018. The first trailer for Duncan Jones’s Netflix movie is full of faded neon skylines, flying cars, and curious plot points. Throw in Paul Rudd’s spectacular facial hair and Alexander Skarsgård looking deliciously unhinged, and Mute is basically whispering sci-fi sweet nothings into our ear. Watch the trailer for Mute. Released February 23, 2018 on Netflix. Received negative reviews; no major sequels.
3. Annihilation
Release date: February 23, 2018. Written and directed by Alex Garland (Ex Machina) and adapted from Jeff VanderMeer’s mysterious Southern Reach Trilogy, Annihilation explores an environmental aberration on a secret expedition. If that hasn’t exactly sold you, then the all-star cast, including Natalie Portman (Black Swan), Oscar Isaac (Star Wars: The Last Jedi), Tessa Thompson (Creed), and Gina Rodriguez (Jane The Virgin) certainly will. Watch the trailer for Annihilation. Released February 23, 2018. Director Alex Garland has stated no interest in directing a sequel.
4. A Wrinkle in Time
Release date: March 9, 2018. Ava DuVernay’s adaptation of Madeleine L’Engle’s beloved sci-fi novel looks visually sumptuous. The story, in which three peculiar beings help a kid find her scientist father, looks to be in good hands under the visionary director’s masterful eye. Watch the trailer for A Wrinkle in Time. Released March 9, 2018. No sequels produced from the film adaptation.
5. Ready Player One
Release date: March 30, 2018. Steven Spielberg’s adaptation of Ernest Cline’s hugely popular novel boasts a maelstrom of pop-culture references set against a dystopian backdrop. The movie is definitely one to watch with your nerdiest buddy so you can compare notes on easter eggs afterwards. Watch the trailer for Ready Player One. Released March 30, 2018; successful adaptation. Ready Player Two film sequel in early development (Spielberg producing, not directing).
6. The New Mutants
Release date: April 13, 2018. Throwing a new spin on the X-Men universe, this Josh Boone-directed flick focuses on five young mutants as they discover their abilities and fight to escape a secret facility. Watch the trailer for The New Mutants. Released August 28, 2020 after multiple delays. Mixed reviews; no sequels.
7. Cloverfield 3
Release date: TBC. This one is currently shrouded in frenzied speculation. The movie, rumored to be called God Particle and set on a space station, is said to have been eyed up by Netflix during Sundance. As has become tradition for the Cloverfield franchise, we might not know much else right up until the movie is close to premiere – but the wait is hopefully still worth it. Released as The Cloverfield Paradox on Netflix in February 2018. Further Cloverfield installments in development, including potential 2026 project.
8. Rampage
Release date: April 20, 2018. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson stars in this live-action remake of the cherished 80s video game in which a pet ape grows to monstrous proportions and destroys a city. Sounds like the perfect beer-and-popcorn combo movie. Watch the trailer for Rampage. Released April 20, 2018; commercial success. Sequel discussions ongoing but unconfirmed.
9. The Avengers: Infinity War
Release date: May 4, 2018. All existent franchises of the MCU collide in the latest Avengers installment, in which every superhero imaginable fights to save the universe from the greedy purple mitts of Thanos. Expect plenty of chaos, spandex, and sassy one-liners. Watch the trailer for The Avengers: Infinity War. Released May 4, 2018. Directly led to Avengers: Endgame (2019) and later Avengers: Doomsday (2026).
10. Solo: A Star Wars Story
Release date: May 25, 2018. Another movie strangely shrouded in secrecy, it focuses for certain on a young Han Solo and stars Woody Harrelson (True Detective) and Donald Glover (who I’m going to refer to as Childish Landino for the next few months) amongst others, but that’s about it, as fans still wait for a teaser trailer. If we’re being honest, Solo could easily become a hit without one. Released May 25, 2018. No official sequel; spin-off ideas (e.g., Lando) discussed but not prioritized.
11. Replicas
Release date: June 15, 2018. Ya boy Keanu Reeves (The Matrix) is getting his sci-fi hustle back on as a scientist creepily replicates his family after they die in a car accident. Gonna go ahead and predict the unethical experiment might not quite go smoothly. Watch the trailer for Replicas. Released January 11, 2019. Critically panned and box-office disappointment.
12. Ant-Man and the Wasp
Release date: July 6, 2018. The chance to see Evangeline Lilly finally able to kick some serious ass as the Wasp to Rudd’s Ant-Man is reason enough to be excited for the second film in Scott Lang’s story. Watch the trailer for Ant-Man and the Wasp. Released July 6, 2018. Followed by Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023).
13. The Predator
Release date: August 3, 2018. Shane Black’s contribution to The Predator universe stars Sterling K. Brown (This Is Us), Thomas Jane (1922), and Jacob Tremblay (Room) and will hopefully reverse any of the rhetorical damage the Alien Vs. Predator movies caused. This one will likely also be set at Christmas, because we’re all aware of Black’s affinity for the holiday season. The man cannot be stopped. Released August 2018; mixed to negative reviews. Franchise continued with Prey (2022) and later entries.
14. Lost In Space
Release date: TBA. Few details have been revealed regarding Netflix’s ten-episode reboot of the classic 60s sci-fi show, including when it will premiere with the streaming giant. What we do know is it’ll be a modern retelling of the story and feature the snarky talents of the esteemed Parker Posey as Dr. Smith, which bodes very well. Premiered April 2018; three seasons total (2018-2021). Concluded as planned trilogy with no fourth season.
15. Good Omens
Release date: TBA. Amazon has yet to announce a release date for this TV adaptation of Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett’s classic book, but by all accounts it’s shaping up to look phenomenal. Featuring David Tennant (Doctor Who) and Michael Sheen (Frost/Nixon) in lead roles and adapted for the screen by Gaiman himself, the show should remain faithful to the source material while boasting sharp performances. Season 1 premiered 2019; season 2 in 2023. Season 3 released May 13, 2026 as 90-minute finale.
Legacy of the 2018 Sci-Fi Slate
Many of the projects previewed in early 2018 went on to reshape both box office expectations and streaming habits. Black Panther and Infinity War became cultural landmarks that influenced marketing strategies and diversity conversations across the industry. At the other end of the spectrum, titles such as The New Mutants and Replicas encountered production delays and mixed audience responses that highlighted the risks of long development cycles. Streaming entries like Lost in Space and Good Omens completed their planned arcs, proving that platforms could sustain long-form sci-fi without theatrical pressure.
Sci-Fi on Streaming: 2018 to 2026
The 2018 slate marked an early moment when Netflix and Amazon began positioning original sci-fi as flagship programming. Lost in Space and Mute tested the waters for big-budget genre bets that bypassed traditional distribution windows. Good Omens later shifted fully to Prime Video and ran multiple seasons, underscoring how platforms could nurture cult properties over years. By 2026 the model has expanded further, with series such as Silo season three, Fallout season two, and Blade Runner 2099 occupying prominent release slots on the same services that launched the 2018 experiments.
MCU Sci-Fi Milestones from 2018 Onward
The 2018 MCU entries embedded deeper sci-fi DNA into the franchise that continues to pay dividends. Black Panther opened the door for Wakanda Forever in 2022, expanding world-building and thematic scope. Infinity War directly set the stage for Endgame and the multiverse phase that followed. Ant-Man and the Wasp introduced quantum-realm mechanics that resurfaced in Quantumania five years later, showing how small-scale experiments can scale into larger narrative arcs across multiple installments.
Upcoming Sci-Fi Highlights for 2026-2027
Current anticipation mirrors the 2018 preview cycle but with clearer platform strategies. Theatrical releases include Project Hail Mary, The Mandalorian and Grogu, and Dune 3, each carrying substantial fan investment. Streaming calendars feature Star City, Neuromancer, and Blade Runner 2099, continuing the trend that began with Lost in Space and Good Omens. Avengers: Doomsday is slated for late 2026, closing another circle that started with the 2018 Infinity Saga entries.
Looking back, the 2018 list captured a moment when theatrical tentpoles and streaming originals began sharing the same conversation. Some titles delivered on the hype, others tested the limits of patience and budgets, and a few quietly finished their stories on their own terms. The genre keeps evolving, but the impulse to mark the calendar for the next wave of cosmic stories remains the same.
