20 Most Rewatchable Sci-Fi Movies Of The 21st Century

2. Arrival

Directed by Dennis Villeneuve of Blade Runner 2049 fame, this stylish and poignant alien invasion (sort of) flick follows a mild-mannered linguist played by Amy Adams who is recruited to help world governments in their attempts to decipher the messages of aliens whose spacecraft are hovering menacingly over every major city on earth.

What follows is the exact opposite of Roland Emmerich’s classic Independence Day as Adams patiently, thoughtfully works to bridge the communication gap between species, with the eventual reveal of the invader’s purpose proving one of the genre’s most moving moments in decades. This one is complicated enough to warrant a re-watch, but it’s also enough of an emotional workout to deserve more engagement with its moving, original story.