10 Great Sci-Fi Movies For People Who Don't Like Sci-Fi

A throwback sci fi in the vein of something like Close Encounters Of The Third Kind, Midnight Special is a soulful movie that preaches a message of hope and togetherness, with a raw and moving performance by the great Michael Shannon at its core.

Shannon plays Roy, a doting father whose young son Alton has shown signs of extraordinary powers. Alton has been living with his mother at the headquarters of a religious cult, whose pastor has been using the boy’s talents for personal gain.

Roy wishes only to get the boy to safety, but as is often the case, the government have other ideas. Much of the film is a two hander, with Shannon and young Jaeden Lieberher tearing across country with powerful forces converging on them.

Midnight Special taps into real adult fear as well as the mysterious nature of Alton’s power, which is teased and explored throughout the film but never fully explained. This is a subtle, heartfelt, and often visually stunning film that defies easy categorisation.