20 Hidden Sci-Fi Movie Gems You Can Watch On Netflix

13. Serenity

Before Joss Whedon became a monolith to comic book fans everywhere with his Avengers movies, he made this, his first feature, the plot and characters of which are based on Firefly, a short-lived Fox series created by Whedon that was cancelled mid-season and suffered the embarrassment of having some of its episodes screened out of correct order. Serenity more than makes up it.

A science fiction in the classic space-opera mode, the film sees the crew of the titular ship try and evade an assassin among the stars. Lead by cult actor Nathan Fillion, who plays the ship's captain Malcolm "Mal" reynolds, Serenity is a witty, energetic romp through familiar territory, one which attempts a 1984-esque social commentary in the process (it doesn't quite work, but the attempt is sincere).

Essential for fans of Whedon (though it's enjoyable if you're not, too) and sci-fi in general, Serenity represents one of the very best modern examples of the genre.