Vandermeer's fans may not have gotten to see the entire Annihilation trilogy adapted, many of them enjoy rewatching it regularly. The following list dictates some of the best movies to watch if you love the Natalie Portman-led movie, but since new sci-fi movies have released since this list was published, we thought now was a good time to update it with more recommendations.
A couple of years ago, Annihilation hit theaters and blew the minds of its audience. While the film wasn't a financial success, the vast majority of critics and fans loved it. It's a deep movie, filled with symbolism, mysticism, and suspense. You may need multiple viewings to fully grasp everything since it is a mind-bending cinematic experience that only comes along once in a while.
Updated by Madison Lennon on January 24, 2020: It has been a couple of years now since Annihilation was released in theaters. Jeff Vandermeer, who wrote the book series the film was based on, has stayed busy with new novels, Dead Astronauts just released this year.
Ad Astra
Brad Pitt leads the cast of this terrific science fiction film from 2019. He plays the son of Clifford McBride, a man who went into deep space with a crew, but sadly they were never heard from again. In an effort to discover the truth about what happened to his dad, his son tries to travel to Neptune and learn the truth, once and for all.
Like Annihilation, Pitt's character, Roy McBride faces a deadly force that could threaten all of mankind. Unlike Annihilation, this film takes place in space but there are some similarities in the imminent danger.
I Am Mother
Clara Rugaard, Rose Byrne, and Hilary Swank star in this Netflix original movie released last year. The movie follows a young woman simply called Daughter that is raised by a robot named Mother who aims to repopulate the Earth.
It's a science-fiction thriller like Annihilation with more of a focus on technology than the natural mutations found in the Alex Garland movie.
Starfish
Starfish is a very strange movie, very similar to Annihilation, in that it's somewhat cerebral and doesn't always make complete sense. It requires multiple viewings to pick up all the subtle metaphors, hints, and symbolism. The movie is set at the end of the world and anchored by a terrific performance by Virginia Gardner.
She plays a character left in her dead friend's apartment with nothing but a mixtape that says "This Mixtape Will Save The World." A mysterious signal triggers apocalyptic events and she must use the power of music to try and prevent the end of the world.
Paradise Hills
Paradise Hills is a very interesting and somewhat odd little film that flew under the radar after its release. Not only is it a sci-fi film, but it is also a fantasy. If you loved the mostly-female cast of Annihilation, then you should definitely check this one out as it is also led predominantly by women.
Emma Roberts stars as Uma, a young woman who wakes up on a mysterious island called Paradise Hills where young women are sent to be trained into becoming their "perfect" selves.
Freaks
Freaks was actually filmed in 2018 but didn't release in the U.S. until last year. The movie follows a haunting premise of a father desperate to keep his daughter safe at any cost. he locks his 7-year-old girl, Chloe, away inside an old house in an effort to keep her safe from a supposed threat.
But Chloe becomes desperate to find out what exists beyond her decrepit home. The concept is sort of opposite of Annihilation, where a crew descends into Area X. In this case, Chloe is kept in a small house but wants to explore outside of it.
Dredd
Many people would classify Dredd more as an action movie than something in the sci-fi genre. However, there's definitely a sci-fi aspect to this reimagining of the 1995 fan favorite. The post-apocalyptic dystopian setting is precisely what you'd expect from a film in this genre.
On the surface, it isn't all that similar to Annihilation. There's not much depth to the high octane style of Dredd. What makes it worth checking out for fans is that it is written by Alex Garland, who both wrote and directed Annihilation. It's another in a long line of strong screenplays written by him.
Melancholia
Now we've officially entered the world of trippy sci-fi movies. Melancholia was released in 2011 and featured an insanely talented cast consisting of Kirsten Dunst and the father-son combo of Stellan and Alexander Skarsgard. The story centers around a pair of sisters as a rogue planet is on the verge of colliding with Earth.
What puts this in line with Annihilation is the high drama that drives this movie. It outweighs the science fiction elements, but there's enough there to classify it within the genre. The depressing tone may drive some viewers away, but it is worth checking out.
Coherence
More often than not, it's not the big budget movies that will present unique ideas. It's the films that have to work around their lack of funds to do something amazing. 2013's Coherence was made for just $50,000 by writer/director James Ward Byrkit. He did some impressive things considering he made the entire thing in his home.
In Coherence, a group of people spots a comet passing over while at a dinner party. When that happens, strange occurrences begin and it creates multiple realities. From there, doppelgangers from the different realities crossover and it causes a tremendous amount of chaos. Not a visual stunner, but a thinker of a movie.
Inception
One of the most famous science fiction movies of the past decade is Inception. For those who didn't contribute to the $828.3 million box office, this movie was filled with brilliant and captivating ideas. In it, a group of thieves infiltrate the subconscious and go through various layers of dreams to implant an idea in a person's head.
One thing that Annihilation shares with Inception is the gripping visual nature that sets it apart. Christopher Nolan crafted an incredible looking world that is as trippy as it is dazzling. You could take almost any shot of both films and be completely blown away by how gorgeous it is.
Sunshine
Look! It's another sci-fi movie written by Annihilation director/writer Alex Garland. That automatically means it will at least somewhat remind you of his other work. Sunshine is set in 2077 in a world where the sun is dying, meaning life won't be sustainable for much longer. A group of astronauts venture out into space to try and solve the issue, but things go awry.
This movie begins by throwing the viewer right into the intense, life-threatening action and it never lets up. There's chaos around every corner. With Garland as the writer and a phenomenal cast including Chris Evans, Rose Bryne, and Cillian Murphy, this is a must-see spectacle.
Under The Skin
It's nowhere near the biggest or most famous piece of Scarlett Johansson's lengthy filmography, but it is one of the best. In it, she plays an alien maneater of sorts. She travels around Scotland and lures guys into a void of darkness where they are consumed and killed.
Under The Skin has a visual palette very similar to that of Annihilation. The scenes where people are sucked into the void are quite reminiscent of the latter's cave scene. Both films also happen to have a powerful female leading the way. From the wicked imagery to the twisty plot, it has everything Annihilation fans love.
Arrival
While Alex Garland is wildly considered one of the top rising names in the sci-fi movie industry, he's certainly not alone. Denis Villeneuve has been at the helm of some of the most impressive films in the genre over the past few years. While he dabbled in action and mystery, it was 2016's Arrival that put him on the science fiction map. Appropriate title, right?
In Arrival, aliens visit Earth but don't have a way to communicate until a linguist is assigned to find a way to do so. While the plots are vastly different, the tons are surprisingly similar. Both films are sophisticated, dreamy, and share themes of letting go. Throw in some gorgeous cinematography and they're right on par with each other.
2001: A Space Odyssey
It almost doesn't matter what the content of your sci-fi movie is. There will always be some comparison to Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey. But take one look at both films and you'll instantly notice some of the same traits. From the colors used throughout down to how the final act plays out.
Even if familiar story beats, themes, and colors aren't what you're looking for to quench your post-Annihilation thirst, this movie offers up a special kind of sci-fi epic. It is on a grand scale and can satisfy almost any need you may have for the genre. There's a reason it's considered one of the most influential films of all time.
Stalker
If you want to know how similar these movies are, all you need to understand is that many people consider Annihilation to be something of a remake of Stalker. Directed by Andrei Tarkovsky, this makes perfect sense. His list of credits includes a bunch of strange science fiction movies.
The characters in Stalker go on an expedition into a mysterious territory where the laws of physics and biology change in unexplainable ways. It's known as "The Zone." Sounds familiar? That's basically exactly what happens in Annihilation when they enter "The Shimmer." There are plenty of other similarities, including the emotional distress the team goes through, as well as the look and overall appeal of the films.
Ex Machina
We started with an Alex Garland written film, and we end with another. However, Ex Machina happens to be the only other directorial credit on Garland's ledger before Annihilation. It marked his real first foray into science fiction and he hit it out of the park. This film told the story of a programmer who tests an intelligent humanoid robot's ability to exhibit human behavior.
Ex Machina made stars into Alicia Vikander and Oscar Isaac, while telling an incredible story. It asks plenty of questions about what makes someone human and the ramifications of going too far with artificial intelligence, among other things. While not as aesthetically pleasing as Annihilation, Garland as director makes it a perfect follow up.