Netflix subscribers can’t take their eyes off Uglies even though it’s not a pretty watch – here are 3 better sci-fi movies with over 85% on Rotten Tomatoes

Joey King as Tally with blood on her face and lying in a bed of white orchids in Uglies.

New Netflix movie Uglies has managed to secure the second top spot in the best streaming service's global top 10 most-watched movies list this week, with only the action thriller Rebel Ridge beating it.

Based on the novel of the same name by Scott Westerfeld, Uglies is set in a futuristic society where perfection is everything. Joey King plays Tally, a teen eagerly awaiting mandatory cosmetic surgery and to join the rest of society. However, when her friend goes missing, she goes on a journey that makes her rethink everything she thought she wanted.

Netflix is home to some of the best sci-fi movies, but it's safe to say that Uglies doesn't come close with its terrible 16% Rotten Tomatoes score at the time of writing. However, this hasn't stopped the dystopian book-to-screen adaptation from receiving over 20 million views worldwide. Uglies definitely isn't one of the best Netflix movies, though, so here are three sci-fi flicks that definitely are.

Uglies | Official Trailer | Netflix - YouTube

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They Cloned Tyrone

They Cloned Tyrone | Official Trailer | Netflix - YouTube

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RT Score: 95%
Age rating: R
Length: 122 minutes
Director: Juel Taylor

They Cloned Tyrone is a pulpy sci-fi comedy-mystery about an unlikely trio – street hustler Fontaine (John Boyega), washed-up pimp Slick Charles (Jamie Foxx), and an escort/wannabe detective Yo-Yo (Teyonah Parris) – as they uncover a criminal government conspiracy in a fictional US town where some seriously eerie events are taking place.

At the time of its release, we wrote that "They Cloned Tyrone is the unusual sci-fi comedy movie that Netflix needs right now" with powerhouse performances from the three leading stars and stylishly influenced by blaxploitation movies of the 1960s. It may sound like the hit Netflix show Stranger Things, but They Cloned Tyrone is far from it and you can find out why in TechRadar's exclusive interview with Boyega.

Edge of Tomorrow

Edge of Tomorrow - Official Main Trailer [HD] - YouTube

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RT Score: 91%
Age rating: PG-13
Length: 114 minutes
Director: Doug Liman

Of course I had to include one of my favorite sci-fi movies Edge of Tomorrow, which has also made it onto Netflix's global top 10 list this week. It's become a cult classic within the genre and is a blockbuster that I, along with many other people, go back to ten years later (much like in the film itself).

Based on the novel by Hiroshi Sakurazaka, Edge of Tomorrow follows Major William Cage (Tom Cruise), a public relations officer for the military in a future where Earth is trying to stop an alien invasion. After being killed on the frontlines of a combat mission against the extra-terrestrial enemy, he starts reliving the same day all over again. He joins forces with soldier Rita Vrataski (Emily Blunt) to save the planet and change the outcome of the war as he constantly time loops around on his mission.

A sci-fi movie featuring Cruise is usually a winner and this intelligent action-packed epic is just another reminder that Edge of Tomorrow deserves a sequel with its heart-pounding special effects.

I Am Mother

I AM MOTHER | Official Trailer | Netflix - YouTube

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RT Score: 89%
Age rating: PG-13
Length: 114 minutes
Director: Grant Sputore

I Am Mother stars Clara Rugaard as Daughter, a teenage girl who is the first of a new generation of humans to be raised by Mother (Rose Byrne), a robot whose purpose is to repopulate the Earth after mass extinction. However, the pair's relationship is upended when a stranger (Hilary Swank) arrives at their bunker with disturbing information about the outside world.

I watched I Am Mother a few years ago, but it's one that has stuck with me ever since with its compelling story, captivating special effects, and thrilling twists. It shares some similarities to 10 Cloverfield Lane, which is also another one of my favorites, so if you like high-stakes futuristic thrillers then I Am Mother is an ideal watch.

After graduating with a degree in Writing and Film Studies, Grace dived into the world of entertainment where she started writing all about the must-watch shows and movies at What To Watch. Now Grace is on her next writing adventure at TechRadar, where she uses her expertise to help readers keep up to date on the biggest TV shows and movies in the ever-changing world of streaming. If she’s not writing about her passion for entertainment, you’ll find her watching reality shows while feasting on chocolate.