10 Sci-Fi Movies With Incredible Ensemble Casts

Some of the best sci-fi movies are bolstered by their impressive ensemble cast. It’s not rare to find stacked casts in sci-fi genre movies and TV shows, as proven by Gillian Anderson who famously became a household name for playing Dana Scully in The X-Files — a sci-fi TV show with an excellent mystery element. That said, a bigger cast is much trickier to juggle in a feature movie, but if done properly, it can exponentially make the project better.

From Elijah Wood as a kid in Back to the Future II to Mark Hamill in Star Wars, a perfect non-animated action movie for kids to watch, actors getting their first movie role in a sci-fi film isn’t rare. Famous directors like Christopher Nolan, Denis Villeneuve, Ridley Scott, Steven Spielberg, and James Cameron often make sci-fi movies with ensemble casts — some of them work with the same actors repeatedly. Regardless if that’s the case or not, some of the best assembly of on-screen talent are featured on sci-fi films.

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10

Sunshine (2007)

Directed by Danny Boyle

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Sunshine

R

Thriller

Sci-Fi

Release Date

July 27, 2007

Runtime

107 minutes

Director

Danny Boyle

Sunshine, directed by Danny Boyle, follows a team of astronauts on a mission to reignite a dying sun with a massive nuclear bomb. Set in 2057, the film stars Cillian Murphy, Chris Evans, and Michelle Yeoh, encapsulating their struggle against both physical and psychological challenges. As the crew ventures deeper into space, they confront unexpected dangers that threaten the mission and their survival.

Cast

Cillian Murphy, Rose Byrne, Michelle Yeoh, Chris Evans, Cliff Curtis

Writers

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Alex Garland

Producer

Andrew Macdonald

Production Company

Ingenious Film Partners, UK Film Council, DNA Films, Moving Picture Company

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Even outside Marvel movies, Chris Evans has been in notable sci-fi movies like Snowpiercer, Don’t Look Up, and Free Guy, which features one of his best surprise movie cameos. His breakthrough performance was in Fantastic Four (2005), and in the same year as its sequel, he starred in Danny Boyle’s Sunshine. He plays one of the more significant side characters in the movie, where he is joined by a stellar roster of costars.

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The protagonist is played by Cillian Murphy, who had already starred in another Danny Boyle sci-fi movie 3 years earlier, 28 Days Later. Hot off supporting roles in Troy and Marie Antoinette, Rose Byrne joined him as a co-lead. Sunshine is one of the more underrated movies in Michelle Yeoh’s filmography, who delivers a compelling performance as a supporting character in the film. Among other notable actors, the movie also features Cliff Curtis, Hiroyuki Sanada, and Benedict Wong. It’s one of the most ridiculously stacked sci-fi horror movies ever made.

9

Prometheus (2012)

Directed by Ridley Scott

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Prometheus

R

Sci-Fi

Horror

Action

Adventure

Drama

Mystery

9/10

145

8.3/10

Release Date

June 8, 2012

2012’s Prometheus is the fifth installment in the Alien franchise and was directed by Ridley Scott. Starring Noomi Rapace, Michael Fassbender, Idris Elba, and Guy Pearce, the film acts as a direct prequel to 1979’s Alien.

Cast

Charlize Theron, Noomi Rapace, Idris Elba, Guy Pearce, Michael Fassbender

Runtime

124 Minutes

Director

Ridley Scott

Writers

Jon Spaihts, Damon Lindelof

Studio(s)

20th Century

Distributor(s)

20th Century

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The first Alien movie, directed by Ridley Scott, introduced the world to Ellen Ripley, a character who helped reshape sci-fi movie genre expectations as the well-written female action hero lead in a male-dominated genre. So, it’s not surprising that Scott’s return to the franchise after 33 years, during which 5 more movies had been made, would introduce a new female character in a leading role. Played by Noomi Rapace, Elizabeth Shaw is an expert archaeologist with multiple PhDs.

There’s only one main character from Prometheus who is also in Alien: Covenant, and while the latter also has an incredible ensemble cast, only Michael Fassbender is there in both films.

Prometheus also features frequent sci-fi action star Charlize Theron as the acting CEO of Weyland Corp, who steps up to the role in her father’s absence. Michael Fassbender stars as the artificial brother to Theron’s character, who also appears in the sequel Alien: Covenant, the last Alien film Scott directed. Sean Harris, famous for portraying Solomon Lane in the Mission: Impossible franchise, is among the supporting cast. He’s accompanied by Idris Elba, Benedict Wong, Rafe Spall, and Guy Pearce, among others.

8

Megalopolis (2024)

Directed by Francis Ford Coppola

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Megalopolis

Drama

Sci-Fi

8/10

14

8.1/10

Release Date

September 27, 2024

Megalopolis, directed by Francis Ford Coppola, is a visionary 2024 film exploring the ambitious dream of reconstructing New York City into a utopia, following a devastating disaster. The narrative delves into the clash between the architect’s utopian vision and the political and personal turmoil that ensues. With a star-studded cast, the film examines themes of ambition, power, and the human spirit’s resilience against the backdrop of a futuristic metropolis.

Cast

Adam Driver, Forest Whitaker, Nathalie Emmanuel, Jon Voight, Laurence Fishburne, Aubrey Plaza, Shia LaBeouf, Jason Schwartzman, Grace VanderWaal, Kathryn Hunter, Talia Shire, Dustin Hoffman, D. B. Sweeney, Giancarlo Esposito

Runtime

138 Minutes

Director

Francis Ford Coppola

Writers

Francis Ford Coppola

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As one of the greatest directors of all time, Francis Ford Coppola frequently works with stacked casts bustling with talent. His latest movie, Megalopolis, a 2024 flop movie that could become a cult hit in the future, is no exception. It stars Adam Driver in the leading role. He’s a charismatic and enigmatic protagonist for the large-scale epic which Coppola envisioned and made without any studio intervention.

Nathalie Emmanuel, most famous for portraying Missandei in Game of Thrones, and veteran actor Giancarlo Esposito, famous for his role as Gus Fring in Breaking Bad, who recently joined the MCU in Captain America: Brave New World as Sidewinder play major characters in Megalopolis. Another significant role is played by Aubrey Plaza, who fans will know as April Ludgate from Parks & Recreation. Shia LaBeouf, Jon Voight, Laurence Fishburne, and Jason Schwartzman are part of the supporting cast.

7

Asteroid City (2023)

Directed by Wes Anderson

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Asteroid City

PG-13

Romance

Comedy

Drama

5/10

7.5/10

Release Date

June 23, 2023

Asteroid City is a comedy/romance film by director Wes Anderson and follows several parents and children brought together across the country for a Junior Stargazer convention. When strange and cosmic events occur, the world as they know it will change, all while trying to carry on with their event.

Cast

Tom Hanks, Margot Robbie, Scarlett Johansson, Adrien Brody, Jeffrey Wright, Bryan Cranston, Bill Murray, Jeff Goldblum, Edward Norton, Liev Schreiber, Hope Davis, Jason Schwartzman, Steve Carell, Willem Dafoe, Hong Chau

Runtime

104 Minutes

Director

Wes Anderson

Writers

Wes Anderson, Roman Coppola

Studio(s)

Focus Features, American Empirical Pictures, Indian Paintbrush

Distributor(s)

Focus Features

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Wes Anderson is a director known for casting incredibly talented ensembles in his films, as the stories he tells often follow multiple protagonists at the same time and are even anthologies in some rare cases. His next movie, set to come out in 2025, The Phoenician Scheme, has a confirmed release date now, and, as usual, features a stellar cast of A-list Hollywood stars. Anderson’s last feature film, Asteroid City, is a surrealistic sci-fi film that follows the lives of various characters who are affected by a world-changing phenomenon.

It is a surprising fact that Tom Hanks had never been in a Wes Anderson movie until Asteroid City.

So, as usual, there are many significant characters, who all, irrespective of their screentime, have relevance in the grand scheme of things. As an actor known for feel-good cinema, it is a surprising fact that Tom Hanks had never been in a Wes Anderson movie until Asteroid City. He was joined by frequent Anderson stars Tilda Swinton and Willem Dafoe in minor roles, and by Jason Schwartzman, Scarlett Johansson, and Jeffrey Wright in major ones. Adrien Brody and Edward Norton, who have also starred in many of Anderson’s films, are present in Asteroid City too.

6

Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

Directed by James Gunn

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Guardians of the Galaxy

PG-13

Action

Science Fiction

Adventure

8/10

37

8.3/10

Release Date

August 1, 2014

Guardians of the Galaxy is part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, featuring Chris Pratt as Peter Quill. Abducted from Earth as a child, Quill navigates intergalactic adventures, becoming entwined in a conflict centered on a powerful orb coveted by Ronan the Accuser.

Cast

Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Lee Pace, Michael Rooker, Karen Gillan, Djimon Hounsou, John C. Reilly, Glenn Close, Benicio Del Toro, Laura Haddock, Sean Gunn, Peter Serafinowicz, Christopher Fairbank, Krystian Godlewski, Wyatt Oleff, Gregg Henry, Janis Ahern, Solomon Mousley, Lindsay Morton, Robert Firth, Melia Kreiling, Tom Proctor

Runtime

121 minutes

Director

James Gunn

Writers

Nicole Perlman, James Gunn

Producers

Kevin Feige, Louis D’Esposito, Nik Korda, Stan Lee, Victoria Alonso, Jeremy Latcham

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The DCU is being led by him now, but before he picked up momentum for DC previously with The Suicide Squad, and recently with the upcoming Superman movie, James Gunn was one of the best directors working in the MCU. Back in 2014, one of the best years in movie history, Gunn directed the first Guardians of the Galaxy film, which inspired a trilogy that he completed in 2023. The cast of Guardians of the Galaxy is ridiculously stacked, even by MCU standards.

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As an ensemble film, it follows at least six main characters, including an antagonist and the five members of the titular team of Guardians. Chris Pratt and Zoe Saldaña, who recently won an Oscar, play the main leads, Star-Lord and Gamora. Dave Bautista stars as Drax, who starts out as an antagonist and then joins the heroes midway through the film. Lee Pace and Karen Gillan play the main antagonistic characters, and Bradley Cooper and Vin Diesel round off the main cast in voiceover roles. John C. Reilly, Glenn Close, and Benicio del Toro play minor characters.

5

Dune (2021)

Directed by Denis Villeneuve

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Dune

PG-13

Action

Adventure

Science Fiction

Drama

5/10

31

8/10

Release Date

October 22, 2021

Dune the big-screen adaptation of Frank Herbert’s seminal bestseller of the same name. A mythic and emotionally charged hero’s journey, Dune tells the story of Paul Atreides, a brilliant and gifted young man born into a great destiny beyond his understanding, who must travel to the most dangerous planet in the universe to ensure the future of his family and his people. As malevolent forces explode into conflict over the planet’s exclusive supply of the most precious resource in existence—a commodity capable of unlocking humanity’s greatest potential—only those who can conquer their fear will survive.

Cast

Dave Bautista, Rebecca Ferguson, Sharon Duncan-Brewster, Jason Momoa, David Dastmalchian, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Stellan Skarsgård, Charlotte Rampling, Chang Chen, Oscar Isaac, Zendaya, Javier Bardem, Timothée Chalamet, Josh Brolin

Runtime

155 minutes

Director

Denis Villeneuve

Writers

Frank Herbert, Eric Roth, Denis Villeneuve, Jon Spaihts

Studio(s)

Legendary Pictures

Distributor(s)

Warner Bros. Pictures

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The long-anticipated sequel to Denis Villeneuve’s adaptation of Frank Herbert’s epic finally came out last year, featuring one of the best movie costumes of 2024. While a lot of recurring stars were joined by new talents like Austin Butler and Anya Taylor-Joy, the stellar cast was more expected this time. Even though Villeneuve’s movies frequently feature highly talented stars, and Blade Runner 2049 has an incredible ensemble cast as well, the cast of Dune is more stacked than one would ever expect.

The supporting cast is just as filled with A-listers, like Javier Bardem, Dave Bautista, Zendaya, Charlotte Rampling, David Dastmalchian, and Chang Chen.

Timothée Chalamet plays the main character in the film, along with Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Jason Momoa, Stellan Skarsgård, and Josh Brolin in significant roles, some more than others. All of these actors can be considered part of the main cast of Dune. The supporting cast is just as filled with A-listers, like Javier Bardem, Dave Bautista, Zendaya, Charlotte Rampling, David Dastmalchian, and Chang Chen.

4

Annihilation (2018)

Directed by Alex Garland

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Annihilation

R

Sci-Fi

Mystery

Horror

7/10

12

7.6/10

Release Date

February 23, 2018

Alex Garland’s Annihilation is based on the novel of the same name by Jeff VanderMeer. It follows a group of explorers – comprised of biology professor Lena (Natalie Portman), psychologist Dr. Ventress (Jennifer Jason Leigh), physicist Josie Radek (Tessa Thompson), geomorphologist Cassie Sheppard (Tuva Nvotny), and paramedic Anya Thorensen (Gina Rodriguez) – as they enter “the Shimmer”, a quarantined zone of mutated plants and animals caused by an unknown extra-terrestrial phenomenon. Lena agrees to enter the Shimmer in search of her husband, Kane (Oscar Isaac), who was sent in as part of a special forces operation.

Cast

Sonoya Mizuno, Kola Bokinni, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Gina Rodriguez, Cosmo Jarvis, Oscar Isaac, Tessa Thompson, Tuva Novotny, Natalie Portman, David Gyasi

Runtime

115 Minutes

Director

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Alex Garland

Writers

Alex Garland, Jeff VanderMeer

Studio(s)

Paramount Pictures

Distributor(s)

Paramount Pictures, Netflix

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Alex Garland’s repertoire is filled with large-scale sci-fi projects, often following a few characters, but telling the story of an entire ensemble of characters in the rare case. Annihilation is uniquely located in both categories. It follows a team of researchers as they venture on a dangerous mission to collect information about an anomaly, but it clearly has a particular main character from among that team, who is played by Natalie Portman.

Garland’s most recent project, set to come out in 2025, is a war movie, and once again features an incredible ensemble comprising Will Poulter, Joseph Quinn, Kit Connor, and Noah Centineo, among others.

Featuring a horror movie monster that’s actually nightmare fuel, Annihilation still pays some attention to the side characters as well, who are all played by actors who are famous today. Jennifer Jason Leigh, Tessa Thompson, and Gina Rodriguez portray the more important secondary characters in Annihilation. However, Oscar Isaac, Sonoya Mizuno, and Benedict Wong’s characters, while minor, also affect the story significantly.

3

Avatar: The Way of Water (2022)

Directed by James Cameron

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Avatar: The Way of Water

PG-13

Action

Adventure

Fantasy

Sci-Fi

8/10

9.1/10

Release Date

December 16, 2022

Ten years after the events of Avatar (2009), Avatar: The Way of Water follows Jake Sully (Sam Worthington, Neytiri (Zoe Saldana), and their new family as they brave the world of Pandora and the struggles they endure to protect themselves and their people. Director James Cameron used The Way of Water to explore the oceans of Pandora and set the stage for the subsequent three sequels. In addition to Worthington and Saldana, Avatar: The Way of the Water sees the return of Sigourney Weaver, this time playing a character named Kiri, and Stephen Lang’s villainous Quaritch.

Cast

Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Kate Winslet, Vin Diesel, Michelle Yeoh, Cliff Curtis, David Thewlis

Runtime

190 Minutes

Director

James Cameron

Writers

James Cameron, Josh Friedman, Rick Jaffa, Shane Salerno, Amanda Silver

Studio(s)

20th Century

Distributor(s)

20th Century

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Between The Terminator, a 1980s R-rated movie that will forever be a rewatch favorite , Titanic, a classic love story, and Aliens, one of the best movie sequels ever, it’s difficult to pick James Cameron’s best film. However, it’s a literal fact that his most successful films have been the two movies he’s made in the Avatar franchise, which is supposed to have at least three more films in the future, one of which is set to come out in 2025.

While the first Avatar movie wowed audiences with its unprecedented VFX and unique blend of CGI and live-action, the second one, along with making more leaps in film technology, took audiences by surprise with its stacked cast. Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Sigourney Weaver, and Stephen Lang returned for the sequel, all reprising their old roles, except Weaver, whose character has been reborn as a Na’vi. The film also features Kate Winslet, Jemaine Clement, and Cliff Curtis.

2

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)

Directed by Gareth Edwards

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Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

PG-13

Action

Adventure

Science Fiction

8/10

68

8.5/10

Release Date

December 14, 2016

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is a standalone film set in the Star Wars universe, where a group of resistance fighters, led by Jyn Erso, embarks on a mission to steal the Death Star plans. This pivotal event sets the stage for the iconic saga to follow.

Cast

Diego Luna, Felicity Jones, Alan Tudyk, Donnie Yen, Jiang Wen, Ben Mendelsohn, Guy Henry, Forest Whitaker, Riz Ahmed, Mads Mikkelsen, Jimmy Smits, Alistair Petrie, Genevieve O’Reilly, Ben Daniels, Paul Kasey, Stephen Stanton, Ian McElhinney, Fares Fares, Jonathan Aris, Sharon Duncan-Brewster, Spencer Wilding, Daniel Naprous, James Earl Jones, Ingvild Deila, Anthony Daniels

Runtime

133 minutes

Director

Gareth Edwards

Writers

Chris Weitz

Producers

Jason McGatlin, John Knoll, Kathleen Kennedy, Simon Emanuel, Tony To, Allison Shearmur

Studio(s)

Lucasfilm

Distributor(s)

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

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Felicity Jones, who was recently nominated for an Academy Award for her supporting role in The Brutalist, made her Star Wars appearance, including a legendary deleted scene we wish would have made it into the film, as the protagonist of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, which follows a group of rebels who hatch a plot to steal the Death Star plans. She plays Jyn Erso, the daughter of scientist Galen Erso, played by Mads Mikkelsen.

Donnie Yen also appears as a Jedi, lending his martial arts expertise to the special class of warriors.

While Star Wars movies have always featured incredible ensembles, including some surprising A-list actors as stormtroopers, Rogue One is perhaps the movie with the most stacked cast. From Diego Luna and Alan Tudyk to Ben Mendehlson, Forest Whitaker, and Riz Ahmed, the cast of Rogue One is a who’s who in Hollywood. Donnie Yen also appears as a Jedi, lending his martial arts expertise to the special class of warriors.

1

Inception (2010)

Directed by Christopher Nolan

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Inception

PG-13

Adventure

Sci-Fi

Thriller

Action

10/10

45

8.9/10

Release Date

July 16, 2010

Inception, directed by Christopher Nolan, features a skilled thief who uses dream-sharing technology to steal corporate secrets. He is tasked with planting an idea into a CEO’s mind, while confronting his troubled past, which threatens the mission and his team.

Cast

Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Elliot Page, Tom Hardy, Ken Watanabe, Dileep Rao, Cillian Murphy, Tom Berenger, Marion Cotillard, Pete Postlethwaite, Michael Caine, Lukas Haas, Tai-Li Lee, Claire Geare, Magnus Nolan, Taylor Geare, Johnathan Geare, Tohoru Masamune, Yuji Okumoto, Earl Cameron, Ryan Hayward, Miranda Nolan, Russ Fega, Tim Kelleher

Runtime

148 minutes

Director

Christopher Nolan

Writers

Christopher Nolan

Studio(s)

Warner Bros. Pictures

Distributor(s)

Warner Bros. Pictures

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Ever since his first studio film, Insomnia, which is a movie that doesn’t get enough love, Christopher Nolan’s projects feature a stacked cast brimming with Hollywood A-listers. The cast of his upcoming The Odyssey is perhaps going to be one of the biggest ensemble casts of all time. Back in 2010, when he made Inception, it also featured one of the biggest ensemble casts ever at that point of time.

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Frequent Nolan collaborators Michael Caine and Cillian Murphy are obviously present in Inception. It incidentally features Leonardo DiCaprio’s only role in a Christopher Nolan film. He plays the protagonist haunted by memories of his dead wife, played by Marion Cotillard. DiCaprio’s character leads a team consisting of characters played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Tom Hardy, who’d later both work with Nolan again for The Dark Knight Rises, the latter also playing a role in Dunkirk. Ken Watanabe and Elliot Page close out the main cast of Inception.

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Category: Entertainment