1. Predestination (2014) – A time-traveling agent embarks on a complex series of events to stop an elusive bomber. Predestination offers mind-bending theories and a compelling narrative.

2. Coherence (2013) – In this low-budget surprise, friends at a dinner party experience strange occurrences after a comet passes. It’s a masterclass in indie storytelling with quantum theory backing.

3. Safety Not Guaranteed (2012) – Blending comedy with sci-fi, the film follows magazine employees investigating a man who placed an ad for a time-traveling partner. It’s quirky and heartwarming with sci-fi elements.

4. Timecrimes (2007) – A Spanish-language movie with a small cast and fantastic plotting about time loops that keeps the audience guessing.

5. Primer (2004) – Made on an incredibly low budget, it’s perhaps the most realistic take on time travel and its complications, requiring your full attention throughout its intricate plot.

6. Attack the Block (2011) – Combining sci-fi thrills with social commentary, this film about London teens defending their block from alien invaders is as fun as it is sharp-witted.

7. The Man from Earth (2007) – A cult classic that takes place mostly in one room, where a man claims to have lived for thousands of years, sparking intense debate and dialogue.

8. Moon (2009) – With Sam Rockwell delivering a powerhouse performance, this story of lunar isolation and corporate malfeasance is both haunting and thought-provoking.

9. World of Tomorrow (2015) – Don Hertzfeldt’s animated short might only be 17 minutes, but its take on memory, life, and technology make it one of the most profound sci-fi films of recent years.

10. The Endless (2017) – Two brothers return to the cult they fled from years before, only to discover the group’s beliefs may not be as ridiculous as they thought—with implications that are cosmic in scope.