Christmas Gift Guide 2019: Sci-Fi Movies

Claire Denis' sensory sci-fi art movie goes to some truly out-there places – following a space-ship packed with criminals heading into a black hole, and more zero-g masturbation than you can shake a stick at. It won't be for everyone, but for those who like their science fiction big on ideas and unexpected imagery, it's a fascinating, utterly original work.Amazon.co.uk

The MCU heads back into cosmic territory for the origin story of Carol Danvers – taking in alien shape-shifters, supernova-level powers, and Goose the loveable Flerken. With a time-twisting non-chronological narrative, it's also some of the most ambitious storytelling within the MCU.Amazon.co.uk

Easily the most charming Transformers movie, '80s-set spin-off Bumblebee has more in common with E.T. or The Iron Giant. Hailee Steinfeld is teenager Charlie, whose first car turns out to be the titular robot in disguise. Old-school fans will get a kick out of the G1 Transformer designs, and glimpses of the war on Cybertron.Amazon.co.uk

James Cameron's long-gestating passion project finally emerged this year, with the filmmaker producing and Robert Rodriguez on directorial duties. As you'd expect from a Cameron production, there are eye-catching visuals – especially the lush, South American-inspired post-post-apocalyptice world – and exciting action in the futuristic violent Motorball sport.Amazon.co.uk

Paul Verhoeven's gleefully violent satire is an outright classic – now released in a shiny new restoration from Arrow Video, presented in the theatrical and director's cut. Plus it comes with a brand new booklet, art cards, a double-sided poster, and deluxe packaging. I'd buy that for a dollar!Amazon.co.uk

Following up Ex_Machina was never going to be an easy task – but Alex Garland's second film as director is another stunner. Natalie Portman is scientist Lena, who ventures into shimmering contamination site Area X to find out what happened to her husband. Thought-provoking, unsettling, and with a mesmerising final act sure to be discussed for years and years.Amazon.co.uk

After the surprise reveal that Split was set in the same universe as 2000's Unbreakable, M. Night Shyamalan completed his stealth trilogy with Glass – bringing together Samuel L. Jackson's titular super-villain, Bruce Willis' Overseer, and James McAvoy's Horde for a psychological drama.Amazon.co.uk

Based on a Swedish poem, this Scandi science-fiction drama is one of space-bound existentialism. The title refers to the ship carrying a group of humans fleeing from Earth to a new colony on Mars – but when an accident sends the ship off-course with little hope of correction, the passengers are forced to reckon with their new future.Amazon.co.uk

Saw and Insidious co-creator Leigh Whannell leaves the horror genre behind for this brutal sci-fi actioner. Logan Marshall-Green is quadriplegic widower Grey, whose revolutionary body-controlling computer implant STEM allows him to track down his wife's killers – and take them out with stone-cold efficiency. A treat for fans of RoboCop and Dredd, now in a limited edition Blu-ray release.Amazon.co.uk

As Damon Lindelof continues the iconic alt-America vigilante story on HBO, Zack Snyder's largely-faithful adaptation of the original Alan Moore comic gets the ultimate release for die-hard fans. Not only presented in 4K, the Ultimate Cut is a three-and-a-half hour version comprising the extended director's cut, plus the animated Tales Of The Black Freighter segments edited into the runtime.Amazon.co.uk

One of the smartest decision JJ Abrams' 2009 Star Trek cinema reboot made was to spin off into its own timeline – leaving the original Gene Roddenberry saga untouched. Thus we have the Kelvin Timeline box set, comprising the 2009 Trek, plus Star Trek Into Darkness and Star Trek Beyond, in dazzling 4K HDR.Amazon.co.uk

Alfonso Cuaron's dystopian thriller is a contemporary sci-fi classic – that's so realistic, it barely feels like fiction at all. Set in a future where humanity has suddenly become infertile, society is breaking down. But when Clive Owen's activist Cleo comes into contact with a miraculously pregnant woman, he's tasked with escorting her to safety. This Arrow Academy release is ideal for collectors, and has plenty of extras to sink into.Amazon.co.uk

A firm mid-'80s favourite, Disney's alien abduction adventure gets a spruced-up Blu-ray from Second Sight – including a 100-page book with original storyboards and essays, a reversible poster, and premium packaging. And it's never looked better thanks to a newly-restored picture.Amazon.co.uk

In space, nobody can hear you scream. Ridley Scott's classic sci-fi-horror remains just as terrifying – and eerily mysterious – 40 years later. And thanks to a new 4K release, it's never looked better either.Amazon.co.uk