RLJE Films’ summer lineup on Hulu is starting off slow in the sci-fi department. With limited fresh options, two of the standout choices are already on this list. ‘The Day After Tomorrow,’ Hulu’s third science fiction addition for June, unfortunately, fell short of Roland Emmerich’s other iconic disaster film, ‘Independence Day.’ However, ‘Independence Day’ would have been a better fit as one of our picks for the best movies to watch on the Fourth of July.
Our remaining choices for the three sci-fi movies on Hulu that you absolutely must watch in June include an indie flick starring Karen Gillan, twice, and a sci-fi/fantasy comedy from the ’80s.
Dual (2022)
Imagine a world where two identical versions of Karen Gillan exist, and only one survives. This is the premise of ‘Dual.’ Gillan plays Sarah, a terminally ill woman who has herself cloned so her boyfriend, Peter (Beulah Koale), and her mother (Maija Paunio), won’t have to grieve her passing. The problem arises when Sarah makes a full recovery, and both Peter and her mother choose her clone over her.
The law dictates that only one Sarah can exist, and a duel to the death will determine the victor. Sarah and her clone are given a year to prepare for the fight of their lives. In this time, Sarah seeks out Trent (Aaron Paul) for training. As the months tick away, it becomes clear that neither Sarah might truly win this battle. You can watch ‘Dual’ on Hulu.
Independence Day (1996)
The summer of 1996 witnessed an alien invasion at the box office with ‘Independence Day.’ Almost three decades later, the film remains a quintessential summer blockbuster. The scene where the aliens obliterate the White House is now iconic. The aliens aren’t satisfied with destroying Washington D.C., New York, Los Angeles, and other major cities worldwide. They’ve come for our planet, and we’re just insects to them.
President Thomas J. Whitmore (Bill Pullman), fighter pilot Captain Steven Hiller (‘Bad Boys: Ride or Die’s Will Smith), and scientist David Levinson (Jeff Goldblum) are among the survivors who rally humanity against the alien invaders. With time running out, the best strategy they can come up with is to take the fight directly to the aliens while they still have the chance. You can watch ‘Independence Day’ on Hulu.
Weird Science (1985)
‘Weird Science’ is one of those movies that has been overshadowed by its theme song, which is more famous than the film itself. In this case, it’s Oingo Boingo’s ‘Weird Science,’ still a staple on oldies radio stations. This is a quintessential John Hughes movie, featuring Anthony Michael Hall and Ilan Mitchell-Smith as Gary Wallace and Wyatt Donnelly, respectively. Gary and Wyatt are tormented by bullies, Ian (‘The Sympathizer’s’ Robert Downey Jr.) and Max (Robert Rusler), as they pine for Deb (Suzanne Snyder) and Hilly (Judie Aronson). When their attempts to woo Deb and Hilly fail, Gary and Wyatt resort to using their computer to create the perfect woman. A mishap leads to the creation of Lisa (Kelly LeBrock), who possesses wish-fulfilling powers that can make almost anything happen. Even Lisa’s abilities are put to the test when she tries to get Gary and Wyatt to relax while fending off Wyatt’s older brother, Chet (Bill Paxton). You can watch ‘Weird Science’ on Hulu.
