Movies like
Loved the vibe? Here are ten films that hit similar notes—with match scores, reasons to watch, and where to stream in the US.
Parallels (2015) stuck because it commits to its science fiction premise without apologizing—viewers remember set pieces and momentum as much as plot. Christopher Leone's control of tone keeps the ride coherent. The film leans hard into its core genre, which is exactly what fans say they wanted more of from blockbusters in that era.
Runtime 1h 23m · ★ 6.0
Mood
Streaming (US)
Era
Showing 10 of 10 picks
★ 6.6 · Science Fiction · Adventure · Action · 2h 15m
Why you'll love it
The science-fiction appeal of Parallels — that tense edge, the adventure — translates cleanly into Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018). Different setting, same essential satisfaction.
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★ 6.6 · Adventure · Science Fiction · Action · 2h 17m
Why you'll love it
The filmmakers behind Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (2017) clearly understood what makes science-fiction work — the same quality that keeps Parallels rewatchable. Expect the same tense rhythm, executed with a fresh angle.
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★ 6.5 · Science Fiction · Thriller · Action · 1h 49m
Why you'll love it
Spectral (2016) is the kind of film Parallels fans discover and immediately send to their group chat. The science-fiction overlap is real, but it's the tense emotional pull that seals the recommendation.
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Netflix
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★ 6.1 · Action · Science Fiction · Thriller · 1h 27m
Why you'll love it
The One shares Parallels's gift for science-fiction — the 2001 film delivers action without overstaying its welcome. Consider it required viewing once you've finished rewatching your first pick.
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★ 6.0 · Science Fiction · Adventure · Comedy · 1h 38m
Why you'll love it
Much of what makes Parallels compelling — the science-fiction, the adventure — shows up in Barbarella (1968) in a slightly different form. Both films understand that funny storytelling works best when it trusts the audience.
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Amazon Prime Video
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★ 6.4 · Science Fiction · Action · Crime · 1h 41m
Why you'll love it
The science-fiction energy of Parallels is alive in Code 8 Part II (2024), filtered through a different story but the same emotional register. It earns its place on this list with a tense payoff that rivals the original pick.
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★ 6.5 · Horror · Science Fiction · 1h 25m
Why you'll love it
From Beyond (1986) operates in the same science-fiction as Parallels, but with its own distinct voice and pacing. The dark payoff will feel satisfyingly familiar without retreading the same ground.
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★ 6.3 · Action · Science Fiction · Comedy · 1h 45m
Why you'll love it
Afterburn (2025) belongs to the same conversation as Parallels — both anchor their science-fiction in action emotion that doesn't let go. The funny undercurrent connects them more than any plot summary would suggest.
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★ 6.0 · Thriller · Horror · Science Fiction · 1h 17m
Why you'll love it
If Parallels's science-fiction stayed with you, Containment (2015) delivers the same sensation through an entirely different story. The thriller through-line is the real common thread between them.
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★ 6.0 · Science Fiction · Fantasy · Horror · 1h 44m
Why you'll love it
Where Parallels excels in science-fiction, Parallel (2018) doubles down on fantasy to comparable effect. The tonal similarities run deep enough that watching both back-to-back feels intentional.
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