Five must-watch Netflix movies about AI
Till the early 2000s, schools used to teach about something called artificial intelligence, which would soon become a part of our lives. We now know we are using it, and it isn’t just powering your phone or your playlists; instead, it’s also become one of cinema’s favourite playgrounds.
Directors have been fascinated by the idea of machines that think and feel, and will become the perfect material for films that range from terrifying thrillers to emotional family adventures.
On Netflix, you will find AI on every scale. While some films show it as a global threat that could wipe out humanity, others shrink it down to the quiet drama of a single household. The best ones mix it with questions about what it means to be human in a world where technology is learning faster than we can keep up.
The most compelling thing about movies on AI is that they aren’t just about shiny robots or futuristic gadgets. They are about us. How we use technology, how we fear it, and how we sometimes see ourselves reflected in it.
So if you’re in the mood for a dose of science fiction that feels close enough to reality, here are five must-watch AI movies streaming on Netflix right now.
Five must-watch Netflix movies about AI
Afraid (Chris Weitz, 2024)
Afraid starts with the Pike family, who bring home something called AIA. It is a smart assistant designed to make life easier. Well, at first it feels helpful, but then something strange starts happening. The system begins to act up, and what was meant to simplify their lives quickly turns their house into a place of fear. It stars John Cho and Katherine Waterston, and they have done a good job of making us feel that an ordinary room to be unsafe.
The film is about classic technology we trust that can turn against us. The reason why it feels so scary is that someday it might actually happen. You never know when your AI-powered vacuum cleaner starts spying on you. So it’s a warning for us to use AI, but be smart with it. And by the time it finishes, you’ll probably want to unplug your Wi-Fi.
Atlas (Brad Peyton, 2024)
Atlas is a film that throws us into the future with Jennifer Lopez as Atlas Shepherd. She is a government data analyst who has never trusted artificial intelligence. Given that, she gets a job of hunting down a rogue robot, but the twist here is personal. It turns out, Atlas shares a messy past with it. Things go off track, and suddenly her survival, and also humanity’s, depends on working with the very thing she hates the most.
Now, what makes Atlas worth watching is how it has smartly mixed action and emotion in just the appropriate amount. Yes, you get explosions, and there are high-tech fights, but you also have feelings involved wherever required. But beneath all that is a story about fear, trust, and learning to let go of the past.
Subservience (S.K. Dale, 2024)
This story begins with a man named Nick buying an android named Alice to help with housework when his wife gets sick. At first glance, Alice seems perfect. She looks very lifelike and is programmed to help the family with cooking, cleaning, and childcare. Played by Megan Fox, Alice is polite and designed to be the ultimate helper. But soon she develops feelings for Nick and jealousy toward his wife. Then begins the game of danger, which initially felt like comfort.
A good reason to watch this Netflix movie is that it takes the classic “be careful what you wish for” story and plants it in the middle of a modern home. The use of AI as the ultimate genie granting wishes is crazy and makes sense. Moreover, it’s not set in some distant galaxy to make you feel alien. It’s right in your living room, and that’s what makes it chilling.
The Electric State (Joe and Anthony Russo, 2025)
Imagine a version of the 1990s where the war between humans and robots has left the world broken and strange. The story of The Electric State begins there. You have Millie Bobby Brown as Michelle, who is a teenage girl searching for her brother. She doesn’t travel alone, though. Instead, she’s joined by Cosmo, a kind-hearted robot, and a smuggler played by Chris Pratt. Together, they cross a retro-futuristic America filled with danger and the wreckage of old battles.
What makes this film special is how it balances its grand visuals with a simple story about connection. It’s part road trip and part survival tale mixed with family drama. Michelle’s bond with Cosmo and the people she meets along the way gives the movie real heart.
The Wild Robot (Chris Sanders, 2024)
Some AI stories are warnings, but The Wild Robot is something else entirely. When Roz, a robot (voiced by Lupita Nyong’o), washes up on a deserted island after a shipwreck, she has no choice but to adapt to the surroundings.
You should watch The Wild Robot if you want a Netflix movie that warms you instead of frightening you. The animation is stunning, the characters are lovable, and the message is simple: empathy is what keeps us alive. It’s the rare AI story that swaps fear for kindness, making it perfect for kids, adults, or anyone who just wants to leave with a smile.