Coraline

Coraline has built a real following in the UK on ITVX Premium among viewers who want their sci-fi to think as hard as it looks. A tight runtime that never overstays its welcome. An 8/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Dakota Fanning anchors it with a performance that grounds the bigger ideas in something human. Start it on ITVX Premium whenever you need something guaranteed to land.

Part of the current wave of titles people are actually watching, Coraline earns its spot. What makes Coraline work is that the ideas never crowd out the people having them. Wandering her rambling old house in her boring new town, 11-year-old Coraline discovers a hidden door to a strangely idealized version of her life. In order to stay in the fantasy, she must make a frighteningly real sacrifice. Dakota Fanning and Teri Hatcher lead a cast that makes the ambitious moments land. Coraline came out in 2009. What separates Coraline from lesser genre entertainment is a willingness to let the concept cost the characters something. The consistency throughout is what elevates it — not every moment is the best, but none of them are a reason to stop watching.

Sci-fi fans who want ideas alongside the spectacle will find Coraline genuinely rewarding. It stands on its own even without an obvious comparison point. Best experienced as a single, sustained watch from start to finish. Dakota Fanning anchors it with a performance that makes the more abstract moments feel personal. If you have been burned by ambitious sci-fi before, this is the exception.