Elektra

If you want science fiction that respects its own premise, Elektra is available in Australia on Netflix and Stan, and in the US on Disney Plus right now. The runtime earns every minute, with nothing here that feels like padding. 2,691 people have weighed in on TMDB, and the verdict leans heavily positive. Watch it for Jennifer Garner — the performance elevates material that could easily tip into self-seriousness. Available now on Netflix — press play and find out why people keep recommending it.

Part of the current wave of titles people are actually watching, Elektra earns its spot. What makes Elektra work is that the ideas never crowd out the people having them. Elektra the warrior survives a near-death experience, becomes an assassin-for-hire, and tries to protect her two latest targets, a single father and his young daughter, from a group of supernatural assassins. Jennifer Garner and Terence Stamp lead a cast that never lets the concept overwhelm the characters. It was released in 2005. The rules of Elektra's world are consistent enough that the big swings never feel like cheating. It delivers reliably on what it promises, which is more than most of its competition manages.

Elektra is satisfying on multiple levels — something to watch and something to think about after. If you have run out of similar titles to watch, this is a strong next pick. Short enough to finish in one sitting, substantial enough to feel satisfying. Jennifer Garner grounds the bigger ideas in something human. Once you are in, you will want to talk about it.