Legion

Legion has built a real following in Australia on Netflix, and in the US on Netflix among viewers who want their sci-fi to think as hard as it looks. It says what it needs to say in one sitting, no filler. 2,902 viewers have already rated it on TMDB — the kind of consensus that does not happen by accident. Paul Bettany sets the tone, and the world-building does the rest. Start it on Netflix whenever you need something guaranteed to land.

Legion arrived without much fanfare and built its audience the hard way — through word of mouth. Legion treats its concept seriously enough to follow it all the way through. When God loses faith in humankind, he sends his legion of angels to bring on the Apocalypse. Humanity's only hope for survival lies in a group of strangers trapped in an out-of-the-way, desert diner with the Archangel Michael. The human element stays intact thanks to Paul Bettany and Dennis Quaid, who anchor every scene. It hit screens in 2010. The rules of Legion'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.

Sci-fi fans who want ideas alongside the spectacle will find Legion genuinely rewarding. It rewards viewers regardless of what else is in their watch history. The complete film is available and best experienced without too much prior knowledge of where it goes. Watch for Paul Bettany in particular — the performance elevates the material. Satisfying on multiple levels.