Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

If you want science fiction that respects its own premise, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is available in Australia on Disney Plus, and in the US on Disney Plus and Hulu right now. It says what it needs to say in one sitting, no filler. With 10,933 viewer ratings on TMDB, this is not a title flying under the radar. Carrie Fisher's performance is the anchor the more ambitious scenes need. Start it on Disney Plus whenever you need something guaranteed to land.

Part of the current wave of titles people are actually watching, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker earns its spot. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker uses its genre premise as cover for asking bigger questions. The surviving Resistance faces the First Order once again as the journey of Rey, Finn and Poe Dameron continues. With the power and knowledge of generations behind them, the final battle begins. The human element stays intact thanks to Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill, who anchor every scene. It hit screens in 2019. The world-building is meticulous enough to sustain multiple rewatches, with details early on that only make sense later. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

Viewers burned by ambitious sci-fi that could not sustain its premise should give Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker a chance. If you have run out of similar titles to watch, this is a strong next pick. A contained runtime means every scene is doing real work. Carrie Fisher 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.