Venom

If you want science fiction that respects its own premise, Venom is available in Australia on Foxtel Now and Stan, and in the US on Disney Plus and fuboTV right now. It knows exactly what kind of film it is from the opening scene, and never loses that thread. A 7/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Tom Hardy's performance is the anchor the more ambitious scenes need. Start it on Foxtel Now whenever you need something guaranteed to land.

There is a reason Venom keeps coming up in conversation. The world-building is meticulous, but it is the characters who carry Venom through its more ambitious moments. Investigative journalist Eddie Brock attempts a comeback following a scandal, but accidentally becomes the host of Venom, a violent, super powerful alien symbiote. Soon, he must rely on his newfound powers to protect the world from a shadowy organization looking for a symbiote of their own. The human element stays intact thanks to Tom Hardy and Michelle Williams, who anchor every scene. It hit screens in 2018. Venom resists the temptation to explain everything, trusting the audience to sit with ambiguity. 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 Venom a chance. It rewards viewers regardless of what else is in their watch history. It is a manageable watch, easy to fit into a single evening. Tom Hardy's performance is the anchor the more ambitious moments need. The world-building pays off in ways you will not anticipate on a first watch.