12 Years Later, One of the Century's Greatest Sci-Fi Movies Arrives on Netflix

Alex Garland's directorial debut Ex Machina has returned to Netflix 12 years after it hit theaters, giving the film a wider audience on the streaming service.

The cerebral sci-fi thriller stars Domhnall Gleeson as a programmer who wins a contest to spend a week with his company's eccentric CEO, played by Oscar Isaac, and becomes the human component in a Turing Test for Ava (Alicia Vikander). Garland's film is noted for its minimalism and its examination of consciousness, control, creation, evolution and gender dynamics.

The story contrasts Nathan's godlike ego with Caleb's savior complex, and has remained influential with critics and viewers alike, holding a Certified Fresh score of 92% on Rotten Tomatoes and an audience rating of 86%. Ex Machina had been available on HBO Max and arrived on Netflix on Feb. 1, making it more accessible to a wider group of viewers.

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