"Spaceman" is hardly a typical Adam Sandler film; his long-term contract with Netflix has produced many of his signature low-key comedies. Of course, he has branched out into more dramatic roles, but people usually expect Sandler to be funny. Perhaps that's why his new film, the grumpy sci-fi drama "Spaceman," has frustrated viewers despite consistently ranking in Netflix's top 10.

The film stars Sandler as a depressed, lonely astronaut and Paul Dano as the voice of a strange, spider-shaped alien who acts as a sort of space therapist. It is confusing, repetitive, and critics have reacted indifferently. Our senior streaming writer, Malcolm McMillan, also criticized the film in his review.

Those who want to see Sandler's comedy have plenty to choose from on Netflix. That's easy. But for viewers who were hoping for a more essential sci-fi head trip, here are five films like Netflix's "Spaceman," but which you should check out now.

Of the two films adapted from Polish author Stanislaw Lem's groundbreaking science fiction novel, the 2002 version of Steven Soderbergh's "Solaris," starring George Clooney, is a better introduction for those intrigued by the meditative tone of "Spaceman" It will be. Clooney's performance as a psychologist assigned to investigate the failure of a mission on a remote space station orbiting an alien planet provides an accessible entry point into this contemplation of grief and obsession.

Chris Kelvin, played by Clooney, discovers the strange effects this planet has on the inhabitants of the space station. This unknown world seems to produce doppelgangers who are living replicas of the deceased, and Kelvin begins to see a replica of his late wife (Natasha McElhone). Soderbergh balances the bleak, elliptical drama of Andrei Tarkovsky's 1972 film adaptation (currently available on Max) with a more rational narrative, delivering an engrossing science fiction story that also ponders the meaning of existence.

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 66 Buy or Rent Now on Apple or Amazon

Sam Rockwell's impressive debut as a lone man on a solo space mission, Duncan Jones, offers more humor than "Spaceman," a lively non-human sidekick and an engaging The film is a great example of a film that is more than a little bit of a romp. His only companion is a disturbingly cheerful robot named GERTY (voiced by Kevin Spacey), who may not be as helpful as he seems.

Rockwell captures the anguish and longing of such prolonged solitude as Sam finds a new purpose as he begins to learn the truth of his mission; like Sandler in Spaceman, he is the only person on screen for most of the film, both physically and mentally The film engages the audience in Sam's fight for survival.

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 90 Denis Villeneuve's adaptation of Ted Chang's short story "Story of Your Life," in which aliens teach humans a life lesson, is one of the most shocking films ever made. Amy Adams gives one of her best performances as Louise Banks, a linguist hired to lead an effort to communicate with the mysterious aliens who have recently arrived on Earth.

In the process of learning the alien's language, Louise experiences a new consciousness that helps her resolve her own personal conflicts and successfully navigate the world's conflicts. In Arrival, Villeneuve tells a sprawling story about humanity facing a global threat through an intimate character-driven drama. The relationship between Louise and fellow scientist Ian Donnelly (Jeremy Renner) is key to understanding the aliens' hopes for humanity's future.

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 94 Available on Paramount Plus

Caitlin Dever is the only other actress in this sci-fi thriller. In Nobody to Save You, she plays Brynn, a reclusive young woman who lives alone in a rustic country home, makes and sells handicrafts, and seems to avoid human interaction. When hostile aliens invade Earth, Brynn's trauma leads her to develop ideal defense mechanisms against the alien takeover of humanity.

Fighting back against the aliens is a cathartic experience for Brin. It is not as gentle as astronaut Yakub's experience with the spider Hanush in Spaceman, but it is far more engaging, thanks to the inventive and exciting work of writer/director Brian Duffield. Duffield mixes suspenseful set pieces with sci-fi grandeur and a surprisingly strong emotional connection to his wordless protagonist.

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 82 Stream it now on Hulu

French genius Claire Denis is not supposed to make run-of-the-mill sci-fi films, but this exploration of sexuality and extreme human behavior is consistently fascinating and unexpected. Juliette Binoche plays a mad scientist who experiments on convicted criminals sent on deep space missions. Robert Pattinson plays a stoic prisoner who resists her manipulations, while Mia Goth and Andre Benjamin play fellow prisoners.

Dibs is the opposite of the gentle, empathetic Hanush, whose position of authority leads to devious and violent confrontations. High Life is brutal yet beautiful, especially when the ship approaches a black hole and Monte, played by Pattinson, experiences a strange phenomenon, which Dennis portrays with abstract wonder. For those who think "Spaceman" failed to capture the madness of space, "High Life" is a perfect alternative.

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 82 Stream Now on Max