Scarlett Johansson might be an A-lister more than capable of anchoring some of the biggest blockbuster franchises around, but I’ve always appreciated her willingness to also work on more artistic projects with cinema auteurs. A great example is 2013’s “Under the Skin.”
This sci-fi drama comes from director Jonathan Glazer (whose 2023 movie “The Zone of Interest” you may have seen), and it definitely didn’t make Marvel money. In fact, it was something of a box office bomb. “Under the Skin” failed to recoup its relatively small £8 million budget (that’s about $13 million). But the quality of a movie shouldn’t be measured in box office success, and “Under the Skin” makes that point, and makes it well.
This sci-fi movie was a hit with critics (scoring 83% on Rotten Tomatoes), and while it proved divisive with audiences, its legacy has been cemented over the years. Rolling Stone even ranked it among the best movies of the 21st century last summer. It’s become something of a cult success. Now that “Under the Skin” has been added to Netflix as part of the streaming service’s May 2026 slate, it’s the perfect time to add this movie to your watchlist if you were one of the many who skipped it back in 2013.
What is ‘Under the Skin’ about?
Based on Michel Faber’s 2000s novel of the same name, “Under the Skin” is a slow-burning sci-fi that proves looks can be very deceiving.
Scarlett Johansson plays an unnamed female driving across Scotland. So far, so normal. She roams the country picking up unsuspecting men. But her seduction isn’t with the aim of pleasure; it’s quickly revealed that she’s an extraterrestrial being merely adopting the form of a human woman.
Once she’s found her vulnerable prey, she reveals her true nature, and the end result is these men meeting a terrible demise. “Under the Skin” is not fast-paced, but it offers stunning visuals, a subtle but impressive performance from Johansson, and plenty of deeper layers to unravel.
Should you stream ‘Under the Skin’ on Netflix?
I think it’s important to note that “Under the Skin” is not a particularly accessible movie. It falls into a genre I like to call “mood piece movies.” It’s really about the sense of atmosphere, aided by some truly mesmerizing visuals, which leap between stunning and terrifying in equal measure.
It doesn’t offer up easy answers, and the expectation is that viewers will draw their own conclusions and chew on many of its narrative elements. If you’re looking for a sci-fi movie with a save-the-world plot, then “Under the Skin” is definitely not the experience for you. But if you can meet it on its own terms and embrace surreal sequences, it’s highly recommended.
The movie was partially shot with hidden cameras, using cast members with no previous acting experience, which helps to give the film a voyeuristic quality. This greatly enhances the impact of the subject matter of an alien seducing lonely men to feed on them. Often, “Under the Skin” feels like watching scenes that viewers are not supposed to be present for.
Ultimately, this surreal and alienating sci-fi wasn’t made with mass-market appeal in mind. Which is on brand for Glazer. So, I’m not surprised to see a weaker viewers’ score of 55% on Rotten Tomatoes. Scarlett Johansson headlining a sci-fi movie might suggest a big intergalactic blockbuster, but the final product could not be more different. Nevertheless, I definitely encourage you to give this movie a chance now that it’s on Netflix, but make sure you know what you’re getting into before you start streaming.
If “Under the Skin” sounds a little too out-of-the-box for your tastes, then here’s a guide to everything new on Netflix in May 2026, which includes plenty of more crowd-pleasing picks.
Watch “Under the Skin” on Netflix now
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