Brooke Knappenberger
The film industry has long been obsessed with outer space—even before humans set out to walk on the moon. The first space movie dates all the way back to 1902 with the French silent film, A Trip to the Moon, which means there are over 100 years’ worth of incredible flicks about the final frontier available right here on Earth. But only the very best space movies push the boundaries of special effects and the human imagination.
You don’t have to be a sci-fi fan to enjoy them: While some films take us on intergalactic voyages to new planets (cough, cough, Star Wars), others are no work of fiction at all (like First Man and Apollo 13), based on very real astronaut stories that will shake you to the core.
Regardless of the genre, each space film on this list will take you somewhere you’ve never been before—perhaps a galaxy far, far away—all without ever leaving your couch. Ahead, in no particular order, are 67 of the best space movies of all time.
'2001: A Space Odyssey' (1968)
In 1968, Stanley Kubrik's 2001: A Space Odyssey debuted to underwhelming reviews. Years later, the film became a cult-classic for cinephiles and sci-fi fanatics alike. Chock-full of symbolism, this two-hour, 29-minute masterpiece explores themes of evolution as two astronauts and a supercomputer embark on a voyage to Jupiter.
'3022' (2019)
It’s 2190 (the title is misleading, we know), and Earth has just imploded, causing the extinction of the human race. (Don’t blame us, we’re just the messengers.) For the small group of astronauts who have woken up in space only to find their home planet destroyed (Omar Epps, Kate Walsh, and Miranda Cosgrove among them), there’s not much time to pout: They’ve gotta find somewhere to live now that Earth’s off the table.
The 'Alien' Franchise (1979– )
From space auteur Ridley Scott, the Alien franchise is as gripping as it is visually captivating—the 1979 original won an Oscar for Best Visual Effects. The plot follows Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) and her copilots as they attempt to escape an alien who's boarded their spacecraft. More than four decades later, the franchise's storylines have changed, but a badass woman (Cailee Spaeny) is still calling the shots in the latest Alien: Romulus installment.
'Aniara' (2019)
Right out of the gate, Roger Ebert called Aniara “an exemplary high-concept contemporary sci-fi film,” so you know there’s something here. It’s a bit on the depressing side—following a group of space travelers who veer off course en route to Mars after Earth is doomed with little hope of regaining their way—but it’s also got some Star Wars-esque imagery that sci-fi buffs will go nuts for.
'Armageddon' (1998)
When an asteroid is destined for Earth, who better to save the day than Bruce Willis? Also starring Billy Bob Thornton, Owen Wilson, Ben Affleck, and Liv Tyler, Armageddon is one of our favorite space movies, combining the terror of impending doom with plenty of heart.
'The Astronaut's Wife' (1999)
Creepy to the core, The Astronaut's Wife is about a former astronaut (Johnny Depp) who returns to Earth after a mission a bit...different from when he left. His wife (Charlize Theron) notices his strange behavior and the drama begins.
'The Black Hole' (1979)
This Disney classic is full of twists and turns as a spacecraft on the verge of closing out its mission comes across another ship long thought missing. As we’ve seen in a million copycat films since, The Black Hole’s crew decides to check out the long-lost ship, only to find way more than they bargained for—particularly since this one's on the edge of a giant, terrifying black hole.
'Cargo' (2009)
This Swedish take on outer space follows a young medic named Laura (Anna Katharina Schwabroh) who is destined to spend four years aboard a space freighter. The rest of her crew is frozen in a state of hibernation for much of the time, but the freighter also has some unexpected cargo that’s about to be revealed…
'Coneheads' (1993)
From the Saturday Night Live sketch to the big screen, Coneheads caters to Dan Aykroyd lovers everywhere. The comedy follows a family of aliens who've found a home in Jersey and are trying to live a normal life. (Fat chance!)
'Contact' (1997)
Jodie Foster's turn as Ellie, a scientist who uncovers an intergalactic message that she must discover the meaning of, was a career highlight. It's an eerily creepy watch, but one that will have you questioning what exactly is beyond our planet.
'The Day the Earth Stood Still' (1951)
Chaos ensues when an alien visits Earth alongside his large robot to deliver a message that will change all of humankind: That's the premise of this OG must-watch for sci-fi cinephiles. It was remade in 2008 with a young Keanu Reeves, but you'd do well to watch the original.
'Dune' (2021)
Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya make this movie based on the iconic Frank Herbert fantasy novel worth the watch alone, but the action in this sci-fi flick is pretty cool, too. (It did win six Oscars, including Best Cinematography and Best Visual Effects, after all.) Think of it as Game of Thrones set across the universe, only instead of fighting over the Iron Throne, the warring families are fighting over a natural resource called spice.
'Dune: Part Two' (2024)
Dune: Part Two may not have received as much critical acclaim as its predecessor, receiving just five Oscar nods to Dune’s 10, but the fans seem to love it more. In this installment of the space opera, Paul Atreides (Chalamet) and Chani (Zendaya) are back in action and out for revenge against Paul’s enemies. He’ll ultimately have to choose between love and the fate of the universe, but hey, no pressure.
'Enemy Mine' (1985)
Picture this: It’s the 2090s, and our planet is at war with a reptilian race. But man and reptile are forced to work together when a spaceship pilot named Willis (played by Dennis Quaid) and a reptilian named Jeriba are stranded together on a foreign planet that’s not exactly friendly to either party.
'Event Horizon' (1997)
One part riveting exploration, one part pure terror, Event Horizon has been hailed as a haunted house film set in space. Laurence Fishburne and co. play a group of astronauts sent to rescue a spaceship that has just reappeared after seven years spent floating in oblivion. The problem? No one’s prepared for what they'll find onboard.
'First Man' (2018)
First Man is the story of Neil Armstrong's (Ryan Gosling) journey into space, which he accomplished with the support of his wife (Claire Foy). This biopic may be slower, but Foy's performance is gripping. Gosling's isn't too bad, either as he imitates Armstrong's historic moon spacewalk and revels in the aeronautical advancements of mankind.
'The Fifth Element' (1997)
By the time Bruce Willis filmed 1998’s Armageddon, he was already an old pro at traveling through space to save the world thanks to 1997’s The Fifth Element. In it, Willis plays a cab driver/former secret agent who must stop a giant ball of fire from crashing into Earth with the help of a woman named Leeloo (Milla Jovovich) and a monk named Cornelius.
'The Flight of the Navigator' (1986)
It’s not quite E.T., but this tale about a boy and his UFO is certainly heartwarming enough as they traverse space and time together, learning about each other all the while. This flick also gets bonus points for the multiple cameos by a teenage Sarah Jessica Parker.
'Fly Me to the Moon' (2024)
Sure, much of Fly Me to the Moon takes place on the ground and devotes a substantial amount of time to the brewing love story between Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum, but we’re still giving it its due for its aeronautical roots. Hired by Moe Berkus (Woody Harrelson) to garner public support for the funding of a 1960s-era NASA, Kelly Jones (Johansson) will go to great lengths to get the job done—even if it means fudging the truth a bit.
'Foe' (2023)
Adapted from Iain Reid’s 2018 novel of the same name, this movie is a bit like an extended episode of Black Mirror. It tells the story of a married couple, Hen and Junior—played by Saoirse Ronan and Paul Mescal—who learn that Junior has been chosen to travel to space for a trial run of a new space colony. In his place, Hen will have a robot who looks and acts just like him to keep her company. It’s as much a portrait of a complicated marriage as it is an unsettling sci-fi tale, and Ronan’s quiet performance bridging the two is particularly perfect.
'Forbidden Planet' (1956)
The fictional planet Altair IV is the scene of this 1950s classic about a courageous crew of space travelers who have come to find out what happened to the far-gone scientists who traveled to the same planet decades prior. Like A Trip to the Moon, this picture broke new ground for space films: It was the first film of its kind to show a human-made spacecraft that could travel fast than the speed of light.
'Galaxy Quest' (1999)
Tim Allen, Alan Rickman, and Sigourney Weaver star in this 1999 space comedy about a group of actors who play astronauts on TV and are forced to help save their planet by aliens. It's funny in a "nostalgic for the '90s" sort of way.
'Gravity' (2013)
Director Alfonso Cuarón's cinematic masterpiece Gravity is awe-inspiring, if completely unrealistic. The film stars Sandra Bullock and George Clooney living out our worst nightmare—a.k.a. being alone and floating aimlessly through outer space. Needless to say, you'll be riding an anxiety high for the duration of the film.
'Guardians of the Galaxy' (2014)
In this highly successful Marvel flick, Star-Lord (Chris Pratt) joins fellow convicts Rocket the Raccoon (who, by the by, is an actual raccoon voiced by Bradley Cooper), Drax (Dave Bautista), Gamora (Zoe Saldaña), and Groot (Vin Diesel), as they set out to return a stolen orb into safe hands and save the galaxy in the process. You know, everyday hero stuff.
'Hidden Figures' (2016)
Hidden Figures tells the story of unsung NASA heroes Katherine Johnson (Taraji P. Henson), Dorothy Vaughan (Octavia Spencer) and Mary Jackson (Janelle Monáe)—three Black women who fast-tracked the U.S.'s foothold in the space race by launching an American into orbit for the first time (among other things). Are we surprised women were behind one of NASA's most successful events? Absolutely not...but we love to see it!
'High Life' (2018)
From director Claire Denis, High Life is a trippy masterpiece. Robert Pattinson is Monte, a dad attempting to survive an endless mission in outer space with his infant daughter. It's artistic and not for the faint of heart, but also well worth a watch.
'The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy' (2005)
What's the meaning of life? That's the question on Arthur Dent's (Martin Freeman) mind as he travels through space in this book-to-movie adaptation of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Mos Def, Zooey Deschanel, and Sam Rockwell costar as a group of hilariously dysfunctional (and unlikely) galaxy heroes. Did we mention there's also singing dolphins and a two-headed president?
'I Am Mother' (2019)
I Am Mother is the story of a young girl (Clara Rugaard) raised by a robot. When an outsider (Hilary Swank) arrives, the girl is forced to decide between who to believe: her robotic caretaker or a fellow human.
'Interstellar' (2014)
Christopher Nolan's Interstellar features a star-studded cast, including Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, Casey Affleck, and a young Timothée Chalamet, to name a few. It's also easily one of the most successful space movies of the 2010s. The film follows Cooper (McConaughey), who's on a journey through the galaxy to find a potential new home for humankind.
'It Came from Outer Space' (1953)
An essential watch for space cinephiles, this 1953 blockbuster depicts an alien invasion that's a cross between Invasion of the Body Snatchers and The Twilight Zone. The premise? Townspeople begin to disappear as they're replaced by alien versions of themselves.
'Jupiter Ascending' (2015)
Mila Kunis stars as Jupiter Jones, an alien with the power to alter the balance of the cosmos, opposite Channing Tatum, who is half canine and half human. It's undoubtedly a little...out there, but hey, it wouldn't be a space movie if it wasn't outside the Earthly realm in some respects!
'LIFE' (2017)
Jake Gyllenhaal and Ryan Renolds share acting duties in this sci-fi thriller about a new life form that begins to develop aboard the International Space Station—and it's not a particularly friendly one.
'Lightyear' (2022)
This 2022 Pixar flick took a very meta approach to the “origin story” trend. It’s not, as you might expect, the story of Buzz Lightyear before he met Woody and the gang. Instead, it’s the story of a fictional human astronaut of the same name who stars on a kids' television series and inspires the model for Andy's beloved action figure. (It'll all start to make sense once you see it, we promise.)
'The Man Who Fell to Earth' (1976)
David Bowie shines in the 1976 flick about an extraterrestrial who's found his way to Earth while trying to save his home planet, only to fall in love with a human. A highly existential film that explores feelings of loneliness and isolation, you might think, what did I watch, upon your first viewing, but Bowie's greatness won't be denied.
'The Martian' (2015)
The Martian, based on the best-selling novel of the same name, is the tale of astronaut Mark Watney (Matt Damon), who must find a way to sustain himself when unexpectedly stranded on Mars. With much of the film focused on Damon's webcam narration about the plants he must grow for survival, it's a bit like TikTok came to space.
'Moon' (2009)
Love Sam Rockwell? Moon is the slow-burn you need to see. Playing astronaut Sam Bell, the actor's character is finishing up a three-year assignment when an accident causes him to see double—including a clone of himself. (We hate it when that happens.)
'October Sky' (1999)
In October Sky, Jake Gyllenhaal plays NASA scientist Homer Hickam—a real person who was inspired to go into rocketry after the Sputnik launch—as he grows up in 1950s West Virginia.
'Pandorum' (2009)
Nothing like waking up from a hypersleep chamber with no recollection of where you are or what it is that you’re doing, eh? Such is the dilemma of Payton (Dennis Quaid) and Bower (Ben Foster), who are all alone in an abandoned spaceship. At least they think they are…
'Passengers' (2016)
A man (Chris Pratt) awakens from a suspended sleep on a spaceship and proceeds to wake up a fellow traveler (Jennifer Lawrence) after becoming smitten with her video profile. There's just one teensy, tiny issue: They're still 90 years away from their destination. It’s essentially a tale of finding love in a hopeless place.
'Plan 9 From Outer Space' (1959)
Californians are under attack by flying saucers in this 1959 cult classic. The plan nine from the title? Resurrect corpses of a Hollywood cemetery in a Frankenstein-style fashion.
'Prometheus' (2012)
Charlize Theron and Michael Fassbender search for other sentient beings in the universe: That's the general premise of Prometheus. But considering it's another Ridley Scott sci-fi thriller set in the Alien universe, you can safely assume it's all about to go wrong.
'Proxima' (2019)
Eva Green is Sarah Loreau, an astronaut who has been chosen to embark upon a year-long mission at the International Space Station. The catch is a big one: She must give up 365 days of being a mother to her 8-year-old daughter. (Yeah, you’re gonna need the Kleenex for this tearjerker.)
'The Signal' (2014)
As if the black void of the unknown wasn’t scary enough, The Signal throws in a pack of alien kidnappers after a group of young college students. (We're good down here on Earth, thanks!)
'Silent Running' (1972)
Botanist Freeman Lowell is a man on a mission, but it’s not that of a space pioneer. Instead, he seeks to save the last viable plant life from planet Earth from the misguided inhabitants of his space freighter before they destroy it for good.
'Slingshot' (2024)
As if being on a space mission that will either result in being slingshotted to Saturn’s moon Titan or deep into outer space wasn’t stressful enough, astronauts John (Casey Affleck) and Nash (Tomer Capone) start to lose their sense of what’s real and what’s not in Slingshot. Their newfound paranoia will either save their lives or subject them to impending doom.
'Solaris' (1972)
This Russian film in which Kris Kelvin (Donatas Banionis) starts to see visions of his late wife aboard his spacecraft is jarring, to say the least. It was later remade in 2002 as a modern psychological thriller starring George Clooney, but after watching the remake; we'd advise sticking to the original.
'Space Sweepers' (2021)
As the first high-production space movie out of South Korea, Netflix’s Space Sweepers is unique in both its origin and its premise. The hit Korean film centers on a group of four space misfits who come across a humanoid robot that’s actually a weapon of mass destruction. Just what they decide to do with their discovery, however, is a decision that will forever alter the fate of the universe.
'Spaceballs' (1987)
Even diehard science fiction fans will get a laugh out of the '80s classic Spaceballs, a.k.a. the famous Star Wars parody. Poking fun at every sci-fi movie ever made, there will be plenty of fun Easter eggs, and it also has a dream cast. John Candy is a half-man-half-dog (ahem, Chewbacca) named Barf and Bill Pullman is the dashing space captain Lone Starr. Together, they're on a mission to save the resourceful but spoiled Princess Vespa (Daphne Zuniga)—and the planet.
'Spaceman' (2024)
Adam Sandler flexes his serious movie chops in 2024’s Spaceman, which stars the Sandman as Jakub Procházka, a cosmonaut whose career often comes before the people he loves the most. It only takes a stint amongst the stars and the help of a talking spider-esque creature named Hanuš to make him realize it.
'Spacewalker' (2017)
This one’s title says it all: It's the story of Russian cosmonaut Alexei Leonov, who became the first person to ever do a spacewalk in 1965. This 2017 retelling, also known as The Age of Pioneers, sees Leonov (Yevgeny Mironov) and pilot Pavel Belyayev (Konstantin Khabensky) preparing to make history as they gear up to do the same, unthinkable peril be damned.
'Star Trek' (2009)
Based on the hit 1960s TV series, the first Star Trek movie from the 2000s trilogy follows James T. Kirk (Chris Pine) and Spock (Zachary Quinto) on a journey to the final frontier. If you watched the show, this will be nostalgic glory. And if not, you'll still enjoy watching a beardless Pine take control of his ship.
The 'Star Wars' Franchise (1977– )
Jedis, Droids, Wookiees, oh my! The 12+ films in the Star Wars franchise are the most successful in the galaxy, so, obviously, they belong on this list. Your favorite will likely depend on your generation—Gen X'ers and millennials tend to ride hard for the OG Harrison Ford-led films, while younger viewers may be more entranced by a shirtless Kylo Ren (Adam Driver). Truth be told, they're all pretty fantastic, with nary a dud in the bunch.
'Stargate' (1994)
This movie has more alien lifeforms than you can shake a stick at and a storyline about a celestial gateway to an Egyptian-like planet, but somehow, it’s the buzzcut that Kurt Russell’s character of Army Col. Jack O'Neil is rocking in it that we’re most in awe of.
'Stowaway' (2021)
We’ve seen Anna Kendrick as a dating show contestant, a mommy vlogger, and an a capella singer, but in 2021’s Stowaway, she stretches her acting wings as a medical researcher named Zoe Levenson aboard a mission to Mars. Things go awry when a stowaway damages her ship beyond repair, leaving only enough oxygen for several crew members—and now they must make a gut-wrenching choice about who gets to use it.
'Sunshine' (2007)
Years before Cillian Murphy was smashing box office records as part of Barbieheimer, he was dealing with a different kind of bomb as a physicist named Capa who has been tasked with reigniting the sun before it dies out and freezes all of Earth’s inhabitants. Chris Evans and Rose Byrne also star.
'Thor: Ragnarok' (2017)
One of the best films in the Marvel franchise (at us, we dare you!), Thor: Ragnarok finds Thor (Chris Hemsworth) attempting to save Asgard alongside The Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Loki (Tom Hiddleston), and Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson). It's also wildly funny if we do say so ourselves.
'Total Recall' (1990)
Total Recall is unlike any cosmic movie you’re likely to have seen, but then again, what else would you expect from a space movie starring Arnold Schwarzenegger? It starts innocently enough when a bored construction worker named Douglas Quaid (Schwarzenegger) decides to visit Mars via a virtual reality-like simulation. But something goes wrong—very wrong—and before you know it, a psychic mutant has protruded from a belly button (don’t ask) and he's screaming for Douglas to “open his mind.”
'Treasure Planet' (2002)
Based on Treasure Island and drawing upon the vocal talents of Martin Short, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Emma Thompson, this Disney selection is essentially an animated treasure hunt across the galaxy in a spaceship (complete with sails and all).
'A Trip to the Moon' (1902)
The film that started it all, A Trip to the Moon, broke new ground upon its release for its stop-motion special effects. There’s no speaking and the plot is relatively simple—a group of six astronauts are shot out of a cannon in a capsule that enables them to get to the moon and explore all its wonders—but it's worth a watch for the history alone.
'WALL-E' (2008)
Come for the Pixar animated cuteness, stay for the feels. This Oscar-winning animated tale is about the last robot on a trash-filled Earth. When he's visited by another robot from outer space named Eve, the space odyssey begins. Dialogue is limited, but thanks to its visually stunning effects and Lorax-like messaging, not a whole lot is needed.
'The Wandering Earth' (2019)
When the unthinkable happens, and the sun burns out, it’s up to us Earthlings to find a way to move our planet into the orbit of a new star system. Only now, we’re on a crash course straight for Jupiter, and it’ll take a space hero to save the day. Sigh.
'A Wrinkle in Time' (2018)
Based off the beloved young adult Madeleine L'Engle novel, A Wrinkle in Time sees two young kids traveling the universe in search of their missing father. With Mindy Kaling, Reese Witherspoon, and Oprah Winfrey helping the children on their mission, this film is a visual delight, boasting hair and makeup that are nothing short of iconic.
'Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century' (1999)
This Disney Channel Original Movie is a standout in the collection of space cinema. Zenon (Kristen Storm) has been grounded by her parents...to Earth. When trouble strikes on the space station, Zenon has to save her parents and best friend Nebula (Raven-Symoné) before it's too late. Let us not forget the special performance by intergalactic superstar Prota Zoa.
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