Best Movies About Space

From Christopher Nolan, starring Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, Mackenzie Foy
Rated PG-13

Interstellar is a 2014 science fiction adventure film directed and co-written by Christopher Nolan. Set in a near-future where humanity is facing extinction, the film follows a group of astronauts who travel through a wormhole, in search of a new home for humankind. As they journey across the universe, the characters explore the possibilities of time travel and the power of love, while facing the consequences of their actions and the choices they must make for the future of humanity. With a talented ensemble cast including Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, and Jessica Chastain, and awe-inspiring visuals, Interstellar has become a beloved classic.

From Ridley Scott, starring Sigourney Weaver, Tom Skerritt, John Hurt, Veronica Cartwright
Rated R

Alien is a classic sci-fi horror film directed by Ridley Scott, released in 1979. It follows the crew of the commercial towing spaceship Nostromo, who are awakened from stasis to investigate a mysterious signal from a nearby planet. Upon arriving, they find a derelict alien spacecraft, and a horror unlike anything they could have ever imagined. The crew soon realizes that a deadly alien creature has escaped from the ship, and is stalking them through the corridors of the Nostromo. In the end, the sole survivor, Ripley, must confront the alien in an explosive battle for survival. With its intense atmosphere, visceral scares and thought-provoking themes, Alien is one of the greatest sci-fi horror films of all time.

From Stanley Kubrick, starring Keir Dullea, Gary Lockwood, William Sylvester, Daniel Richter
Rated G

2001: A Space Odyssey is an epic science fiction film directed by Stanley Kubrick in 1968. It follows a voyage to Jupiter with the sentient computer HAL after the discovery of a mysterious black monolith affecting human evolution. The story is based in part on various short stories by Arthur C. Clarke, and deals with themes of existentialism, human evolution, technology, artificial intelligence and extraterrestrial life. The film is notable for its innovative visual effects, sound design and psychedelic imagery. The film has since become a classic, and is widely celebrated as one of the greatest and most influential films ever made.

From Ridley Scott, starring Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, Sean Young, Edward James Olmos
Rated R

Blade Runner is a 1982 science fiction film directed by Ridley Scott, based on Philip K. Dick’s novel ‘Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep’. Set in a dystopian future, Blade Runner follows Rick Deckard, a blade runner tasked with hunting down and “retiring” a group of escaped replicants, humanoid robots created to work off-world. During his investigation, which takes him across a polluted, crowded Los Angeles, Deckard discovers evidence of a replicant rebellion and gradually comes to sympathize with their cause. Blade Runner's iconic blend of film noir and science fiction has made it a timeless classic, and its influence can still be felt in the science fiction genre today.

From Andrei Tarkovsky, starring Natalya Bondarchuk, Donatas Banionis, Jüri Järvet, Vladislav Dvorzhetskiy
Rated PG

Solaris is a 1972 science fiction film directed by Andrei Tarkovsky. The plot follows psychologist Kris Kelvin as he travels to a distant planet called Solaris to investigate the strange phenomena occurring on the station orbiting the planet. Upon arriving, he discovers that the planet is creating living versions of people from the crew's pasts and memories, which cause them to question the nature of reality and their own identities. As Kris attempts to unravel the mystery of Solaris, he begins to understand the planet's motivations, leading to an emotionally devastating climax. Solaris is a thought-provoking exploration of the human psyche and the power of memories.

From James Gunn, starring Chris Pratt, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Zoe Saldana
Rated PG-13

Guardians of the Galaxy is a 2014 superhero film directed by James Gunn. It follows the adventures of a ragtag group of intergalactic misfits who must work together to save the galaxy from a powerful villain, Ronan the Accuser. The team consists of Peter Quill (Chris Pratt), Gamora (Zoe Saldana), Rocket (Bradley Cooper), Groot (Vin Diesel), and Drax (Dave Bautista). Together, they must find a powerful artifact known as the Orb, and use it to save the universe from Ronan's threats. With the help of a powerful team of allies, the Guardians face off against Ronan and his forces in a desperate battle that could decide the fate of the entire galaxy.

From Ridley Scott, starring Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain, Kristen Wiig, Kate Mara
Rated PG-13

The Martian is a science fiction film directed by Ridley Scott and released in 2015. It tells the story of astronaut Mark Watney, who, after being presumed dead and left behind on a mission to Mars, must rely on his skills and resourcefulness to survive and signal to Earth for help. With supplies limited and no way to contact Earth, Mark must find a way to stretch his limited resources to survive the harsh environment of Mars and signal to Earth for a rescue mission. With the help of his team back on Earth, he embarks on a daring mission to get back home while also making incredible discoveries about Mars in the process.

From J.J. Abrams, starring Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Simon Pegg, Leonard Nimoy
Rated PG-13

Star Trek is a 2009 science fiction action film directed by J.J. Abrams and written by Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman. The film is set in an alternate timeline created in part by time travel and follows the crew of the USS Enterprise as they combat Nero, a Romulan from their future who threatens the United Federation of Planets. A young and brash James T. Kirk (Chris Pine) attempts to live up to his father's legacy with Mr. Spock (Zachary Quinto) keeping him in check as a vengeful Nero (Eric Bana) threatens the destruction of Starfleet and humanity. With a personal score to settle, Captain Kirk leads a manhunt to a war-zone world to capture a one-man weapon of mass destruction, while Spock and the crew of the Enterprise risk their careers and their lives to try and stop Nero's deadly plans and restore the future.

From Duncan Jones, starring Sam Rockwell, Kevin Spacey, Dominique McElligott, Rosie Shaw
Rated R

Moon is a science fiction film directed by Duncan Jones and starring Sam Rockwell as Sam Bell, an astronaut working alone on a lunar mining station operated by the company Lunar Industries. Sam has been living and working on the station for three years, with only a computerized assistant named GERTY (voiced by Kevin Spacey) to keep him company. As his contract is coming to an end, Sam begins to experience hallucinations, which lead him to doubt the reality of his situation. After Sam discovers that Lunar Industries is cloning him to replace him, he embarks on a journey to discover the truth. Along the way, he discovers the secrets of Lunar Industries and the consequences of their actions, ultimately questioning his own identity.

From Andrew Niccol, starring Ethan Hawke, Uma Thurman, Jude Law, Gore Vidal
Rated PG-13

Gattaca is a science fiction film set in a future where individuals are judged by their genetic makeup. The main character, Vincent Freeman, is born in an age where genetic engineering has become a norm and is discriminated against because of his natural, imperfect genetic makeup. Despite this, Vincent dreams of becoming an astronaut, a goal that seems impossible due to his genetic limitations. With the help of a friend, he assumes the identity of a genetically perfect individual, Jerome Morrow, and begins to pursue his dream of space travel. Along the way, he struggles to maintain his identity and his relationship with his brother and his love interest, Irene. In the end, despite his struggles, Vincent succeeds in his goal of becoming an astronaut and regains his identity.

From Joss Whedon, starring Nathan Fillion, Gina Torres, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Alan Tudyk
Rated PG-13

Serenity is an action-packed space western film directed by Joss Whedon in 2005. The story follows the crew of the spaceship Serenity, a group of renegades led by Captain Malcolm Reynolds, as they battle against the ruthless Alliance to protect a mysterious young woman named River Tam. River is a psychic who has been experimented on by the Alliance, and whose powerful abilities could be used as a weapon. The crew must use all of their wits and skill to protect River, as they find themselves pursued by the Alliance and a much more sinister enemy. Along the way, they come to understand the true nature of River's power, and the importance of finding a safe haven in a universe full of chaos and danger.

From Gareth Edwards, starring Felicity Jones, Diego Luna, Alan Tudyk, Donnie Yen
Rated PG-13

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is a 2016 American epic space opera film directed by Gareth Edwards. The film follows a group of rebel spies on a daring mission to steal the plans to the Galactic Empire's planet-destroying weapon, the Death Star. Led by Jyn Erso, the team of rebels hatch a daring plot to infiltrate the Empire and steal the Death Star's plans. Along the way, they enlist the help of the Rebel Alliance and a rag-tag group of allies, including a blind warrior and a defecting Imperial pilot. With the fate of the galaxy at stake, the team must confront the dangerous Imperial forces and fight their way to ultimate victory.

From Ron Howard, starring Tom Hanks, Bill Paxton, Kevin Bacon, Gary Sinise
Rated PG

Apollo 13 is a 1995 American space docudrama film directed by Ron Howard and starring Tom Hanks, Kevin Bacon, Bill Paxton, Gary Sinise and Ed Harris. The film tells the true story of the Apollo 13 lunar mission, which was aborted after an on-board explosion crippled the spacecraft. The crew of Jim Lovell, Fred Haise, and Jack Swigert must work together to survive, while mission control desperately attempts to bring the astronauts home safely. Despite the odds, their courage, determination and ingenuity help them find a way back to Earth.

From Alfonso Cuarón, starring Sandra Bullock, George Clooney, Ed Harris, Orto Ignatiussen
Rated PG-13

Gravity is a 2013 science fiction film directed by Alfonso Cuarón and starring Sandra Bullock and George Clooney. The story follows Dr. Ryan Stone (Bullock), a medical engineer on her first shuttle mission, and veteran astronaut Matt Kowalski (Clooney), as they are stranded in space after an unexpected disaster. As they attempt to return to Earth, the duo must find a way to survive the various perils of their situation, including limited oxygen, debris from a destroyed satellite, and the psychological effects of their isolation. Through a series of close calls and miraculous events, Stone and Kowalski ultimately make it back to Earth, albeit with a few bumps and bruises along the way.

From J.J. Abrams, starring Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldana, Benedict Cumberbatch
Rated PG-13

Star Trek Into Darkness is a 2013 science-fiction action adventure film directed by J.J. Abrams and the twelfth installment in the Star Trek film series. In the film, the crew of the Starship USS Enterprise is called back home to Earth after a shocking act of terrorism destroys Starfleet Headquarters. On Earth, the crew must face an adversary from within their own organization, the vengeful John Harrison. With the help of a secret weapon, Harrison launches a series of attacks on Starfleet as retribution for a past event. As the crew embarks on a mission to capture Harrison and bring him to justice, they must also contend with a powerful enemy force determined to protect him at all costs. With time running out, the crew must race against an unstoppable force to save the Federation and themselves.

From Luc Besson, starring Bruce Willis, Milla Jovovich, Gary Oldman, Ian Holm
Rated PG-13

The Fifth Element is an action-adventure science fiction film set in the year 2257, directed by Luc Besson. The story centers on the character of Korben Dallas (Bruce Willis), a former Special Forces major, who is now a cab driver. Korben is somehow linked to the fate of the universe when a mysterious and powerful force known as "the Fifth Element" is discovered. The Fifth Element is a mysterious energy that can be used to protect the planet, but it must be protected from an evil force known as "Mr. Zorg" and his army of mercenaries. Together with a former army general turned priest (Ian Holm), an alien named Leeloo (Milla Jovovich), and a wisecracking mercenary (Chris Tucker), Korben embarks on a mission to save the world from destruction. Along the way, he discovers the truth behind the power of the Fifth Element and must confront the evil Mr. Zorg in order to save the world.

From James Gunn, starring Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel
Rated PG-13

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is a 2017 American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics superhero team, the Guardians of the Galaxy. Directed by James Gunn, the film stars an ensemble cast featuring Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Michael Rooker, Karen Gillan, Pom Klementieff, Elizabeth Debicki, Chris Sullivan, Sean Gunn and Sylvester Stallone. Set two months after the first film, the Guardians of the Galaxy travel throughout the cosmos and struggle to keep their newfound family together, while helping Peter Quill learn more about his true parentage. Along the way, old foes become new allies and fan-favorite characters from the classic comics will come to our heroes’ aid as the Marvel Cinematic Universe continues to expand. The Guardians must fight to keep their newfound family together as they unravel the mystery of Peter Quill’s true parentage.

From Robert Zemeckis, starring Jodie Foster, Matthew McConaughey, Tom Skerritt, John Hurt
Rated PG

Contact is a 1997 science fiction romantic drama directed by Robert Zemeckis and starring Jodie Foster. The story follows Dr. Eleanor "Ellie" Arroway, played by Foster, a scientist and committed atheist who discovers evidence of extraterrestrial life while searching for radio signals from outer space. After numerous attempts to decipher the signals, Ellie meets with a group of powerful government and religious figures who are divided on how to respond to her discovery. Ultimately, Ellie is chosen to travel to the distant star system and make contact with the advanced aliens. On her journey, she discovers the true meaning of faith, love and the power of the human spirit.

From Damien Chazelle, starring Ryan Gosling, Claire Foy, Jason Clarke, Kyle Chandler
Rated PG-13

From Danny Boyle, starring Cillian Murphy, Rose Byrne, Chris Evans, Cliff Curtis
Rated R

From David Twohy, starring Radha Mitchell, Cole Hauser, Vin Diesel, Keith David
Rated R

From Ridley Scott, starring Noomi Rapace, Logan Marshall-Green, Michael Fassbender, Charlize Theron
Rated R

From Christian Alvart, starring Dennis Quaid, Ben Foster, Cam Gigandet, Antje Traue
Rated R

From Paul W.S. Anderson, starring Laurence Fishburne, Sam Neill, Kathleen Quinlan, Joely Richardson
Rated R

From Neill Blomkamp, starring Matt Damon, Jodie Foster, Sharlto Copley, Alice Braga
Rated R