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Best 14 Space Movies You Have To Watch

Movies have grown more fascinated with sci-fi tales involving star journeys, star wars, and just about everything star-related as visual effects have improved and space travel has become a reality.

Author:Paolo Reyna
Reviewer:James Pierce
Sep 24, 202143.9K Shares594.2K Views
It's difficult to tell when humanity first dreamt of going into space, but once we had the notion, we couldn't get it out of our minds. We've been telling tales about extraterrestrial planets for as long as anybody can remember, and we've been producing films about going to the moon since almost the beginning of cinema.
Movies have grown more fascinated with sci-fi tales involving star journeys, star wars, and just about everything star-related as visual effects have improved and space travel has become a reality. Those films are typically huge, gigantic blockbusters in the twenty-first century, but visual effects technology has advanced to the point that tiny, independent comedies and dramas may convincingly take place on space ships, space stations, and other worlds.
We knew we had to set a boundary somewhere when it came to compiling a list of the greatest space movies of the century (so far). What good is a "Top 20" list if the majority of the entries are Star Trek and Star Wars sequels or prequels? How many Guardians of the Galaxy movies do we need to discuss before you get the notion that they're good?
To make room for undervalued and unappreciated films, we're restricting ourselves to one film per series and spreading the love on our list of the greatest space movies of the twenty-first century so far! Put your helmets on, buckle up, and prepare to go to the furthest reaches of the cosmos in search of action, adventure, and boredom.
Best Space Movies
Best Space Movies

Best Space Movies Of All Time

Titan A.E (2000)

Titan A.E., Don Bluth's most recent feature film, was co-directed by Gary Goldman and aimed to create a huge Star Wars-style universe in the realm of feature animation. The Tick's Ben Edlund, John August's Go, and Joss Whedon's Joss W (Buffy the Vampire Slayer).
Matt Damon and Drew Barrymore contribute their voices to a creative out-of-this-world adventure set in the future when humans have been dispersed throughout the galaxy and no longer have a homeworld. It's up to our heroes to rescue their species when they uncover the secret to finding a second Earth. Titan A.E. is a clever and unique character who deserves to be discovered again.

Titan A.E. Trailer 4K (Animated 2000)

Solaris (2002)

George Clooney as Solaris, courtesy of 20th Century Fox Although Steven Soderbergh's adaptation of Andrei Tarkovsky's Solaris falls short of the vast original, it is an astonishingly comprehensive condensed rendition of a psychedelic, cerebral sci-fi story. George Clooney plays a bereaved psychologist sent to examine a distant space station whose crew refuses to return home. When he arrives, he discovers that all but two of the crew members have died, but the space station isn't empty. it's crammed with the bodies of the loved ones they left behind.
Many great science fiction tales have attempted to explore metaphorical and literal ideas of the infinite from the furthest regions of space, and Soderbergh's Solaris is an outstanding example. Clooney delivers one of his most compassionate performances, and Soderbergh's emphasis on keeping this high-concept sci-fi tale anchored in people is honorable and moving.

SOLARIS (2002) - Official Movie Trailer

Treasure Planet (2002)

Treasure-planet Image courtesy of Disney It's strange to think that Treasure Planet, one of Disney's last great 2D masterpieces, was such a colossal failure when it first came out. Perhaps many still have a hard time embracing animation as a thrilling action movie. Perhaps “steampunk” was still too obscure in 2002 for the general public to grasp. Audiences, though, were let down for whatever reason.
Treasure Planet is a futuristic version of Robert Louis Stevenson's famous book about a little boy who discovers a treasure map and becomes friends with, then enemies with, a violent pirate. Jim's (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) relationship with the cyborg John Silver (Brian Murray) is as deep and nuanced as any in Disney mythology, and the animation is breathtaking. Ron Clements and John Musker (Moana) reinvent space travel as a romance soaring on solar sails, effectively igniting the feeling of awe and wonder that many sci-fi stories lack.

Treasure Planet (2002) Official Trailer #1 - Animated Movie HD

Alien (1979)

This highly regarded sci-fi horror film requires no explanation. It follows the crew of a commercial spacecraft and the mayhem that unfolds when they find a frightening extraterrestrial monster free onboard maybe something Richard Branson might keep in mind when Virgin Galactic finally takes flight.
In a tense two-hour thriller packed with memorable scenes and horrific prosthetics, Sigourney Weaver stars as Ripley. There have been a lot of sequels, spin-offs, and crossovers based on it.

Alien Trailer HD (Original 1979 Ridley Scott Film) Sigourney Weaver

Zathura (2005)

Zathura-a-space-adventure Columbia Pictures provided this image. This brilliantly inventive adaptation of Chris Van Allsburg's Zathura was Jon Favreau's first venture into mainstream cinema and the film that landed him the job directing Iron Man. The plot centers on bored youngsters playing a board game that suddenly flings them into a larger-than-life adventure, ostensibly a companion piece to Jumanji. This time, though, it sends their suburban home into the furthest regions of space.
Zathura is full of bizarre sci-fi imagery, and Favreau smartly keeps his VFX to a minimum, allowing most of the picture to seem handcrafted. The extraterrestrial creatures are terrifyingly realistic, and the settings are believable. It doesn't transport the protagonist into a virtual reality environment; instead, it transports them into a very real world of spacemen and space aliens, where the unknown is as real as anything else in their living room. It's a fast-paced, inventive motion film.

Zathura: A Space Adventure (2005) Official Trailer 1 - Josh Hutcherson Movie

Best Space Movies On Netflix List

Cowboy Bebop: The Movie (2001)

If you've never seen an anime film before, "Cowboy Bebop: The Movie" may not be the greatest place to start. It's based on a TV program of the same name, and although you don't have to watch the show before seeing the movie, you may be puzzled by the fast-paced action if you don't know what's going on.
However, if you're an anime lover seeking a space epic set on the surface of Mars with bounty hunters, a nanomachine-based biological weapon, and a dog with human-level intellect, go no further.

Cowboy Bebop: The Movie - Trailer (2001)

Wall-e (2008)

Humans leave the Earth after pollution renders it uninhabitable, leaving behind a tiny but determined trash-compacting robot. When a brand-new robot called Eve arrives on the planet to search for signs of life, Wall-E makes friends with her and shows her the world he has built for himself.
Wall-E is taken away to the spacecraft that now houses mankind after they discover a plant, where he supports a robot revolt to help humanity get back on track. Wall-E has all the characteristics of a space movie, but it's presented in a charming, family-friendly manner – but its portrayal of a lethargic human civilization adrift among the stars should be taken with a grain of salt.

🎥 WALL-E (2008) | Full Movie Trailer in Full HD | 1080p

Event Horizon (1997)

When the spacecraft Event Horizon suddenly vanishes on its way to Proxima Centauri, it is on a mission. It broadcasts a distress signal seven years later, which Captain Miller, portrayed by Laurence Fishburne, and his crew investigates. When they arrive, the whole crew of the ship has died.
The rescuers are soon targeted by the same forces that murdered them, with haunting apparitions from their past and an evil force overwhelming them. As survivors try to flee and ensure that this force never reaches Earth, the crew members are taken out one by one. Despite the film's blood, gore, and murder, it seems to be less gruesome than planned, and fans are still pleading with filmmaker Paul W. S. Anderson to release the original version.

Event Horizon (1997) Trailer #1 | Movieclips Classic Trailers

THX 1138 (1971)

The film “THX 1138” was a flop. That is until George Lucas became famous for "Star Wars," and audiences returned to see his debut film, which portrays a totalitarian dystopia ruled by mind-altering drugs and a police force of androids.
The title alludes to the film's protagonist, portrayed by Robert Duvall; names are limited to three initials and four numbers in order to promote uniformity.

THX 1138 (1971) Official Trailer - George Lucas, Robert Duvall Movie

Mr. Nobody (2009)

After all, you came here for space movies, but “Mr. Nobody” is one of a few time movies on our list as well. After everyone else achieves immortality via cellular regeneration technology, Jared Leto plays Nemo Nobody, the only mortal remaining on Earth.
Despite the fact that the majority of the film takes place on Earth, Nemo does create a tale about space flight to Mars, which is aesthetically stunning.

Mr Nobody (2009) Trailer [HD]

Best Space Movies IMDb

Gattaca (1997)

Twenty-one years after the premiere of "Gattaca," scientists have been compelled to face a topic highlighted in the film: gene editing. Scientists can now deliberately alter sections of DNA in embryos using CRISPR technology, producing artificial resistance to illnesses like HIV, smallpox, and cholera. In the future, this technology may accurately predict numerous human characteristics, like intellect and eye color, based on the parents' preferences.
In the universe of "Gattaca," a guy born naturally with no genes is edited poses as another man to avoid genetic prejudice and realize his goal of traveling to space, presenting significant issues about whether gene editing is just a new kind of eugenics.

Gattaca (1997) Trailer #1 | Movieclips Classic Trailers

Apollo 13 (1995)

Apollo 13 is an all-star depiction of the compelling drama of a botched trip to the Moon in 1970 that was beloved by terrestrial television schedulers in the mid-2000s. Director Ron Howard went to great lengths to make Apollo 13 as authentic as possible, enlisting NASA's help to train the cast and even filming onboard a reduced gravity aircraft to make weightlessness feel more realistic.
Tom Hanks, Kevin Bacon, and Gary Sinise brought the mass appeal, but the real charm is in the incredible attention to detail director Ron Howard went to great lengths to make it as authentic as possible, enlisting NASA's help to train the cast, and even filming on.

Apollo 13 Official Trailer #1 - Tom Hanks Movie (1995) HD

Star Wars: Episode Vi - Return Of The Jedi (1983)

The original "Star Wars" trilogy will be recognized for introducing Hollywood to blockbusters, with all of its action, adventure, and expensive costs.
Fans and reviewers usually consider the third installment, "Return of the Jedi," to be the weakest of the three, but it is no less adored than the first two. After being defeated time and time again, the Rebels finally take a stand against the Empire, putting allegiances to the test and revealing secrets.

Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983) Trailer #1 | Movieclips Trailers

Sun Shine (2007)

As the suspense and depth of Danny Boyle's space survival slasher grow, the music becomes overpowering. As visual flashes and distortions rush across the screen, the camera rotates and tilts. The soundtrack, composed by Welsh electronica band Underworld, builds and builds until it reaches an abrupt pause.
CAPA, portrayed by Killian Murphy, touches the Sun at this point. It's a reverent moment, almost holy in nature, and one of cinema's most aesthetically striking. Boyle focuses extensively on the connection between the Sun and God throughout the film, giving a very palpable feeling of the Sun's overpowering physical and spiritual presence. It's this overwhelming power that drives the villain and many of the film's heroes insane.

Sunshine (2007) Official Trailer

  • Cowboy Bebop: The Movie (2001)
  • Sun Shine (2007)
  • Wall-e (2008)
  • Solaris (2002)
  • Event Horizon (1997)
  • Treasure Planet (2002)
  • Apollo 13 (1995)
  • Star Wars: Episode Vi - Return Of The Jedi (1983)
  • Zathura (2005)
  • Titan A.E(2000)
  • Mr. Nobody (2009)
  • Gattaca (1997)
  • Thx 1138 (1971)

What Are The 10 Best Sci-fi Movies Of All Time?

  • Annihilation.
  • Blade Runner.
  • Treasure Planet
  • Back to the Future.
  • Star Trek.
  • Apollo 13
  • 2001: A Space Odyssey.
  • E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.
  • Star Wars.
  • aliens.

What Movies Have Space Travel?

  • Ikarie XB-1 (1963)
  • Apollo 13 (1995)
  • Sunshine (2007)
  • Alien (1979)
  • 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
  • Silent Running (1972)
  • First Man (2018)
  • Star Wars (1977)

Is Interstellar The Best Sci Fi Movie?

Yes, it is. The planet is submerged in knee-high water when the explorers arrive. Distant "mountains" wash towards them, forming a kilometer-high killer tide that spans the whole planet. They manage to flee, only to be marooned on a solid flying cloud of strange ice by an insane astronaut a short time later.
Interstellar is the greatest 21st-century retort to Stanley Kubrick's landmark 2001: A Space Odyssey. It's sometimes ridiculous, yet occasionally genuinely imaginative. Now that the Earth's food system is failing, Matthew McConaughey portrays Joseph Cooper, a widower NASA pilot who is called upon to go into interstellar space in search of an Earth-like "Planet B" for humanity to relocate to. His grown-up daughter, played by Jessica Chastain, is tormented by her father's spirit.
Their performances are sincere, but it's the set pieces that make the difference. Gargantua, the film's finale, is a visual effect predicted so precisely by physicist Kip Thorne and recreated so carefully by London effects company Double Negative that it was included in a paper for the journal Classical and Quantum Gravity.
Years before, Thorne and film producer Lynda Obst had dreamed of a film about "the twisted side of the cosmos-black holes, wormholes, higher dimensions, and so forth," as Thorne put it in an interview with Science magazine. They're the focus of Thorne's fascinating book, The Science of Interstellar Travel.
Meanwhile, Nolan has gone on to create more complicated films. Tenet is his most recent work, and it does for time what Interstellar accomplished for space.
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Paolo Reyna

Paolo Reyna

Author
James Pierce

James Pierce

Reviewer
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