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The 30 best space movies

Head to infinity and beyond with the greatest intergalactic odysseys of all time

Space may be the final frontier, but filmmakers have been charting its expanses from nearly the beginning of cinema. In 1902, a year before the Wright brothers even left the ground, French filmmaking magician Georges Méliès was already dreaming of what it might be like to fly to the moon, and what he might find there. Even after man actually made it into orbit, movies have continued to ponder the vastness of the universe, and humanity’s place within it.

It’s an unknowably huge void that serves as a blank canvas for directors to explore all sorts of big ideas. It’s for that reason that space movies deserve to be considered as their own genre. Sure, many sci-fi films are set in space, but not all of them are about space, and what it represents. These 30 films, however, consider the possibilities, and have become classics in their own right.  

Recommended:

👽 The 100 best science fiction movies of all-time 😬 The 100 best thriller films of all-time 💣 The 101 best action movies ever made 🦄 The 50 best fantasy movies of all-time  

Been there, done that? Think again, my friend.

The best space movies

1.  2001: a space odyssey (1968).

• Science fiction

Director: Stanley Kubrick 

Cast: Keir Dullea, Gary Lockwood

Many argue that this film is cinema’s GOAT – us, among them – and its enduring status is partly down to ideas around artificial intelligence and technology that have only become more prescient with every passing year. But few sci-fi films have embraced the look, feel and experience of space travel with this level of baked-in, world-building cool. Kubrick had three production designers on the case and got big brands like IBM, Dupont and Nikon to imagine what their products might look like in an interstellar future. Major props, too, to Douglas Trumbull’s eye candy stargate sequence, which helped ensure that late-‘60s stoners were the first audiences to take it all to their hearts.

2.  The Martian (2015)

• Action and adventure

Director: RIdley Scott

Cast: Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain, Chiwetel Ejiofor

After dividing audiences with Prometheus , Ridley Scott’s return to space was a heel-turn from his previous horrors. Thanks in huge part to a script by The Cabin in the Woods writer Drew Goddard and an endearing performance by Matt Damon as a marooned astronaut, The Martian is a bracing survivalist yarn with a reliable charm. In fact, Damon’s affability scored it an unlikely Best Comedy nod at the Golden Globes. And those laughs are vital in a film detailing a scientist slowly starving himself on a distant planet as his friends risk their lives to rocket through space to save him. 

3.  WALL-E (2008)

Director: Andrew Stanton

Cast: (voices) Jeff Garlin, Fred Willard, Ben Burtt

Only half of Pixar’s environmentalist parable-slash-intertechnological love story actually takes place in space, and most of those scenes are set aboard the galaxial Noah’s Ark keeping mankind alive after destroying the planet. But its moment among the stars is an absolute stunner. After breaking out of the spaceship’s airlock, the titular sentient trash compactor – aided by a fire extinguisher – and his Alexa-esque paramour twirl, spin and criss-cross each other in a zero-gravity Astaire-Rogers ballet that jerks tears and raises goosebumps in equal measure.    

4.  Star Wars (1977)

Director : George Lucas

Cast : Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, Alec Guinness

Has any film more perfectly channelled our fascination with space? It’s easy to forget how truly mesmerising A New Hope is when it ditches its fantastical planets and takes to the sky. It’s not just the dogfights of the climax, either. Much of the film plays out as an intergalactic road trip at warp speed, but it also slows down for a quick game of chess as stars drift past the window. By the end, you find yourself looking skyward, imagining the possibilities – not unlike Luke Skywalker himself, as he stares out beyond Tatooine’s twin suns and dreams of his destiny.

5.  The Right Stuff (1983)

Director: Philip Kaufman Cast: Sam Shepherd, Ed Harris, Dennis Quaid, Scott Glenn

Philip Kaufman’s boy’s own adaptation of Tom Wolfe’s nonfiction classic is every bit as stirring as Top Gun , though the tale of the US Mercury’s astronauts seldom gets its due. It also begs the question: how is it that movie astronauts are so often depicted as introverted nerds when we’ve seen Sam Shepard’s wildchild Chuck Yaeger breaking the sound barrier and the other Mercury astronauts strutting like the rock stars of their day? Truly, our understanding of space – and the cocksure punks who sought to tame it – remains woefully out of touch.

6.  A Trip to the Moon (1902)

Director: Georges Méliès

Cast: ​ ​Georges Méliès

All sci-fi movies – hell, pretty much all of modern effects-led cinema in general – begins here. But we don’t include Georges Méliès’s groundbreaker out of historical obligation. Well over a century later, the film displays an imagination in both storytelling and effects that wows even today, especially when you consider that not even the aeroplane existed yet. Surely, when the first astronauts made it to that big rock in the sky, they half-expected to find harpoon-wielding insectoids there to greet them.  

7.  Outland (1981)

Director : Peter Hyams

Cast : Sean Connery, Peter Boyle, Clarke Peters 

Essentially High Noon in space – but with 100 percent more splattered heads, thanks to the wonders of explosive decompression – this Sean Connery-starring space western unfolds above and below one of Jupiter’s moons, where a mining operation becomes the nucleus of a drug-fuelled mystery full of violence and depravity. The film shares a lot of DNA with Alien  thanks to its advanced effects and claustrophobic sets; only here, it’s humans doing the eviscerating... and a lot of it. 

8.  Galaxy Quest (1999)

Director: Dean Parisot

Cast: Tim Allen, Alan Rickman, Sigourney Weaver

A comedy is often only as strong as its reverence toward what it’s lampooning. A love of Star Trek ’s Gene Roddenberry shines through in every moment of this corker about the cast of a  Trek knockoff enlisted to save the denizens of a faraway planet. The plot is essentially a sci-fi version of  Three Amigos! , but the game cast – particularly Alan Rickman and a young Sam Rockwell – sell every uproarious gag, while the effects work updates the ‘60s camp while keeping the cartoonish charm front and centre. 

9.  Moon (2009)

Director: Duncan Jones

Cast: Sam Rockwell, Kevin Spacey (voice)

Of course, the scion of Ziggy Stardust would make a movie about a lonely man on the moon staring longingly back at Earth. But debut filmmaker Duncan Jones’ space oddity isn’t some glammed-up spectacle. Rather, it’s an intimate, quietly tense film, with a big existential question at its centre: are we sure any of this is real? Sam Rockwell is transfixing, going it entirely alone – well, almost – as a contractor unravelling near the end of a long stint mining helium-3 on the lunar surface. Small-scale as it is, it looks fantastic, and a bit uncanny, further confusing if what we’re witnessing is truth, dream or madness.

10.  Event Horizon (1997)

Director: Paul WS Anderson

Cast: Sam Neill, Laurence Fishburne, Kathleen Quinlan

If Alien is effectively Halloween with Michael Myers replaced by a vengeful alien mother, this interstellar nightmare is basically The Shining if Jack Torrance was forced to wile away the winter aboard a massive spacecraft. That’s not a unique comparison, but Paul WS Anderson’s tale of a crew of astronauts going mad beyond the stars – and possibly opening a black hole to Hell – evokes a similar sense of overwhelming dread… only with a sci-fi twist. Featuring a handful of truly freaky images, critics dismissed the film as highfalutin schlock, but the ensuing years have bestowed well-deserved cult status upon it, both for its frightening concept and impressively transgressive visuals.

11.  Treasure Planet (2002)

• Family and kids

Director: Ron Clements & John Musker

Cast: (voices) Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Emma Thompson, Martin Short

Disney dared to do something different with its sci-fi take on Robert Louis Stevenson’s pirate classic ‘Treasure Island’. Audiences didn’t respond to its hybrid of hand-drawn and CG animation, or storytelling that ditched princesses in favour of something a little more space-age and weird, but Treasure Planet is full of gorgeous celestial flair. The juxtaposition between old-school tall ships and cutting-edge interstellar animation remains dreamlike in its beauty. Plus, it beats the hell out of Mars Needs Moms . 

12.  Star Trek 2: The Wrath of Khan (1982)

Director: Nicholas Meyer

Cast: William Shatner, Ricardo Montalbán, Leonard Nimoy

The eye-popping space battles and serene galactic imagery. The mind-controlling space eels. The introduction of the Kobayashi Maru test. The tear-soaked space funeral. The goddamn mind-controlling space eels . The Wrath of Khan stands tall above all the USS Enterprise’ s cinematic adventures for many reasons, but chief among them is its deference to space itself – the franchise’s spiritual home. The reboot might have more advanced ships and shinier effects, but this was the moment Trek matched Star Wars in terms of pure awe in the abyss. 

13.  Starship Troopers (1997)

Director: Paul Verhoeven

Cast: Casper Van Dien, Denise Richards, Jake Busey

For millennia, humankind has gazed to the heavens and wondered what life exists beyond the stars. Paul Verhoeven has an answer, and it’s a horde of vengeful, snot-spewing insectoids. The Total Recall director’s return to space is a feature-length satire of fascist propaganda films that also plays like a stunning action spectacle, goopy horror romp and white-knuckle actioner. Verhoeven spends considerable time above the battlefield as a fleet of space cruisers discovers rather quickly that their ships are no match for bug bogeys and the unforgiving vacuum of space in graphic detail. 

14.  Interstellar (2014)

Director : Christopher Nolan

Cast: Matthew McConaughey, Jessica Chastain, Anne Hathaway

McConaughey in deep space? Well, all right, all right, all right. Seriously, for all its stunning images and weighty ideas, it’s the Texan’s everydude charisma that keeps Christopher Nolan’s dense sci-fi odyssey tethered to Earth, even as it drifts beyond the stars. Not to discount the director’s vision: his rendering of the cosmos is the most awe-inspiring since 2001 . But it’s McConaughey’s grounding presence that holds it together. The scene in which his would-be interplanetary coloniser watches his daughter grow old without him is a gut-punch you don’t need a degree in astrophysics to understand.

15.  Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

Director: James Gunn

Cast: Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista

The MCU’s first proper trip to the cosmos takes its cues from Star Wars and The Ice Pirates in equal measure. But it also carves a unique impression into cinematic space lore thanks to its fantastic worlds and gleeful depiction of space travel. The sequel arguably nails the sensation of gravity-defying antics better, capping things off with a space funeral that trounces The Wrath of Khan . But director James Gunn’s original is the kind of film that knows damn well that a scene of eye-popping space psychedelics all but demands to be scored to Bowie’s ‘Moonage Daydream’ (of course), then delivers in kind.

16.  Alien (1979)

Director: Ridley Scott

Cast: Sigourney Weaver, Tom Skerritt, Ian Holm

No other film captures the contradiction of space being at once infinitely vast and frighteningly claustrophobic than Ridley Scott’s sci-fi horror masterpiece. It’s an oddly small picture, given its influence and iconic special effects, but the movie’s true genius is in how it maximises its small budget, turning a spaceship into a haunted house and the infinite void of the universe into a deep, dark wood. And the big, bad wolf has never been this terrifying. 

17.  Apollo 11 (2019)

• Documentaries

Director : Todd Douglas Miller

Strap yourself to the side of the thundering Apollo 11 rocket as it careers into, and beyond, the Earth’s atmosphere in a spectacular doc that makes great use of hitherto unseen Nasa footage. The mission, of course, successfully plonked two Americans on to the Moon’s surface and then unplonked them again, thereby winning that bit of the space race with the Soviet Union, but there’s nothing triumphalist in director Todd Douglas Miller’s thrilling recreation – just a lot of quiet professionalism, teamwork and fearless men in helmets. When it gets into space and the 70mm footage does its thing, it makes you wish you’d actually followed up on that childhood ambition to become an astronaut.

18.  Gravity (2013)

Director: Alfonso Cuarón

Cast: Sandra Bullock, George Clooney

Some were disappointed when Alfonso Cuarón followed up 2006’s Children of Men – a masterpiece of dystopian world-building with big ideas about hope, faith and the future of humanity – with the simple story of an astronaut marooned in space. Of course, there’s nothing all that simple about poor Sandra Bullock’s situation. With her craft destroyed by orbiting debris and her partner (George Clooney) having floated off into the void, home appears both tantalisingly close and unimaginably far away. The movie is a technical marvel, but even on the small screen, it’s breathlessly tense – not since Alien has the infinite expanse of the universe felt so claustrophobic.

19.  First Man (2018)

Director: Damien Chazelle

Cast : Ryan Gosling, Claire Foy, Kyle Chandler A true-life astronaut drama that soars for the heavens but finds its deepest emotions at the kitchen table, this reimagining of what Neil Armstrong was contending with at the time of the Apollo 11 mission will have you ugly crying before anyone can so much as bob across that lunar surface. Ryan Gosling reunites with his La La Land director, Damien Chazelle, to humanise the now almost mythical Armstrong in his grief for his young daughter, with a just-holding-it-together Claire Foy as the moonwalker’s wife. For the majority of its runtime, First Man is earthbound. But when it finally touches down on the moon, it’s cinematic magic: a moment of wonderment, solitude and an overwhelming sense that you’re right there too.

20.  Ad Astra (2019)

Director : James Gray

Cast : Brad Pitt, Ruth Negga, Tommy Lee Jones Directed with a lust for adventure by The Lost City of Z ’s, James Gray,  Ad Astra (‘to the stars’) follows Brad Pitt’s spaceman across the galaxy to track down his ornery dad (Tommy Lee Jones), who may or may not be trying to wipe out humanity from a space station near Neptune (spoiler: he is). The journey sits somewhere between the old Star Trek movies in its stargazy philosophising and the rebooted ones in some of zero-g action sequences that suck the air from your lungs. There’s also an awesome space-buggy chase across the moon and a bit with psychotic space baboons. We are here for them both.   

21.  Forbidden Planet (1956)

Director : Fred M Wilcox

Cast : Leslie Nielsen, Walter Pidgeon, Anne Francis It’s Shakespeare in space – this iconic sci-fi is an intergalactic take on The Tempest – as a group of galactic travellers led by a straight-shooting Leslie Nielsen fall into the lap of megalomaniac boffin (Walter Pidgeon) on the remote planet of Altair 4. Cutting-edge effects presented in widescreen CinemaScope – the flying saucer remains cool AF – make this a true landmark not just in space flicks, but sci-fi genre as a whole. Don’t take our word for it: Gene Roddenberry cites it as a major influence on Star Trek .

22.  Silent Running (1972)

Director: Douglas Trumbull

Cast : Bruce Dern, Cliff Potts A direct inspiration for WALL-E and about as eco-conscious as science-fiction can get, this enduring classic shows that 2001: A Space Odyssey SFX maestro Trumbull could tell his own stories too. And this one follows a single astronaut (Bruce Dern) and his three adorbs robot pals, Louie, Huey and Dewey, as they drift through space, doing a spot of gardening and trying to stay sane in the face of mankind’s extinction. Heavy themes, sure, but treated with loads of heart and a philosophical spirit that echoes especially loudly in an era of climate crisis. 

23.  Solaris (1972)

Director : Andrei Tarkovsky

Cast : Donatas Banionis, Natalya Bondarchuk

Since remade by Steven Soderbergh, the original Tarkovsky Solaris is definitely the place to start when it comes to enigmatic, brainy affairs set in the far reaches of the universe. A cosmonaut (Lithuanian actor Donatas Banionis) is haunted by his dead wife as his spaceship orbits a mysterious planet. But is the planet creating embodiments of the ghosts haunting the poor man’s subsconscious, a bit like when Ray Stantz accidentally summons the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man in Ghostbusters ? With its eerie visuals, it makes for a dreamlike journey to the far reaches of the human psyche.

24.  First Men in the Moon (1964)

Director : Nathan Juran

Cast : Edward Judd, Martha Hyer, Lionel Jeffries This monster-filled space adventure came out five years before man actually set foot on the moon and you can only hope Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong weren’t watching, because the moon landing itself is a trainwreck. The ‘in’ part of the title is key: this is a Journey to the Centre of the Earth -style caper that has a crew of heroically under-prepared Brits discovering all sorts of things that don’t want to be discovered beneath the lunar crust. You will learn nothing at all about space but the giant stop-motion critters, animated by the great Ray Harryhausen, are a lot of fun.

25.  For All Mankind (1989)

Director : Al Reinert Six moon landings are ticked off in Al Reinert’s iconic doc, all accompanied by Brian Eno’s cosmic score (if space had sound, it’d definitely sound like Brian Eno). It makes the perfect non-fiction double bill with the more recent Apollo 11 – a window into the experience of being on the moon and looking back at earth. ‘A spiritual presence was there,’ says one NASA astronaut of those lunar vibes. ‘We were not alone.’ Haunting and hard to shake, this is proof that sometimes real life can be as spectacular as science fiction.

26.  Sunshine (2007)

Director: Danny Boyle

Cast: Cillian Murphy, Rose Byrne, Michelle Yeoh Director Danny Boyle positions his mindtrip space flick as a midway point between 2001: A Space Oydssey and Alien – a fusion of thrills and thinky bits that culminates in a third act that gets close to melting down as it draws close to the sun. You could probably throw Armageddon into that mix – a self-sacrificing crew of astronauts heads into space to save humanity from annihilation – although it’s a lot more believable (Boyle put his cast through astronaut training) and a lot less tub-thumping. The vast planetary vistas glimpsed from the decks of the Icarus II make a suitably awe-inspiring backdrop from its stellar cast (Cillian Murphy, Rose Byrne, Chris Evans et al) to come apart at the seams.

27.  Apollo 13 (1995)

Director: Ron Howard

Cast: Tom Hanks, Kevin Bacon, Bill Paxton, Gary Sinese

So much more than its famous ‘Houston, we have a problem’ catchphrase, Apollo 13 harkens back to the glory days of white-knuckle, PG-rated entertainment. An ensemble tribute to the power of group problem-solving, it has Howard fully embracing a ‘70s aesthetic and the storytelling of the era to craft a timeless middlebrow crowd-pleaser with an almost surgical focus on the imperiled mission at hand. 

28.  Contact (1997)

Director: Robert Zemeckis 

Cast: Jodie Foster, Matthew McConaughey, John Hurt

We’d have loved to include Denis Villeneuve’s magical, melancholy Arrival  on this list but it takes place entirely within Earth’s atmosphere. Instead, try this big, ambitious drama from Back to the Future ’s Robert Zemeckis based on a book by sci-fi seer Carl Sagan. Contact ’s heart is in a similar place, and like Arrival ’s protagonist played by Amy Adams, it is female-led, steers clear of macho ideas of hostile aliens and cocks an ear to new voices from far beyond our solar system. Zemeckis, who loves to push visual boundaries, images space travel as a dizzying acid trip full of wormholes, whirlpools and mind-bending geometries. It’s one of those rare movies that should come with motion sickness tablets.

29.  Dark Star (1974)

Director : John Carpenter

Cast : Dan O'Bannon, Dre Pahich, Brain Narelle

There’s no film version of The Muppet’ s ‘Pigs in Space’ sketch, but John Carpenter’s debut, set during the 22nd century, delivers the next best thing: A hippie movie hopped up on its own counter-cultural sense of the absurd (there’s a talking bomb) and a pisstake-y irreverence. It’s the perfect antidote to bombastic science-fictions that get lost in their own self-importance – a lo-fi whoopie cushion that invites you aboard its titular spacecraft to hang out with four fargone astronauts and indulge in a little space surfing.

30.  High Life (2018)

Director : Claire Denis

Cast : Robert Pattinson, Juliette Binoche, André Benjamin Myriad mysteries abound in this deliriously bonkers space oddity from French auteur Claire Denis ( White Material ) that co-stars Robert Pattinson and Juliette Binoche as an interstellar inmate and his scientist jailer. The human body and its function gets a rare exploration in this context – space flicks rarely spend this much time over their characters’ sexual needs in zero gravity ( 2001: A Space Odyssey does not have a Fuckbox) – and its themes of reproduction, incarceration and experimentation play out in a space with its own realities. Go with it, in other words, and be rewarded with a space journey unlike any other.

The 100 best sci-fi movies

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50 Best Space Movies Of All Time Ranked

Space is the final frontier, and, of course, the place where no one can hear you scream. As a setting for movies, space has provided endless opportunities for incredible films, ones that showcase humanity's fascination with places unknown, epic journeys, weird and wonderful creatures, and alien technology. Sitting within the realm of science fiction, it's a subgenre that continues to surprise and delight audiences.

As few of us will be able to experience the wonders of space for ourselves, movies are the thing that can transport us there. Some convey the awe and wonder of other worlds and planets, whereas others take a distinctly darker approach, portraying space as something to be feared, full of things that humans should perhaps not meddle with.

From a 1902 silent film about the moon to modern planet-hopping blockbuster behemoths, the genre has something to offer everyone, with possibilities almost as vast as the universe itself. While many of these films focus on people traveling to other planets –- both real and fictional –- or visitors from other worlds coming to Earth, others are much more grounded in reality, taking inspiration from real-life events and space missions. With a whole galaxy of films to choose from, these are the very best space movies. (Warning: There are spoilers below.)

Updated on July 6, 2022 : Space stretches on forever, which means there's plenty of room for more space movies. As otherworldly films take their place in the cosmos, we'll be sure to add any instant classics to our list.

51. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

Based on the book of the same name by Douglas Adams, this 2005 film adaptation of "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" certainly retains the offbeat (and very British) humor of the source material and boasts a starry cast that includes Martin Freeman, Zooey Deschanel, Bill Nighy, Sam Rockwell, and Stephen Fry, to name but a few. 

The film's hero is Arthur Dent (Freeman), who finds himself whisked away from Earth when an alien construction crew invades. At times, the film feels a little like a fever dream, and those unfamiliar with the tone of Adam's book may find themselves alienated by how madcap it feels. However, if you're a fan of stuff like "Monty Python," this film is a real treat and a palette cleanser to some of the more serious space movie offerings. As Peter Travers in his review for Rolling Stone puts it, "Adams would be pleased."

50. Elysium

Following the incredible "District 9" was no easy feat for director Neill Blomkamp, and while "Elysium" doesn't reach the heights of that film, it's still one that's worth a watch. "Elysium" continues some of the themes set out in Blomkamp's previous movie, particularly examining the idea of class inequality. Set in the year 2154, there are vast wealth divisions in humanity, with the mega-rich living on a luxury space station called Elysium and the rest living hand-to-mouth in what remains of the Earth. The future hangs in the balance as Max Da Costa (Matt Damon) seeks to bring equality between the groups, but Secretary Delacourt (Jodie Foster) stands in his way as she endeavors to protect the prosperous population of Elysium.

While the film performed well at the box office , Blomkamp himself had some regrets about its script, saying, "I just didn't make a good enough film is ultimately what it is" ( via Uproxx ). However, we think the guy is being a little hard on himself. After all, it was well-received by critics, including Amon Warmann for CineVue , who called it "one of those rare blockbusters that manages to be entertaining while also having something relevant to say."

49. Armageddon

It may have been critically panned, but "Armageddon" taps into exactly what makes space movies so entertaining, focusing on a catastrophic apocalyptic event, with Earth's only hope being a team of underdogs. When an asteroid the size of Texas is on course to destroy the world, NASA recruits a team of oil drillers to drill a hole in the asteroid and plant a bomb inside to break it apart. Heading up this team of unlikely heroes is blue-collar driller Harry Stamper (Bruce Willis), a guy who, rather than train the astronauts in how to drill, insists upon taking his own ragtag team into space to complete the mission.

Despite some scathing critic reviews — including Stephen Hunter for the Washington Post who said, "It leaves no stone unturned in its search for the perfect cliche" — the film pulled in huge numbers at the box office. Making over $553 million worldwide, "Armageddon" was the highest-grossing film of 1998 , ahead of big hitters such as "Saving Private Ryan" and Roland Emmerich's "Godzilla." And hey, it was good enough to find a place in the Criterion Collection , so it's good enough for us.

48. Europa Report

Our fascination about whether life exists on other planets is frequently the subject of movies, like this underrated 2013 film. Partially filmed in a found-footage style, "Europa Report" follows a group of astronauts as they embark on a mission to Europa –- one of the moons of Jupiter –- to search for signs of life. Using this filming technique helps to ground the film in a strikingly realistic way, as well as adding to the claustrophobic and tense atmosphere.

Space movies aren't often praised for their sense of realism, but "Europa Report" was an exception to this, with Space.com saying it "just might be the most realistic — and harrowing — depiction of space travel on the big screen in years." Without a major distributor behind it, the film had a limited release and even more limited box office takings, but it boasts an impressive 'fresh' rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics such as Michael D. Lemonick for Time calling it "brisk, thrilling and ultimately terrifying."

47. Serenity

Despite only running for one season, Joss Whedon's sci-fi series "Firefly" proved to be a huge cult hit, with a passionate fanbase who are still calling for its return. While Whedon might not have been able to get another season off the ground, he did manage to get the backing for a feature film as a continuation of the story, and in 2005, "Serenity" was released. The film –- which also marked Whedon's feature directorial debut –- saw the cast returning for a new adventure, as the crew of the Serenity spacecraft takes on two fugitives while the ominously named "The Operative" (Chiwetel Ejiofor) pursues them.

Of course, fans of "Firefly" absolutely adored "Serenity," and it proved to be the making of Joss Whedon's directorial career (for better and for worse), as his next feature film was 2012's "The Avengers." As for the film itself, in follows in the "Firefly" mold of making space like the landscape of the Wild West — grungy, dangerous, and untamed. "Serenity" was also favorably received by critics, with Nick Funnell of Time Out saying, "The settings and tone are hyper-real, yet the human behavior is grounded and credible, the moral conflicts complex and involving."

46. Deep Impact

While "Armageddon" –- the other  space-themed disaster movie that came out in 1998 -– eventually dwarfed "Deep Impact" in terms of overall box office, "Deep Impact" is arguably the stronger film, and it had a better opening weekend to its counterpart , beating it by just over $5 million . In the movie, an 11km wide comet is on course to collide with Earth with catastrophic consequences. While a heroic team of astronauts is sent out to try and decimate the comet in orbit, the film focuses more heavily on the human impact, as those on Earth face their possible extinction.

Unlike "Armageddon," "Deep Impact" has been lauded for being a much more realistic depiction of what would happen when a comet is on a collision course with Earth. For example, n an interview with BuzzFeed , astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson praised the film, saying that it "had really good science going there."

45. Zathura: A Space Adventure

A decade after the original "Jumanji," another board game-based adventure arrived in the form of "Zathura: A Space Adventure." With a considerable advancement in special effects from its jungle-themed counterpart, "Zathura" tells the story of two brothers who are transported into space by a game that they discover in their basement. As you might expect, the film follows a lot of similar beats to "Jumanji," but it's a thrilling and fun film in its own right, with a surprisingly touching story about two bickering siblings who eventually learn how to play nice.

With competition from Disney's latest animated film "Chicken Little," and "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire," "Zathura" had a disappointing turnout at the box office . Despite this, the film was well-received by critics, including Desson Thomson for the Washington Post who said it "salutes the low-tech magic that lurks inside a board game -– that hidden ability to bring people together."

44. Event Horizon

Space frequently provides a terrifying backdrop for films that finely toe the line between sci-fi and horror, and one of the most nightmare-inducing examples is 1997's "Event Horizon." When a spaceship that previously disappeared into a black hole comes back into orbit, a rescue crew is deployed to investigate, unaware that something dark and sinister has found its way on board. "Event Horizon" plays out like a haunted house movie in space, with a certain debt owed to films such as "The Shining" and "Alien" in terms of creating that feeling of paranoia and claustrophobia.

"Event Horizon" was plagued by a troubled production, and upon its release, not only was it a box office flop but it was torn apart by critics like Jonathan Rosenbaum for Chicago Reader , who called it "the pits." However, in a similar trajectory to 1982's "The Thing," it became a cult hit following its release on home video and has subsequently been re-assessed as an underrated example of the genre.

43. Mars Attacks!

With a star-studded cast and Tim Burton at the peak of his powers, "Mars Attacks!" –- the director's loving homage to sci-fi B-movies –- proved to be divisive upon its release. It is, however, a film that's improved over time, and its cutting satirical anti-establishment themes mean it's remained surprisingly relevant. 

Based on the trading card series of the same name, "Mars Attacks!" sees hordes of little green men arrive on planet Earth, while the world's assembled powers wait to see if their intentions are peaceful. Whether it is the aliens' hilarious way of speaking or the femme fatale "Martian Girl" (Lisa Marie) with her iconic bouffant blonde wig, "Mars Attacks!" is packed with moments that make it unlike any other alien invasion film you'll see.

While the unique and zany nature of the film didn't necessarily connect with American audiences , it performed much better in Europe, cementing its status as a future cult classic. The mixed reactions of cinemagoers are also reflected in the critical reception , with Empire's Mark Salisbury praising the film , calling it "giddily madcap, surreal, sardonic satire," while Peter Stack for the San Francisco Chronicle said it "blows most of its inspired moments with its mean-spirited mentality." As for us, we definitely agree with Salisbury — "Mars Attacks!' just might be Tim Burton's most underrated movie.

The story may be a familiar one –- a crew on board a spaceship finds a rapidly evolving life-form that threatens their existence –- but 2017's "Life" proves that this oft-repeated concept is still one that can draw in an audience . Largely bolstered by a starry cast that includes Jake Gyllenhaal, Rebecca Ferguson, and Ryan Reynolds, "Life" focuses on a small crew on the International Space Station who uncover evidence of life on Mars. What's particularly terrifying about this film is we see the evolution of the life form –- which our heroes name "Calvin" –- as it adapts and changes into something that doesn't just pose a threat to the crew members but to all life on Earth.

While it treads familiar ground and instantly leads to comparisons with the much superior "Alien," "Life" has some well-timed and effective moments of body horror, with a particularly bleak twist ending that will haunt you as the credits roll. As with many of the films of this ilk, the characters aren't particularly well-developed, but the concept itself is scary enough to keep your interest.

41. Independence Day

"Master of Disaster" Roland Emmerich shamelessly borrows from pretty much every other alien invasion film in existence, but there's still something unabashedly entertaining about "Independence Day." With a cast that includes '90s movie stalwarts such as Will Smith, Jeff Goldblum, and Bill Pullman, the film wears its patriotic heart on its sleeve –- the clue is in the title after all –- and for many, it has become the mainstay movie of the holiday, along with classics like "Jaws."

It may have been Steven Spielberg that invented the blockbuster with the aforementioned "Jaws," but Emmerich ushered in a new era, with movies featuring wanton destruction of major landmarks proving to be big business. Spielberg even reportedly said to Emmerich, "This movie will do more to change blockbuster summer movies than any movie before" ( via Deadline ). The numbers certainly reflect how huge "Independence Day" was, bringing in a whopping $817 million worldwide and becoming the highest-grossing film of 1996 .

40. Treasure Planet

Directors Ron Clements and Jon Musker had been floating the idea of "Treasure Island in Space" for almost two decades. While the directing duo enjoyed success in the meantime with films such as "The Little Mermaid" and "Aladdin," their passion project finally came to fruition in 2002, rebranded as "Treasure Planet." While the film was a huge flop for Disney, it's hugely imaginative and marked a big leap forward in terms of blending CGI animation techniques with the more traditional hand-drawn style.

The film focuses on Jim Hawkins (voiced by Joseph Gordon-Levitt), a rebellious teen who's bequeathed a treasure map, and along with a cyborg John Silver (Brian Murray) as his mentor, he embarks on the journey to find the hidden loot. Despite the poor box office takings, "Treasure Planet" received many positive reviews, including from critic Ed Gonzalez for Slant Magazine who said, "The film is alive with a rollicking sense of adventure." It may not match some of Disney's other films in terms of longevity, but based on sheer spectacle, it's one of the very best.

39. Contact

Movies about aliens tend to go one of three ways: over-the-top and explosive spectacle, horror and paranoia, or quiet and contemplative reflections about life on this planet. "Contact" fits into the latter, alongside films such as "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" and "Arrival." The film focuses on scientist Dr. Ellie Arroway (Jodie Foster), who dedicates her life to listening for signs of life from other worlds. When a coded message is received from outer space, Ellie deciphers it and discovers it reveals the schematics for a single-occupant transporter, one that will later take her face to face with the aliens that sent the message.

The thing that stands out about "Contact" is that it isn't the sort of film you might expect it to be. Like 2016's "Arrival," "Contact" examines a character's personal and emotional journey as they seek to communicate with those beyond. Set against the backdrop of space, it probes into life's big unanswered questions and the role that religion and science perhaps play in our understanding of the wider universe. It's an undoubtedly powerful film and a truly underrated example of the genre.

38. Starship Troopers

Set in the 23rd century, "Starship Troopers" sees humanity locked in a brutal battle against giant alien bugs. And as this entertaining cult classic comes from director Paul Verhoeven ("RoboCop," "Total Recall"), you know it's going to be a truly wild ride. As well as some brilliantly brutal battle scenes, "Starship Troopers" satirizes extreme militarism through the bombastic, overly nationalistic propaganda news reports.

As is often the case with satire, "Starship Troopers" wasn't particularly well-received by critics when it was released. However, more recent reappraisals have seen a new appreciation for some of the film's evergreen themes and its biting wit. Writing for The Atlantic , Calum Marsh said, "If you're open and attuned to it ... you'll get the joke 'Starship Troopers' is telling. And you'll laugh." Slant Magazine also chimed in with the praise, labeling Verhoeven's misunderstood gem as "one of the greatest of all anti-imperialist films."

37. The Fifth Element

While they may not be the most practical fashion choices, '90s sci-fi films were almost unbeatable when it came to iconic looks, and just two years before Neo's long black coat made waves in "The Matrix," there was Milla Jovovich as Leeloo in her unforgettable "thermal bandages" in Luc Besson's ambitious 1997 film, "The Fifth Element." Beginning in Egypt in 1914 and rocketing ahead 300 years to a futuristic New York, the film sees Leeloo join forces with an unsuspecting cab driver, Korben Dallas (Bruce Willis), to protect the world from the Great Evil –- a giant sentient burning space sphere –- and the ruthless Zorg (Gary Oldman).

The film proved to be polarizing among critics when it opened the Cannes Film Festival, with Roger Ebert for the Chicago Sun-Times calling it "one of the great goofy movies," while Todd McCarthy for Variety said it was "ultimately a mess of diverse ingredients that sorely could have used a rigorous screening process to eliminate all the chaff." There's a strong argument on both sides for why this film could fall under the "so bad it's good category," but it is certainly one that needs to be experienced.

36. Silent Running

The theme of environmentalism crops up in space movies perhaps more often than you might think, and the idea that the fragility of life and Earth's ecosystem can so easily be disrupted by a catastrophic global event provides the perfect framing for a story. It's something that seems distant yet also completely possible — and certainly more believable than alien invaders. This idea is explored in 1972's "Silent Running," where ecologist and botanist Freeman Lowell (Bruce Dern) tends to what remains of Earth's plant life, now preserved in enormous domes in space.

With a scaled-back cast, the focus of the film is on the character of Lowell and his particularly charming relationship with two robots, Dewey and Louie. It wears its eco themes on its sleeve, yet it never feels condescending or preachy, and the influence of "Silent Running" is particularly clear in Pixar's "WALL-E," which came more than 35 years later. It isn't as flashy as a lot of other space films, and it lacks the technical prowess of films such as "2001: A Space Odyssey," but there's an undeniable charm to "Silent Running" and a potency to its themes that seems to become more and more relevant over time.

35. Prometheus

The sequels to 1979 classic "Alien" have varied in terms of quality, but one that was favorably received was 2012's "Prometheus." Serving as an origin story of sorts, the film sees a crew embark on a journey to the dark reaches of the universe, hoping to uncover the origins of humanity itself but instead discovering something terrifying. Seeking to answer some of the questions from "Alien" while still retaining enough suspense to keep things interesting, "Prometheus" works as both a highly effective prequel and an entertaining sci-fi horror film that's capable of standing on its own merit.

While it slots neatly into the timeline of the other films in the franchise, "Prometheus" has its own mythology, and it draws its thematic exploration of humanity's relationship with its creators from the Greek Titan that gives the film its name. Utilizing the body horror and well-executed scares that made the original film so iconic, "Prometheus" is a more than worthy inclusion in the franchise.

34. War of the Worlds

It may be a story that's been told over and over again, but Steven Spielberg's adaptation of the H.G. Wells classic retains the sense of paranoia and uncertainty from the source material while also delivering a fresh take in terms of action movie thrills and sheer drama. The destructive capabilities of the imposing alien structures are seen through the eyes of everyman Ray Ferrier (Tom Cruise), who desperately tries to save his family from the threat.

Spielberg's previous dalliances with aliens in his films saw them depicted as passive and communicative in "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" and even downright lovable in "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial." It's particularly thrilling therefore to see him focus on a more powerful and violent alien race, while never losing the emotional resonance that made the aforementioned films so memorable. Speaking about his approach to the film, Spielberg said, "I wanted this to be a very personal story about a family fleeing for its life. And a father trying to protect his two kids" ( via USA Today ). With heart and undeniable spectacle, "War of the Worlds" proves once again that no one does it better than the man who invented the blockbuster.

33. Sunshine

The rug-pull of Danny Boyle's "Sunshine" from a relatively straightforward sci-fi epic to a slasher film in space is the thing that elevates it above other similar offerings, and it remains one of the best examples of genre-bending in cinema. The film is set in the year 2057, where the Earth is freezing due to the sun dying, and a group of astronauts is tasked with re-igniting the star and saving the world. While the "mission to save humanity" aspect of "Sunshine" is familiar, the turn that the film takes is what sets it apart.

This duality to the film was also something that turned some critics off, as they found the tonal shift jarring. San Francisco Chronicle critic Mick Lasalle  was particularly scathing, opening his review by saying, "After watching it for 20 minutes, you really don't care if the sun is cooling and all human life is doomed to destruction. Actually, it sounds like a great idea –- anything to end the movie." While the film may have been a difficult sell at the time –- something reflected in the box office takings –- the audacity of Boyle to make a film that sits closer to "2001: A Space Odyssey" than it does "Armageddon" has to be commended.

32. Super 8

This 2011 thriller from director J.J. Abrams lovingly pays tribute to nostalgic classics such as "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial" and "Stand by Me," while also being a celebration of the art of moviemaking in itself. In the film, a group of friends are shooting their own zombie movie when they witness a horrific train crash and an alien creature emerging from the chaos. While the action in "Super 8" may take place on Earth, the focus is on the alien invaders and particularly how this is seen through young eyes.

With excellent performances from Elle Fanning and Joel Courtney in particular, "Super 8" evokes the feeling of some of Steven Spielberg's early work, (the director has a producer credit for this film) giving equal importance to blockbuster spectacle and genuine heart and warmth. The film proved to be a surprise commercial success, making over $260 million at the box office, and was praised by critics, including Total Film critic Jamie Graham who remarked, "Only a young Spielberg at the top of his game could beat it."

31. Apollo 10½: A Space Age Childhood

Few directors capture a moment in time as well as Richard Linklater, and in this charming animated film, he turns his attention to 1969's moon landing. Like most people of the time, Stanley (Milo Coy and Jack Black) is caught up in Apollo fever, and fantasizes about being trained by NASA for a secret lunar visit. Memories of his Houston childhood intertwine with his fanciful dreams of becoming a pint-sized astronaut, tied together by Jack Black's warm narration.

Stan's space adventures might be pure fantasy, but "Apollo 10½: A Space Age Childhood" taps into the very real wonder of space and this moment in time, which brought so many cultural and scientific possibilities to light. What results is a deeply personal, totally relatable, and wholly different space movie which speaks to universal fascination with worlds beyond our own and all that humanity might achieve.

30. Total Recall

From Paul Verhoeven, the director of "RoboCop" and "Starship Troopers," "Total Recall" is another brain-busting, brutal sci-fi epic. Arnold Schwarzenegger plays a construction worker Douglas Quaid, who decides to have a virtual vacation to Mars by visiting the company "Rekall" -– a corporation that plants false memories into people. However, all does not go to plan, and Quaid discovers life as he knows it is false, and the people who put his memories there want him dead.

Based on the short story "We Can Remember It for You Wholesale" by Philip K. Dick, the film explores the themes of memory and identity and –- as all of the best sci-fi films tend to do –- leaves the audience with more questions than answers. The movie's ambiguous ending leaves us wondering if what we've seen is real or not, and this is just one of the many things that give the film its staying power. In the '80s and '90s, Schwarzenegger was one of the most bankable box office stars, and this was reflected in the numbers for "Total Recall," making an impressive $261 million worldwide.

29. Planet of the Apes (1968)

Not to be confused with the much-maligned remake , the 1968 version of "Planet of the Apes" stars Charlton Heston and sees a team of astronauts crash-landing on what appears to be a desolate planet. However, they soon discover a society of highly intelligent apes ... who've assumed dominance over the humans that also live there. With people at the mercy of their new ape overlords, the film offers a chilling vision of a future as the humans' fight to survive and escape. And without saying too much for those who've avoided spoilers, the film's now-iconic ending is one of the best movie moments of all time.

Critically acclaimed when it was released, "Planet of the Apes" was also nominated for two Oscars for Costume Design and Best Original Score, and it won an honorary award for John Chambers for Outstanding Make-up Achievement. The legacy and impact of the film were also recognized in 2001 when it was one of the 25 films inducted into the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress .

28. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan

Widely considered by many as the best "Star Trek" movie , 1982's "The Wrath of Khan" is also one of the rare movie sequels that manages to surpass the original. Retaining the spirit –- and the cast –- of the '60s TV show, "The Wrath of Khan" sees the return of an old nemesis who's escaped from exile to get revenge on Kirk (William Shatner). Previously appearing in "Space Seed" -– the 22nd episode of the first season of the original series –- Ricardo Montalbán reprises his role as the legendary villain Khan Noonien Singh. 

"The Wrath of Khan" saw a huge departure from 1979's slow-moving "Star Trek: The Motion Picture," which had not been well-received , and marked the beginning of a quasi-trilogy that concluded with 1986's "Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home." The decision to make "The Wrath of Khan" more in tune with what made the original series so popular undoubtedly worked, and the film opened to a positive critical response and an impressive box office, earning $95 million worldwide. In a retrospective review for Empire, critic Angie Errigo credited "The Wrath of Khan" with being the film "that put the franchise on the right track."

27. First Man

Following up the multi-award-winning "La La Land" was no easy feat for Damien Chazelle, who became the youngest person to pick up the Best Director Oscar in the process. Before "First Man" in 2018, all of his films had also had a connection to music, but his biopic of astronaut Neil Armstrong saw him blasting off in a completely different direction. Chazelle's camera expertly captures the awe and quiet majesty of space, as well as the frightening, shaky, deafening realism of being an astronaut, putting us right in the throes of Armstrong and his colleagues. At the same time, it also zeroes in on Armstrong's very personal story, outside of the achievements everyone recognizes him for.

Neil Armstrong -– beautifully portrayed by Ryan Gosling –- is grief-stricken following the loss of his daughter, and this is something he carries with him to those memorable first steps. The film may not have enjoyed the same success that "La La Land" did, but critics raved about it, including Owen Gleiberman for Variety , who called it "revelatory in its realism, so gritty in its physicality, that it becomes a drama of hellbent danger and obsession."

26. Dune (2021)

Before adapting Frank Herbert's seminal sci-fi novel, director Denis Villeneuve had proven his credentials in the genre with "Arrival" and "Blade Runner 2049," making him more than qualified to tackle the gargantuan story –- previously adapted for the big screen by David Lynch in 1984. While 2021's "Dune" only tells half of the story -– the sequel is poised for release in 2023 –- it does a remarkable job of establishing the unique desert world of Arrakis and the importance of the central hero, Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet).

Paul is the heir to the noble House of Atreides, who's thrown into an interplanetary war centered around Arrakis –- the only place where the precious resource known as "spice" can be found. The scope of "Dune" is undoubtedly huge, and while the world-building is a little dizzying at times, the visual spectacle more than makes up for the dense plot. "Dune" proved to be a big box office success, making just shy of $400 million off a budget of $165 million, all while during the COVID-19 pandemic and as the film was simultaneously released on HBO Max. In other words, it's incredibly impressive that it only narrowly missing out on being in the top 10 highest-grossing films of 2021.

25. Ad Astra

Directed by James Gray, 2019's "Ad Astra" sees astronaut Roy McBride (Brad Pitt) embarking on a personal mission across the universe to investigate the source of mysterious power surges that are seemingly linked to the "Lima Project" –- started by his father almost 30 years previously to find intelligent life. While the title, which translates as "to the stars" in Latin, might suggest that the film is about an epic journey through space, it's instead about a much more internal and human journey, focusing on a man reconciling with his absent dad.

The tone of the film perhaps might've surprised some people, and while it hit the right notes critically, the moviegoing public wasn't so taken with it, resulting in a big discrepancy between the critic and audience scores on Rotten Tomatoes . However,  Peter Travers for Rolling Stone spoke particularly favorably about "Ad Astra," saying it has "a grand scope and intimate sense of empathy that is nothing less than enthralling."

Son of the "Starman" David Bowie himself, Duncan Jones made an instant impression on the film world with his impressive debut movie, "Moon," in 2009. Sam Rockwell stars as Sam Bell, a solitary astronaut working on the moon, with Kevin Spacey as the voice of his robot companion GERTY. Along with the astonishing practical effects and a haunting score from Clint Mansell, "Moon" is notable for effectively conveying the loneliness of space. Its focus on the "one man and his robot story" evokes the feeling of films such as "Silent Running," and the calming tones of GERTY call to mind the infamous HAL 9000 from "2001: A Space Odyssey."

While inspired by these space movie greats, "Moon" succeeds in its own way, anchored by a superb performance by Sam Rockwell, whom Jones wrote the part for . With a modest budget of just $5 million , it also proved that a highly effective and emotionally driven space film could be created without the need for a large ensemble cast or expensive special effects, and critic Roger Ebert called it "a superior example of that threatened genre, hard science-fiction."

23. A Trip to the Moon

The oldest film on the list by quite some way, 1902 French silent film, "Le Voyage dans la Lune" ("A Trip to the Moon") is considered by many to be the earliest science fiction film, and it remains one of the most singularly influential pieces of filmmaking to date. 

In part inspired by the writings of Jules Verne, Georges Méliès' 13-minute film sees a group of astronomers who launch themselves at the moon. The anthropomorphization of the moon and the iconic shot of the astronomer's capsule hitting him directly in the eye is perhaps the image most people associate with this film. It also appears to have provided direct inspiration for the character of "the Moon" in surreal British comedy series  "The Mighty Boosh," as well as appearing in Martin Scorsese's "Hugo."

The narrative may be simple, but the film's groundbreaking special effect techniques and its commitment to pure out-of-this-world fantasy are what we have to thank for the array of science fiction films we have today. In the book "1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die," Chiara Ferrari says that the film "deserves a legitimate place among the milestones in world cinema history."

22. Galaxy Quest

While many space films bear a resemblance to their counterparts, "Galaxy Quest" wears its identity of a loving and hilarious pastiche of "Star Trek" proudly. In this meta sci-fi comedy, the cast of the canceled fictional TV show "Galaxy Quest" find themselves in a real intergalactic adventure when some visiting aliens believe their show is a documentary. "Galaxy Quest" is so closely aligned with "Star Trek" that in 2013, Trekkies voted it as one of the best "Star Trek movies, with IGN commenting , "While not technically a 'Star Trek' movie, one can certainly see how it could make the cut. It's more 'Star Trek' than a couple of the actual 'Star Trek' movies even."

With references to other movies such as "The Day The Earth Stood Still" and "Event Horizon," the film became a cult classic amongst sci-fi fans, making around $90 million at the box office . "Galaxy Quest" also received favorable reviews from critics including Joe Leydon for Variety , who said the film "remains light and bright as it races along, and never turns nasty or mean-spirited as it satirizes the cliches and cults of 'Star Trek.'"

21. The Martian

Stranded on the red planet, alone and with dwindling resources, botanist Mark Watney (Matt Damon) is forced to use all of his skills to survive while those back on Earth try to figure out a way they can bring him home. Grounded by a superb performance by Matt Damon , "The Martian" showcases the unshakable strength of the human spirit as we see Watney –- through a series of video diaries –- work out how to grow food, travel, and communicate with the limited things available to him on Mars.

What's perhaps surprising about "The Martian" is how funny it is. Experiencing the film largely through these diary entries allows the audience into the headspace of Watney, a character whose dry sense of humor makes him distinctly likable and engaging, with much of the film's focus on his solo survival mission. As well as being a hit with critics and audiences, "The Martian" also achieved recognition at the 88th Academy Awards, picking up seven nominations .

20. Guardians of the Galaxy

Compared to the big-hitters of the Hulk and Captain America, this obscure gang of space misfits wasn't as well-known in the Marvel Universe, and yet their debut big-screen adventure proved to be a huge hit. The motley crew that makes up the "Guardians of the Galaxy" consists of a half-human smuggler, a raccoon-like bounty hunter, and a living humanoid tree amongst others, but there was something about the strange dynamics and the retro space-opera adventure style of the film that just seemed to click.

One of the highlights of "Guardians of the Galaxy" was the killer soundtrack –- almost a character in its own right within the film and the perfect accompaniment to its offbeat tone. With its unique blend of zany humor and fun action set pieces, the Guardians easily slotted into the MCU, providing a refreshing palate cleanser for some of the more serious superheroes. As is to be expected with most Marvel films, "Guardians of the Galaxy" was a huge box office success , making more than $773 million worldwide and spawning a number of sequels and appearances for the characters in the wider MCU.

19. Solaris (1972)

Far superior to the 2002 Hollywood remake directed by Steven Soderbergh , the 1972 version of "Solaris" directed by Andrei Tarkovsky remains a benchmark of the sci-fi genre and one of the best space movies of all time. The film focuses on Kris Kelvin (Donatas Banionis), a psychologist who's tasked with exploring a space station above the planet Solaris and assessing the remaining crew members who've started to display erratic behavior.

While "Solaris" is frequently compared with "2001: A Space Odyssey –- with the two films being just four years apart –- there are vast differences between them, with "Solaris" favoring a more emotional and human approach. The film expertly tackles themes such as grief, loss, memory, and the nature of what it means to exist. This thematic existentialism, set against the backdrop of space, is somehow even more potent, and Tarkovsky masterfully directs his film with the time set aside to contemplate its weighty themes. The pace is slow, and while this may prove frustrating for some, if you have the patience for "Solaris," it's an incredibly rewarding experience.

18. Thor: Ragnarok

While you could make the case for any of Thor's big-screen adventures being included in this list, the spaciest of them all is undoubtedly "Thor: Ragnarok." With director Taika Waititi at the helm, "Thor: Ragnarok" seems to take its cues from "Guardians of the Galaxy" and successfully conveys the goofiness of the character. In a severe turn from the almost Shakespearean seriousness of the previous two "Thor" films, Waititi instead leans into the weirdness, and the result is a highly entertaining superhero flick.

Most of the film takes place on the planet Sakaar, where Thor (Chris Hemsworth) crash-lands after the arrival of his malevolent sister, Hela (Cate Blanchett), who quickly assumes power over Asgard. Described as a "garbage planet," Sakaar is ruled by the eccentric Grandmaster (the incomparable Jeff Goldblum), who forces Thor to compete in his Contest of Champions to earn his freedom. The change of direction from Waititi proved to be a hit with critics, including Sheri Linden for The Hollywood Reporter , who called it "engaging enough to hold the attention of even those uninitiated in the lore of the Nine Realms."

17. Hidden Figures

While almost none of this film takes place in space, it does however focus on the lesser-seen –- but equally important -– people working behind the scenes at NASA, who are just as deserving of the spotlight as the astronauts. The unlikely heroes at the center of "Hidden Figures" are three Black women working for NASA as mathematicians, and it's based on the book of the same name by Margot Lee Shetterly. Starring Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, and Janelle Monáe, the film is set in the 1960s, during the Space Race, and focuses on the women's struggles and challenges in dealing with racial and gender segregation, with every day a fight to prove themselves worthy.

"Hidden Figures" is a truly inspirational story, and while the film takes some artistic liberties with the true story , it remains a powerful tribute to these trailblazing women. The film proved to be a massive commercial success, making just under $236 million at the box office , and it was recognized at the 89th Academy Awards , with nominations for Best Picture, Best Supporting Actress (for Octavia Spencer), and Best Adapted Screenplay.

16. Arrival

With a second entry for director Denis Villeneuve, 2016's "Arrival" is a film that focuses on Earth, yet it deals with the concept of an alien invasion in a way that feels so fresh and innovative that it is absolutely worthy of a place on this list. Based on "Story of Your Life" by Ted Chiang, the film sees 12 imposing extraterrestrial structures arrive at key locations across the globe. While the towering spacecraft look threatening, there's no immediate sign of attack from whatever is on board, so linguistics expert Louise Banks (Amy Adams) is one of the people enlisted to make contact with the creatures and establish their intent.

The film is also peppered with scenes of Louise and her daughter, who tragically dies from a terminal disease. However, as the narrative progresses, it becomes evident that the events we're witnessing aren't perhaps as linear as we had been lead to believe, with the cryptic opening line "I used to think this was the beginning of your story" suggesting that time is a fluid concept within the film. "Arrival" is a very different kind of alien invasion story, with a reflective, meditative, and existential tone in place of explosions and heavy action scenes. While Amy Adams' quietly devastating performance was unfortunately overlooked by the Academy, "Arrival" did pick up eight Oscar nominations and one win for Best Achievement in Sound Editing.

15. Star Trek (2009)

Under the watchful eye of director J.J. Abrams, 2009 saw the reboot of the "Star Trek" series with this new film version. Later going on to direct two of the movies in the "Star Wars" sequel trilogy, Abrams is one of the few to have dipped a toe in both of these major sci-fi universes, although he admits he was not a "Trekkie" growing up. Speaking to The Guardian , Abrams said, "['Star Trek'] always felt like a silly, campy thing. I remember appreciating it, but feeling like I didn't get it."

What Abrams does manage with his version of "Star Trek" is to offer an entry point for complete newcomers, resetting the timeline so that the existing, complex continuity doesn't need to come into play, all while staying true to the original series and movies –- even going as far to feature legendary cast member Leonard Nimoy as Spock Prime. As Abrams himself put it in the aforementioned interview, "I was trying to make a movie, not trying to make a 'Trek' movie." In doing so, he created arguably the best "Star Trek" movie, something that was formally acknowledged at the 82nd Academy Awards where it won the Oscar for Best Achievement in Makeup –- and in doing so, becoming the first "Star Trek" movie to win a golden statue.

14. The Right Stuff

While it may take dramatic deviations from the true story that inspired it, "The Right Stuff" tells the stirring tale of the Mercury Seven, the military pilots who trained as astronauts for the first human spaceflight. These seven men had a rough and ready approach, and their daring attitudes and significance in the early stages of the Space Race led to them being treated almost like rock stars. The film also doesn't shy away from the emotional and mental toll they experienced from being willing to risk their lives and the pressures that came from being thrust into the spotlight during an event in history that was as much about politics as it was technical innovation.

It seems surprising given the subject matter, but the film was a box office flop when it came out, making just over $21 million off a budget of around $27 million. It proved to be a hit with the critics, however, with Roger Ebert giving it a perfect four-star rating and naming it as one of the very best films of the 1980s . The movie also received eight nominations at the 56th Academy Awards , winning for Best Film Editing, Best Original Score, Best Sound, and Best Sound Effects Editing.

13. Interstellar

If there's one director who can be relied upon to create a mind-blowing space epic, it's Christopher Nolan. "Interstellar" is set in a dystopian future where the crops are failing and drastic changes in the weather pose a real threat to the planet's survival. When Cooper (Matthew McConaughey) discovers some strange patterns –- which he deduces are coordinates -– in the dust in his daughter's bedroom, his life-altering journey begins. Following the coordinates, he finds Professor John Brand (Michael Caine), who heads up a secret facility trying to investigate wormholes in space that may provide the hope humanity needs to survive.

With a small crew, Cooper pilots the spacecraft Endurance to discover if a habitable planet exists beyond their own. Of course, this being a Christopher Nolan movie, there's a lot more going on besides this seemingly straightforward journey, and the film takes us to unknown dimensions and has us questioning the very nature of reality and time. Beyond the spectacle, "Interstellar" is also a highly emotional journey, with the oft-memed clip of Cooper breaking down in tears being one of the most devastating scenes in a sci-fi film. Accompanied by the unforgettable score by Hans Zimmer, "Interstellar" is a film like no other  and one that's incredibly rich in thematic content.

12. The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)

Alien invasion movies frequently depict the arriving creatures as menacing and a threat to humanity's existence. While there is a place for this sort of film –- and they are undeniably fun to watch –- there's also something to be said for films that take a much more peaceful approach, such as 1951's "The Day the Earth Stood Still." When humanoid extraterrestrial Klaatu (Michael Rennie) and robot Gort (Lock Martin) arrive on Earth, it's not with their weapons directed at the humans, but instead, they come with a cautionary message about the dangers of war and the threat humanity poses to itself if people don't heed their warning.

Set against the backdrop of the Cold War, "The Day the Earth Stood Still" speaks to the suspicion and distrust that existed between people at the time, while also providing a message that's surprisingly relevant to society today. The film's emphasis on receptiveness and the importance of speaking and listening to those who are perhaps different to us is also seen in films such as "Arrival" and "Close Encounters of the Third Kind," and despite its dated special effects, "The Day the Earth Stood Still" remains one of the greatest alien films of all time.

11. Gravity

Anchored by a powerful and committed performance from Sandra Bullock, "Gravity" is effectively a survival drama, expertly conveying the feelings of isolation and loneliness that are even more potent given the space setting. Bullock plays Dr. Ryan Stone, who -– in an astonishingly dramatic sequence -– is left adrift in space when some debris hits her shuttle during a routine spacewalk. At times, we see things directly from Dr. Stone's point of view, something that is highly effective, as well as occasionally nauseating and claustrophobic. Director Alfonso Cuarón crafts a singularly personal story, himself describing it as "a drama of a woman in space" ( via BBC ) more than a sci-fi film in the truest sense.

"Gravity" proved to be a huge box office success, earning more than $723 million worldwide , and it became one of the highest-grossing sci-fi films outside of a major franchise. At the 86th Academy Awards , "Gravity" had a staggering 10 nominations and won seven, including the coveted Best Director for Cuarón. "Gravity" remains one of the most visually stunning space movies, with its focus on a sole surviving character giving the film the emotional resonance it needs to stay with you for a long time afterward.

10. Forbidden Planet

There's something incredibly tactile about early science fiction, with the limited special effects, besuited actors in the place of robots and aliens, and elaborate and imaginative set designs. 1956's "Forbidden Planet" is one such film, a ground-breaking sci-fi masterpiece that's frequently cited as one of the most influential of the genre. The film has several "firsts" credited to it, including being the first film to be set entirely on a different planet and the first Hollywood film to have an all-electronic score ( via FilmSite ).

Loosely based on Shakespeare's "The Tempest," "Forbidden Planet" is set in the 23rd century, and the film depicts a team of astronauts sent to explore the planet Altair IV, where a colony was established 20 years prior. They discover only two humans remaining — a scientist and his beautiful daughter – plus Robby the Robot, a figure so significant in the film he's even credited as his character name. Robby marked a huge leap forward both in terms of the extortionate cost to build the prop and the distinct personality he was given. Reportedly costing around $125,000 to build , Robby ended up being a necessary cost as he became "the film's most memorable character and responsible for the cult status the movie enjoys" (via Robot Hall of Fame ). "Forbidden Planet" may look dated now compared to the slick space movies we are accustomed to, but it's campy fun and a must-watch for any fan of the genre.

9. Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Fresh off the back of their grueling shoot together on "Jaws," Steven Spielberg and Richard Dreyfuss teamed up once again for "Close Encounters of the Third Kind." Spielberg's fascination with worlds beyond our own was something that started from a young age and shaped many of his films, including "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial," "War of the Worlds," and of course, this 1977 sci-fi masterpiece. In a 2005 interview, Spielberg said, "I first became aware of the sky when my father pointed out the Perseid meteor shower to me when I was about 6 years old. ... My father really held the key to the universe, which unlocked my imagination" (via The Spokesman-Review ).

Richard Dreyfuss plays Roy Neary, an everyman whose encounter with a UFO leads to an obsession that sees him willing to risk it all to pursue what he saw and make contact. Even at this early point, the music of composer John Williams was already becoming synonymous with Spielberg's films, with "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" marking the third collaboration between them. Not only is Williams' score as wonderful as you'd expect, but it plays an important part in the narrative itself during the memorable sequence when the aliens communicate with the humans through light and sound. Perhaps influenced by Spielberg's childhood fascination with the cosmos, "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" refreshingly depicts the aliens as peaceful and benevolent, resulting in a film that's as optimistic as it is awe-inspiring. Spielberg has rarely been better than this.

8. Apollo 13

As this list proves, there's a huge amount of choice when it comes to films about humanity's desire for space exploration, with a number of them being based on true stories. Arguably the most well-known movie that falls into this category is "Apollo 13," based on the troubled mission of the same name in 1970. Directed by Ron Howard, the film stars Tom Hanks, Bill Paxton, and Kevin Bacon as the team of astronauts whose lives are at risk when their spacecraft is damaged, forcing them to shift their focus to making it safely home rather than their original lunar destination.

While the film made some minor changes to the story, director Ron Howard was also determined to make the film as technically accurate as possible , including making an exact replica of the Mission Control room where the ground staff communicated with the astronauts. While this is a nitpick few people would ever realize, they did slightly alter the famous "Houston, we have a problem" line, with NASA records stating that what was actually said was, "Houston, we've had a problem." Semantics aside, "Apollo 13" proved to be a huge hit with critics and audiences , with the Rotten Tomatoes consensus saying, "Apollo 13 pulls no punches: It's a masterfully told drama from director Ron Howard, bolstered by an ensemble of solid performances."

7. Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)

There is considerable merit to the 1978 remake, but it's the original 1956 "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" that stands as one of the greatest space movies of all time, and it achieves this by never leaving the planet and hardly showing the invading alien forces at all (well, at least in their "true" form anyway). In the fictional town of Santa Mira, Dr. Miles Bennell (Kevin McCarthy) is alerted to reports from people convinced that their relatives are imposters. As the number of reports grows, Dr. Bennell and his old flame, Becky (Dana Wynter), discover some mysterious seed pods, with each one holding the terrifying ability to produce an identical copy of the human they "invade."

While other films on this list involve traveling to different planets in search of alien life, "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" not only brings the discovery to Earth but adds a terrifying dimension with the concept that the "aliens" look exactly like humans. The film offers some timely commentary on the post-war paranoia that existed in America at the time, particularly the fear surrounding covert espionage from people planted with deliberate intentions of blending in while acting as enemy spies. The 1978 remake leans much further into body horror, but the 1956 version still blurs this line, expertly conveying a sense of dread and quiet horror. In the closing moments, Dr. Bennell runs hysterically along the highway before looking straight into the camera with an ominous warning, in one of the most chilling and effective movie moments of all time.

A sequel rarely manages to match its predecessor, but many consider 1986's "Aliens" to be the best example of this. And indeed, there's only 1% that separates their Tomatometer ratings on Rotten Tomatoes . Where "Alien" could be classed as science fiction horror, "Aliens" sits much closer to a science fiction action flick, with returning hero Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) joining forces with colonial marines on a mission to destroy the aliens who took the lives of the Nostromo crew. Along the way, Ripley encounters an abandoned young girl nicknamed Newt, (Carrie Henn), who she becomes fiercely protective of –- even stepping in to defend her against the ferocious alien queen, which is a scene that gives the film one of its most memorable quotes.

As well as the shift of genres from horror to action, "Aliens" saw a change in director as well, with James Cameron brought on board following his success with "The Terminator" in 1984. Like Cameron's other wildly successful films at the time, "Aliens" took the box office by storm, earning just over $131 million –- around $25 million more than "Alien" made. The success of "Aliens" even extended to the Oscars, where it was nominated for seven awards , including a Best Actress nomination for Sigourney Weaver when films of this genre were rarely recognized by the Academy. While she didn't win, it did pick up prizes for Sound Effects Editing and Visual Effects.

Released in 2008, Pixar's animated adventure about possibly the universe's most adorable robot has proved to be one of the studio's most enduring features. Set in the year 2085, the Earth has been abandoned, and all humans now reside on giant luxury starliners where their every need is catered for and they never need to lift a finger. In contrast, back on Earth, a small trash-compacting robot called WALL-E is tasked with the mammoth job of cleaning up the mess humans left behind after decades of consumerism depleted all natural resources. When another robot named EVE arrives, WALL-E becomes quite enamored with her and shows her a tiny green sapling he found -– something that provides the tiniest shred of hope that life may still be able to exist on Earth.

With the first part of the film largely silent, "WALL-E" relies on our wonderfully expressive robot duo to establish this world. According to the film's director Andrew Stanton, the team achieved this by watching "a [Charlie] Chaplin film and a [Buster] Keaton film and sometimes a Harold Lloyd film every day at lunch" ( via The A.V. Club ) as inspiration for how to tell their story visually. "WALL-E" succeeds in taking an idea that's familiar in the space movie genre and making it palatable enough for children while also engaging enough for adults, with the environmental message at its core being handled with such care that it is impossible not to be charmed by it.

Released in 1979, "Alien" has easily one of the greatest movie taglines, with this ominous warning: "In space, no one can hear you scream." To this day, "Alien" remains one of the best examples of movie genre hybrids, with its pitch-perfect blend of horror and science fiction being incredibly effective. Set on board the space tug Nostromo, a small crew faces unimaginable horror when an alien lifeform begins to attack. In one of the most memorable scenes in the film –- and one that has a certain degree of infamy based on audience reactions –- an alien bursts out of the chest of Kane (John Hurt), much to the surprise of even the cast members as they were deliberately kept in the dark about the effects until it came to shooting.

As well as this landmark, stomach-churning moment, "Alien" gave us one of the greatest screen heroines in the iconic Ripley, (Sigourney Weaver), who remained the lynchpin of the subsequent sequels, even as they began to decline in quality. Surprisingly, when "Alien" was first released, the critical reception was a little mixed, with legendary critic Roger Ebert calling it one of the few "real disappointments" of the genre on a 1980 episode of "Sneak Previews."  However, Ebert was one of the many who reassessed the film decades later, calling it one of "the most influential of modern action pictures" and saying it "still vibrates with a dark and frightening intensity."

3. Star Wars

"Star Wars" fans may continue to argue amongst themselves about the greatest film in the "Skywalker Saga," and while arguably "The Empire Strikes Back" is the best –- at least based on its critical consensus –- it's the first installment in the series that earns a place on this list. Without the original, later re-named as "Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope," there would be no other "Star Wars" films after all. As our first experience of "a galaxy far, far away," "Star Wars" is pretty much unbeatable, introducing us to plucky hero Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) and his quest to save the galaxy from the formidable Darth Vader (voiced by James Earl Jones).

It's easy to forget given how huge the "Star Wars" universe now is, but this film operates effectively as a standalone space romp, wrapping things up neatly enough that it could've easily been the beginning and the end of the story. Of course, that wasn't to be the case, and "Star Wars" completely obliterated box office records, grossing more than $307 million on initial release, and it still stands as the second highest-grossing film of all time when adjusted for inflation. Luke's story is told across the nine-film "Skywalker Saga," but the "Star Wars" universe stretches far beyond this, encompassing books, television series, comics, merchandise, spinoff movies, and so much more. "Star Wars" as an entity is a genuine pop culture phenomenon — one that shows absolutely no signs of stopping anytime soon, and it all started here.

2. 2001: A Space Odyssey

When it comes to space movies, it's hard to find one better than Stanley Kubrick's 1968 magnum opus. Taking us from the dawn of time to "beyond the infinite," the film focuses on man's exploration further into the depths of space, accruing new knowledge about the universe and achieving huge advancements in technology. In what's now one of the most famous match cuts in cinema history, we are hurtled from our ancestors discovering how to use rudimentary tools into space, where people are now able to travel with relative ease across the cosmos. The most well-known segment of the film sees us on board the spacecraft Discovery One on their Jupiter mission. It's here that we meet HAL 9000, who's little more than a red light and a calming voice and yet is one of the scariest film villains –- hugely influential in other films such as "WALL-E" and "Moon."

It isn't surprising that the film was divisive when it was released. Some were quick to call it one of the best films ever made, while others simply didn't understand it. The film's star Keir Dullea said that 250 people walked out of the New York premiere ( via The Hollywood Reporter ). The ending may leave you scratching your heads, but there's no doubt that "2001: A Space Odyssey" is the greatest space movie ever made. Often imitated, frequently parodied, and still influential to this day, it's the film that many aspire to but few can surpass.

• Entertainment
• 11 Time-Travel Movies to Watch After Netflix’s <i>The Adam Project</i>

11 Time-Travel Movies to Watch After Netflix’s The Adam Project

I n Netflix’s The Adam Project , Ryan Reynolds plays Adam Reed, a fighter pilot from 2050 who heads back in time to stop the development of time travel. His mission only gets harder after he crash-lands in his childhood backyard in the year 2022 and is forced to team up with his video game-loving 12-year-old self (portrayed by Walker Scobell).

This isn’t Back to the Future : There are no DeLoreans or high-flux capacitors in sight. (Though Mark Ruffalo , as Adam’s inventor dad, does make for a worthy Doc Brown surrogate.) Instead, Adam hops into a wormhole and traverses the space-time continuum to let his preteen self know that the ability to time-hop is a privilege, not a right. It’s a rather heady concept for a family film, but most time-travel movies are about more than just joyriding through history. Whether it’s Joseph Gordon-Levitt playing a time-jumping hitman in Looper or Jennifer Garner aging 17 years with help from magic fairy dust in 13 Going on 30 , movies featuring transtemporal travel often show why we should err on the side of caution when spanning time and space.

If you’re craving more time travel, here’s a list of 11 movies to watch after The Adam Project . A couple quick notes: Since Back to the Future is undeniably the greatest time-travel movie of all time , it’s omitted from this list to make room for lesser-known choices. The prototypical time-loop film Groundhog’s Day was also passed over in lieu of a more recent selection.

You won’t need a science degree to enjoy any of the movies included here. But you might walk away from your viewing experience feeling as if the future is coming sooner than you think.

13 Going on 30 (2004)

Jennifer Garner gives Tom Hanks a run for his money in this Big -esque coming-of-age dramedy about a girl who wakes up from her traumatic 13th birthday party to find she’s 30, flirty, and thriving. She quickly learns growing up is hard to do, especially when you do it overnight.

Rent it on Amazon Prime Video

Donnie Darko (2001)

After Jake Gyllenhaal ’s titular sad boy narrowly survives a freak accident, he’s left with disturbing visions of a 6-foot-tall rabbit named Frank, who tells him the world is going to end in 28 days. If you don’t totally understand this time-bending film, don’t worry: its stars don’t either . Donnie Darko ’s perplexing final moments are part of its charm.

Watch it on HBO Max

Looper (2012)

Rian Johnson ’s sci-fi action thriller takes place in a not-so-distant future where mobsters punish those they don’t like by sending them back in time to be killed by a futuristic assassin known as a “looper.” When one of those hired guns (a prosthetic nose-wearing Joseph Gordon-Levitt) comes face-to-face with his older self ( Bruce Willis ), he ends up on a wild goose chase to save his future without unraveling his past.

Watch it on Netflix

About Time (2013)

When Tim (Domhnall Gleeson) learns he has the power to travel back in time, he can’t resist making a few tiny tweaks to his past. He soon discovers that even the smallest changes have big consequences in this weepy Brit rom-com directed by Love Actually helmer Richard Curtis .

Happy Death Day (2017)

In this slasher film, often described as “ Groundhog’s Day meets Scream ,” a college student, played by Jessica Rothe, must solve her own murder if she wants to live to see the next day.

Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure (1989)

Bill (Alex Winter) and Ted ( Keanu Reeves ) hurtle through time and space in a cosmic phone booth, meeting historical dudes who can help them ace their high school history paper. The best part is that when you’re done with this one, you can keep the adventure going with its sequels: 1991’s Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey and 2020’s Bill & Ted Face the Music . Pretty excellent, right?

Run Lola Run (1998)

Lola (Franka Potente) —who stands out with fire engine-red hair—only has 20 minutes to secure enough money to save her boyfriend from a Berlin crime boss. This German experimental thriller isn’t your typical time-loop film, but Lola’s ability to learn from her past mistakes to save her love will make you happy that she’s running a marathon, not a sprint.

See You Yesterday (2019)

In this Spike Lee -produced film, high schooler C.J. Walker (Eden Duncan-Smith) uses a backpack time machine to save her brother from being killed by a police officer. But altering the events of the past have consequences that not even a science prodigy can anticipate.

Safety Not Guaranteed (2012)

This sweet sci-fi rom-com starts with a classified ad from Kenneth (Mark Duplass), a grocery-store worker looking for a partner to travel back in time with. “Safety not guaranteed,” he warns. While some write him off as crazy or paranoid, disillusioned college grad-turned-alt weekly intern Darius ( Aubrey Plaza ) might be willing to risk it all for a chance to roam the universe with him.

Arrival (2016)

Denis Villeneuve’s sci-fi drama , which stars Amy Adams as a celebrated linguist trying to communicate with an intelligent alien race, plays with time in ways we won’t dare spoil here. Suffice to say that the film’s twist ending will make you rethink the entire movie.

Watch it on Hulu

Palm Springs (2020)

Nyles (Andy Samberg) and Sarah (Cristin Milioti) found love in a hopeless place: a Palm Springs wedding that they’ve been forced to relive over and over again after getting stuck in a time loop. Both darkly hilarious and sweetly nihilistic, Palm Springs is a unique rom-com for those who don’t want to admit they like rom-coms.

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50 best space movies of all time

Space has always captured the imagination of artists with all of its potential and unknowability. The sheer number of space-themed and set-in-space movies released over the years is a prime example of this. From silly takes like "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" to more serious stories like "First Man" to blockbusters like "Star Wars," there are probably more space-adjacent films out there than you realize.

2024 has been a huge year for space movies. Whether it's the magnum opus "Dune: Part 2" grossing  nearly $710 million worldwide , an Adam Sandler-starring  Netflix oddball  "Spaceman," or the return of one of the most terrifying alien supervillains in " Alien: Romulus ," fans of intergalactic cinema have a plethora of options to pick from. To celebrate, Stacker compiled a list of the best space movies of all time as determined by the Stacker score, which equally weighs a film's IMDb user score and Metascore (data is from February 2023), so both critics' and fans' opinions are taken into account. To be considered for the list, a film needed over 2,500 IMDb votes and at least seven Metacritic reviews.

The films on this list include soaring space operas, faithful docudramas, gripping thrillers, and speculative musings, but they all deal with space to some degree. These films span the recent history of cinema, from 1956 to 2022, and thus a chronological progression can be observed, with the early successes influencing later films.

Though some movies got the dates wrong, many of the themes explored deal directly with our day-to-day lives. "Gattaca" explores the perils of the creation of so-called "designer babies." "WALL-E," "Blade Runner," and "Planet of the Apes" muse on what will happen to the earth when humans destroy it. Several films take us back to one of humanity's greatest scientific achievements—the moon landing—and the sheer amount of effort and creativity needed to accomplish such a feat. So read on to discover something new that will inspire and entertain.

#50. Mr. Nobody (2009)

- Director: Jaco Van Dormael - Stacker score: 78.8 - Metascore: 63 - IMDb user rating: 7.8 - Runtime: 141 minutes

This list comprises space movies—after all, that's what you came for—but "Mr. Nobody" is one of a few time movies too. Jared Leto portrays the protagonist, Nemo Nobody, the last mortal left on Earth after everyone else achieves immortality through cellular regenerative technology. Though the movie largely takes place on Earth, Nemo, at points, writes a story about space travel to Mars, which is visually presented in gorgeous detail. At the 66th Venice International Film Festival, "Mr. Nobody" garnered the Golden Osella and the Biografilm Lancia Award.

#49. Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983)

- Director: Richard Marquand - Stacker score: 78.8 - Metascore: 58 - IMDb user rating: 8.3 - Runtime: 131 minutes

The original Star Wars trilogy will always be remembered for bringing blockbusters to Hollywood, with all its action, adventure, and exorbitant budgets. The third entry, "Return of the Jedi," is generally considered by fans and critics to be the worst of the three, though it's no less beloved than the first two. The Rebels, beaten time and time again, finally take their stand against the Empire as allegiances are tested and secrets are revealed. The movie took home the Special Achievement Academy Award in 1984.

#48. THX 1138 (1971)

- Director: George Lucas - Stacker score: 79.3 - Metascore: 75 - IMDb user rating: 6.7 - Runtime: 86 minutes

"THX 1138" was a failure. That is, until George Lucas gained notoriety for "Star Wars" and fans went back to watch his first film, which depicts a totalitarian dystopia controlled by mind-altering chemicals and an android police force. The title refers to the film's protagonist (Robert Duvall); to encourage conformity, names are simply three initials and four digits. The movie garnered a nomination at the 1971 Cannes Film Festival from the International Federation of Film Critics in the Directors' Fortnight section.

#47. Gattaca (1997)

- Director: Andrew Niccol - Stacker score: 79.3 - Metascore: 64 - IMDb user rating: 7.8 - Runtime: 106 minutes

Twenty-one years after the release of "Gattaca," the scientific community was forced to confront an issue raised by the film: gene editing. Using CRISPR technology, scientists can now selectively edit portions of DNA in embryos , creating artificial resistance against diseases like HIV, smallpox, and cholera. Eventually, this technology could determine many human traits, from intelligence to eye color, exactly to the parents' desire.

In the world of "Gattaca," a man born naturally—without any genes edited—poses as another man to sidestep genetic discrimination and fulfill his dreams to travel to space, raising important questions about whether gene editing is just a novel form of eugenics. The film garnered many accolades, including nominations for the Academy Award for Best Art Direction and the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score.

#46. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)

- Director: Gareth Edwards - Stacker score: 79.9 - Metascore: 65 - IMDb user rating: 7.8 - Runtime: 133 minutes

Many fans found inconvenient truths (without revealing spoilers) at the end of "Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope" 39 years later; "Rogue One," which takes place right before "Episode IV," sets the stage for that famous climax, explaining the story behind how the heroic band of rebels was able to strike a decisive blow against the Empire. The first "Star Wars" film to be set outside the three major trilogies, "Rogue One" was played for its no-holds-barred action, fast-paced storyline, and memorable cameos from beloved characters. The movie also received two Academy Award nominations for Best Sound Mixing and Best Visual Effects.

#45. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)

- Director: James Gunn - Stacker score: 79.9 - Metascore: 67 - IMDb user rating: 7.6 - Runtime: 136 minutes

Until 2014's "Guardians of the Galaxy," the films of the Marvel Cinematic Universe were mostly confined to Earth, with a few sojourns to Asgard with Thor. However, like its predecessor, which appears further down this list, "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2" is set entirely in space, where Chris Pratt's Peter "Star-Lord" Quill was raised following his childhood abduction from Earth. With only retro songs to remember his home planet by, Star-Lord searches for answers with his band of reluctant heroes, among them a talking raccoon and a sentient tree. The film's sequel, "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3," is set to release in 2023.

#44. On the Silver Globe (1988)

- Director: Andrzej Zulawski - Stacker score: 80.4 - Metascore: 72 - IMDb user rating: 7.2 - Runtime: 166 minutes

Based on the novel of the same title by Jerzy Żuławski, a Polish novelist famous for his Lunar trilogy, of which "Silver Globe" is the first, this film sees a stranded group of astronauts start a new civilization on an alien planet. With detailed costumes and exquisite sets, this film confronts themes of religion and custom. In all, "Silver Globe" is an incredibly ambitious work, with stunning, visionary production. The movie earned Andrzej Żuławski the Best Film award at the Fantasporto film festival in 1988.

#43. Galaxy Quest (1999)

- Director: Dean Parisot - Stacker score: 80.4 - Metascore: 70 - IMDb user rating: 7.4 - Runtime: 102 minutes

What does Sigourney Weaver do after finally escaping from the aliens in "Alien" and "Aliens"? Poke fun at another staple of the sci-fi genre in "Galaxy Quest," a transparent but nonetheless hilarious send-up of "Star Trek" and its fans. Also starring Tim Allen, Alan Rickman, Tony Shalhoub, Sam Rockwell, and Daryl Mitchell, this cult classic is beloved by the very fans it made fun of, a surefire mark of a great film. The movie earned Allen the Best Actor award at the Saturn Awards in 2000.

#42. Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005)

- Director: George Lucas - Stacker score: 80.4 - Metascore: 68 - IMDb user rating: 7.6 - Runtime: 140 minutes

Though the trilogy of films that served as prequels to "Star Wars: Episode IV" generated ire from fans and critics alike, there's a lot to enjoy in "Revenge of the Sith," in which Anakin Skywalker must choose between the light side of the Jedi and the dark power of the Sith. Though the romance between Hayden Christensen's Anakin and Natalie Portman's Padmé is… unconvincing, the twists and turns are exciting enough to watch that they've now been immortalized as viral memes . With a whopping $50 million turnout, the movie still holds the record for the highest opening-day gross on a Thursday.

#41. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982)

- Director: Nicholas Meyer - Stacker score: 81.0 - Metascore: 68 - IMDb user rating: 7.7 - Runtime: 113 minutes

Nowadays, with the ubiquity of computer-generated images, or CGI, in blockbuster cinemas, it's charming to remember when carefully painted miniatures and fireworks explosions comprised much of what we consider "special effects." "The Wrath of Khan," the first film to have a sequence comprised entirely of CGI, was a harbinger of this new era. Beloved by fans, William Shatner's James Tiberius Kirk leads a war against Khan, who has sworn revenge on the Starship Enterprise, in this classic space opera. George Takei, James Doohan, and Leonard Nimoy also co-star in the film.

#40. Ad Astra (2019)

- Director: James Gray - Stacker score: 81.0 - Metascore: 80 - IMDb user rating: 6.5 - Runtime: 123 minutes

In "Ad Astra," James Gray set out to present a realistic depiction of space travel , coining the term "science future fact" to describe his vision of interplanetary travel rooted in science. The psychological drama, which tells the story of an astronaut (Brad Pitt) who sets out to discover the truth about his missing father (Tommy Lee Jones), does that and so much more. Contemplative and loaded with meaning, the movie also asks big questions about the existence and role of god . The Brad Pitt starrer received an Academy Award nomination for Best Sound Mixing in 2020.

#39. Moon (2009)

- Director: Duncan Jones - Stacker score: 81.0 - Metascore: 67 - IMDb user rating: 7.8 - Runtime: 97 minutes

Many sci-fi movies have grand sets, impressive special effects, and daring heroes; others use the context of sci-fi to explore the human condition. That's the case with "Moon," which sees Sam Rockwell as a lonely helium-3 miner on the far side of the moon, cut off from human contact for three years as he works. When he begins to suffer hallucinations, not even the viewer can tell what's real and what's imagined. "Moon" received plenty of accolades, taking home the Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation in 2010 and garnering a nomination for the BAFTA Award for Best British Film.

#38. Star Trek Into Darkness (2013)

- Director: J.J. Abrams - Stacker score: 83.2 - Metascore: 72 - IMDb user rating: 7.7 - Runtime: 132 minutes

The sequel to J.J. Abrams' warmly received 2009 "Star Trek" reboot, "Into Darkness," sees the same crew headed by Chris Pine's James T. Kirk in a new adventure, tracking a mysterious villain (Benedict Cumberbatch) in a sneering, intense performance. With all the thrills and twists of the original "Star Trek" television series with the blockbuster budget of an Abrams flick, "Into Darkness" is a solid entry into the space-opera canon. The movie even earned a Best Visual Effects nomination at the 86th Academy Awards.

#37. Apollo 10½: A Space Age Childhood (2022)

- Director: Richard Linklater - Stacker score: 84.4 - Metascore: 79 - IMDb user rating: 7.2 - Runtime: 97 minutes

Loosely based on the real-life experiences of multihyphenate Richard Linklater, "Apollo 10½: A Space Age Childhood" tells the story of the 1969 moon landing from two perspectives—the crew aboard Apollo 11 and a fourth grader obsessed with imagining being the first man on the moon. The movie, like several of Linklater's other projects, is animated. Still, the process by which that animation was done —scenes were shot with real actors in front of green screens first, then converted to animation—gives it a much more realistic feel than your typical Saturday morning cartoon.

#36. Hidden Figures (2016)

- Director: Theodore Melfi - Stacker score: 84.9 - Metascore: 74 - IMDb user rating: 7.8 - Runtime: 127 minutes

Everyone remembers where they were when Neil Armstrong walked on the moon. Fewer people remember—or ever knew about—the groundbreaking scientists and mathematicians who made that walk possible, many being women of color, during a time when segregation was still enforced. Led by stirring performances from Taraji P. Henson, Janelle Monáe, and Octavia Spencer, among others, "Hidden Figures" is a heartwarming story about overcoming obstacles both on the ground and in the air. Apart from earning a Best Picture nomination at the 89th Academy Awards, the blockbuster took home the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture.

#35. Serenity (2005)

- Director: Joss Whedon - Stacker score: 84.9 - Metascore: 74 - IMDb user rating: 7.8 - Runtime: 119 minutes

Not to be confused with the astoundingly awful 2019 film by the same title, 2005's "Serenity" is a final love letter to the series "Firefly," which follows the crew of the spaceship Serenity. Though the television series failed with audiences, a passionate cult of Joss Whedon fans convinced Universal Studios to bankroll a film meant to wrap up unresolved threads, which fans were overall pleased with. Despite its underwhelming performance at the box office, the film received the Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation and the Best Script Nebula Award.

#34. Avengers: Infinity War (2018)

- Directors: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo - Stacker score: 84.9 - Metascore: 68 - IMDb user rating: 8.4 - Runtime: 149 minutes

After 18 films and 10 years, the beginning of the final climax of the Marvel Cinematic Universe arrived, along with Josh Brolin's Thanos, the most terrifying villain our heroes have ever faced. With Thanos intent on tracking down the infinity stones, mystical objects capable of immense power, with the goal of eliminating half of all life in the universe, the Avengers set out across space to stop him. The film is one of the highest-grossing films of all time worldwide and in the United States and Canada.

#33. World on a Wire (1973)

- Director: Rainer Werner Fassbinder - Stacker score: 85.5 - Metascore: 76 - IMDb user rating: 7.7 - Runtime: 212 minutes

A topic that has recently encouraged discussion among philosophers, scientists, and one intrepid tech entrepreneur is that of humanity's existence. Are we real? Or are we living in a simulation? Some believe there's an infinitesimal probability that we're simulated humans , given how close we are to creating simulated societies ourselves. That question is probed by "World on a Wire," a two-part miniseries made for German television, that predates later films like "The Matrix," which explores similar themes.

#32. Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (2017)

- Director: Rian Johnson - Stacker score: 85.5 - Metascore: 84 - IMDb user rating: 6.9 - Runtime: 152 minutes

The middle entry of the third Star Wars theatrical trilogy, "The Last Jedi," sees a precarious Resistance trying to hold on to hope as the First Order pummels them at every turn. Elsewhere, Rey attempts to convince Luke Skywalker, a reclusive hermit who wants nothing to do with his past heroism, to train her in the ways of the force. The movie angered some die-hard fans but was overall warmly received by critics. The film also received nominations for Best Original Score and Best Visual Effects at the 90th Academy Awards.

#31. Thor: Ragnarok (2017)

- Director: Taika Waititi - Stacker score: 85.5 - Metascore: 74 - IMDb user rating: 7.9 - Runtime: 130 minutes

After "Thor: The Dark World," received lukewarm reviews, Marvel brought in New Zealand director Taika Waititi to spice up the franchise. The result: a colorful, hilarious romp through space featuring Chris Hemsworth's Thor facing off against Jeff Goldblum's Collector and Cate Blanchett's Hela, along with (and sometimes opposed to) his brother, Loki, played by an always-conniving Tom Hiddleston. Some old friends and foes make surprise appearances, and among fans of superhero movies, it's a must-see. A sequel, "Thor: Love and Thunder," was released in 2022.

#30. Apollo 13 (1995)

- Director: Ron Howard - Stacker score: 86.0 - Metascore: 77 - IMDb user rating: 7.7 - Runtime: 140 minutes

"Failure is not an option." Those are the words uttered by NASA flight director Gene Kranz (Ed Harris) after an explosion disrupts a planned moon landing in this docudrama adapted from real events. Starring Tom Hanks, Kevin Costner, Kevin Bacon, and Bill Paxton as stranded astronauts, this heart-pounding thriller will have you at the edge of your seat, even if you know the outcome. During awards season, "Apollo 13" earned nine Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, winning for Best Film Editing and Best Sound.

#29. Dune (2021)

- Director: Denis Villeneuve - Stacker score: 86.0 - Metascore: 74 - IMDb user rating: 8.0 - Runtime: 155 minutes

An adaptation of the classic 1965 sci-fi novel of the same name, "Dune" follows a noble family on a far-away planet named Arrakis as they attempt to stake their claim on the planet's most powerful resource. Only the third-ever adaptation of the source material, this version of the story was praised for its intense visuals and incredible score and was nominated for 10 Academy Awards. The movie only covers the first half of the book, and a sequel, "Dune: Part Two," is set to be released near the end of 2023.

#28. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

- Director: James Gunn - Stacker score: 87.2 - Metascore: 76 - IMDb user rating: 8.0 - Runtime: 121 minutes

The aforementioned "Thor: Ragnarok" brought life and color to the Thor franchise; it owes a debt to "Guardians of the Galaxy," a colorful space adventure that brings exotic aliens and swashbuckling action to the MCU. Come for the visuals and Chris Pratt's charming performance; stay for the '80s nostalgia and killer soundtrack. The action-packed superhero flick was followed by the sequel "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2" in 2017.

#27. First Man (2018)

- Director: Damien Chazelle - Stacker score: 87.7 - Metascore: 84 - IMDb user rating: 7.3 - Runtime: 141 minutes

After directing 2016's Best Picture-losing love letter "La La Land," Damien Chazelle recruited Ryan Gosling to play Neil Armstrong in "First Man," a docudrama about the perils of the space program leading up to that most famous walk on the moon. With strong performances throughout and incredible special effects and sound design on the space launches, "First Man" is a must-see for any Apollo enthusiasts. Following its two nominations at the ceremony, "First Man" walked away with the trophy for Best Original Score at the 76th Golden Globe Awards.

#26. Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015)

- Director: J.J. Abrams - Stacker score: 88.3 - Metascore: 80 - IMDb user rating: 7.8 - Runtime: 138 minutes

Achieving a higher place on this list than its sequel, "The Last Jedi," this first entry in the third Star Wars trilogy introduces a new cast of characters and brings back some fan favorites to fight against the First Order, the next iteration of the franchise's evil colonialist empire. Featuring standout performances from newcomers Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Adam Driver, and Oscar Isaac, and an antiheroic return to form for Harrison Ford, "The Force Awakens" will fill you with the same childlike wonder of the original trilogy. The film is one of the highest-grossing films of all time, pulling in over $2 billion.

#25. Planet of the Apes (1968)

- Director: Franklin J. Schaffner - Stacker score: 88.8 - Metascore: 79 - IMDb user rating: 8.0 - Runtime: 112 minutes

One of the most famous sci-fi films of all time, "Planet of the Apes" sees a crashed spaceship's crew wander a planet dominated by primates, only to discover a dark secret. With groundbreaking prosthetics that hold up to this day, it's worth watching or rewatching just for the famous quote: "Take your stinking paws off me, you damn dirty ape!" In 2001, the movie was chosen for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress.

#24. The Lego Movie (2014)

- Directors: Phil Lord, Christopher Miller - Stacker score: 89.4 - Metascore: 83 - IMDb user rating: 7.7 - Runtime: 100 minutes

Many were skeptical that a concept as vague as "Lego" could be adapted into a compelling film. Directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, rising stars in the comedy and animation genres, proved even the most serious doubters wrong. "The Lego Movie" is 100 minutes of intense action, side-splitting dialogue, and creative animation. Anchored by an all-star cast, "The Lego Movie" is family-friendly perfection. The film franchise has since expanded with sequels like 2017's "The Lego Ninjago Movie" and 2019's "The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part."

#23. District 9 (2009)

- Director: Neill Blomkamp - Stacker score: 89.4 - Metascore: 81 - IMDb user rating: 7.9 - Runtime: 112 minutes

"District 9" sees an alien species set up camp on Earth. Using the xenophobia humans display against aliens as an allegory for the racism of South Africa's apartheid, this found-footage mockumentary turns the glamor of interspecies contact into a biting critique of contemporary affairs. The picture garnered four Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Visual Effects, and Best Film Editing.

#22. Arrival (2016)

- Director: Denis Villeneuve - Stacker score: 89.4 - Metascore: 81 - IMDb user rating: 7.9 - Runtime: 116 minutes

In many movies on this list, humankind ventures far out into the galaxy, discovering alien planets and their inhabitants. In 2016's enigmatic "Arrival," the aliens come here. Whether they're bearing gifts or baring their teeth remains to be seen; it's up to a linguist (Amy Adams) and physicist (Jeremy Renner) to interpret the alien language. Villeneuve has already shown himself to be a powerful force in the speculative science fiction genre, and "Arrival" is a head-spinning masterpiece. "Arrival" took home the Ray Bradbury Award for Outstanding Dramatic Presentation and the Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation.

#21. The Martian (2015)

- Director: Ridley Scott - Stacker score: 89.4 - Metascore: 80 - IMDb user rating: 8.0 - Runtime: 144 minutes

Based on the popular novel, "The Martian" is about humanity joining for a singular mission: Save astronaut Mark Watney, who was abandoned on Mars after the rest of his crew made an emergency exit during a dust storm. Played by a charismatic Matt Damon, Watney is a genius scientist who works in tandem with the forces on Earth to return home.

A fantastic ensemble cast assists him in his efforts, including Jessica Chastain, Kristen Wiig, and Donald Glover, among many others. The movie earned Damon myriad accolades, including the Golden Globe for Best Actor — Motion Picture Musical or Comedy, as well as nominations for the Academy Award for Best Actor, the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role, and the Critics' Choice Award for Best Actor.

#20. Interstellar (2014)

- Director: Christopher Nolan - Stacker score: 89.4 - Metascore: 74 - IMDb user rating: 8.6 - Runtime: 169 minutes

Christopher Nolan is known for making mind-bending films that challenge and enthrall the viewer, and 2014's "Interstellar" is a worthy addition to that canon. In the not-too-distant future, humanity suffers the widespread effects of climate change. Abandoning Earth is the only hope, and when a mysterious wormhole opens up at the end of the solar system, a daring crew travels through.

Working against impossible odds and the forces of space and time, the crew must do everything possible to survive in this three-hour epic starring Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, and Michael Caine. The film was a hotshot at the 87th Academy Awards, receiving nominations for Best Original Score, Best Production Design, Best Sound Mixing, and Best Sound Editing, taking home the trophy for Best Visual Effects.

#19. Blade Runner 2049 (2017)

- Director: Denis Villeneuve - Stacker score: 89.9 - Metascore: 81 - IMDb user rating: 8.0 - Runtime: 164 minutes

Previously in this slideshow, we referred to director Denis Villeneuve as "a powerful force in the speculative science fiction genre." Consider this film Exhibit B. "Blade Runner 2049" is beautiful in its tragedy, or perhaps tragic in its beauty. Anchored by a deeply empathetic performance from Ryan Gosling and featuring Ana de Armas, Mackenzie Davis, Jared Leto, and others, "Blade Runner 2049" is a worthy sequel to its groundbreaking predecessor. At the 90th Academy Awards, the blockbuster claimed trophies for Best Cinematography and Best Visual Effects, in addition to nominations for Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing, and Best Production Design.

#18. Star Trek (2009)

- Director: J.J. Abrams - Stacker score: 89.9 - Metascore: 82 - IMDb user rating: 7.9 - Runtime: 127 minutes

Like "The Force Awakens," this film was preceded on this list by its sequel, "Star Trek Into Darkness." 2009's "Star Trek" likewise contains all the charm of the original series, with big-budget special effects and a stellar cast (pun intended). "Star Trek" was followed by the sequels 2013's "Star Trek Into Darkness" and 2016's "Star Trek Beyond."

#17. Avengers: Endgame (2019)

- Directors: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo - Stacker score: 90.5 - Metascore: 78 - IMDb user rating: 8.4 - Runtime: 181 minutes

The climax fans waited a decade for, "Avengers: Endgame" sees the titular characters reeling from the events of the prior film and navigating a strange world. Some are focused on undoing the fallout of "Avengers: Infinity War," while others just want to move on and accept the world as it is. The three-hour runtime flies by as our heroes find a promising way forward. "Avengers: Endgame" claimed two Critics' Choice Awards and earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Visual Effects.

#16. Avatar (2009)

- Director: James Cameron - Stacker score: 90.5 - Metascore: 83 - IMDb user rating: 7.9 - Runtime: 162 minutes

The highest-grossing movie of all time, despite the ongoing efforts of "Avengers: Endgame," "Avatar" brought eye-popping CGI to a global audience in a classic story of colonialism, romance, and resistance. James Cameron waited nearly a decade, until 2005, to make the film as the technology wasn't advanced enough in the 1990s to complete his vision. The wait paid off financially and in the stunning visuals of the film, which hold up very well 10 years later. Among its nine Oscar nominations, the blockbuster took three trophies, including Best Art Direction, Best Visual Effects, and Best Cinematography.

#15. Blade Runner (1982)

- Director: Ridley Scott - Stacker score: 92.2 - Metascore: 84 - IMDb user rating: 8.1 - Runtime: 117 minutes

Directed by Ridley Scott of "Alien" fame and loosely based on a book by sci-fi master Philip K. Dick, "Blade Runner" focuses on Harrison Ford's Rick Deckard, a retired "blade runner," tasked with hunting down and killing renegade androids known as replicants, just like he used to. The film takes place entirely on Earth; however, it's a grimy and squalid one, as anyone with significant wealth has already left for the off-world colonies. Although space travel doesn't feature directly, the film questions technology's effect on the environment and human interactions. The '80s blockbuster earned two Academy Award nominations, including Best Art Direction and Best Visual Effects, and took home the Hugo Award in 1983 for Best Dramatic Presentation.

#14. The Iron Giant (1999)

- Director: Brad Bird - Stacker score: 92.7 - Metascore: 85 - IMDb user rating: 8.1 - Runtime: 86 minutes

Sci-fi films have a peculiar tendency to underperform at the box office, only to be treated as cult classics and idolized long after they leave the theaters. Such is the case with "The Iron Giant," the directorial debut of "The Incredibles" and "Ratatouille" director Brad Bird, which sees a young boy befriending a giant robot who fell from the sky. Featuring an all-star cast of voice actors, including Vin Diesel as the titular automaton, "The Iron Giant" is a gem in Bird's stellar filmography. The film received nine of the 15 Annie Awards for which it was nominated, including the Annie Award for Music in an Animated Feature Production.

#13. Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)

- Director: Steven Spielberg - Stacker score: 92.7 - Metascore: 90 - IMDb user rating: 7.6 - Runtime: 138 minutes

Steven Spielberg's "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" is considered one of the best science fiction films of all time. A smash hit with critics and audiences alike, the movie is about a blue-collar Indiana man who finds his life completely changed after a chance encounter with a UFO. Praised for its originality, the movie has been instrumental in leading many to believe we may not be alone after all. In 2007, the film was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by the United States Library of Congress.

#12. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

- Director: Stanley Kubrick - Stacker score: 93.3 - Metascore: 84 - IMDb user rating: 8.3 - Runtime: 149 minutes

Sci-fi movies would look a lot different without "2001," undoubtedly the most influential film of the genre ever to hit the silver screen. The precarity of artificial intelligence, the vastness of space, and the possibility of extraterrestrial life are among the themes explored in Kubrick's masterpiece. From the visuals to the score, "2001" earns its spot among the greatest films of all time. The sci-fi epic was regarded "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" by the United States Library of Congress in 1991 and was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry.

#11. Aliens (1986)

- Director: James Cameron - Stacker score: 93.9 - Metascore: 84 - IMDb user rating: 8.4 - Runtime: 137 minutes

In several places on this list, sequels fared worse in the hearts of critics and audiences than its predecessor. Such is the case with "Aliens," the sequel to 1979's "Alien," though Empire magazine named it the greatest sequel of all time . The franchise has yet to recapture the magic since "Aliens," a terrifying thriller of galactic proportions starring Sigourney Weaver in an Oscar-nominated performance as Ellen Ripley, a hero for a spacefaring generation. The alien-invaded franchise has since spawned several other sequels, including 2012's "Prometheus" and 2017's "Alien: Covenant."

#10. Apollo 11 (2019)

- Director: Todd Douglas Miller - Stacker score: 94.4 - Metascore: 88 - IMDb user rating: 8.1 - Runtime: 93 minutes

The only documentary on this list, "Apollo 11" consists solely of archival footage and is absent of narration, commentary from talking heads, or re-creations. The film presents the story of the titular mission, moonwalk and all. There's not much else to say here, just a word of advice: see it on the biggest screen you can find. The film took home three Primetime Emmy Awards in 2020, including Outstanding Sound Editing for a Nonfiction or Reality Program and Outstanding Picture Editing for a Nonfiction Program.

#9. Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)

- Director: Don Siegel - Stacker score: 94.4 - Metascore: 92 - IMDb user rating: 7.7 - Runtime: 80 minutes

The fact that the oldest film on this list also makes the top 10 is notable; many of the deep questions posed by old sci-fi movies seem dated to us (Are communicators in "Star Trek" any better than an iPhone?). However, the fear of someone you love seeming just a little off still raises goosebumps in any viewer. The culprit: alien pods that, when they reach maturity, duplicate humans entirely, though the duplicates are devoid of any emotion. "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress in 1994.

#8. The Right Stuff (1983)

- Director: Philip Kaufman - Stacker score: 94.4 - Metascore: 91 - IMDb user rating: 7.8 - Runtime: 193 minutes

The films on this list that deal with America's space program each focus on a different period. Such is the case with "The Right Stuff," which focuses on the Mercury program of supersonic flight, sometimes in the sub-orbital region of space, which took place between 1958 and 1963. Based on the bestselling book by the same name, "The Right Stuff" was, like many others on this list, a box-office failure though it was beloved by critics and is still considered a modern classic today. "The Right Stuff" also earned eight Oscar nominations at the 56th Academy Awards, bringing home four.

#7. Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

- Director: Irvin Kershner - Stacker score: 94.4 - Metascore: 82 - IMDb user rating: 8.7 - Runtime: 124 minutes

Another of the best-received sequels of all time, "The Empire Strikes Back" had a lot to live up to when it premiered three years after "Star Wars: Episode IV." Luckily, the story matured from "chosen one saves the universe" into a more complex series of blows and counterattacks. With cinema's most famous twist in the middle, "Empire" recaptures all the magic of the original and further explores the galaxy far, far away. In 2010, the United States Library of Congress selected it for preservation in the National Film Registry.

#6. E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

- Director: Steven Spielberg - Stacker score: 95.0 - Metascore: 91 - IMDb user rating: 7.9 - Runtime: 115 minutes

"E.T. phone home," mutters the titular character as it attempts to contact its home planet, drawing awe from audiences worldwide. The timeless story of an intimate friendship between a boy and his alien friend, "E.T." has resonated with generations of families and is widely considered one of the greatest films of all time. The film was added to the United States National Film Registry of the Library of Congress in 1994.

#5. Solaris (1972)

- Director: Andrei Tarkovsky - Stacker score: 96.6 - Metascore: 93 - IMDb user rating: 8.0 - Runtime: 167 minutes

At the same time Americans were celebrating a comeback victory in the Space Race, Soviet Russians were dealing with their own questions of space travel and communism's place in the future. Such is the case with "Solaris," a Soviet film that questions the limits of human rationality in a gorgeous, haunting, nearly three-hour production. The film also took home the Grand Prix Spécial du Jury at the 1972 Cannes Film Festival.

#4. Gravity (2013)

- Director: Alfonso Cuarón - Stacker score: 96.6 - Metascore: 96 - IMDb user rating: 7.7 - Runtime: 91 minutes

Alfonso Cuarón, the five-time Oscar winner and director of "Children of Men" and "Roma," tried his hand at an outer-space thriller in 2013's seven-time Oscar winner "Gravity," starring Sandra Bullock and George Clooney as stranded astronauts doing whatever it takes to return home. As evidenced by the awards, "Gravity" was received warmly by both critics and fans, who praised the realistic visuals, performances from the leads, and stirring score. Among the film's 10 nominations at the 86th Academy Awards, "Gravity" blasted off with seven, including Best Visual Effects, Best Original Score, and Best Director.

#3. Alien (1979)

- Director: Ridley Scott - Stacker score: 97.2 - Metascore: 89 - IMDb user rating: 8.5 - Runtime: 117 minutes

Facehugger, Xenomorph, Chestburster—the titular alien in "Alien" takes many forms, all terrifying, as the creation of gory special effects and dark imagination. The crew of the spaceship Nostromo is hopelessly outmatched against this unique evil, though they never stop trying to kill it, even as more and more humans fall victim to the alien's attacks. A straightforward human-versus-nature story, the movie manages to slip in a biting critique of megacorporations that are more interested in the bottom line than human lives. Back in 2008, "Alien" was ranked #7 by the American Film Institute as the best film in the science fiction genre.

#2. Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977)

- Director: George Lucas - Stacker score: 98.3 - Metascore: 90 - IMDb user rating: 8.6 - Runtime: 121 minutes

What is there to say about "Star Wars"? The 1977 film has established itself in every corner of our collective consciousness, from the global fame of its cast to the innumerable sci-fi and adventure films it influenced, not to mention the films in the franchise still being released every couple of years. The soundtrack is iconic, the characters are legendary, and the story of a chosen hero leading the galaxy to victory has inspired millions of young people all across the globe. In 1989, the sci-fi blockbuster became one of the first 25 films to be chosen by the U.S. Library of Congress for preservation in the National Film Registry.

#1. WALL-E (2008)

- Director: Andrew Stanton - Stacker score: 100.0 - Metascore: 95 - IMDb user rating: 8.4 - Runtime: 98 minutes

The striking depiction of Earth in "WALL-E" as a barren wasteland, destroyed by the forces of climate and human overconsumption, is made even more impactful through the film's choice not to include human dialogue for much of the film. The titular robot is an emotive trash compactor—the only one left on Earth—meant to clean up the planet's waste; imagine his shock when a futuristic robot arrives, searching the planet for any sign of organic life. When humans are finally shown, they're nearly unconscious and incapable of social relationships, as work has become obsolete thanks to automation.

A story about finding a purpose in the universe's vastness, "WALL-E" has the right mix of charm, complex storytelling, beautiful visuals, and soul-searching questions to land at the top of our list. The Disney flick, in 2021, was even selected for preservation in the U.S. National Film Registry by the Library of Congress for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant."

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Introduction

A visionary epic that takes viewers from the barren dust bowl of a dying Earth to the furthest reaches of the universe, “Interstellar” is a rare film that combines speculative theory with a degree of scientific accuracy. Using realistic space flight technology to enhance the drama, Christopher Nolan’s deep-think adventure is closer to the spirit of “From the Earth to the Moon” than to pulp fantasy like “Star Wars.” As it prepares to launch on November 7, here are 10 space travel movies that exist within the realm of possibility.

“Countdown” (1968)

Robert Altman directed this cold war thriller about two American astronauts racing to beat the Soviets to the moon, but was fired by Warner Brothers as the film neared completion for refusing to re-shoot the overlapping dialog that would become his stylistic trademark. Adding a sense of authenticity to the project, the National Aeronautic Space Administration granted the production unprecedented access to its facilities like Cape Canaveral.

“2001: A Space Odyssey” (1968)

Beginning at the dawn of man and ending in a cosmic netherworld, Stanley Kubrick’s colossal head-trip stands as one of cinema’s most painstakingly accurate depictions of spaceflight. Many of the film’s fictional technologies have proven eerily prescient in light of scientific advancements made since it first premiered. Obsessed with details, Kubrick enlisted technical consultants from over 50 aerospace organizations to achieve the level of reality he insisted on.

“Marooned” (1969)

Preparing to return to Earth after spending several months in an orbiting lab, three astronauts discover their rockets won’t fire, stranding them in space. Released less than four months after the Apollo 11 moon landing, the highly realistic “Marooned” won an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects. Working closely with Columbia Pictures, NASA provided the studio with authentic replicas of actual equipment, including an early mockup of the Skylab prototype.

“The Right Stuff” (1983)

Based on Tom Wolfe’s bestseller, this American epic about the formation of the original Mercury 7 astronaut program is filled with heart, humor and humanity. Beginning with Chuck Yeager breaking the sound barrier in an experimental airplane, and culminating in Gordon Cooper’s historic solo flight on Mercury-Atlas 9, “The Right Stuff” blends dazzling effects and miniature model work with archival footage to achieve a near-seamless reality.

“Apollo 13” (1995)

It was the understatement of the century: “Houston, we have a problem.” Ron Howard’s docudrama about the ill-fated Apollo mission to the moon brilliantly recreated the claustrophobic tension of three astronauts unable to return to Earth when their capsule suffers internal damage. To achieve the effect of weightlessness, the cast and crew logged almost 600 flights in NASA’s KC-135 airplane (nicknamed the “Vomit Comet”), which is used for space training simulation.

“Space Cowboys” (2000)

Clint Eastwood’s adventure about a team of long-retired Air Force test pilots tasked with repairing a vintage Soviet satellite might sound like “Grumpy Old Men” in orbit, but with major sequences shot at the Kennedy Space Center and a Mission Control set built with blueprints provided by NASA its verisimilitude is remarkable. An audience of real astronauts who attended an early screening was notably impressed with the film’s authenticity and attention to detail.

“Moon” (2009)

A lone astronaut working at a lunar station makes a disturbing discovery with only days left on his three-year mission. A thoughtful look at the psychological effects of space life, “Moon” was screened for NASA scientists at Space Center Houston. While discussing the film’s bunker-like base design, director Duncan Jones was startled to learn that an audience member was currently working on a substance called “mooncrete” which would allow for just such a structure to exist.

“Love” (2011)

A thematic cousin to “Moon,” William Eubank’s beautifully shot, micro-budget tale of a solitary astronaut stranded in orbit aboard an international space station took four years to complete and was filmed on sets built in the director’s parents’ backyard. A haunting examination of the fragility of mankind’s existence, “Love” is a sincere and uniquely challenging film that recalls the boldly experimental science fiction movies of the ‘70s.

“Europa Report” (2013)

When a secret ocean is discovered beneath the surface of one of Jupiter’s moons, a private space exploration company assembles an international crew of astronauts to investigate the possibility of extraterrestrial life in our galaxy. With its clinical, documentary-like approach, this modestly-budgeted thriller is considered by many to be among the finest examples of the “hard science fiction” genre, a category that emphasizes technological credibility.

“Gravity” (2013)

Combining cutting-edge 3D cinematography, an adherence to the laws of physics and a powerhouse physical performance by Sandra Bullock, “Gravity” galvanized audiences with its meticulous recreation of a space disaster. The film’s terrifying chain-reaction sequence, in which a swarm of debris collides with an orbiting shuttle, is based on a scenario known as the Kessler Syndrome, first proposed by NASA scientist Donald Kessler in 1978.

The 35 Best Time Travel Movies

Ready for 1.21 gigawatts of sci-fi greatness?

Time travel movies often make for the most mind-numbing sci-fi films with paradoxes aplenty. But it’s those confusing temporal gymnastics that make them so fun. We’ve rounded up our favorites, from classic films like Back to the Future and Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure to more recent flicks like Arrival and Interstellar , which left our minds tangled in knots.

These are the 35 best sci-fi films that explore the fluidity of time.

🤯 You love mind-bending science. So do we. Let’s nerd out over it together.

35. Timecop

Jean-Claude Van Damme is a cop who polices time. Don’t need to say more, but I guess I will. In 1994, time travel becomes a favorite pastime of criminals, and timecops like Van Damme must catch any chronal abusers and bring them to justice. As is often the case, Van Damme’s own time-muckery with the past creates different and divergent timelines that not even Doc Brown’s chalkboard could work out. But Timecop isn’t exactly a film that’s going for narrative clarity here.

34. The Final Countdown / The Philadelphia Experiment

Although most people would file this film under “flop,” The Final Countdown contains such an amazing premise it has to be recognized. The crew of the U.S.S. Nimitz enters a storm vortex and is transported to Pearl Harbor in 1941, turning a favorite imaginary war-game scenario into real life. Although the actual film elements aren’t necessarily memorable, it does give us an incredibly good look at the Nimitz (the film was shot on the actual carrier).

We tossed in The Philadelphia Experiment at the same spot, since it’s essentially the reverse of The Final Countdown .

33. Men in Black 3

By the time director Barry Sonnenfeld directed Men in Black 3 in 2012, the franchise was 15 years removed from its fun and campy original, and Men in Black 2 had sucked out much of the charm. That’s why MiB 3 , despite its faults, is still a surprising underdog of a film.

Agent J (Will Smith) goes back in time to stop an alien from mucking up the past and killing Agent K (Tommy Lee Jones/Josh Brolin). The film recaptures much of the original’s fun, and Josh Brolin’s portrayal of a young Tommy Lee Jones playing Agent K is simply awe-inspiring. Honestly, that acting work alone earns this spot for MiB 3.

32. Flight of the Navigator

Sort of like E.T. , but with time travel. What Flight of the Navigator lacks in a substantial plot, it more than makes up for in charm.

David Scott Freeman falls into a ravine and is knocked unconscious—for eight years. Although he doesn’t age, everyone he knows does, and he soon finds he’s part of something much larger. It’s a fun film that will never outshine any Spielberg classics, but its campiness is too genuine to ignore.

31. Time After Time

H.G. Wells, Jack the Ripper, and time travel ... that’s it . Just click the arrow.

30. Timecrimes

A film with perhaps the lowest budget on this list, Timecrimes is a Spanish-language movie that follows a typical time travel trope (many copies of one person causing major problems) but creates 92 minutes of truly enjoyable cinema. The fun moments of Timecrimes are the reveal after reveal after reveal, which snowballs into a fascinating plot.

29. Source Code

Source Code is like Groundhog Day and Edge of Tomorrow with a twist. Instead of going back in time as himself, Colter Stevens (Jake Gyllenhaal) enters the body of someone else as he tries to stop a mass murder attempt. What the film lacks in depth, it more than makes up for in pulse-pumping action, and the premise itself is a refreshing take on the usual time travel idea.

It will likely never be considered an example of high science fiction, but as far as time travel goes, it gets good grades.

28. Donnie Darko

Perfect amounts creepy and perplexing, Donnie Darko is another strange example of time travel, which is why it belongs on this list all the more. Darko (Gyllenhaal again) is a high school kid with a less-than-sunny disposition. But when he begins seeing frightening hallucinations of a deranged and grotesque rabbit, things slowly begin to unravel, going from bad to weird pretty quickly.

For such a small-budget film (that was almost released straight to home video!) it’s made an outsized impact on science fiction and indie filmmaking. It’s a great movie, but also a polarizing one.

27. Safety Not Guaranteed

Director Colin Trevorrow’s debut film Safety Not Guaranteed follows three journalists—well, one journalist and two interns—on a road trip to meet the eccentric Kenneth (Mark Duplass), who placed an ad in a local newspaper looking for a time-travel companion. Although at its heart a romantic comedy, the film explores human perception of time and the indelible regrets, traumas, and even fantasies that fill our memories. Although the idea of actual time travel plays a significant role in the film, it’s used mostly as a symbol to analyze the importance of being present and always looking with hope toward the future.

26. X-Men: Days of Future Past

Smashing together the old X-Men guard with the new is what makes X-Men: Days of Future Past one of the more successful cinematic outings for the mutant team.

In the film, Kitty Pryde sends Wolverine back through time to stop apocalyptic events from unfolding. Maybe that’s not the most original plot, but it’s one that’s too fun to resist (if only for the Quicksilver scene alone ).

25. Predestination

Based on Robert Heinlein’s sci-fi short story “All You Zombies,” Predestination is a head trip, like any proper time travel film should be. With a strong performance from Ethan Hawke and a script that will keep you guessing, the film is one of the more solid time travel entries in recent years and is a film that garners a rewatch so you can catch every detail.

24. Star Trek: First Contact

The Next Generation ’s big screen outings are a mixed bag, to put it nicely, but the best film by far is the time-bending Star Trek: First Contact . Jean-Luc Picard and the crew of the USS Enterprise-E travel to the past to prevent the cybernetic Borg from mucking with Earth’s history. It’s a good film all by itself, but even more excellent if you’re an invested Star Trek fan. We get to see huge, never-before-seen moments in the Star Trek universe, like humanity’s first encounter with the Vulcans, and the Borg are just an excellent adversary.

23. Army of Darkness

“Shop Smart. Shop, S-Mart.”

Depending on who you ask, Sam Raimi’s Army of Darkness is either the best sequel to any film ever, or the worst—there isn’t much room in between. The chainsaw-toting Ashley “Ash” Williams is tossed back to medieval times where he must fight off a horde of undead monstrosities with only his ingenuity and his “boom stick.”

Even though it’s slapstick comedy with wonderfully B-movie action sequences, it remains an absolute joy to watch.

22. Doctor Strange

In this Marvel sleeper hit , Stephen Strange (played by Benedict Cumberbatch) becomes the Sorcerer Supreme, and in typical Marvel fashion, is tasked with saving the world. Although the visuals alone are worthing giving this movie a shot, its manipulation of time as a superpower rather than a world-altering plot device is what sets it apart from the rest.

21. Sleeper

Although not technically time travel (long stretches of cryo-sleep instead), Sleeper is Woody Allen’s sci-fi comedy that’s absurd, hilarious, and strangely poignant. Miles Monroe is a jazz musician and health-food-store owner who wakes up in the 22nd century after a botched gall bladder operation. The world is, as you’d expect, quite different, and Monroe is a hilarious character to explore it with.

Tenet is an “A for effort” addition to this list. The film has all the trappings of a Christopher Nolan flick—stunning cinematography, a star-studded cast, head-scratching plot points, etc., etc. And Tenet does take time travel movies one step further with the introduction of time inversion, the idea that objects and people can travel into the past at the same temporal pace that they can travel into the future. Although a fascinating concept, it’s also a confusing one, which is why Nolan spends much of the film’s 150-minute runtime explaining what’s going on. Tenet is a fascinating time travel story though ultimately one a bit lost in its own exposition.

19. The Girl Who Leapt Through Time

This 2006 award-winning anime is a coming-of-age time travel story that even rivals Back to the Future . After schoolgirl Mokoto Konno discovers a time travel device that gives her the power to leap through time, she uses her new gifts for mundane high school stuff, passing tests, avoiding awkward conversations, and to address her chronic lateness.

When she learns what her time traveling does to others around her, and as the seriousness of her time jumping becomes more apparent, the film blossoms into an important story about loss and friendship.

Crime noir meets science fiction in Rian Johnson’s Looper , and the match is magical. In a future where time travel is invented and immediately made illegal, crime syndicates use the technology for time-hopping assassinations. But to tie off some temporal inconsistencies, the assassin must eventually become the target—and that’s where things get interesting. This isn’t flawless sci-fi, but it’s certainly inventive.

17. Run Lola Run

On its surface, the German film Run Lola Run is about a blazingly red-headed woman running through the streets of Berlin in an attempt to save her boyfriend’s life. However, the twist is that once Lola reaches a dead-end (sometimes literally) in one of her runs, the film starts over from the beginning and Lola runs through Berlin once again, only this time small changes in her path create largely divergent outcomes by the film’s end. Although time is more of a thematic device than a strictly plot-driven one in Run Lola Run, its ruminations on time and the exploration of the Butterfly Effect , the idea that small incidents can have lasting repercussions, makes Run Lola Run one of the most unique films on this list.

16. Avengers: Endgame

What happens when the big purple monster man annihilates half the population? Time travel, baby. Tony Stark and gang concoct a convoluted plan that’ll save the universe from being cleaved in two, including some very inventive scenes that play with time travel. Like most time travel plots, Endgame creates more questions than it answers, but it’s best to just sit back and enjoy.

Darren lives in Portland, has a cat, and writes/edits about sci-fi and how our world works. You can find his previous stuff at Gizmodo and Paste if you look hard enough. 

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The Best Astronaut Movies Of All Time

The best astronaut movies offer thrilling adventures that combine the mysteries of space exploration with the human spirit's resilience and determination. Featuring movies about astronauts that are realistic, engaging, and critically acclaimed, these rankings are based on votes from thousands of cinephiles, ensuring that the list reflects a broad consensus of what truly captivates audiences. This collective input makes it necessary to feature a list of astronaut movies that offer authenticity, stellar performances, and impactful storytelling that resonates with space travel enthusiasts.

Among the top movies, some titles consistently draw praise and high rankings. Popular films like Apollo 13 , directed by Ron Howard and starring Tom Hanks, showcase the incredible true story of the ill-fated lunar mission. Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar , featuring Matthew McConaughey, takes viewers on a visually stunning journey through wormholes to find a new home for humanity. Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey remains a timeless classic, pushing the boundaries of visual storytelling and philosophical exploration. These good films, along with The Martian , Gravity , First Man , The Right Stuff , Contact , Moon , and Hidden Figures , are just a glimpse into the diverse storytelling within this genre.

Each movie brings something unique to the table. The Martian demonstrates human ingenuity and survival against impossible odds with Matt Damon delivering a captivating performance. Gravity , starring Sandra Bullock and George Clooney, creates an atmospheric, edge-of-your-seat thriller about an astronaut’s harrowing journey to survive after a disaster leaves her stranded in space. Hidden Figures adapts the inspiring true story of African American women at NASA who defied racial barriers to help launch John Glenn into orbit, bringing an essential historical perspective to space travel narratives and diversity in the space program.

Readers are encouraged to vote for their favorite astronaut movies on this crowd-ranked list. Your input is crucial in highlighting the movies that best capture the essence of space exploration and the human spirit. Dive into these incredible stories and vote up the films that you believe make the greatest impact in this genre.

• Released : 1995
• Directed by : Ron Howard

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The Martian

• Released : 2015
• Directed by : Ridley Scott

Interstellar

Check out more shows and movies like Interstellar !

• Released : 2014
• Directed by : Christopher Nolan

2001: A Space Odyssey

• Released : 1968
• Directed by : Stanley Kubrick

The Right Stuff

• Released : 1983
• Directed by : Philip Kaufman

• Released : 1997
• Directed by : Robert Zemeckis

• Released : 2018
• Directed by : Damien Chazelle

• Released : 2009
• Directed by : Duncan Jones

• Released : 2013
• Directed by : Alfonso Cuarón

Hidden Figures

• Released : 2016
• Directed by : Theodore Melfi

Space Cowboys

• Released : 2000
• Directed by : Clint Eastwood

• Released : 1984
• Directed by : Peter Hyams

• Directed by : Morten Tyldum

Event Horizon

• Directed by : Paul W.S. Anderson

Europa Report

• Directed by : Sebastián Cordero

• Released : 2007
• Directed by : Danny Boyle

Mission To Mars

• Directed by : Brian De Palma

• Released : 1998
• Directed by : Michael Bay

Silent Running

• Released : 1972
• Directed by : Douglas Trumbull

• Released : 2019
• Directed by : James Gray

• Directed by : Andrei Tarkovsky

• Directed by : Antony Hoffman

• Released : 1969
• Directed by : John Sturges

• Released : 2021
• Directed by : Joe Penna

The Astronaut's wife

• Released : 1999
• Directed by : Rand Ravich

The Astronaut Farmer

• Directed by : Michael Polish

• Released : 2011
• Directed by : Gonzalo López-Gallego
• Released : 2017
• Directed by : Klim Shipenko

• Directed by : Matt Osterman

The Last Days On Mars

• Directed by : Ruairi Robinson

Approaching The Unknown

• Directed by : Neil Burger

The Space Between Us

• Directed by : Peter Chelsom

Alien: Romulus

• Released : 2024
• Directed by : Fede Alvarez

• Directed by : Tim Fehlbaum

• Directed by : Robert Altman

Lucy in the Sky

• Directed by : Noah Hawley

• Directed by : John Suits

Astronaut: The Last Push

• Directed by : Mikael Håfström

• Directed by : Daniel Espinosa

• Directed by : Johan Renck

• Released : 2002
• Directed by : Steven Soderbergh

• Released : 2023
• Directed by : Gabriela Cowperthwaite

If You Were the Last

• Directed by : Kristian Mercado
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Exploring the many ways space, space travels, and extraterrestrial life are depicted in film, TV, literature, anime, comics, and technology.

The 15 Most Creative, Mind-Bending Time Travel Movies Ever Made

With Safety Not Guaranteed and About Time , these are the best movies about time travel you haven't seen yet.

We've been independently researching and testing products for over 120 years. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more about our review process.

Ever wish you could go back in time and handle a situation differently — or live through a historic event before your time? You're not the only one. Time travel has captured the imagination of countless creatives over the years, giving us some fascinating, morally challenging and even hilarious movies. We may not be able to talk a walk into the past — but as some of these films prove, that may be a good thing.

Whether you're in the mood for an adorable romantic comedy, a nail-biting action movie , or a haunting sci-fi movie , these time-traveling movies cross every genre. So once you exhaust everything on your Netflix list, these are the best time travel movies to watch. Don't forget the popcorn (ahem, we recommend these popcorn makers ).

About Time (2013)

Instead of altering history and life as we know it, the protagonist in this charming British film uses his time-traveling abilities for something a little more relatable: finding love. The result is a surprisingly sweet and criminally underrated romantic comedy.

RELATED: The 60 Best Romantic Comedies of All Time to Stream Right Now

Predestination (2015)

Based on Robert Heinlein’s short story All You Zombies , this Ethan Hawke movie will leave you guessing (and second-guessing) the whole time. Without spoiling the ending, it's definitely worth watching again.

The Time Traveler's Wife (2009)

Of the three movies where Rachel McAdams dates a time traveling man (girlfriend's got a type), the drama is definitely the most serious. Based on Audrey Niffenegger's 2003 novel of the same name, Clare tries to build a life with the man she loves — while dealing with the fact he has no control over where and when he will travel through time.

Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989)

Excellent! You're going to want to revisit this goofy, fun time travel flick before Keanu Reeves returns for the upcoming sequel.

Groundhog Day (1993)

Does living the same day over-and-over again count as time travel? This Bill Murray film about a weather man trapped in the worst day of his life is a classic, so we're going to count it.

Doctor Strange (2016)

Marvel fans are probably already familiar with Benedict Cumberbatch's role as a neurosurgeon with the powers to access alternate dimensions, but even if you're not familiar with the Marvel Universe, you can still enjoy this superhero romp.

RELATED: How to Watch All 24 Marvel Movies in the Correct Order

Back to the Future (1985)

If you're looking for some good, old-fashioned nostalgia, this 80s classic holds up! Michael J. Fox stars as Marty McFly, a teen who accidentally who accidentally gets stuck in the 1950s thanks to his mad scientist friend — and must make sure his parents fall in love with each other so he can still exist!

Interstellar (2014)

Trippy, mind-bending, and everything you want out of a time-travel movie, Christopher Nolan's time-traveling space epic will stay with you long after you finish watching,

Donnie Darko (2001)

Though it initially flopped at the box office, this film gathered a cult-following when it was released on DVD, thanks to Jake Gyllenhaal's intense performance and the surrealist images and themes just waiting to be dissected and discussed. See if you can untangle this famously dense plot for yourself.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)

One of the best Harry Potter films happens to also be a time-traveling tale. Hermione uses a "Time Turner" to take more classes at Hogwarts, but that's not all Harry and his friends use the device for.

Time Bandits (1981)

Terry Gilliam's endlessly imaginative film follows an 11-year-old boy who teams up with 6 dwarves for an adventure through time.

Safety Not Guaranteed (2012)

A classified ad from a mysterious man looking for a time-traveling companion intrigues three cynical Seattle journalists. An unexpected connection forms between the would-be scientist and one of the reporters in this low-key indie.

Primer (2004)

Two engineers create an invention that can alter time — and butt heads over how to handle the magnitude of their creation.

Time After Time (1971)

H.G. Wells pursues Jack the Ripper in 1970's San Fransisco — as outlandish as the premise is, it's a fascinating movie once you get on board with it.

The Terminator (1984)

Two time travelers from the future, an evil cyborg and a resistance fighter, fight over the life of modern woman Sarah Connor, after it's revealed her fate can save humanity.

As an Editorial Fellow for Good Housekeeping, Katie covers health, beauty, home, and pop culture. Outside of the office, you can find her killing it on the karaoke machine or listening to true crime podcasts.

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From Interstellar to Hidden Figures: 12 of the best space movies

Interstellar, Moon, Proxima, Alien, Hidden Figures... From science fiction to biographical drama, does your favourite movie about space make our list?

By Simon Ings

3 August 2021

Matthew McConaughey in Interstellar

Melinda Sue Gordon/©Paramount/c

There are so many great movies about space that it’s hard to choose between them all, but that won’t stop us. We’ve got some in our selection that will keep you on the edge of your seat while others will keep you hidden behind the sofa. Here are 12 of the best space movies.

Interstellar (2014)

Explorers arrive on a world covered in knee-high water. Distant “mountains” come sweeping towards them: a planet-spanning kilometres-high killer tide. They escape, only for an unhinged astronaut to maroon them, a little later, on a solid airborne cloud of exotic ice.

Often silly, sometimes truly visionary, Interstellar is the best rejoinder the 21st century has yet made to Stanley Kubrick’s seminal 2001: A Space Odyssey . Matthew McConaughey plays Joseph Cooper, a widowed NASA pilot who is called upon to journey into interstellar space to find an Earthlike “Planet B” for us to move to, now that the Earth’s food system is collapsing. Jessica Chastain plays his grown-up daughter, haunted by her father’s ghost.

Their performances carry real conviction, but it is the set pieces that matter. Gargantua, a spinning black hole that provides the film with its climax, is a visual effect calculated so accurately by physicist Kip Thorne and rendered so meticulously by London effects studio Double Negative, it ended up in a paper for the journal Classical and Quantum Gravity .

Years earlier, Thorne and film producer Lynda Obst had conceived of a movie exploring what, in an interview with Science magazine , Thorne called “the warped side of the universe – black holes, wormholes, higher dimensions, and so forth”. They’re the subject of Thorne’s very entertaining book The Science of Interstellar .

Nolan, meanwhile, has gone on to make movies of increasing complexity. Tenet is his latest, doing for time what Interstellar did for space.

Moon (2009)

Sam Bell (Sam Rockwell) is preparing to leave the moon at the end of his three-year stint as sole supervisor of a helium-3 mine. (Robert Zubrin’s book Entering Space gave Duncan Jones the film’s industrial premise.) But Sam is also trapped in the carcass of a crashed lunar ore conveyor. And as Sam and Sam wrestle with their inexplicable meeting, they must solve an obvious and pressing puzzle: just how many more Sams might there be?

Offered a low-budget British sci-fi movie by a first-time director , Rockwell left things until the last minute, then grabbed at the chance of playing against himself. Once on board, his commitment was total: riffing and extemporising off memories of his own performance, he insisted on distinguishing the two Sams more by demeanour than by costume changes. The result is a compelling, emotionally charged thriller, spiked with an inventive mix of effects (from CGI to model work to simple, deft editing) that keeps the audience off-balance throughout the movie. Jones has yet to top his debut work, and Rockwell, for all his subsequent successes, will forever be remembered as the Moon guy(s).

Proxima (2019)

Shot in the European Space Agency’s training facilities in Germany, and in the complex outside Moscow that is home to the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center , Alice Winocour’s third feature Proxima never leaves the ground, and yet it remains an out-of-this-world experience.

Cinematographer Georges Lechaptois brilliantly captures these rarely glimpsed spaces in all their strangeness, banality and occasional dilapidation. One can’t help but think, watching this, that being an astronaut must be like being a professional athlete – one’s glamorous career being conducted, for the most part, in smelly changing rooms.

Plaudits also to Eva Green for her portrayal of Sarah Loreau, a single mother given a last-minute opportunity to join a mission to the International Space Station. Green conveys wonderfully Sarah’s conflicted state of both wanting to go to space but not wanting to be separated from her daughter. The solution is there but it’s going to be hard to forge, and Green’s performance is heart-rending.

Alien (1979)

Sigourney Weaver plays Ripley, member of a sensible and resourceful space-going cargo crew whose capabilities are going to prove of no use whatsoever as they confront a predatory, stowaway alien.

Critics loved Alien : they said it would change how we thought about science fiction. It also, for some of us who caught it at the right age, changed how we thought about biology.

We have been an apex predator for so long, we have forgotten the specialness of our privilege. Alien reminds us of what the natural world is really like. It locates us in the middle of things, not without resources but most definitely not at the top of a food chain. It reminds us that living processes are predatory – that life is about tearing living things apart to get at their raw material.

Alien in Alien

AA Film Archive / Alamy

The clumsily named “xenomorph” of the Alien movies has an infamous life cycle, loosely based on those of certain parasitic wasps, but with the added ingredient of plasticity. A hugged human brings forth a humanoid alien. A hugged dog produces a canine. (Where the aquatic aliens of Alien: Resurrection (1997) spring from is anyone’s guess.)

If you want to know what Darwin said, read On the Origin of Species . But if you want to know how it must have made its original readers feel – go watch Alien .

2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

When Stanley Kubrick suggested a movie idea to British writer Arthur Clarke, Clarke responded enthusiastically. “The ‘really good’ science-fiction movie is a great many years overdue,” he wrote.

The question – which the two never really resolved – was which really good movie to make. A film about the triumph of science and technology? Or a film about the timeless yearnings of the human spirit?

While Kubrick, a student of human nature, director of searing and discomforting films like Paths of Glory and Lolita , mined Japanese sci-fi movies for special effects, Clarke, a communications satellite pioneer as well as a writer, worked up a script centred on what he later dubbed “the God concept”.

Encompassing everything from the dawn of man, the space race, artificial intelligence, space exploration and trans-dimensional travel, 2001 centres on the duel between David Bowman (Keir Dullea) and the inadvertently-designed-to-be-murderous HAL, a computer that is guiding his ship to Jupiter. We tend to assume Clarke provided the film’s gosh-wow factor and Kubrick provided the unease. Not so: his 1960 story, The Challenge of the Spaceship shows Clarke already painfully aware of the challenges faced by a “little, self-contained community floating in vacuum millions of miles from anywhere, kept alive in a bubble of plastic and metal” with “absolutely nothing” happening.

The boredom and incipient madness that haunt both Bowman and the ship’s poor, boxed-in AI are the film’s chief point: that we cannot live by reason alone. We need something more.

Hidden Figures (2016)

At NASA’s Langley Research Center in 1961, three Black female mathematicians, Katherine Johnson (Taraji P. Henson), Dorothy Vaughn (Octavia Spencer) and Mary Jackson (Janelle Monáe) , contribute their considerable mathematical ability to the agency’s efforts to launch white men into space. The unit they work in is segregated by gender and race but the difficulties they face are ignored by many of their colleagues. Their boss, Al Harrison, (a composite fictional character played by Kevin Costner), feels otherwise and proceeds to desegregate NASA single-handedly, armed only with an acid tongue and a sledgehammer.

The film is loosely based on 2016 book of the same name by Margot Lee Shetterly, although it takes a less factual approach. For example, the film delays Johnson’s pioneering work by a good decade so that she can share feel-good moments with the other female cast members .

Whether that matters comes down to personal taste. It is no small thing that, thanks to this film, we now know Johnson, Vaughn and Jackson by name .

Apollo 13 (1995)

On 11 April 1970, a seventh crewed mission in the Apollo space programme launched from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. It was due to land in the Fra Mauro crater, and help establish the early history of both the moon and Earth.

Two days into the journey, an oxygen tank in the spacecraft’s service module exploded, and their flight path was changed to loop them around the moon and bring them back to Earth on 17 April. Dizzy from carbon dioxide levels in the air, mounting at a rate they thought would kill them, soaking wet from all the condensation, cold because power was now severely limited, and with only plastic bags of their own urine for company they couldn’t jettison for fear this would alter their course, commander Jim Lovell, command module pilot Jack Swigert and Lunar Module pilot Fred Haise uttered hardly a word of complaint. Incredibly, they survived.

For his script, director Ron Howard has added one argument between Swigert (Kevin Bacon) and Haise (Bill Paxton) and otherwise changed barely a word of the official Apollo 13 transcript. Tom Hanks plays Lovell as a capable man dealing with a crisis. There are no epiphanies. Souls aren’t searched. For some, this might make for a slightly muted experience. But this painstakingly accurate film (the sets included bits of the Apollo 13 command module; even the actors’ pressure suits were airtight) remains peerless, utterly convincing in every shot and every gesture .

First Man (2018)

As if landing on the moon wasn’t enough, Neil Armstrong spent the rest of his life having to describe the experience to the world’s media. No wonder he became something of a recluse – which of course only served to generate even more media interest.

Armstrong, an aeronautical engineer and university professor, was a man who enjoyed his privacy. Cornered, what could he do but tell the same story again and again and again? Disappointed, their curiosity unslaked, people called him dull.

Two years after hurling a vocally challenged Ryan Gosling into his musical La La Land , Damien Chazelle cast him as Neil Armstrong, in a movie that promised to locate Armstrong’s beating heart and rich emotional life. As such, First Man is a triumph.

Gosling is the film actors’ film actor, capable of expressing deep emotion with astounding economy. Playing “buttoned up” hampers him hardly at all. And he is given plenty to work with. Josh Singer’s ingenious script gives Armstrong a profound and personal motivation for wanting to reach the moon that in no way interferes with the historical record, or trivialises its celebrated subject. As for the moon landing itself, it represents a milestone in cinematic technique. You’ll believe you were there, and you’ll wonder, deeply, why Armstrong, or anyone else for that matter, ever went.

The Right Stuff (1983)

Anchored by powerful performances by Sam Shepard as Chuck Yeager and Ed Harris as John Glenn, Kaufman’s 3-hour-13-minute epic loosely follows Tom Wolfe’s book of the same name: a heart-thumping yet critical account of the earliest US efforts to send humans into space.

What is needed for that is, of course, “the right stuff”: a combination of skill, bravery and a somewhat blood-curdling fearlessness in the face of death. They are qualities superbly embodied in Shepard’s performance as test-pilot Chuck Yeager, the first man to break the sound barrier (and, incidentally, a consultant on the film).

Leaving Earth also needed collaboration, organisation, even – heaven help us – publicity. Ed Harris is the squeaky-clean Glenn, destined to be the first American in space, whose “right stuff” has had its rough edges shaved off by endless classes, tests, magazine profiles and media events.

Historically, The Right Stuff isn’t especially accurate. In particular, Mercury astronauts Wally Schirra, Gordon Cooper and Alan Shepard were critical of the way the film short-changed their compatriot Gus Grissom, who died in the Apollo 1 fire.

Still, it is a thoughtful and intelligent movie, as well as a thrilling one, and it captures very well the moment space travel became a serious, and corporate, enterprise.

The Martian (2015)

Premised on a single, staggering inaccuracy (a Martian storm could never get up the energy to blow a spacecraft over) The Martian is an otherwise cleverly figured-out tale of how an astronaut (Mark Watney, played by Matt Damon), left for dead on the surface of Mars, might survive for four years on a diet of potatoes grown in recycled faecal matter .

Based on a book (by Andy Weir) that itself began life as a series of blog posts, Scott’s film retains an endearing, cobbled-together quality, which neatly (and by the end, really quite movingly) reflects Watney’s scrabble for survival.

Boasting habitat, spacesuit, spacecraft and launch vehicle designs that all carried NASA’s stamp of approval, The Martian flits between Watney’s Martian base, the ship in which his crew mates are returning home, and the offices and control rooms on Earth where everybody is frantically trying to do the right thing, as their chances of saving Watney narrow to a point.

An unashamed advertisement for NASA’s plans for Mars, and a celebration of its crewed programme’s rebirth after the Challenger disaster in 1986, The Martian already feels slightly dated. But its invention and good humour are timeless.

Gravity (2013)

When a cloud of debris travelling faster than a speeding bullet collides with the space shuttle, mission specialist Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock) and veteran astronaut Matt Kowalski (George Clooney) must make their way across gulfs of space on dwindling supplies of air and propellant in search of a vehicle that will take them home; soon the debris cloud will return on its inexorable orbit.

As likely to scare someone off a space career as inspire them to pursue one, Gravity is premised on the idea that low Earth orbit is so crowded with hardware and discarded junk that a collision could initiate a chain reaction known as the Kessler syndrome, and destroy every satellite.

For all that, Gravity is less a science fiction film than a survival film (think Open Water or Touching the Void , both from 2003), and is the last place you would go for a lesson in orbital mechanics. While not quite as egregiously silly as 2019’s Ad Astra (in which Brad Pitt literally leaps through Saturn’s ice rings, using a hatch-cover for an umbrella) Gravity is no 2001 , no Apollo 13 , no First Man .

But while accuracy is one thing; truth is quite another. With Gravity , director Cuarón triumphantly realised his ambition to make the first truly weightless-seeming film, conveying the environment and sensation of zero gravity more powerfully, immediately (and, yes, accurately) than any film-maker, before or since.

October Sky (1999)

NASA engineer Homer H. Hickam Jr.’s autobiography provided the seed for this drama about a teenager coming of age at the dawn of the space race. A 17-year-old Jake Gyllenhaal (he was still taking school classes during the filming) plays Homer, a high school student in Coalwood, West Virginia, when, in 1957, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik, the first human-made satellite.

Inspired by the Soviet achievement, and encouraged by his teacher (Laura Dern), Homer and his fellow “rocket boys” start building their own homemade missiles. Chris Cooper finds gold in the somewhat thankless role of Homer’s father, conscientiously pouring cold water on his son’s dreams: what’s wrong with working in the local coal mine, he’d like to know?

Director Joe Johnston is better known for his rather more gung-ho approaches to heroism and rocket flight. (1991’s Rocketeer is a cult classic; Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) needs no introduction here.)

October Sky is an altogether more contained achievement: the touching story of imagination awakened by the possibilities of rocketry, space travel, and a world beyond Earth.

What do you think of this list? Think there are better space movies out there that deserve a coveted spot? We have review lots of sci-fi films, books and TV shows  but we can’t watch them all so let us know your favourite on  Twitter  and  Facebook . If you enjoyed this you might also want to see what we think are the  best science documentaries ,  top popular science books  and even  video games set on Mars .

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The Best Time Travel Movies for a Brief Escape from 2023

We don't have time machines yet, so these films are the next best thing.

Every item on this page was chosen by an ELLE editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.

What would you do with the power to travel through time? Human beings can't stop dreaming about what we'd do if we could change the past, tell the future , and influence our current reality. Luckily, the following cinematic masterpieces have done all the thinking for us. These movies showcase the challenges, pitfalls, and miracles that come with using time travel to change the course of history—if it was possible.

Add these titles to your watch list to awaken the time traveler within you. From Japanese animations to over-the-top comedies to dramas saturated with social commentary, these films all have one thing in common: They'll boggle your mind and make you think, while keeping you entertained. But remember, no matter how cool it looks to fly in a time-traveling spaceship, the present moment is and always will be the most important time there is.

13 Going on 30 (2004)

Before anyone tries to suggest that 13 Going on 30 isn't a time travel movie, I'd like to point out that Jenna Rink seamlessly moves between the present and the future, navigating alternate timelines with ease. In this female-led riff on the Big story, Jenna Rink wishes to escape high school and become “thirty, flirty, and thriving.” With the help of a little magic wishing dust, Jenna gets her dream, waking up in the future as a successful magazine writer who looks just like Jennifer Garner. However, she's lost touch with her childhood bestie Matty (Mark Ruffalo), and she can't help but wonder what could have been.

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Tenet (2020)

Christopher Nolan's epic sci-fi flick stars Denzel Washington's son, John David Washington, as The Protagonist, a former CIA agent enlisted with stopping World War III, which is no mean feat. In order to prevent the world's total destruction, The Protagonist learns to bend time, leading to some pretty trippy storylines. Robert Pattinson and The Crown 's Elizabeth Debicki co-star.

Meet Cute (2022)

Kaley Cuoco and Pete Davidson make a delightful couple in Peacock's deliciously dark romantic comedy Meet Cute . Cuoco plays Sheila, a woman having suicidal thoughts until she discovers a time machine in the back of a nail salon. Chronically unlucky in love, Sheila decides to go back in time 24 hours so that she can re-live her first date with Gary (Davidson), trying to create the perfect evening each time. However, the ability to time travel comes with some drawbacks, and the temptation to mess with history is pretty overbearing, especially in the search for true love.

About Time (2013)

Richard Curtis' About Time employs time travel in an extremely inventive way to tell a (probably sweet) love story; though there's been much discourse around the story's portrayal of consent, or lack thereof. The movie follows Tim (Domhnall Gleeson), a man looking for love, who inherits the ability to travel through time from his father. Using his newfound gift, Tim courts Mary (Rachel McAdams), attempting to build a relationship in spite of any obstacles in the way.

Safety Not Guaranteed (2012)

Aubrey Plaza and Mark Duplass star in this intriguing indie film about the possibility of time travel. Plaza plays an aspiring journalist who takes on a very strange assignment involving a bizarre personal ad. “You'll get paid after we get back,” it reads. “Must bring your own weapons. I have only done this once before. SAFETY NOT GUARANTEED.” What starts as an unlikely hoax soon challenges everyone's beliefs about the ability to travel through time.

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Happy Death Day 2U (2019)

2017's Happy Death Day delighted fans with its innovative twist on the time loop comedy. 2019's Happy Death Day 2U takes the concept to another level, and will have time travel aficionados screaming. Having escaped from her original time loop, Tree (Jessica Rothe) finds herself being hunted by the Babyface killer once more. After one of Tree's classmates develops an experimental quantum reactor, Tree finds herself caught in a brand new loop, and she's forced to find even more inventive ways to escape.

Needle in a Timestack (2021)

Needle in a Timestack is a romantic drama presenting an alternate future in which the rich are able to time travel for fun. However, these “time jaunts” have very real consequences, and often send ripples through the lives of the less wealthy. The film focuses on a happily married couple whose relationship is threatened when a wealthy ex decides to tamper with the timeline. The all-star cast includes Cynthia Erivo, Orlando Bloom, Leslie Odom Jr., and Freida Pinto.

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Kate & Leopold (2001)

Kate & Leopold stars Hugh Jackman as a 19th century duke who is accidentally transported to 21st century New York by one of his ancestors. Amateur physicist Stuart discovers that he can use gravitational time portals, bringing Leopold to the present day without meaning to. Stuart's ex-girlfriend Kate (Meg Ryan) hilariously hits it off with Leopold, despite the fact that he's set to travel back to his own time period the following week.

Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)

Before dedicating his life to the Avatar franchise , James Cameron was responsible for a plethora of fun blockbusters, including Terminator 2: Judgment Day . Expanding upon the first film, Sarah Connor, played by Linda Hamilton, finds herself targeted by Skynet once again. This time, a killer T-1000 Terminator is sent back in time to assassinate Sarah's teenage son, John (Edward Furlong), the future leader of the resistance. Meanwhile, a reprogrammed, and much funnier, T-800 Terminator (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is sent back to protect Connor. Easily the best installment in the franchise.

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Mirai (2018)

The Japanese animated film Mirai is a dreamy adventure fantasy about a four-year-old boy named Kun, who starts feeling neglected when his little sister is born. Fleeing to the garden of his new house, Kun accidentally discovers a time travel portal. Throughout his wondrous journey, Kun encounters his mother as a child, and his little sister as an adult, learning so much about his family in the process.

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When We First Met (2018)

Noah (Adam DeVine) regrets missing his chance with Avery (Alexandra Daddario), especially when she meets her future fiancé, Ethan, the very next day. At Avery and Ethan's engagement party, an incredibly drunk Noah ends up in a photo booth, which transports him back in time. Hoping for a second chance, Noah uses the photo booth on multiple occasions, but he ends up altering the course of everyone's lives in the process, for better and worse.

Last Night in Soho (2021)

Edgar Wright's dazzling psychological thriller follows aspiring fashion designer Ellie (Thomasin McKenzie), who manages to time travel back to the 1960s. There, she meets Sandie, a striking woman trying to get her start as a singer. Ellie's fashion designs become infused with the glamour she witnesses in the '60s, as well as the darkness she finds there. Anya Taylor-Joy and Matt Smith co-star.

The Lake House (2006)

After demonstrating some intense chemistry in Speed , Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves reunited for 2006's The Lake House , a romantic drama with a time travel twist. Architect Alex (Reeves) and doctor Kate (Bullock) find themselves living in the same house, but years apart. By some magical turn of events, they're able to communicate by writing letters to one another via the Lake House's mailbox. Despite the distance between them, Alex and Kate strike up a romance thanks to their time traveling letters.

Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989)

A list of the best time travel movies wouldn't be complete with at least one of the Bill & Ted movies on it. 1989's Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure is responsible for launching Keanu Reeves's career, and it remains one of the most enjoyable films from the era. In the first movie, Bill (Alex Winter) and Ted (Keanu Reeves) are failing history, until they magically discover a phone booth that just so happens to be a time machine. The academically-challenged pair meet some of history's most important figures, who they enlist to help with their dreaded school assignment.

Groundhog Day (1993)

Groundhog Day may belong in the "time loop" sub-genre of time travel movies, but it most definitely deserves a place on this list. Bill Murray's performance as disgruntled weatherman Phil is literally iconic, and the fun begins when he's set to Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania for the annual Groundhog Day event. Unfortunately for Phil, his worst nightmare is realized when he wakes up the next morning to find that he must relive February 2 again. The hilarious time loop is made even better by Murray's co-star, Andie MacDowell.

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Back To The Future (1985)

This classic sets the scene for all time-travel movies that came after it. When 17-year-old high school student Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) hops into in a time-traveling car invented by his scientist friend Doc (Christopher Lloyd), he is accidentally sent 30 years into the past. From the moment he lands in 1955, Marty just wants to get back to the future. So, he embarks on a hysterical adventure to ensure his teenage parents-to-be meet and fall in love so that he can get back to life as he knows it. There are two sequels to the film, Back to the Future Part II and Back to the Future Part III , all of which deserve their own plaque in the time travel movie hall of fame too.

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Avengers: End Game (2019)

The dramatic finale to The Infinity Saga (comprised of 23 movies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe), Avengers: Endgame pulls out all the stops. This epic showdown between the Avengers and Thanos uses newly discovered time travel technology to give the Earth's Mightiest Heroes a chance to win another battle. When Ant-Man (Paul Rudd) devises a time-bending strategy to gather all the Infinity stones, he enlists the help of Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) to build a special device to time-jump. But with his new priorities as a family man, Tony is wary of altering history in any major way. So, instead of going back in time, they decide to bring back their fallen friends into their current timeline, five years later. Once reunited, the Avengers assemble to restore balance to the universe.

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Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022)

This surreal A24 sci-fi flick is a brilliant take on the multiverse. Teeming with enchanting visuals, the action film features a Chinese-American woman named Evelyn (Michelle Yeoh) who co-owns a little laundromat with her husband Waymond (Ke Huy Quan). She feels trapped in an unfulfilling marriage and is struggling to make ends meet. However, when she accidentally discovers the multiverse, she is granted an opportunity to reach her full potential. While a tale of time travel, EEAAO is ultimately a story of self discovery. Directors Daniel Scheinert and Daniel Kwan (collectively nicknamed “The Daniels”) are the minds behind this epic inter-dimensional adventure, which brings to light the powers hidden within every individual. You may want to consider the advice of one viewer who said, “Don’t do drugs, watch this instead.”

See You Yesterday (2019)

An amalgamation of time travel fantasy, political critique, and powerful family ties, See You Yesterday is a movie you don't want to miss. Produced by Spike Lee and directed by Stefon Bristol, who was taken under Professor Lee's wing while attending NYU's graduate film program, the story features two prestigious teenagers who spend all their spare time working on scientific inventions that eventually lead them to develop time travel technology. When her brother is caught in a fatal encounter with the police, Claudette “CJ” Walker (Eden Duncan-Smith) builds two time machines that can help her and her friend Sebastian (Danté Crichlow) change the series of events that lead to CJ’s brother getting killed. But their experience leads them to time travel's greatest truth: All actions have a ripple effect that can change the present moment in unseen ways. The film critically engages with police brutality and was made by a team of creators of predominantly African descent to bring you this time-travel adventure that will leave you entertained, engaged, and inspired.

Hot Tub Time Machine (2010)

Hot tubs have a good reputation for their steamy bubbles and even steamier memories. But what if they also doubled as time travel devices? This hilarious guilty-pleasure comedy features three pals who are caught in a rut in their adulthood, from being freshly dumped by a girlfriend, to being stuck in a dead-end job, to drinking away the sorrows of having accomplished absolutely nothing by the age of 40. Needless to say, these friends could all use a life upgrade. Luckily, when they venture into a magic hot tub at a winter resort, they accidentally travel back to 1986 and are given a second chance at life. Their tumultuous journey through the past leads them to be more conscious about the future. Plus, they have the opportunity to do a few things differently. When the hot tub teleports them back into the present day, each of them is better than they left off. Most hot tubs leave you feeling refreshed and rejuvenated, but this one took it to a whole other level.

Amy Mackelden is a freelance writer, editor, and disability activist. Her bylines include Harper's BAZAAR, Nicki Swift, Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, ELLE, The Independent, Bustle, Healthline, and HelloGiggles. She co-edited The Emma Press Anthology of Illness , and previously spent all of her money on Kylie Cosmetics.

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The best space documentaries to watch in 2021

The best space documentaries let you travel to the furthest reaches of the universe without ever leaving your sofa. Discover the wonders of the cosmos with these mind-blowing films

Are you the kind of person who has always dreamed of going to space? Or maybe you just want to learn more about the wonders of the universe? Either way, we have a selection of interstellar space documentaries just for you. 

Watching sci-fi movies and TV shows based in and around space can be fun, but what if you crave something more realistic? Something that educates as well as entertains? Enter space documentaries. 

Space documentaries are movies or miniseries based on true stories and discoveries made in space. Sometimes these films examine the deepest mysteries of the cosmos revealed through science, while others focus on famous missions to space, like the Apollo missions.

Whatever your interests are - black holes, mars missions, moon landings, planetary orbits, the search for extraterrestrial life - there’s a documentary for you. But with so many options available, you may wonder where to start. 

Worry not, as we’ve compiled a list of the 8 best space documentaries you can enjoy watching in 2021.

• Release date : 2019
• Watch it on Hulu and Amazon Prime Video  

If you’re a fan of watching archival footage of man's journey into space, then Apollo 11 is a great place to start. This award-winning documentary features original recordings and photographs of the astronauts and the NASA team behind the Apollo mission. 

There’s no narrator, no interviews, no external commentary - you get to hear the story straight from Buzz Aldrin, Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, and the dozens of experts who made the mission possible. 

Journey to the Edge of the Universe

• Release date : 2008
• Watch it on DVD and Amazon Prime Video  

Journey to the Edge of the Universe is a classic Nat Geo documentary narrated by Alec Baldwin (for the US Version) and Sean Pertwee (for the British version). You can enjoy a simulated journey into the cosmos created by building on images taken from the Hubble telescope. It offers a vivid, breath-taking glimpse of what the universe out there looks like.

Black Holes: The Edge Of All We Know

• Release date : 2020
• Watch it on Netflix and Amazon Prime Video

Looking to understand the mysteries of black holes? Watch this latest documentary, released just last year. Scientists saw the first-ever picture of a black hole in 2019, and it woke a voracious curiosity amongst the public curious to finally know what black holes looks like, how the images were captured, and what it means for our advancement in space exploration. 

To satiate that curiosity, this documentary explores the black hole paradox, following the narrative of two teams deeply involved in studying black holes. It’s packed full of information and philosophical musings to keep you thinking long after the video ends. 

IMAX: Hubble

• Release date : 2010
• Watch it on Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV

Interested in spacewalks and observing how astronauts navigate in space? Watch this IMAX documentary narrated by an Oscar-winning actor. Fans of spacewalks and Leonardo DiCaprio will thoroughly enjoy this short yet informative documentary following the efforts of seven astronauts aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis as they attempt to repair the Hubble Space Telescope. 

Narrated by DiCaprio, it’s an engaging masterpiece highlighting the importance of the Hubble telescope, how it’s maintained, and the efforts that go into working - and 'walking' - in space. 

A Beautiful Planet

• Release date : 2016
• Watch it on Hulu or buy it on Blu-Ray

There are dozens of documentaries featuring other planets. But what if you want to watch something closer to home (literally)? Enter 'A Beautiful Planet'.

It’s a visual treat featuring stunning views of our planet as seen from the International Space Station. Add Jennifer Lawrence’s narration and an engrossing soundtrack to the mix, and you have a breathtaking experience to remember for years to come. The best part? The documentary goes beyond just pretty pictures and shows the daily life of astronauts in the ISS and offers a closer look at the effects of global warming. 

The Last Man on the Moon

• Release date : 2014
• Watch it on Amazon Prime Video

Keen to learn more about the world of astronauts beyond their discoveries? Then you’ll love this biography-style documentary. 

With rare archive material and eye-catching visual effects, this fascinating film explores the iconic history of Apollo astronaut Eugene Cernan, who is currently the last man to have walked on the moon. 

You can enjoy a deeper dive into Cernan’s life including his time in the space program, his missions, and his rare experience as an astronaut. 

In the Shadow of the Moon

• Release date : 2007

Say you’ve watched all the Apollo space mission documentaries, but you still want more. Then consider this multiple award-winning documentary, featuring real interviews with all surviving Apollo team members who were a part of space missions from 1968 to 1972.

To make things more interesting, like other Apollo documentaries, it also features archival footage to offer a closer look into the life of astronauts and their famous missions. 

The Farthest - Voyager in Space

• Release date : 2017
• Watch it on Amazon Prime Video and Google Play

Interested in learning more about NASA’s Voyager mission? Watch PBS’s The Farthest - Voyager in Space which chronicles the journey of Voyager 1 and Voyager 2.  

This is another award-winning documentary offering a deeper dive into one of the most ambitious space missions undertaken by NASA in the US. You get to hear the story of Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 through real accounts straight from the experts who worked on these missions. The documentary also features old footage and images so you can experience what it was like to be a part of such huge space operations. 

Join our Space Forums to keep talking space on the latest missions, night sky and more! And if you have a news tip, correction or comment, let us know at: [email protected].

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Sakshi Udavant is a freelance journalist with a degree in psychology.  She is an SEO/marketing writer working with both B2B and B2C brands. She covers mental health, relationships, business, finance, technology, and other topics.  She’s worked with a wide range of top-tier brands like PayPal, Mozilla, Business Insider, Digital Trends, Apartment Therapy, BigThink, The Balance, Chicago Tribune, and more.

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This Dizzying Body Horror Movie Captures the True Essence of Lovecraftian Horror

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H.P. Lovecraft' s terrifying tales of madness, ancient deities, and cosmic horror have fascinated readers worldwide for over a century. Lovecraft's profound impact on the horror genre is undeniable , as his unique blend of psychological fear and unsettling explorations of identity loss and existential insignificance continues to resonate. However, translating Lovecraft's eerie visions to the big screen has always proven to be a daunting challenge for filmmakers . Many adaptations have struggled to capture the essence of his work, often relying on excessive gore and visual extravagance at the expense of the profoundly unsettling atmosphere and existential terror that defines Lovecraft's writing. On the other hand , Suitable Flesh stands as a thrilling and successful attempt to bring Lovecraft's nightmarish universe to life. This film expertly delves into the fundamental aspects of Lovecraftian horro r, encompassing themes of physical and psychological terror, along with a sense of cosmic unease that is chillingly precise.

Adapting Lovecraft For the Screen Has Never Been Easy

Adapting Lovecraft's narratives into visual representations poses a significant challenge, particularly in capturing the essence of "cosmic horror." Lovecraft's stories revolve around unfathomable dread and incomprehensible powers that have the potential to drive individuals to madness simply through contact. Portraying this terror onscreen is inherently difficult due to its frequently unseen and enigmatic nature, which exists beyond human comprehension. There have been successful adaptations of Lovecraft’s stories. Films like The Color Out of Space have succeeded by focusing on creating atmosphere and psychological tension rather than revealing monsters. On the other hand, movies like Re-Animator emphasize grotesque horror, sometimes missing the more subtle sense of dread characteristic of Lovecraft's stories. Suitable Flesh balances these approaches by centering its horror on a more personal and insidious threat — an ancient, evil force that manipulates identity and reality. The film excels in portraying the indescribable horror that Lovecraft often hinted at but rarely showed.

Suitable Flesh is a captivating film adaptation of Lovecraft’s unsettling short story, "The Thing on the Doorstep." In the original tale, a character’s body is hijacked by an ancient being, erasing their identity and replacing it with something monstrous. Suitable Flesh takes the concept and modernizes it, telling the story of psychiatrist Dr. Elizabeth Derby ( Heather Graham ), who boldly confronts an evil force capable of swapping minds and bodies. The movie masterfully portrays the unsettling concept of body-swapping, thoroughly delving into the resulting identity crisis and effectively mirroring Lovecraft's fears of losing one’s mind or body to an insidious, invisible force.

Heather Graham Gives a Terrific Performance in 'Suitable Flesh'

Heather Graham's performance plays a huge role in the film's success. She anchors the film, giving it emotional weight while embracing the psychological and body horror at the story's heart . Graham adeptly navigates the characters' story arc, portraying Elizabeth Derby's initial confidence and professionalism and then seamlessly shifting the character's persona to a vulnerable and compromised state as the evil forces take control of her life. Graham truly shines in the gradual unraveling of her character, blending fear, confusion, and defiance as her character grapples with the horrifying truth that she may never be herself again. Her portrayal captures the horror of the unknown and humanizes it , making her performance fit right into a Lovecraft adaptation.

'Suitable Flesh's Joe Lynch Cast Barbara Crampton at the Last Minute

Crampton initially joined the project strictly as a producer.

Along with Graham, actor Judah Lewis , who portrays Asa Waite, the antagonist of this story, also delivers an outstanding performance. His seamless transition between Asa's innocence and the sinister presence of the ancient entity adds complexity to the story. In his portrayal of the entity, Lewis skillfully shifts his body language and tone of voice, creating a stark contrast between the terrified boy and the ancient force that controls him. His remarkable skill at conveying vulnerability and threat in the same role significantly heightens the film’s psychological tension and deepens the story's horror , ultimately enriching its Lovecraftian themes.

'Suitable Flesh' Is a Claustrophobic Descent into Madness and Terror

While the performances of the film do great work to ground the film, it's the visual style and direction that take this adaptation to the next level . The movie skillfully uses atmosphere, lighting, set design, and camera techniques to create a palpable dread. The film builds its horror through a mesmerizing and unsettling environment that subtly distorts reality instead of relying on explicit violence and monsters. As Dr. Elizabeth Derby loses control over her mind and body, the lighting dims, and deep shadows encroach, conveying her increasing disorientation and the audience's fear of the unknown, a key characteristic of Lovecraftian horror.

The movie's meticulously designed and suffocatingly small sets are crucial in creating a haunting atmosphere. From the very start, the audience is thrust into a sense of confinement as we meet Elizabeth in the padded room of the psychiatric hospital. As the narrative unfolds, Elizabeth's office and home gradually transform into increasingly oppressive spaces, mirroring her deteriorating mental health. The scenes in Asa’s basement also serve as powerful examples of tight set pieces that intensify a claustrophobic atmosphere . The sensation of being trapped effectively amplifies the protagonist's mounting internal struggles, heightening the overall tension of the film.

The camera techniques used in Suitable Flesh play a significant role in elevating the movie's visual aesthetics. Through disorienting angles and unconventional compositions, the film effectively mirrors the fractured mental state of its protagonist as the narrative unfolds. The deliberate tilting of the camera, coupled with the out-of-focus, overlaid, and shaky shots, contributes to the unnerving perspective, effectively portraying Elizabeth's increasing mental and physical instability. These camera techniques help elevate the scenes depicting the characters' body transfer, effectively communicating cognitive, visual, and physical uneasiness to the audience.

In an era where mainstream interpretations often water down Lovecraftian horror, Suitable Flesh is a film that truly captures the essence of Lovecraft’s original stories. Through its chilling atmosphere, unsettling body horror, and outstanding performances, the film effectively conveys the indescribable terror of Lovecraft's tales onto the screen . By focusing on the decay of self and humanity's insignificance in the presence of ancient, incomprehensible forces, Suitable Flesh not only respects its source material but also enhances it, demonstrating that Lovecraftian horror can thrive in visual media when treated with care, subtlety, and creativity. It’s a must-see for genre fans and a powerful reminder of why Lovecraft’s work continues to influence horror.

Suitable Flesh

Suitable Flesh is available to stream on Hulu in the U.S.

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Peter pan's neverland nightmare release window confirmed by director & producer of twisted childhood universe.

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Every Upcoming Movie In The Winnie-The-Pooh Horror Crossover Universe

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After two years of keeping audiences waiting for the horror twist on J.M. Barrie's classic character, Scott Jeffrey has confirmed the Peter Pan's Neverland Nightmare release window. The upcoming movie marks the third installment in the interconnected Twisted Childhood Universe that began with Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey and its 2022 sequel. Neverland Nightmare 's cast is led by Megan Placito as Wendy Darling, whose brother is kidnapped by the malevolent Peter Pan and his associate Tinker Bell, a murderous pair who promise to take children to Neverland, where they'll never age.

Just shy of a month after the first trailer was released for the film, Jeffrey was asked about Peter Pan's Neverland Nightmare 's release date during a recent Q&A on Instagram. Responding to a fan's question about rumors of a Halloween 2024 release date for the film, the writer/director/producer debunked these reports while confirming that the movie will hit theaters sometime in early 2025 , though was tight-lipped about a more specific window or date for when it will release. Check out Jeffrey's post below:

What This Means For Peter Pan's Neverland Nightmare Release

The tcu is looking for a box office threepeat.

Though it's unclear why the movie has yet to land an exact release date, the more likely reason is that Peter Pan's Neverland Nightmare seemingly has not yet secured a distributor . With Blood & Honey 's Rhys Frake-Waterfield and Jeffrey holding on to the rights to the franchise, the first two movies were released by Altitude Film Distribution, and given the success the Winnie-the-Pooh movies enjoyed at the box office, it's possible they'll stick with the same company for releasing their twist on Peter Pan .

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The biggest thing for Jeffrey and co. now becomes determining the best possible release date for Peter Pan's Neverland Nightmare . Both Winnie-the-Pooh installments were released in March of their respective years in the U.S., and while the domestic haul may have been the lower of the international numbers, they've still ultimately contributed to the movies making their budgets back at the box office. Check out how both Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey movies compared at the domestic and international box offices in the chart below:

In looking ahead to March 2025, it does seem a risky move for Peter Pan's Neverland Nightmare to follow in its TCU predecessors' footsteps considering the major releases coming out then. The month will kick off with Ryan Coogler's vampire horror film Sinners , and while the following week will have more modest releases before the debut of the Rachel Zegler-led Snow White live-action remake, the fact that the TCU has so far enjoyed more limited releases means going up against a stacked weekend will be risky for Neverland Nightmare .

Our Take On Peter Pan's Neverland Nightmare Release Window

The movie should aim for a wider release to capitalize on the tcu's past success.

While the month of March seems like both a risky move and prime real estate for the next TCU venture to debut, I think Peter Pan's Neverland Nightmare should still look to release that month in 2025, but should do so if it made plans for a wider release. A limited release rollout is certainly good for ensuring that producers and studios don't have to split too much money between theaters and marketing firms to promote the releases, but with something that has the viral backing of the TCU, it may be time for Jeffrey and co. to experiment with wider releases.

Source: Scott Jeffrey /Instagram

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Peter Pan's Neverland Nightmare

Peter Pan's Neverland Nightmare is a fantasy-horror film from the team at Jagged Edge Productions, the same group behind other horror parody films such as Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey. The film is a terrifying retelling of the original tale penned by J.M. Barrie in 1911.