Space movies capture our imagination by transporting us beyond the boundaries of Earth to the uncharted realms of the universe. Whether it’s through epic space travel, touching survival stories, encounters with aliens and other extraterrestrial beings, or depictions of the first human landing on the Moon, these movies make us ponder the mysteries of the cosmos and marvel at the endless possibilities that lie beyond our planet.
So, what is the best space movie made until 2024? For those wondering what to watch as a space movie, we have compiled a list of the best space movies, including both classic and recent award-winning titles.
The history of space movies stretches back quite a long way. The 1902 movie A Trip to the Moon, inspired by Jules Verne’s 1865 novel From the Earth to the Moon, is the oldest known space movie. From there, the genre has expanded dramatically, with iconic series like Star Wars shaping its evolution. Here are 10 space movies you should definitely watch 👇🏻
1.Star Wars
When discussing real space movies, we must start with the 1977 movie Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope. This landmark movie not only marks the beginning of an iconic series but also captivates the imagination with its blend of science fiction, fantasy, and Western elements. The movie follows Luke Skywalker as he joins a mission to rescue Princess Leia from the oppressive Empire and begins to explore the mysteries of the Force. Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope set the stage for numerous space movies, inspired countless Lego sets, special costumes, and even led to the creation of Star Wars Day with the famous phrase “May the Force be with you.” For its immense cultural significance, this legendary space movie is a must-see.
Information about Star Wars: A New Hope (1977)
- Director: George Lucas
- Cast: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Alec Guinness
- Release Year: 1977
- Duration: 121 minutes
- Country: United States
- Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
- Language: English
- Age Rating: PG
- Available Platforms: Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV
- IMDb Rating: 8.6/10
- Similar Movies: The Empire Strikes Back (1980), The Mandalorian (2019), Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
- Trailer: YouTube Trailer
- IMDb Link: Star Wars on IMDb
2.Rogue One
Among all the sequels, prequels, and spin-offs from the original Star Wars trilogy, Rogue One stands out as particularly unique. Released in 2016, nearly 40 years after the beginning of the series, this space movie explores the events leading up to A New Hope. Unlike its predecessors, Rogue One leans more towards war than traditional science fiction, featuring a diverse team of rebels and robots on a daring mission to save the galaxy. With its compelling blend of action and drama, Rogue One is a standout addition to the Star Wars universe.
Information about Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)
- Director: Gareth Edwards
- Cast: Felicity Jones, Diego Luna, Alan Tudyk, Ben Mendelsohn
- Release Year: 2016
- Duration: 133 minutes
- Country: United States
- Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
- Language: English
- Age Rating: PG-13
- Available Platforms: Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV
- IMDb Rating: 7.8/10
- Similar Movies: Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018), The Mandalorian (2019), The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
- Trailer: YouTube Trailer
- IMDb Link: Rogue One on IMDb
3.Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
Following A New Hope, Star Trek‘s first theatrical movie in 1979 received a lukewarm response from critics. However, the second movie, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, released in 1982, achieved remarkable success and broke box office records. In this thrilling space movie, the characters appear a bit older and wiser. The story, a sequel to the 1967 episode ‘Space Seed’, follows Admiral Kirk and his crew as they attempt to stop their old nemesis, Khan, from using the Genesis Device as the ultimate weapon. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan is highly recommended for fans of space science fiction.
Information about Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982)
- Director: Nicholas Meyer
- Cast: William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, Ricardo Montalban
- Release Year: 1982
- Duration: 113 minutes
- Country: United States
- Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
- Language: English
- Age Rating: PG
- Available Platforms: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies
- IMDb Rating: 7.7/10
- Similar Movies: Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979), Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991), Star Trek: First Contact (1996)
- Trailer: YouTube Trailer
- IMDb Link: Star Trek II on IMDb
4.Apollo 13
Apollo 13 is one of the best space travel movies you must watch. This Hollywood drama movie portrays the events of the Apollo 13 moon mission. Astronauts Jim Lovell, Fred Haise, and Jack Swigert have exited Earth’s orbit, and everything initially goes according to plan. However, the planned moon landing is abruptly canceled when an oxygen tank explodes. The ensuing tensions among the crew and numerous technical issues threaten both their survival and safe return to Earth. As the spacecraft suffers significant internal damage, NASA faces the urgent challenge of devising a strategy to bring Apollo 13 and its crew safely back to Earth.
Information about Apollo 13 (1995)
- Director: Ron Howard
- Cast: Tom Hanks, Bill Paxton, Kevin Bacon, Gary Sinise
- Release Year: 1995
- Duration: 140 minutes
- Country: United States
- Genre: Adventure, Drama, History
- Language: English
- Age Rating: PG
- Available Platforms: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies
- IMDb Rating: 7.7/10
- Similar Movies: The Martian (2015), Gravity (2013), Hidden Figures (2016)
- Trailer: YouTube Trailer
- IMDb Link: Apollo 13 on IMDb
5.First Man
Released in 2018, First Man follows a young Neil Armstrong as he grapples with personal tragedy and professional turmoil in the lead-up to Apollo 11. The movie is based on Armstrong’s biography of the same name, with minimal historical deviations. The uniqueness of First Man lies not only in its portrayal of the space mission, depicting a man on the Moon, but also in its exploration of the sociopolitical conditions of the era, the developments in the Gemini and Apollo programs, and Armstrong’s life and motivations.
Information about First Man (2018)
- Director: Damien Chazelle
- Cast: Ryan Gosling, Claire Foy, Jason Clarke, Kyle Chandler
- Release Year: 2018
- Duration: 141 minutes
- Country: United States
- Genre: Biography, Drama, History
- Language: English
- Age Rating: PG-13
- Available Platforms: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies
- IMDb Rating: 7.3/10
- Similar Movies: Apollo 13 (1995), The Right Stuff (1983), Hidden Figures (2016)
- Trailer: YouTube Trailer
- IMDb Link: First Man on IMDb
6.Gravity
Starring Sandra Bullock and George Clooney, Gravity chronicles the struggle of two astronauts to survive after their spaceship is damaged during a mission in space. Ryan Stone (S. Bullock), a first-time astronaut, is determined to return to Earth in one piece. Director Alfonso Cuarón aimed not to create traditional science fiction, but to craft a drama about a woman in space. Many scientific aspects of the movie, including the simplified orbital mechanics and the distances between orbiting space stations, are unrealistic. However, the movie’s purpose is not to educate, but to tell a survival story that explores the effects of shock and tragedy on the human mind in a perilous environment. Gravity is highly recommended for those seeking the best space movies.
Information about Gravity (2013)
- Director: Alfonso Cuarón
- Cast: Sandra Bullock, George Clooney, Ed Harris
- Release Year: 2013
- Duration: 91 minutes
- Country: United States
- Genre: Drama, Sci-Fi, Thriller
- Language: English
- Age Rating: PG-13
- Available Platforms: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies
- IMDb Rating: 7.7/10
- Similar Movies: Interstellar (2014), The Martian (2015), Moon (2009)
- Trailer: YouTube Trailer
- IMDb Link: Gravity on IMDb
7.Proxima
Proxima, a 2019 French space-related movie, follows an astronaut who grapples with maintaining a relationship with his teenage daughter as he prepares for the most perilous mission of his life. Much of the movie depicts the characters training on Earth in preparation for liftoff and their emotional farewells. This space movie highlights the contrast between the grandeur of space exploration and the personal sacrifices involved, a theme that is often mentioned but rarely deeply explored within the genre.
Information about Proxima (2019)
- Director: Alice Winocour
- Cast: Eva Green, Zélie Boulant, Matt Dillon, Aleksey Fateev
- Release Year: 2019
- Duration: 107 minutes
- Country: France, Germany
- Genre: Drama
- Language: French, English, Russian
- Age Rating: Not Rated
- Available Platforms: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies
- IMDb Rating: 6.4/10
- Similar Movies: First Man (2018), The Astronaut’s Wife (1999), Ad Astra (2019)
- Trailer: YouTube Trailer
- IMDb Link: Proxima on IMDb
8.Armageddon
This space movie presents an alternate scenario where action is taken to avert an impending apocalypse, a plot central to the 1998 movie Armageddon. An asteroid the size of Texas is predicted to collide with Earth in less than three weeks, and it’s up to Bruce Willis’ team to prevent this catastrophe. Featuring numerous explosions, a compelling love story, and a memorable song by Diane Warren and Aerosmith, Armageddon is a quintessential ’90s space classic directed by Michael Bay.
Information about Armageddon (1998)
- Director: Michael Bay
- Cast: Bruce Willis, Billy Bob Thornton, Ben Affleck, Liv Tyler
- Release Year: 1998
- Duration: 151 minutes
- Country: United States
- Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
- Language: English
- Age Rating: PG-13
- Available Platforms: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies
- IMDb Rating: 6.7/10
- Similar Movies: Deep Impact (1998), 2012 (2009), The Core (2003)
- Trailer: YouTube Trailer
- IMDb Link: Armageddon on IMDb
9.Arrival
The 2016 movie Arrival is a space-related movie that presents a fresh take on an apocalyptic scenario where aliens have landed on Earth. The story follows a linguistics professor who is tasked with deciphering the enigmatic language of the visiting aliens under the command of the US military. However, Arrival is not your typical alien movie. The aliens arrive in floating egg-shaped spaceships and are unaware of how they got there. The movie, which also explores how different governments handle the situation, delves into the aliens’ message and captivates the audience with its innovative treatment of time and even love.
Information about Arrival (2016)
- Director: Denis Villeneuve
- Cast: Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, Forest Whitaker, Michael Stuhlbarg
- Release Year: 2016
- Duration: 116 minutes
- Country: United States
- Genre: Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi
- Language: English
- Age Rating: PG-13
- Available Platforms: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies
- IMDb Rating: 7.9/10
- Similar Movies: Interstellar (2014), Contact (1997), Annihilation (2018)
- Trailer: YouTube Trailer
- IMDb Link: Arrival on IMDb
10.Prometheus
Another movie about space and aliens is Prometheus (2012), which provides a unique perspective on the role aliens might play in human life. Considered an introduction movie to the Alien franchise, it was directed by Ridley Scott. The movie follows a team of scientists as they search for clues about the origin of life in the depths of space. Their quest leads them to the Engineers, who are believed to have created human life. Utilizing a star map found on Earth, the scientists think they have been invited by these ancient beings. However, they soon discover that the situation is far more complex than they anticipated.
Information about Prometheus (2012)
- Director: Ridley Scott
- Cast: Noomi Rapace, Michael Fassbender, Charlize Theron, Idris Elba
- Release Year: 2012
- Duration: 124 minutes
- Country: United States
- Genre: Adventure, Mystery, Sci-Fi
- Language: English
- Age Rating: R
- Available Platforms: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies
- IMDb Rating: 7.0/10
- Similar Movies: Alien (1979), The Martian (2015), Annihilation (2018)
- Trailer: YouTube Trailer
- IMDb Link: Prometheus on IMDb
Netflix space movies 🪐
We have also listed the best space movies you can watch on Netflix. The platform offers a range of options, including fiction, real-life adaptations, documentaries, and other captivating space-set movies.
- Stowaway (Stowaway)
- The Midnight Sky
- The Wandering Earth
- Oxygen
- Black Holes: The Edge of All We Know
- Orbiter 9 (Orbiter 9)
- Return to Space
- The Mars Generation
- Mercury 13
The best space movies with high IMDB scores 💯
- Interstellar – 8.7
- Arrival – 7.9
- First Man on the Moon – 7.3
- Martian – 8
- Space Travelers – 7
- VOL-i – 8.4
- Oblivion – 7
- Apollo 11 (8.1)
- Creature – 8.5
- ET – 7.9
Filmmakers have been dreaming of space since the inception of cinema. When Georges Méliès envisioned a trip to the Moon, humanity hadn’t even begun to explore the possibilities, and since then, many directors have transported audiences on journeys into the vastness of the universe—to infinity and beyond.
In fact, space is a concept broad enough to explore all sorts of profound questions. What is humanity’s place in the cosmos? What lies beyond our small planet, and do we really want to know what’s out there? This is why space movies continue to thrive as a genre under the broader umbrella of science fiction.
We’ve prepared a list to help those interested in space-themed movies find the best of the genre. From the most acclaimed science fiction space movies of all time to new space and alien movies available on Netflix and other platforms, you can find them here.
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