Top 70 Best Space Movies To Watch

 

In the words of the now-famous Star Trek introduction, I would like to start with the quote ‘Space the final frontier….’ Here is a glimpse into the fascination of mankind and Hollywood, with the universe, outer space, alien life forms, and more.

 

Space truly is the final frontier of travel, discovery, intrigue, learning, and simply the unknown.

 

It will be a lie if I say that I have not dreamt of being an astronaut.

 

That I did not want to travel on a spaceship or maybe even meet friendly alien life forms.

 

But, these are dreams that we all live through Hollywood movies that try to recreate our hopes, aspirations, fears, and predictions.

 

Story writers combine science and creativity in their works with different objectives. They aim to get a semblance of authenticity or create a wildly imaginative world like Avatar, or even horrors and creature features like the Alien series, Predator series, etc.

 

Sometimes in movies, we go out exploring space, and sometimes aliens come over to our planet.

 

Either way, our film industry constantly recreates most of our dreams and imaginations about the universe.

 

In this list of space movies, ENTOIN has attempted to capture all films, which involved space travel, encountering aliens, where mankind lives beyond the confines of our planet.

 

So, you may not find movies that depict earth-bound encounters with aliens, or NASA attempts to launch into space, etc.

 

Although I loved movies like Hidden Figures, E. T. the Extra-terrestrial, Arrival, Moon, Space Station 76. etc.

 

I have only picked movies that involve traveling into space and spending time there. I have also not included famous superhero movies like the Avengers franchise, Guardian of The Galaxy franchise, Justice League franchise, etc.

 

Those movies deserve a list of their own. So, without further delay, let us dive into the list of space movies that Entoin compiled.

 

I will give a short intro about it, and what to expect from it.

 

 

 

1. Gravity

 

 

 

Gravity is the story of the survival of a medical engineer, Dr. Stone, on her maiden space flight.

 

She is a part of a crew of 3 other astronauts who are on a mission to repair the Hubble Space Telescope.

 

They encounter unforeseen difficulties, and the rest of the crew dies one after another. Being the lone survivor, Dr. Stone has to overcome all the odds and find a way back to terra-firma.

 

The film received 10 Academy Award nominations, including best actress and best picture.

 

The film won 7 awards for Best Director, Best Original Score, Best Cinematography, and Best Visual Effects.

 

 

 

2. Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back

 

 

 

Empire Strikes Back is the second part of the Star Wars Trilogy, and arguably, it has the best plot twist of all time.

 

This movie follows three years after the events of A New Hope. In this instalment, Luke Skywalker is training, constantly, with the Jedi Master Yoda to improve his Force and train for his battle with Darth Vader.

 

While Vader is busy chasing down the rebel army across the galaxy. The true gem of the movie is the final battle sequence between Skywalker and Darth Vader, where he reveals that he is the father of Luke.

 

David Denby of New York Magazine described the movie as grand, thrilling, imperiously generous in scale, and also a bit ponderous.

 

 

 

3. Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope

 

 

 

The movie, A New Hope is the first installment of the Star Wars trilogy. It is also the 4th film in the Skywalker Saga.

 

The Star Wars world is set in a fictional universe where both humans and various alien species coexist.

 

They are ruled by the tyrannical Galactic Empire. This film focuses on the journey of Luke Skywalker.

 

He gets caught up in the galactic conflict between the Empire and the Rebellion. This happens after he comes into possession of two droids, R2-D2 and C-3PO.

 

The film was met with overwhelming critical acclaim, and many praised the pure narrative, and amazing special effects.

 

They called it the movie that will entertain several contemporary folks who have a soft spot for the virtually ritualized manners of comic-book adventure.

 

 

 

4. Alien

 

 

 

Nostromo a spaceship returning to Earth after completing its mission encounters a transmission from a nearby moon.

 

Despite a warning from one of the crew members about potential damage to the ship due to the environment of the moon, they land on its surface.

 

Arriving there, they encounter a deadly alien who hunts them one by one.

 

The film is one of the biggest hits from 20th Century Fox and helped create a series of sequels and prequels that are equally successful.

 

It also won several awards for its visual effects, including an Academy Award. Alien has been dubbed one of the greatest films of all time, and it is based on a short story by O Bannon and Ronald Shusett.

 

 

5. WALL·E

 

 

 

WALL-E is an animated Pixar film that tells an endearing story. It also raises pertinent questions about human consumerism, global warming, waste management, etc.

 

In the distant future, man has moved out of the Earth. The planet is overrun with garbage, and all flora and fauna have died.

 

They leave on a spaceship called Axiom, leaving behind a waste-collecting robot (WALL-E). When a budding sapling is discovered, the hope of returning home grows.

 

American Film Institute called WALL-E the best film of 2008, and Time magazine named it the best movie of the decade.

 

It garnered a rating of 95% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes. It was also a commercial hit.

 

 

6. 2001: A Space Odyssey

 

 

 

Arthur C Clarke wrote a series of science fiction novels called the Space Odyssey. This movie was inspired by the first novel in the series.

 

It was path-breaking in its technology, style of cinema, and creativity. The film is well known for its scientific realism, pioneering special effects, and imagery of space.

 

When the movie was released, it was not an instant hit with the audience. Although now, it is listed as among all times greatest films in AFI.

 

Alien technology has created monoliths across the solar system at different points in time. They have acted as a guiding force in some cases too.

 

To investigate a newly discovered monolith, Discovery One set out. The journey and troubles of the crew create the rest of the story.

 

 

7. Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi

 

 

 

Return Of The Jedi is the third film in the Star Wars trilogy. Many directors, including Steven Speilberg, David Lynch, and David Cronenberg, were considered before Marquand was finalized for the job.

 

In the film, Emperor Palpatine is constructing a second Death Star to crush the Rebel Alliance, once and for all.

 

The Rebel Fleet launches a full-scale attack on the Death Star to prevent its completion and kill the Emperor.

 

Meanwhile, Luke Skywalker has become a Jedi Knight, and he is struggling to bring his father, Darth Vader, back to the light side of the Force.

 

It was released and received positive reviews. However many critics opined that it did not live up to the same grandeur and excellence as its predecessors.

 

 

8. The Martian

 

 

 

In this Ridley Scott movie, astronauts are sent to Mars on the Ares III spaceship.

 

After facing a severe dust storm on the surface of Mars, the crew abandon the mission and prepare to return back to Earth.

 

Since the telemetry on the spacesuit of astronaut Mark Watney is damaged, he is presumed dead and left behind.

 

Halfway back home, the team receives information from NASA that he is still alive. The team decides to change their route back to Mars in an attempt to save him.

 

Mark is a botanist so he plans to grow food for himself and tries to stay alive in the harsh environment.

 

The Martian was a huge hit at the box office. Rotten Tomatoes gave the film a 91% fresh rating and stated that it was thrilling and surprisingly funny.

 

The Martian offers a faithful adaptation of the bestselling book that brings out the best in leading man Matt Damon and director Ridley Scott.

 

 

9. Interstellar

 

 

 

Climate change, global warming, and overpopulation have rendered the earth inhospitable. Mankind is in search of a new planet to colonize.

 

They are in search of another globe that matches earth so that it can sustain humanity.

 

The story for this science fiction was co-written by Christopher and Jonathan Nolan. The movie is also directed and produced by him.

 

It was one of the highest-grossing films of 2014 with 5 Academy Award nominations, including a win.

 

NASA is trying a revolutionary new technology that allows astronauts to travel to different galaxies in the same time frame and search for hospitable planets.

 

A group of scientists take up this arduous expedition and race against time to find a home while their family back on earth age at a normal pace while waiting for good news.

 

 

10. Avatar: The Way of Water

 

 

Entity	Detail
Directed By	James Cameron
Written By	James Cameron, Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver
Music By	Simon Franglen
Costume Design By	Bob Buck, Deborah L. Scott
Cinematography By	Russell Carpenter
Release Year	2022
Run Time	192 minutes
Starring	Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver
IMDb	7.6
Rotten Tomatoes	76%
Worldwide Box Office collection	$2,320,250,281

 

Avatar: The Way of Water is a 2022 science fiction film directed by James Cameron and produced by 20th Century Studios. It is the second film in the Avatar franchise. The film brought back the old cast along with CCH Pounder, Edie Falco, Kate Winslet for a new struggle against human colonization. 

 

The film is set more than a decade after the events of the first film and follows Jake Sully and Neytiri as they raise their family on Pandora. However, when a new threat emerges, Jake and Neytiri must rally the Na’vi clans to protect their home. 

 

Avatar: The Way of Water is one of the biggest hits of 2022 and has been praised for its groundbreaking visual effects and its focus on environmental themes. The film was not only a box office success but it was also nominated for multiple Oscars.

 

 

11. Aliens

 

 

 

James Cameron made this critically acclaimed science fiction horror. Ellen Ripley is the only survivor from the ship Nostromo.

 

She has been in stasis for 57 years. When the Weyland-Yutani corp hears her story, they are skeptical.

 

Hence they send back another team to the LV-426 colony to investigate. A traumatized young girl and two aliens are the only survivors on the spaceship.

 

When Sulaco goes to investigate, they find the aliens in cages. From here starts their war against the alien queen, who will not leave any survivors.

 

At first, the film was having teething problems. So, the new executives at 20th Century Fox handed the project to a newbie James Cameron for writing and directing.

 

Cameron made the 4 biggest grossing films of that year.

 

 

12. Star Trek

 

 

 

In 2009, JJ Abrams released the reboot of the original Star Trek series. It included all the original characters.

 

The movie starts off when James T. Kirk was not the captain of his own starship.

 

He was still feuding with Commander Spock over every decision. Accidentally Kirk uncovers a sinister plot by the Romulan, Nero, who has traveled back in time to prevent the destruction of their planet.

 

Nero has kidnapped an aged Spock and uses his advanced technology to jump through time and disrupt the sequence of events.

 

Star Trek was hugely successful. It garnered praise from critics who said Star Trek reignites a classic franchise with action, humor, a strong story, and brilliant visuals.

 

It will please traditional Trekkies and new fans alike.

 

 

13. Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens

 

 

 

The Force Awakens is set 30 years after the Return Of The Jedi. All the main cast, including Han Solo, Princess Leia, Rey, Poe Dameron, Finn, are looking for Luke Skywalker while fighting in the resistance army.

 

This film marks the seventh installment in the nine-part Skywalker Saga. Kylo Ren is the new leader of the first order, and he is the successor of the Galactic Empire.

 

The film was hugely popular among its fans, earning more than $ 2 billion. Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian said that it was “both a narrative progression from the earlier three films and a shrewdly affectionate next-gen reboot”.

 

 

14. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

 

 

 

Rogue One is the first part of the Star Wars anthology series. In the scheme of events of the Star Wars series, Rogue One occurs a week before the events of Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope.

 

A group of rebels band together and steal the plans of the Death Star. The film also details the first victory of the Rebel Alliance against the Empire.

 

It was first referenced in the opening crawl of A New Hope. The film was a huge success earning over $ 1 billion.

 

The critics at Rotten Tomatoes said Rogue One draws deep on Star Wars mythology. At the same time, breaking new narrative and aesthetic ground and suggesting a bright blockbuster future for the franchise.

 

 

15. Avatar

 

 

 

Avatar is the highest-grossing film ever made. It is written, directed, and produced by James Cameron.

 

The film is set in the future when humans are colonizing Pandora, a moon in the Alpha Centauri star system.

 

We plan to mine the valuable mineral unobtainium on Pandora. The expansion of the mining colony threatens the continued existence of a local tribe of Na’vi.

 

The rest of the story is about the moral dilemma of the mining crew to destroy the Na’vi or rebel against the mining corporation.

 

During its theatrical run, the film broke several box office records and became the highest-grossing film at the time.

 

The film was nominated for 9 Academy Awards and won 3 of them. For Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography, and Best Visual Effects.

 

 

16. Serenity

 

 

 

Serenity is the continuation of the TV series ”Firefly” by Joss Whedon. The complete cast of the series is back for the film.

 

It follows the story of the crew of Serenity, a “Firefly-class” spaceship. The captain and first mate are veterans of the Unification War.

 

Their lives of smuggling and cargo-running are interrupted by a psychic passenger who harbors a dangerous secret.

 

The film got positive reviews. One of the critics praised its snappy dialogue and goofy characters.

 

These characters can make this Wild Wild West soap opera in space fun and adventurous.

 

 

17. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan

 

 

 

Wrath Of Khan is the second motion picture in the Star Trek series. It starts the story arc that continues for another 2 films, The Search for Spock and The Voyage Home.

 

In this installment, Admiral Kirk and his crew of the Starship Enterprise have a face-off with Khan Noonien Singh.

 

He escaped his 15-year exile to steal a device. It is named Genesis, and it will be used to exact revenge on Kirk and his crew.

 

The film cut costs heavily and used computer-generated sequences for the first time to create stunning scenes.

 

The film was a commercial hit and a critically acclaimed movie.

 

 

18. Star Trek Into Darkness

 

 

 

Star Trek Into Darkness is the second film in the rebooted series. It has all the characters of the original series.

 

They are played by Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Karl Urban, John Cho, Simon Pegg, etc.

 

This installment sees the London HQ of Starfleet being bombed and destroyed under the orders of Commander Harrison.

 

Although Kirk and his team have been grounded for breaking a cardinal rule of the federation, he is again reinstated to capture and kill Cmdr Harrison.

 

Rotten Tomatoes gave an approval rating of a solid 84% to this cinema. The critics praised it as visually spectacular and suitably action-packed.

 

Star Trek Into Darkness is a rock-solid installment in the venerable sci-fi franchise, even if it is not as fresh as its predecessor.

 

 

19. Solaris

 

 

 

Solaris is an adaptation of the novel of the same name, written by Stanislaw Lem.

 

This is the Russian adaptation of the movie, made in 1972. The story is about a fictional planet called Solaris.

 

We sent a space station to orbit around Solaris and study it. However, the crew starts to fall into depression, and a psychologist, Kris Kelvin, is sent to evaluate the situation.

 

There he encounters the same mysterious phenomena as the others. The film was critically well-received, but it was not a commercial hit.

 

In fact, The author was displeased with the way the film recreated his story.

 

 

20. Apollo 13

 

 

 

Apollo 13 is based on the book, Lost Moon: The Perilous Voyage of Apollo 13 by astronauts Jim Lovell and Jeffrey Kluger.

 

It depicts the journey of this unsuccessful mission to the moon, only the third after the successful moon landing.

 

The three astronauts on board, Jim Lovell, Jack Swigert, and Fred Haise, are endangered when an onboard explosion deprives them of oxygen supply and electrical power.

 

The mission had to be aborted, and the crew needed to be safely guided home.

 

The film is a docudrama that pays great detail to accuracy. It earned nine Academy Award nominations including best picture.

 

It won two Oscars for Best Film editing and Best Sound.

 

 

21. Star Trek: First Contact

 

 

 

Star Trek First Contact is the second film with the cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation.

 

In this installment, we find that an old foe, The Borg, has returned. They are planning to attack us.

 

Capt Jean-Luc Picard has not fully recovered from the trauma of their last encounter. Now that they have returned, the USS Enterprise-E is kept far from them, but he still gets involved because the Borg travels back in time and alters the past to influence the present.

 

The film received excellent reviews and was the highest-grosser. Critics like Roger Ebert considered it one of the best Star Trek films, and it was the most positively reviewed film in the franchise.

 

 

22. Total Recall

 

 

 

Total Recall is a science fiction film based on the 1966 Philip K. Dick short story “We Can Remember It for You Wholesale”.

 

The story starts with a construction worker who suffers from violent and vivid dreams. These dreams are about a Mars colony that is under construction.

 

The construction company is fighting a civil war with the locals, and he is an integral part of this war.

 

When the film was made, it was the most expensive movie produced. It made a sizable profit, earning up to $ 262 million worldwide.

 

 

23. Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith

 

 

 

This episode of Star Wars is the final part of the prequel trilogy. It takes place three years after the Attack of The Clones.

 

The Jedi are spread across the galaxy, leading a large-scale war against the Separatists. Anakin Skywalker is tasked by the Council to spy on Palpatine.

 

He manipulates Anakin into turning to the dark side of the Force and becoming his apprentice, Darth Vader.

 

The film broke several box office records during its opening week, making it the second-highest-grossing film in the Star Wars franchise at the time.

 

 

24. First Man

 

 

 

The First Man chronicles the career path and the struggles of Neil Armstrong as he faces both personal and professional challenges.

 

The film starts with his role as the test pilot of X-15 rocket-powered spaceplanes up to the Apollo 11 mission.

 

The film is based on the 2005 book First Man: The Life of Neil A. Armstrong by James R. Hansen.

 

The film was considered a box office disappointment, though it did recover the production budget and made a small profit.

 

Critical praise was poured on the film cast and crew for artistic performance, and technical capabilities garnered awards and nominations.

 

 

25. Dune

 

 

 

“Dune” is a 2021 epic science fiction film directed by Denis Villeneuve. It is the first part of a two-part adaptation of Frank Herbert’s 1965 novel.

 

The story is set in the distant future and follows Paul Atreides, whose family, the noble House Atreides, becomes involved in a war for control of the desert planet Arrakis. The film features an ensemble cast including Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, and Zendaya.

 

“Dune” was a box office success, earning $402 million and received positive reviews for its direction, screenplay, visual effects, story, and more.

 

Paul Atreides, trained by his family and the Bene Gesserit, faces challenges and forms alliances with the native Fremen to fulfill his father’s goal of bringing peace to Arrakis.

 

 

26. Contact

 

 

 

Contact is based on the 1985 novel by Carl Sagan and his wife, Ann Druyan.

 

The film is based on a SETI scientist who intercepts a coded message from a distant planet Vega.

 

With the help of a secret billionaire funder, they decode the message to be the blueprints to a spaceship.

 

The film was a commercial success and also garnered critical praise. It won the Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation and received numerous awards and nominations at the Saturn Awards.

 

A critic opined that the movie, Contact, elucidates stirring scientific concepts and theological inquiry at the expense of satisfying storytelling.

 

It makes for a brainy blockbuster that engages with its ideas, if not its characters.

 

 

27. Galaxy Quest

 

 

 

Galaxy Quest is a comedic parody of space adventure movies. It was inspired mainly by Star Trek and gained a lot of love from Trekkies for it.

 

The crew of the Galaxy Quest, a make-believe spaceship, are participating in a fan convention when they are approached by an alien race that reveres the show.

 

Thinking that the cast and crew of Galaxy Quest are real space travelers, the Thermians request their help to protect their ship and save them from the evil Sarris.

 

The film was critically and commercially a hit with multiple Saturn Awards and award nominations.

 

The Star Trek fans association voted it the 7th best Star Trek movie of all time.

 

 

28. Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home

 

 

 

The Voyage Home is the third and final part of the story that started with the Wrath of Khan.

 

Considering the events that conspired during The Search For Spock, the USS Enterprise has to return to the home base to face a probe into the event.

 

En route to earth, the Enterprise discovers new trouble that could affect our planet. An alien race attempts to contact humpback whales that are now extinct and plan to create grave danger.

 

The film story went through a few iterations and planned to make an environmental statement through the film.

 

The audience loved the movie, and the critics too appreciated the humor of this unconventional story.

 

 

29. Prospect

 

 

Entity	Detail
Directed By	Christopher Caldwell, Zeek Earl
Written By	Christopher Caldwell, Zeek Earl
Music By	Daniel L.K. Caldwell
Costume Design By	Aidan Vitti
Cinematography By	Zeek Earl
Release Year	2018
Run Time	100 Minutes
Starring	Sophie Thatcher, Jay Duplass, Pedro Pascal
IMDb	6.3
Rotten Tomatoes	89%
Worldwide Box Office collection	$22,777

 

Prospect (2018) is a sci-fi space western directed by Zeek Earl and Chris Caldwell. It stars Sophie Thatcher and Pedro Pascal as a father-daughter team of prospectors who travel to a remote moon in search of valuable gems. However, they soon find themselves caught up in a dangerous game of greed and betrayal.

 

The film is notable for its low-budget production and its focus on practical effects over CGI. The result is a visually stunning and immersive world that feels both familiar and alien.

 

The film’s characters are also well-developed and relatable. Thatcher gives a breakout performance as Cee, the resourceful and determined daughter. Pascal is also excellent as Ezra, the grizzled and cynical father. Prospect is a rewarding film that offers a unique and thought-provoking take on the science fiction genre.

 

 

30. Sunshine

 

 

 

This Danny Boyle film is a psychological thriller set in space. In the distant future, the Sun has started to cool down.

 

As a result, the earth is also freezing. There is no other way out but to jumpstart a star with an explosion on its surface.

 

The crew set off on a spacecraft called Icarus II and made their way toward Sun.

 

They encounter many unexpected difficulties and hurdles along the way. The film has been praised for its most scientifically accurate portrayal and depiction of the whole process.

 

Cillian Murphy, the physicist Capo, had trained with Brian Cox from the CERN center for this movie.

 

The audience and critics both appreciated the film, but it was not a commercial success.

 

It has been called one of the greatest films. Second, only to the Stanley Kubrick film, 2001: A Space Odyssey.

 

 

31. The Andromeda Strain

 

 

 

The Andromeda Strain was based on the Michael Crichton novel of the same name. It is a science fiction thriller, and it was nominated for 2 Academy Awards for Best Art Direction and Best Film Editing.

 

The story is about an alien lifeform that enters the atmosphere along with the satellite that crashed.

 

It kills the whole town of Piedmont. A group of scientists race to discover an alien organism and contain and diffuse the pathogen.

 

The film was a success with the audience, but the critics panned it as a forgettable film.

 

The scientific community praised it for being the most scientifically accurate. They appreciated the portrayal of all procedures, response mechanisms, etc.

 

 

32. Starship Troopers

 

 

 

Starship Troopers is inspired by the military science fiction novel of the same name written by Robert A Heinlein.

 

The film can also be viewed as a political satire when viewed as a collection.

 

The story follows a young soldier named Johnny Rico and his exploits in the Mobile Infantry, a futuristic military unit.

 

The military career of Rico progresses to an officer during the interstellar war between mankind and an alien species known as Arachnids.

 

Most of the reviews were negative upon the release of the movies in the Starship Troopers series.

 

However, in hindsight, we can describe them as political satire. This drew positive praise for the franchise.

 

 

33. Spaceballs

 

 

 

Spaceballs is a parody of Star Wars-style movies. They have been created by Mel Brooks.

 

In Spaceballs, the heroic mercenary, Lone Starr, and his alien sidekick Barf rescue Princess Vespa of Druidia and her droid, Dot Matrix.

 

They have been captured by the Spaceballs, led by President Skroob, who wants to use Vespa as ransom to obtain the air of Druidia for their own planet.

 

The critics gave mixed reviews of the film. They enjoyed the spoof of Star Wars and the parody of all the characters.

 

Yet, it also felt like the movie was a far cry from the usual Mel Brooks comedies.

 

 

34. Passengers

 

 

 

The cinema can only be described as a science fiction romance. The film plot starts with a spaceship en route to a deep space colony with over 5000 hibernating passengers.

 

The ship has a malfunction that disrupts the hibernation pods of a passenger. He then purposely wakes up another passenger because he falls in love with her personal data.

 

With 90 years more space travel left, these two have to fall in love, fight with each other and rescue the ship from further malfunctions.

 

The film received mixed reviews as the story was nothing more than a love story set in space.

 

It was not much of a science fiction plot.

 

 

35. Stargate

 

 

 

Stargate is a movie that claims that the ancient Egyptian gods were aliens. They traveled to this world and enslaved humans to take them back to their homes as slaves.

 

When an egyptologist uncovers the secret to traveling to this alien planet, the action begins.

 

The film was a hit with the audience who loved the plot lines and made the film a commercial hit.

 

The critics were not very kind to the film. It received average ratings, and the review said, Stargate only has flashy visuals and James Spader to recommend it.

 

A corny characterization and a clunky script make this a portal to ho-hum.

 

 

36. Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi

 

 

 

The film is the eighth installment of the Skywalker Saga. It is also the last film with the iconic Carrie Fisher, who plays Princess Leia.

 

She died in December 2016, and the cinema is dedicated to her. The Last Jedi follows Rey as she seeks the aid of Luke Skywalker in the hope of turning the tide for the Resistance.

 

They are in the fight against Kylo Ren and the First Order. General Leia Organa, Finn, and Poe Dameron attempt to escape a First Order attack on the dwindling Resistance fleet.

 

This installment received one of the highest scores on Rotten Tomatoes. A review said Star Wars: The Last Jedi honors the rich legacy of the saga.

 

It also adds some surprising twists and delivers all the emotion-rich action fans could hope for.

 

 

37. Star Trek Beyond

 

 

 

The film is the third installment of the reboot series. We see all of the main cast come back to reprise the roles as Capt Kirk, Cmdr Spock, Bone, Sulu, Scotty, Uhura, and Chekov.

 

The film, sadly, was the last from Anton Yelchin, who died a month before the release of the film.

 

The crew is sent on a 5-year mission, and they reach the farthest outpost of federation space.

 

Here the USS Enterprise is ruthlessly attacked by an alien force. It has long held a grudge against the federation.

 

The film was written by Simon Pegg, who plays Scotty. The film was received well.

 

There was a general consensus that Star Trek Beyond continues the post-reboot hot streak of the franchise.

 

It is an epic sci-fi adventure. It honors the sci-fi roots of the series without skimping on the blockbuster action.

 

 

38. Ad Astra

 

 

 

Ad Astra is a Latin term that means to the stars. The plot revolves around the obsession of scientist Clifford McBride to discover intelligent alien life forms.

 

He sets up the Lima Project to do so. But, we soon lose contact with the spaceship, only to find it 29 years later.

 

Now, his son astronaut Roy McBride has set out to contact him and retrieve any possible data while destroying the ship.

 

The director, James Gray, wanted to make a space movie that was as realistic as possible.

 

The script and acting on the film were highly praised by all critics. The box office did not enjoy it so much.

 

The film got a lukewarm response from the audience.

 

 

39. 2010: The Year We Make Contact

 

 

 

The movie is the sequel to 2001: A Space Odyssey. It was made by Peter Hyams and is based on the novel by Arthur C Clarke.

 

The film was commercially more successful as compared to 2001 A Space Odyssey. In this installment, the United States and Russian governments are feuding due to the failure of the Discovery mission.

 

They plan to send separate ships to Jupite to investigate what went wrong and possibly recover the data from HAL 9000.

 

When the second book was published, Clarke specifically asked Kubrick not to make it into a film.

 

Yet, the MGM studio convinced the author to sell the rights. However, Kubrick refused to make the film, and hence, Peter Hyams stepped in.

 

 

40. Silent Runnings

 

 

 

Silent Running is described as an environmental-themed sci-fi picture. It is set in a future where mankind has lost most of its flora and fauna.

 

In a last-ditch attempt to save them, samples of all plants and animals are collected in domes and sent to a space station.

 

Due to various difficulties, the spaceship is ordered to dump all the domes. This would discard the samples and change the route.

 

The biologist taking care of the plants is aggrieved and kills the crew to protect the plants.

 

The film was praised critically for its unique take on science fiction. Carl Sagan criticized the technically proficient film for depicting a future in which people have forgotten the inverse-square law and that plants need sunlight.

 

The film was simple-minded and melancholic.

 

 

41. Treasure Planet

 

 

 

“Treasure Planet” is a 2002 animated science fiction film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation. It is a futuristic adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s “Treasure Island” set in outer space.

 

The movie follows Jim Hawkins, a young boy who embarks on a quest for treasure on the legendary “Treasure Planet.” Along the way, he encounters space pirates, forms unlikely alliances, and discovers the true nature of friendship and loyalty.

 

Despite being a box-office disappointment, the film received positive reviews and has gained a cult following.

 

Jim’s journey leads him to face challenges, uncover secrets, and ultimately find his place among the stars. The movie combines adventure, action, and heartwarming moments to deliver an entertaining and visually stunning animated film.

 

 

42. Event Horizon

 

 

 

Event Horizon is an experimental spaceship that went missing seven years ago. The film is about a crew of astronauts sent on a rescue mission after the Event Horizon appears, and it is orbiting around Neptune.

 

While searching the ship for survivors, the rescue crew learns that the Event Horizon opened a rift in the space-time continuum.

 

It left our universe entirely, allowing an unknown and dangerous entity to possess the ship.

 

The film failed at the box office. Critics felt that the plot started out strong but slowly devolved into a run-of-the-mill horror cinema with cheap thrills and gore.

 

 

43. Life

 

 

 

The film starts with the return of Pilgrim 7. It was sent to Mars to collect soil samples to test for life forms.

 

The International Space Station intercepts this ship and gathers all the test samples. From these samples, dormant cells are retrieved.

 

They hold the proof that life existed on the planet Mars. Once the dormant cells are activated, chaos ensues.

 

One after another, all the attempts made by the crew to contain this alien entity fail.

 

The film did well, but the script was not anything new. Critics felt that the picture is thrilling, well-acted, and capably filmed, enough to overcome an overall inability to add new wrinkles to the trapped-in-space genre.

 

 

44. Elysium

 

 

 

Elysium is a space station that revolves around the earth and acts as an advanced haven for the rich and powerful.

 

Earth is overpopulated, and all the technology has now been shifted to this space station.

 

People who live on the planet are deprived of many medical and technological benefits and comforts.

 

The movie is about how the struggle of one patient to get treatment leads to the abolition of the class divide, making everyone equal in Elysium.

 

The film got an approval rating of 65%, but many critics were disappointed with the director.

 

They expected a better movie than his last great hit, District 9.

 

 

45. Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones

 

 

 

Attack of The Clones is the second installment of the Skywalker Saga, and it takes place 10 years after the end of The Phantom Menace.

 

The Galactic Republic has secretly created an army of clones to launch a civil war.

 

Count Dooku has seceded from the republic to form the Confederacy of Independent Systems. All galaxies are in a state of unrest, and Obi-Wan Kenobi discovers the unsettling truth about the army of clones and the separatist movement.

 

The picture was again criticized for ponderous plot points and underdeveloped characters. Yet, they appreciated the increased emphasis on thrilling action.

 

The fans also enjoyed the movie giving it a score of A-.

 

 

46. Titan A.E.

 

 

 

In the distant future, humans have discovered the technology to travel deep in space. They are living peacefully alongside different alien races.

 

An alien race of Dregs fear mankind and plan to destroy the earth. Meanwhile, on earth, a scientist, Prof Sam Tucker, created the project Titan which can make a replica of earth complete with all species of flora and fauna.

 

His spaceship Titan is lost before the Dregs can destroy it. Now the race is on to find Titan and reconstruct the planet.

 

Commercially the film did not do well. It lost most of its production budget. However, critics praised it, and CinemaScore gave the movie an A-.

 

The story was praised for being rousing, with a largeness of spirit and lush galactic visuals.

 

It was beautiful in the same way photos by the Hubble Space Telescope are beautiful.

 

 

47. Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker

 

 

 

Rise of the Skywalker is the final installment of the nine-part Skywalker Saga. It also marks the end of the Star Wars sequel trilogy.

 

The Rise of Skywalker follows Rey, Finn, and Poe Dameron as they lead the final stand of the Resistance against Supreme Leader Kylo Ren and the First Order.

 

The return of the deceased Galactic Emperor Palpatine aids Kylo Ren. Though the film was a commercial hit, the critics found the show to be lackluster.

 

Rotten Tomatoes opined that The Rise of Skywalker suffers from a frustrating lack of imagination but concludes this beloved saga with fan-focused devotion.

 

 

48. Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace

 

 

 

The Phantom Menace is the prequel to the Star Wars Saga. It takes place 32 years before the first Star Wars film.

 

In the first part of the Skywalker Saga, the Jedi Masters Qui-Gon Jinn and his apprentice, Obi-Wan Kenobi, find the young Anakin Skywalker.

 

They notice his unusually high level of Force and try to train him. They are also guarding the Queen Padmé Amidala of Naboo.

 

The film was highly successful with the audience. Although critics described the movie as burdened by exposition and populated with stock characters, The Phantom Menace gets the Star Wars prequels off to a bumpy – albeit visually dazzling – start.

 

 

49. Ender’s Game

 

 

 

Ender’s Game is based on a novel of the same name written by Orson Scott Card.

 

It depicts a world where an alien race is attacking us, and our main hope of defense is a gifted child, Ender Wiggin.

 

The film cast includes renowned actors like Harrison Ford, Viola Davis, and Ben Kingsley. However, the film was not very successful at the box office.

 

The film received mixed reviews. The comments said that it is not quite as thought-provoking as the book.

 

Ender’s Game manages to offer a commendable number of well-acted, solidly-written sci-fi thrills.

 

 

50. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy

 

 

 

“The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” is a 2005 science fiction comedy film based on Douglas Adams’ media franchise.

 

The story follows Arthur Dent, whose house is about to be demolished when he learns that Earth is also slated for destruction by Vogons. Arthur is saved by his alien friend Ford Prefect, and they hitch a ride on a stolen spaceship called the Heart of Gold.

 

They join forces with Zaphod Beeblebrox, the eccentric president of the galaxy, and Trillian, an Earth woman, on a quest to discover the Ultimate Question of Life.

 

Along the way, they encounter various strange and humorous situations, including encounters with otherworldly beings and the enigmatic planet Magrathea. The film received positive reviews and was a commercial success.

 

 

51. Europa Report

 

 

 

The movie was shot in found-footage style. It is about an exploration mission to Europa by a private corporation.

 

The film was not a commercial success. However, it was critically acclaimed. The film starts with the narrator telling about a mission to Europa, one of the moons of Jupiter, in search of living organisms.

 

Initially, during a solar storm, the spaceship lost communication with the Earth. All the evidence was relayed at the end of the mission.

 

Europa Report is a disaster mission that is successful in its prime objective. It is a slow-burning thriller that appears technically sound in its physics and biology concepts.

 

Neil Degrasse Tyson also makes a cameo in this movie.

 

 

52. Valerian and The City of a Thousand Planets

 

 

 

The story is set in the 28th century. All races of humans and aliens live in peace on a spaceship.

 

The capital city of Alpha is invaded by a mysterious and evil force that no one recognizes.

 

It is now up to Major Valerian and Sergeant Laureline to defend the city of Alpha and the peaceful existence of the universe.

 

The movie is part of a series of science fiction novels called Valerian and Laureline by Pierre Christin.

 

The movie received mixed reviews all around. The energy and visual effects overpower all the other shortcomings of the film to make it a good entertainer.

 

The film received a B- from IndieWire and CinemaScore.

 

 

53. Alien: Covenant

 

 

 

Ridley Scott is back with the Alien franchise after the first installment. The movie is the sequel to Prometheus and the precursor to the later events in the Alien series.

 

The story picks up 11 years after the end of Prometheus. A deep space colony vessel, Covenant, is en route to another remote planet to occupy.

 

They encounter a paradise planet that turns into a deathtrap with many hidden dangers. The crew of Covenant will have to cope with biological foes beyond human comprehension.

 

The film received positive reviews from many critics, and many sites praised the cast, the direction, and the storyline.

 

The movie did good business with the audience too.

 

 

54. Star Trek: The Motion Picture

 

 

 

This is the first installment of the Star Trek series that was created by Gene Roddenberry.

 

We meet all the characters from the television series, like Captain James T. Kirk, Spock, Bones, Scotty, and Sulu, etc.

 

In this mission, a newly fitted Starship Enterprise is handed to Cpt Kirk. They are sent on a mission to investigate and find the origins of V’Gers.

 

With teething problems on the new ship, the team has to locate the mysterious and powerful alien race of V’Gers.

 

Rotten Tomatoes gave a less-than-stellar review saying the movie features a patchwork script and a dialogue-heavy storyline whose biggest villain is a cloud.

 

Star Trek: The Motion Picture is a less-than-auspicious debut for the franchise. The film, however, was received well by the audience and it made good profits.

 

 

55. Star Trek Nemesis

 

 

 

Star Trek Nemesis is the tenth installment in the Star Trek series. This movie has the cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation going on a peacekeeping mission to Romulus.

 

During this peace mission, Captain Picard and his team uncover a sinister plot to destroy the federation.

 

A clone of Cpt. Picard has taken control of the Romulan Empire, and he threatens a coup d’etat.

 

The story for this installment was written by Brent Spinner, who plays Lt. Commander Data.

 

The movie received mixed reviews, and Rotten Tomatoes said that Nemesis has an interesting premise and some good action scenes but, the whole affair feels a bit tired.

 

 

56. High Life

 

 

 

“High Life” is a 2018 science fiction horror film directed by Claire Denis. The story follows a group of criminals on a space mission towards a black hole while participating in scientific experiments.

 

Led by a doctor named Dibs, the prisoners are treated as subjects for her questionable reproductive experiments. Sexual activity is forbidden, and the crew members resort to using “The Box,” a device for self-gratification. As the mission progresses, tensions rise, and violent incidents occur among the prisoners.

 

Monte, the only celibate prisoner, becomes an outsider until he forms a bond with a fellow crew member named Boyse. Tragedy strikes as they approach the black hole, leading to a series of shocking events that ultimately reveal the fate of the remaining survivors.

 

 

57. Deep Impact

 

 

 

This is a science fiction disaster movie, and it was released the same year as Armageddon.

 

Most astronomers praised Deep Impact as being more scientifically accurate than the other one. The plot revolves around a newly discovered comet that will collide with our planet.

 

A joint United States- Russian team sets out to destroy the comet. But, should they fail, we also need to prepare for extinction-level calamities.

 

Here is a fun tidbit: When the president announces the impending danger, he was supposed to say, ‘Life will go on, we will prevail…

 

This is not Armageddon.’ Later, they dropped this bit after the movie Armageddon was released.

 

 

58. The Wandering Earth

 

 

 

The Wandering Earth is the fifth highest-grossing film in China. It was inspired by a science fiction novel by the same name, written by the Chinese author Liu Cixin.

 

The movie was released on Chinese New Year, and it garnered record earnings. The film is about the efforts of scientists, astronauts, and rescue workers to save the world from an expanding Sun.

 

They plan to propel earth from its orbit, away from the Sun, and send it into a new solar system.

 

They also have to save earth from crashing into Jupiter before it escapes the Sun.

 

The film was praised by Hollywood Reporter as the first full-scale interstellar spectacular from China.

 

 

59. The Black Hole

 

 

 

The Black Hole is about the USS Palomino. After finishing its mission and returning home, it discovers the USS Cygnus close to a Blackhole.

 

Since the ship had gone missing 20 years ago along with the father of Dr. McCrae, the crew of USS Palomino decided to investigate it.

 

Here begins the horror as the crew slowly discovers what went wrong with the first crew and how they can escape a similar fate.

 

The Black Hole brings together many scary science concepts of black holes, artificial intelligence that has gone bad, killer robots, etc.

 

The movie was slated to be a disaster film. Yet, Disney updated the script so that its young audience is not scared.

 

They created an escape tactic for the crew.

 

 

60. Marooned

 

 

 

Marooned is inspired by a novel of the same name. It is written by Martin Caldin.

 

It depicts a situation where 3 astronauts are stuck in a spaceship on a mission similar to Apollo.

 

They are slowly running out of air while the mission control tries to save and rescue them.

 

The film won an Academy Award for Best Visual effects for Robie Robinson. The producers wanted to make the film as authentic as possible.

 

So, NASA and its primary contractors assisted them in creating the set and constructed replicas of the actual control room and the astronaut seats, etc.

 

Coincidentally, the movie was released just 4 months after the Apollo 11 moon landing. The people drew many parallels, and the attention on the film was enormous.

 

 

61. Iron Sky

 

 

 

This science-fiction comedy film is a Finnish-German-Australian film. After the fall of the Nazi regime, a group escaped to the moon and built a colony there.

 

The Nazis bid time on the moon till they were discovered. A spacecraft from the United States visited the dark side of the moon and found them.

 

They now plan to return to bring back the Fourth Reich on earth. The film opened to generally negative reviews.

 

It was even given a D+ by William Goss of film.com, saying that the humor was dated and felt like an Austin Powers sequel.

 

 

62. Mission to Mars

 

 

 

The first mission to Mars encounters an unexpected problem. All of the crew are killed, and only one person is left.

 

The second mission to Mars is converted into a rescue mission to save him. Despite having an acclaimed cast, the film received mostly negative reviews.

 

Bob Graham, from San Francisco Chronicle, slammed the movie. He said Sinise and Robbins, a couple of great actors, are asked to speak some awfully clunky lines.

 

The movie, however, recovered its costs despite being widely panned. The film was also nominated for a Golden Raspberry for its director.

 

However, the film was also appreciated for its fabulous visuals and photography.

 

 

63. Chaos Walking

 

 

 

Chaos Walking is set in a dystopian world in the far future where humans have settled in new colonies on other planets.

 

In one of these settlements, an alien species called the Spackle has killed all the womenfolk.

 

When a woman unexpectedly crashes and lands on the planet, chaos ensues in the colony.

 

As the film progresses, the truth is gradually revealed. It is something totally different from what was believed earlier.

 

The film was a box office flop that only recovered a quarter of the initial production costs.

 

The plot was panned for poor execution and conventional, underdeveloped characters.

 

 

64. Stowaway

 

 

 

The Stowaway is a movie about a moral dilemma on a space mission with good performances from all involved.

 

The film was released directly on Netflix as the streaming platform took the distribution rights.

 

A crew of 3 sets out to Mars on a two-year mission. A short time after take-off, they discover that an unconscious engineer was stuck on the ship.

 

This additional member poses an oxygen shortage for the rest of the crew. The moral dilemma is whether to sacrifice the mission, the stowaway or wait for a solution.

 

Stowaway was praised for its performances and said it was engaging except for the pacing of the story.

 

 

65. The Last Days on Mars

 

 

 

On the last day of the Mars mission, a crew member of the Tantalus base outpost defies a direct order.

 

He goes to collect samples of fossilized alien bacteria on Mars. While looking for the specimen, the porous grounds caves in, and he falls to certain death.

 

As the remaining crew tries to rescue him and return, they discover they have bitten off more than they can chew.

 

The picture was a major flop. It was slammed as neither intelligent enough to work as thought-provoking sci-fi nor trashy enough to provide B-movie thrills.

 

The Last Days on Mars proves as cinematically barren as the titular planet.

 

 

66. Voyagers

 

 

 

‘Voyagers’ is a futuristic film where humans have created genetically manufactured people from the genome of some of the most intelligent minds.

 

They send them into deep space in search of inhabitable planets. A group of 30 people from different age groups are traveling together, searching for planets to colonize.

 

They are being given neurotoxins to suppress their personality. Once they discover this and stop taking it, differences arise, and mutiny ensues.

 

The film was slated to release in November 2020, but it was delayed due to COVID-19.

 

After its release in 2021, the picture did not do well. Critics opined that the plot had the potential to be a great story.

 

But, it was limited to mediocrity and ran on expected lines.

 

 

67. Jupiter Ascending

 

 

 

The Wachowskis have written and directed this film. The plot for the film is like a soap opera with feuding brothers, a family business, immense power at stake, and a good-looking boyfriend who rescues you every time.

 

There is an intergalactic sweatshop planet Earth, and similar planets are colonies of powerful alien families.

 

The people and all living organisms on these colony planets become fodder for the youth serums.

 

Jupiter Jones is dragged into this fight as she is the next heir to inherit the business.

 

The movie was declared a flop in the United States after a dismal performance on the opening weekend.

 

The international markets helped to recover the production costs. Rotten Tomatoes criticized the movie as pleasing to the eye and narratively befuddled.

 

Jupiter Ascending delivers another visually thrilling misfire from the Wachowskis.

 

 

68. Meteor

 

 

 

Meteor is a science-fiction movie about a meteor that is on a collision course with our world.

 

At the peak of Cold war politics, scientists from the USA and USSR must come together to save the earth.

 

The film was inspired by a 1967 MIT report called Project Icarus. In the plot, a passing comet hits an asteroid, and small fragments that are 5 miles wide are thrown toward us.

 

Now both the scientists from the United States and Russia have to set aside differences.

 

They need to launch a united effort to destroy the fragments before they strike the globe.

 

The film was a major flop and made only $ 8.4 million despite an international star cast of Sean Connery, Henry Fonda, Karl Madden, Trevor Howard, and more.

 

 

69. After Earth

 

 

 

After Earth was written by Will Smith. It was meant as a movie about the relationship between a father and son.

 

After meeting up with the script-writer Gary Whitta, he improved the story, and changed the setting to a futuristic space movie.

 

Although M. Night Shyamalan directed the movie, it was critically panned as being a dull, ploddingly paced exercise in sentimental sci-fi.

 

However, some have chosen to back it for being a moral tale disguised as a sci-fi blockbuster.

 

The film tells a tale about a father-son duo going on a mission together, only to be blindsided by an asteroid shower.

 

When the ship crash lands on earth, they have to set aside their animosity and work together to call home for help.

 

 

70. 3022

 

 

 

3022 is set in a future where man has built human colonies in different locations.

 

The movie takes place on a space station called Pangea in the year 2190. It is the midway point between a space station and our planet.

 

The inhabitants of this space station are already suffering from cabin fever-like symptoms when they discover that our homeworld is no more.

 

This aggravates their depression and mental imbalance. They also meet another ship whose crew is hostile and determined to fight for survival, even if it means killing everyone.

 

The film is bleak, although the concept is interesting, and the acting was decent. However, the film did not do well due to poor script and direction.