The idea of traveling to space remains one of humanity’s collective desires, as can be seen by the recent efforts of billionaires such as Jeff Bezos to do so. Small wonder, then, that both astronauts and space travel have made so many appearances in the movies. While some of these on-screen representations strain credulity in of their adherence to reality, there are a number that actually do a creditable job of capturing what it is really like to travel to space.
The s of Ranker have helpfully identified which of these should be regarded as the best. Note: Ranker lists are live and continue to accrue votes, so some rankings may have changed after this publishing.
Hidden Figures (2016)
Streaming On Disney+
The Space Race was one of the most important moments in recent scientific history, emblematic as it was of the larger Cold War conflict. Hidden Figures is an extraordinary movie for many reasons, not least of which is the fact that it focuses on the African American women whose contributions to the success of NASA’s various projects went underappreciated for too long.
It uses the conventions of the traditional period drama to excavate these women’s vital contributions, and it features a number of dynamic performances from Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, and Janelle Monae, all of whom bring out the complexity of their characters.
Moon (2009)
Streaming On HBO Max
Moon. He plays the character of Sam Bell, a miner working on a mining station on the moon who discovers by accident that he is in fact a clone. Like all great science fiction, it is filled with beautiful shots and displays of humanity’s technological know-how.
There’s no doubt, however, that it is Rockwell’s performance that helps the movie to succeed and allows it to ask the sort of weighty questions very common to this particular genre. While the plot itself may not be particularly realistic, there are several elements of life in space that seem likely to be accurate once humanity sets up permanent settlements away from Earth.
Gravity (2013)
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Sandra Bullock has, time and again, shown why she is one of her generation’s finest actresses, and she has Gravity is certainly one of those, and in it, she plays one of a pair of astronauts who are stranded and have to attempt to return to Earth.
Though its plot is somewhat conventional, there’s no question that it is a movie grounded not only by the performances of Bullock and Clooney but also bolstered by the direction of Alfonso Cuaron, who evokes an eerie, brooding atmosphere throughout the movie’s run-time.
(1997)
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Humanity seems to be perpetually fascinated by the idea that there might be life on other planets, and it repeatedly emerges in popular movies and TV. One notable example is , in which a scientist, played by Jodie Foster in one of her best roles, is chosen to make with extraterrestrial life. It is a movie that is very much invested in the weightier ideas at the center of its story.
As such, it is designed to make the audience think about the nature of the universe and about humanity’s place in it.
First Man (2018)
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First Man. Like many other great biopics, it strikes a fine balance between showing his accomplishments as one of the 20th century’s most famous astronauts and demonstrating his personal life, in particular his love for his wife, played by Claire Foy.
With Damien Chazelle’s capable direction, it also becomes a beautiful movie and a testament to the era’s scientific advancement.
2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
Streaming On HBO Max
Stanley Kubrick is regarded as one of the most innovative directors in Hollywood history, and with movies like 2001: A Space Odyssey it’s easy to see why. Based on the work of Arthur C. Clarke, it is a rumination on humanity’s place, not just in the universe but also in the vastness of time itself. Under Kubrick’s direction, it becomes a movie that is at once beautiful and troubling.
It features some of the most startling visual imagery to be found in a science fiction movie, and it is a testament to the movie’s ability to imagine different worlds.
Interstellar (2014)
Streaming On Paramount+
As a rule, science fiction tends to be an optimistic genre even when it takes the long way around, and that is true of Christopher Nolan’s best movies, and it shows many of his directorial signatures, including a play with narrative and time, as well as breathtaking visuals.
It focuses in particular on a man who sets out, along with several astronauts, to try to find somewhere for humanity to settle now that Earth has become almost uninhabitable. It is a movie that not only pushes toward what humanity can accomplish but also the medium of film itself. The plot may not be terribly realistic, but the science behind the general premise and the issues that the film addresses are certainly more grounded than they may first appear.
The Right Stuff (1983)
Streaming On HBO Max
The Right Stuff, which focuses on the group of men chosen for the first manned spaceflight, is a testament to the power of the movies. It manages to focus not only on the individuals and their lives but also situates them amongst the grand, important events that shape their destinies.
It’s thus not surprising that it was widely appreciated and praised by critics, even though it struggled to attain a similar success at the box office. More than anything else, it captures the fundamental optimism of the American spirit.
The Martian (2015)
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The Martian, based on the Andy Weir novel of the same name, is notable for its exacting attention to scientific detail and accuracy. However, it manages to not lose sight of the human heart of its story, which focuses on a man who attempts to survive on Mars after he is stranded there during a storm.
Indeed, the movie succeeds not only because of its ability to capture the complexities of science but also because of the powerful performance from Matt Damon and Ridley Scott’s keen directorial skills.
Apollo 13 (1995)
Streaming On Tubi
Ron Howard has had a very distinguished career in Hollywood as both an actor and a director, and he brings his considerable skills to the movie Apollo 13. This movie is notable not only for its emphasis on space travel but also for its attention to the details involved in the Apollo 13 mission, which had to be aborted after an explosion damaged the ship.
Like the best of science fiction, however, it never loses sight of the central human drama, and it features strong performances from Tom Hanks, Bill Paxton, and Kevin Bacon.
