The 24 Best Space Movies Featuring Aliens and Astronauts That Are Out of This World

Mark Watney (Matt Damon) has the worst day ever when his fellow astronauts assume he’s dead and leave Mars without him in “The Martian.” With limited supplies and little hope for survival, Mark has no choice but to rely on his engineering skills and wry sense of humor to keep him going as he tries to make contact with Earth. As he fights to survive on Mars, his colleagues are busy trying to find a way to bring him home, making this a nail-biting journey for all of the characters involved.

Directed by Christopher Nolan, “Interstellar” is a twist-filled, thought-provoking film about the sacrifices one man makes in hopes of finding Earth’s inhabitants a new home. The movie stars Matthew McConaughey as Cooper, a NASA pilot who is sent through a wormhole to visit three planets as he searches for one that can sustain human life. While McConaughey gives a wonderful performance, it’s the jaw-dropping visuals and science of the movie that will keep you glued to your seat until the credits roll.

Loosely inspired by the true story of astronaut Lisa Nowak, “Lucy in the Sky” stars Natalie Portman as the titular Lucy, an astronaut who is so changed by her experience in space, she can’t seem to readapt to life on Earth. As Lucy throws herself into training so she can make a return trip, she begins to have hallucinations as she continues to feel disconnected from life on Earth. Then when she discovers her husband is having an affair, her mental health takes another hit as she unravels.

Few films are quite as anxiety-inducing as “Gravity,” starring Sandra Bullock and George Clooney. Bullock plays Dr. Ryan Stone, a medical engineer, and Clooney is a seasoned astronaut named Matt Kowalsky. Early in the film, the pair go on what’s supposed to be a routine spacewalk, but when their shuttle is destroyed, they end up floating alone in the vastness of space.

Based on the actual events surrounding the Apollo 13 mission, “Apollo 13” is a star-studded ’90s film that still holds up today. The cast includes Tom Hanks, Kevin Bacon, and the late Bill Paxton as a trio of astronauts whose journey is off to a safe start until an oxygen tank explodes. Things get intense from there as a mix of technical problems and interpersonal drama puts the crew in a dangerous position.

“Zathura” is basically “Jumanji” in space but the 2005 movie is still a total romp. In addition to starring a young Kristen Stewart and Josh Hutcherson, the film also features Dax Shepard as a baby-faced astronaut. The movie kicks off with Stewart’s character put in charge of babysitting her little brothers, but when the boys find the magical game of Zathura, their entire house rockets into space.

“2001: A Space Odyssey” is an undeniably trippy film, but it also might be the definitive space movie, depending on who you ask. The 1968 movie features an eerie story of A.I. gone wrong that’s even more relevant now than it was then. But there’s more to the story than a fearful astronaut begging Hal to open the pod bay doors. There’s also an extended journey through space and time that’s still inspiring lively debates about its meaning among movie fans to this day.

Clooney just can’t resist a good space movie. In addition to playing a supporting role in “Gravity,” he also starred in 2002’s remake of the ’70s film “Solaris.” The “Ocean’s 11” actor plays a psychiatrist who is sent to investigate the strange behavior of the crew aboard a space station orbiting the planet Solaris. However, it doesn’t take long for the psychiatrist to begin experiencing the unexpected effects of the planet on his psyche too.

Also known as “The Colony,” “Tides” is as much about environmental awareness as it is about the wonders of space. Set after a global event wipes out most of Earth’s population, those humans who survived now live on a space colony. Unfortunately, the planet’s radiation has rendered them infertile, which leads a group of astronauts to venture back to Earth in hopes that humanity can return to its ravaged homeland.

“3022” is a thoughtful sci-fi film that’s as emotional as it is gripping. Set in the future, a group of astronauts lives on a space station where they maintain Earth’s first space colony. Their mission leaves each of them dealing with a variety of stress-related issues, which begin to spiral out of control when they suspect they have witnessed an event that may have ended life on Earth as they know it. The film stars Omar Epps, Kate Walsh, Miranda Cosgrove, and Angus Macfadyen.

Directed by Steven Spielberg, “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” remains one of the most iconic films about aliens making contact with humans ever made. The movie stars Richard Dreyfuss as Roy Neary, a man whose belief that he’s made contact with extraterrestrials becomes all-consuming. Soon, his drive to connect with the aliens once more leads him on an adventure that takes him away from his family and toward the unknown.

Based on the true story of Neil Armstrong, “First Man” is an intimate look at the process behind the Apollo 11 mission to the moon. Ryan Gosling stars as Armstrong, who begins the movie believing he’ll be grounded after the death of his daughter. Instead, he is accepted into the Gemini 8 program which eventually leads to him becoming the first person to set foot on the moon. In addition to Gosling, the rest of the cast includes Claire Foy, Jason Clarke, and Kyle Chandler.

Robert Pattinson shows off his dramatic acting chops in “High Life.” The 2018 film features dark themes, as a group of criminals are used as unwilling test subjects on a space mission that sends them hurtling toward a black hole. Pattinson stars as Monte, a man who is serving a life sentence for murdering his friend who killed his dog. As the situation around him becomes increasingly violent, Monte soon becomes the caretaker of a baby girl born in space.

The 1979 horror classic “Alien” kicked off a franchise of successful films and introduced the world to Sigourney Weaver’s heroic Ellen Ripley. The claustrophobic movie kicks off with a space crew being awakened halfway through their journey home to investigate a distress call from an alien vessel. What they don’t expect is for their time on the ship to leave one of their own infected by an alien creature that will wreak havoc on the crew.

Starring Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, and Janelle Monáe, “Hidden Figures” tells the true story of Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson, three Black mathematicians whose brilliant work helped the United States take a major step forward in the space race. Even as they faced racism and sexism, the trio’s calculations and tireless dedication to NASA’s mission made it possible to launch John Glenn into orbit.

“Armageddon” is hardly the most realistic space movie, but the big-budget disaster film remains a blast to watch. That’s thanks in large part to the work of stars like Bruce Willis, Ben Affleck, Liv Tyler, Owen Wilson, and the late Michael Clarke Duncan. Willis stars as a driller who’s recruited by NASA to join a ragtag team on a mission to drill a hole in an asteroid heading toward Earth and detonate a nuclear bomb before it makes contact.

Released in 2022, “Prey” is a brilliant prequel to the “Predator” movies set in 1719, when one of the human-hunting aliens lands in the Great Plains. The story focuses on Naru, a Comanche woman played by Amber Midthunder, who is determined to prove herself as a hunter. However, she never expected her test to involve fighting against a futuristic alien as she does her best to protect her people from their dangerous extraterrestrial visitor.

Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones are a dream team in “Men in Black.” The 1997 blockbuster stars Smith as Agent J, a man who is recruited by a secret government agency that monitors alien life on Earth. Jones is Agent K, an old pro at the job who isn’t too pleased to be stuck with the rookie – especially when he and his new partner discover a dangerous alien plot threatening all of humankind.

This spooky space movie is an unsettling journey into the unknown. In “Event Horizon,” a space crew is sent to investigate the sudden return of a long-missing ship. At first, the ship appears to be abandoned, but the crew quickly realizes that they’re not alone. What’s more, whatever befell the previous residents of the ship is now preying on them as well. The 1997 film stars Laurence Fishburne, Joely Richardson, and Sam Neill.

Jordan Peele‘s 2022 horror/sci-fi film “Nope” is the perfect blend of genres. Two siblings who train horses for Hollywood productions are disturbed by an unidentified flying object they spot hovering over their ranch. To say much more would be spoiling Peele’s fun. Just know you’re in for something special thanks in part to the talented cast led by Daniel Kaluuya, Keke Palmer, and Steven Yeun.

Disney will soon be releasing a live-action version of “Lilo & Stitch,” but the 2002 animated movie will always hold a special place in the hearts of Disney fans. The movie is first and foremost a story about family, as little Lilo attempts to adjust to living with her big sister after the death of their parents. But it’s also a charming sci-fi film thanks to the presence of the wonderfully chaotic alien, Stitch, who helps bring the sisters together.

What would a visit from extraterrestrials really be like? This is the question posed by “Arrival,” the 2016 film starring Amy Adams and Jeremy Renner. Adams plays linguistics professor Louise Banks, who’s tasked with unraveling the language of the mysterious aliens who have landed on Earth. Soon her mission leads to a deeper understanding of not only the visitors but also of the capabilities of humans.

“Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century” is inarguably one of the best Disney Channel Original Movies of all time for the fashion alone. Zenon is a normal 13-year-old girl who happens to live on a space station in the year 2049. But when she gets into trouble with the station’s commander, she’s sent to live with her aunt on Earth as punishment. And let’s just say it takes the Earthlings a little bit of time (and some fun dance numbers) before they learn to appreciate Zenon’s quirkiness.

Another Spielberg film, “E.T.” is a moving story of friendship and a nostalgic favorite for anyone who came of age in the ’80s. The story follows a young boy named Elliott, who meets a sweet alien he dubs E.T. The two become fast friends, but the government is hunting E.T. This leads to the little boy embarking on a big adventure to get E.T. home again – no matter how much it breaks his heart to say goodbye.