As most plebeians stuck on Earth, filmmakers have dreamt of voyaging the cosmos further than the Moon. The idea of uncharted territories in space is truly a wonder. So, if you are ready to head to infinity and beyond, here are the top 15 intergalactic, space-exclusive science fiction movies of all time.
15. WALL·E (2008)
It’s the year 2700, and all mankind has abandoned a completely polluted, uninhabitable Earth, floating away into space instead. All that’s left behind is a pile of junk, a cockroach, and a waste-collector robot called WALL·E. That is, until another robot returns to Earth one day, and everything changes.
This Pixar masterpiece spans the entire galaxy and, despite its cynical apocalypse, argues that hope always wins. With stunning visuals and sleek direction by Andrew Stanton, WALL·E will leave audiences of all ages in awe of the impossible.
14. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
Chriss Pratt, Zoe Saldana, and Bradley Cooper took the MCU to space with their role in the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise. Directed by James Gunn, the action-packed visual splendor embraces the cosmic side of its comic roots to tell the tale of abducted Earthling Peter Quill. Ultimately, he joins forces with a group of intergalactic misfits and troublemakers to save the galaxy and, in the process, delivers chemistry that is nothing short of magical.
The quirky superhero spectacle wouldn’t be a hit without Vin Diesel’s heartwarming take on the tree-like alien, Groot.
13. Interstellar (2014)
Christopher Nolan is known for his interpretation of the bigger picture rather than interpersonal dramas, which is why many critics found Interstellar an ambitious project. Nonetheless, the movie’s parallel timelines and astounding attention to detail compensated for where emotions fell flat.
As Earth’s future becomes questionable, a panel of NASA pilots, scientists, and researchers joins to find humans a new home. The star-studded cast featuring Michael Caine, Matthew McConaughey, and Anne Hathaway adds to the movie’s suspense and incredible intellect.
12. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (2005)
Garth Jennings’ The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is often hailed as a cult-classic adventure across the stars. If you aren’t already familiar with Douglas Adams’ novel, its movie adaptation is a must-watch. Ford Prefect (Yasiin Bey) whisks his friend Arthur Dent (Martin Freeman) into outer space to save him from Earth’s complete annihilation.
Little does Arthur know that his savior is an alien who will help him rediscover the meaning of life. From Earth to the end of the universe, this galactic voyage brings out the best of humor and frantic entertainment.
11. Star Trek: First Contact (1996)
This list would be incomplete without Star Trek: First Trek, arguably the best movie out of the franchise. Engaging and visually appealing, the blockbuster follows Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart), Commander William Thomas (Jonathan Frakes), Lieutenant Geordi La Forge (LeVar Burton), and their crew through a time warp.
Stuck in the past, the team fights the evil Borgs to stop them from taking over the Enterprise and planet Earth. The screenplay melds together science fiction, high drama, and horror, leaving viewers on the edge of their seats. Unlike older Star Trek movies, this episode benefited from sensational makeup work, which redefined the film industry’s take on extraterrestrials.
10. High Life (2018)
Robert Pattinson and Juliette Binoche bring this bitterly desperate yet thought-provoking epic. However, Claire Denis’ High Life isn’t for everyone because the sci-fi horror breaks the bounds of normality. Expect the unexpected, with convicts shot into a black hole and a mad scientist wanting to create life in outer space.
The movie reimagines the future of space travel as led by people Earth can afford to lose rather than the brightest, most qualified candidates to deliver enlightenment and pure madness. As with other Denis films, the goal is to deliver a physiological moment that sticks with the audience long after the movie ends.
9. Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017)
Over the last two decades, the Star Wars universe channeled space fascination through its enchanting stories. What set The Last Jedi apart was its strange new worlds and creatures, breaking out of the franchise’s preconceptions. The ending twist sends follow-ups in a direction no one could expect, despite its classic formula of romantic chemistry and questioning morals.
Picking up on Luke Skywalker’s (Mark Hamill) peaceful self-exile, his world is sent into mayhem when he encounters relentless Rey (Daisy Ridley), a young woman with a strong desire to join the Force. Meanwhile, Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) is up to no good (again!), leading an all-out assault against the Resistance and General Leia (Carrie Fisher). Overall, the movie is an emotional culmination of everything the Star Wars legacy represents.
8. Moon (2009)
Most of the movies on this list are big-budget blockbusters, but Moon is more of a quirky, lonely Indie thriller. Directed by Duncan Jones (yes, David Bowie’s son), this feature debut is a resounding modern space movie about the effects of future technology and AI on man. When Sam (Sam Rockwell), a lone mining operator on the Moon, experiences a freak accident near the end of his assignment, he is left questioning the mission and his own existence beyond the cold black void of space.
The movie focuses on the all-engulfing and isolating nature of the universe, which leaves Sam in disarray – and Rockwell’s intense performance makes it all the more promising.
7. Apollo 13 (1995)
Director Ron Howard crafted an epic sci-fi blockbuster with Apollo 13. The movie paid tribute to the NASA astronauts on Apollo 13 during their eventful voyage to the Moon. Although it wouldn’t be fair to call this movie a thriller, the drama-documentary does deliver a pump of adrenaline, 70’s aesthetic, and male heroism.
In a race against time, three stranded astronauts 200,000 miles away from Earth desperately attempt to make it back home when they can’t land on the Moon. The movie scores in its realistic take on space travel and subtle special effects.
6. Pandorum (2009)
Pandorum is one of this century’s most underrated space sci-fi thrillers. Christian Alvari mines the infinite void of space in his satisfying suspense-shifting storyline—the film stars Ben Foster and Dennis Quaid as astronauts who awaken unexpectedly from hyper-sleep. But the sudden switch from hibernation to action leaves them suffering from psychosis and without any memories.
It may seem like things can’t get worse, but then they destroy man-eating creatures on their ship. The stunning ending is the perfect complement to the filmmaker’s intense focus on keeping the audience freaked out throughout this criminally underseen movie.
5. Avatar (2009)
James Cameron’s Avatar took mind-blowing technical effects and imaginative storytelling to another level. The Academy Award-winning adventure transports viewers to the alien world of Pandora, where the highly evolved Na’vi live. But, humans find their way to the planet drawn to exploit its resources – until paraplegic Marine Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) falls in love with the Na’vi Princess Neytiri (Zoe Saldana).
Torn between following orders and protecting his newfound love, Sully finds himself in an impossible situation. The cinematography, makeup, touch of humor, finale battle, and underlying message are outstanding and explosive, to say the least.
The success of the first film spawned two successful sequels.
4. Armageddon (1998)
Let’s throw Armageddon into the mix of top space-exclusive sci-fi. What’s not to love about a self-sacrificing group of astronauts who want to save Earth from a bad boy space rock? The kicker is that none of the enlisted men are space professionals or scientists; they are misfit deep-core drillers.
Starring Ben Affleck, Bruce Willis, and the charming Liv Tyler, Michael Bay’s Armageddon transports a touch of fun, family affairs, politics, and even romance to space. It has plenty of adventure and action, too, for anyone looking for some intergalactic entertainment.
3. First Man (2018)
Ryan Reynolds reunites with Damien Chazelle (La La Land) in this breathtaking emotional drama based on Neil Armstrong’s life. The movie accurately captures the astronaut’s distraught, raw emotions as he rotates between traversing the bounds of human knowledge and being a father who couldn’t save his daughter’s life. Faced with rage and pain, Armstrong turns inward and puts his mind to cosmic purpose.
The movie adds historical layers for complexity, from rioting hippies to the vision of a global funeral if the mission goes south. Chazelle made a patriotic statement with this fresh, provocative take on Armstrong’s life.
2. The Martian (2015)
Ridley Scott returned to mainstream movies with The Martian – a survivor’s tale. Stranded astronaut Mark Watney (Matt Damon) is presumed dead and left on Mars while his crew blasts off. With limited supplies, Watney must find a way to survive on the hostile planet while NASA figures out how to bring him home.
The movie is packed with spunk, nerdiness, and optimism despite the protagonist’s ordeal, with Matt Damon’s boyish confidence shining through. With an all-disco score and Jessica Chastain’s role as a rogue commander, The Martian will surely get your mind racing.
1. Contact (1997)
Jodie Foster is the hallmark of space movies, thanks to Star Wars. But in this ambitious drama from Robert Zemeckis, she takes on a slightly different role as Dr. Ellie Arroway, a scientist devoted to finding life beyond Earth. When the aliens finally make contact, Ellie wants the job no matter what.
The movie combines cinematic space travel and postmodern visual coups to marry philosophy and melodrama. Contact elucidated satisfying storytelling with stirring scientific propositions and theological inquiry.
Honorable Mentions
- Gravity (2013)
- Alien (1979)
- Dune (2021)
What are your favorite space-exclusive science fiction films of all time? Share with us in the comments below!
