Interstellar stands tall in the genre of sci-fi adventure. Released in 2014, it is nothing less than a masterpiece. Director Christopher Nolan displays his mastery of filmmaking with this time-bending thriller.
The movie explores every danger that deep space poses and follows a story that journeys across spacetime.
Interstellar arouses curiosity about space exploration in the minds of the audience. It engages one in the subject of the cosmos, inspiring him/her to learn more about it.
And to help with that, we have curated a list of 15 movies like Interstellar that educates you more about the subject.
- Gravity
Gravity seamlessly makes its way into the list of best space adventure films. Boasting a near-perfect rating of 96% on Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic and 7.7 on IMDb, the film has a lot to its glory.
Directed by Alfonso Cuarón, it features Sandra Bullock in the lead who plays astronaut Ryan Stone. The plot showcases the survival attempts of Stone after her spacecraft is hit by space debris in an outer space mission.
Gravity received several accolades and was nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars 2013.
- Arrival
A great film in every aspect, Arrival stretches the human mind and compels the audience to form a new perspective on time. Arrival follows the story of a linguistic expert Louise Banks (played by Amy Adams) who is tasked with finding a way to communicate with an alien species after their spaceships arrive on earth.
Directed by Denis Villeneuve, the film came out in 2016. It too has a prestigious rating of 95% on Rotten Tomatoes while IMDB rates it at 7.9.
- The Martian
The Martian features an eccentric astronaut Mark Watney who finds himself abandoned on Mars and displays his desperate measures for survival. It is regarded as one of the best movies about space exploration. The film stars Matt Damon as the protagonist and is directed by Ridley Scott.
The Martian was released in 2015 and grossed over $603 million at the box office. It flaunts an admirable rating of 91% on Rotten Tomatoes and an 8 out of 10 on IMDb.
- The Theory of Everything
Released in 2014, The Theory of Everything is a biographical film on Stephen Hawkings. It is adapted from Travelling to Infinity: My Life with Stephen by Jane Hawking. The movie explores the early parts of Stephen Hawkings in University and his relationship with Jane.
It is not a sci-fi adventure in any way but its association with one of the best in history makes it worth the watch.
It is rated 7.7 on IMDb and is directed by James Marsh.
- First Man
First Man appropriately depicts the real-life Apollo mission. It is based on the 2005 biography First Man: The Life of Neil A. Armstrong by James R. Hansen. Released in 2018, it was directed by Damien Chazelle. It features Ryan Gosling as Neil Armstrong, the first man on the moon.
The film was highly appreciated for its visual effects upon its release and was nominated at the Academy Awards for the same.
It is rated at 7.3 on IMDb and 87% on Rotten Tomatoes.
- 2001: A Space Odyssey
Released in 1968, 2001: A Space Odyssey envisages deep space exploration in the future. It was one of the first space adventure films released and remains an all-time classic.
In resemblance to Interstellar, 2001: A Space Odyssey was a milestone in the sci-fi genre.
The movie flaunts a whopping 92% on Rotten Tomatoes and 8.3 on IMDb. It was directed by Stanley Kubrick.
- Apollo 13
A space adventure in all rights, Apollo 13 is a dramatized depiction of the real-life mission of the same name. It was adapted from the 1994 book Lost Moon: The Perilous Voyage of Apollo 13, by astronauts Jim Lovell and Jeffrey Kluger.
The film is directed by Ron Howard and stars Tom Hanks, Kevin Bacon, and Bill Paxton among others. It exhibits an astonishing rating of 96% on Rotten Tomatoes and 7.7 on IMDb.
- Contact
Directed by Robert Zemeckis, Contact is the story of Dr. Ellie, a radio astronomer who with the help of radio signals, discovers the existence of intelligent alien species. The film flaunts an intriguing screenplay and strong performances from Jodie Foster and Matthew McConaughey.
It is based on the 1985 novel by Carl Sagan of the same name. It was released in 1997 and collected a revenue of $171 million. The film is rated 7.5 on IMDb.
- Ex Machina
Released in 2014, Ex Machina portrays the endeavors of Caleb Smith, a young programmer to assess artificial intelligence through his interaction with a female robot. The film was directed by Alex Garland and succeeds in submerging the audience in the realm of futuristic technology.
Ex Machina has a reputable rating of 7.7 on IMDb and 92% on Rotten Tomatoes. It presents Domhall Gleeson in the role of Caleb.
- Ad Astra
Director James Gray does not fail in delivering a scintillating thrill ride with Ad Astra. Featuring the eulogized Brad Pitt in the lead role, the movie presents a stirring narration of an astronaut on a mission across the solar system. Released in 2019, Ad Astra showcases stunning visual effects and captivating storytelling.
The film is rated 83% on Rotten Tomatoes and 6.5 on IMDb. It grossed over $135 million in its theatrical run.
- Passengers
Passengers is an intriguing tale of two astronauts who are on a journey to a faraway colony planet. However, things get nightmarish when their spaceship is on a route to meet a disaster. Starring Chris Prat and Jennifer Lawrence in the lead, Passengers provide an immersive experience to the viewers.
It is directed by Morten Tyldum and came out in theatres in 2016. The film grossed over $303 million at the box office.
- Annihilation
Director Alex Garland makes his way into this list again with his film Annihilation. The movie portrays Lena, a biologist and former soldier who joins a mission to uncover what happened to her husband inside Area X which is an eerie phenomenon expanding across the American coastline.
Released in 2018, the film stars revered actress Natalie Portman as Lena. Annihilation is rated 88% on Rotten Tomatoes.
- Life
Jake Gyllenhaal- starrer Life exhibits a group of astronauts who discover a hostile and extremely intelligent alien race on Mars. Directed by Daniel Espinosa, the movie came out in 2017.
The sci-fi horror collected $100.5 million in its theatrical run. The movie showcases remarkable visual effects and commendable performances from the cast.
- Lightyear
It is quite perplexing to see a fictional animated film in a list that contains movies about astronomy and space research. However, it should not be the case with Lightyear, which follows the escapades of legendary space ranger Buzz Lightyear in an intergalactic mission. Though created for mainly children and die-hard Toy Story fans, Lightyear is a good watch for anyone who enjoys space adventures.
The film offers a fun ride with all the goofy characters while keeping the audience engrossed in it. Lightyear is directed by Angus MacLane.
- Armageddon
Armageddon tells the ambitious tale of a bunch of regular people with specific skill-sets who are sent on a space mission to destroy an asteroid en route to destroy Earth. The movie came out in 1998 and is directed by Michael Bay. Along with sarcastic moments to entertain you along the ride, Armageddon also presents an emotional climax.
The film stars Bruce Willis and Ben Affleck among others and is rated 6.7 on IMDb.
