The Best Movies Featuring Astronaut’s And NASA
“What are the best movies about or featuring Astronauts & NASA?” We looked at 54 of the top Astronaut films, aggregating and ranking them so we could answer that very question!
The top 29 films, all appearing on 2 or more “Best Astronaut” movie lists, are ranked below by how many times they appear. The remaining 25 movies, as well as the sources we used, are in alphabetical order on the bottom of the page.
Happy Scrolling!
Top 29 Astronaut Movies
29 .) 2010 directed by Peter Hyams
Lists It Appears On:
- IMDB 1
- List Challenges
This is a sequel to 2001 A Space Odyssey. It is now 2010 and both the Americans and the Russians are racing to get to Jupiter to investigate the black monolith (similar to the one found in Lunar Crater Clavius) which was found by the U.S.S. Discovery in orbit around Jupiter’s moons. The U.S.S. Discovery’s orbit is rapidly decaying and it will crash into IO but the Americans cannot get there in time to save U.S.S. Discovery. The Russians can get to Jupiter in time but only the Americans have the knowledge to access and awaken the U.S.S. Discovery’s H.A.L.9000 sentient computer. This forces a joint American-Soviet space expedition against a backdrop of growing global tensions. The combined expedition is seeking answers to several mysteries. What is the significance of the black monolith? Why did H.A.L.9000 act so bizarrely and terminate 4 of 5 of the U.S.S. Discovery’s crew? What happened to David Bowman? Along the way, curious data is detected …
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28 .) Capricorn One (1977) directed by Peter Hyams
Lists It Appears On:
- List Challenges
- Time
In order to protect the reputation of the American space program, a team of scientists stages a phony Mars landing. Willingly participating in the deception are a trio of well-meaning astronauts, who become liabilities when their space capsule is reported lost on re-entry. Now, with the help of a crusading reporter,they must battle a sinister conspiracy that will stop at nothing to keep the truth
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27 .) Europa Report (2013) directed by Sebastián Cordero
Lists It Appears On:
- List Challenges
- Ranker
A crew of international astronauts are sent on a private mission to Jupiter’s fourth moon.
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26 .) From the Earth to the Moon
Lists It Appears On:
- List Challenges
- Screen Rant
This twelve part HBO mini-series tells the story of the United States’ space program, from its beginnings in 1961 to the final moon mission in 1972. Tom Hanks served as Executive Producer and introduced each segment.
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25 .) Planet 51 (2009) directed by Jorge Blanco
Lists It Appears On:
- CNBC
- Movie Fone
When Earth astronaut Capt. Chuck Baker arrives on Planet 51 — a world reminiscent of American suburbia circa 1950 — he tries to avoid capture, recover his spaceship and make it home safely, all with the help of an empathetic little green being.
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24 .) Planet of the Apes (1968) directed by Franklin J. Schaffner
Lists It Appears On:
- List Challenges
- Newsday
An U.S. Spaceship lands on a desolate planet, stranding astronaut Taylor in a world dominated by apes, 2000 years into the future, who use a primitive race of humans for experimentation and sport. Soon Taylor finds himself among the hunted, his life in the hands of a benevolent chimpanzee scientist.
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23 .) Red Planet (2000) directed by Antony Hoffman
Lists It Appears On:
- CNBC
- Ranker
Astronauts search for solutions to save a dying Earth by searching on Mars, only to have the mission go terribly awry.
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22 .) Space Camp (1986) directed by Harry Winer
Lists It Appears On:
- CNBC
- Huffington Post
Andie Bergstrom, an astronaut eagerly awaiting her first trip to space, runs a summer camp for teenagers with her NASA-employed husband, Zach. One night during an engine test, Andie and four teenage campers are accidentally shot into space. Together, the group — which includes Kathryn, a pilot-in-training, and Tish, a ditz with a perfect memory — must work together to operate the spacecraft and return home.
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21 .) The Astronaut’s Wife (1999) directed by Rand Ravich
Lists It Appears On:
- List Challenges
- CNBC
When astronaut Spencer Armacost returns to Earth after a mission that nearly cost him his life, he decides to take a desk job in order to see his beautiful wife, Jillian, more often. Gradually, Jillian notices that Spencer’s personality seems to have changed, but her concerns fade when she discovers that she’s pregnant. As Jillian grows closer to becoming a mother, her suspicions about Spencer return. Why does it seem as if he’s a different person?
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20 .) Toy Story directed by John Lasseter
Lists It Appears On:
- CNBC
- Movie Fone
Led by Woody, Andy’s toys live happily in his room until Andy’s birthday brings Buzz Lightyear onto the scene. Afraid of losing his place in Andy’s heart, Woody plots against Buzz. But when circumstances separate Buzz and Woody from their owner, the duo eventually learns to put aside their differences.
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19 .) Destination Moon directed by Irving Pichel
Lists It Appears On:
- Huffington Post
- Movie Fone
- Time
Postulates the first manned trip to the moon, happening in the (then) near future, and being funded by a consortium of private backers. Assorted difficulties occur and must be overcome in-flight. Attempted to be realistic, with Robert A. Heinlein providing advice.
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18 .) In the Shadow of the Moon (2007) directed by David Sington
Lists It Appears On:
- List Challenges
- Movie Fone
- Screen Rant
Archival material from the original NASA film footage – much of it seen for the first time – plus interviews with the surviving astronauts, including Jim Lovell, Dave Scott, John Young, Gene Cernan, Mike Collins, Buzz Aldrin, Alan Bean, Edgar Mitchell, Charlie Duke and Harrison Schmitt.
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17 .) Moonraker directed by Lewis Gilbert
Lists It Appears On:
- Huffington Post
- Movie Fone
- Newsday
During the transportation of a Space Shuttle a Boeing 747 crashes in the Atlantic Ocean yet when they go to look for the destroyed shuttle it is not there. James Bond investigates the missing mission space shuttle and soon learns that the shuttles owner Hugo Drax wants to kill all of mankind.
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16 .) October Sky (1999) directed by Joe Johnston
Lists It Appears On:
- CNBC
- Huffington Post
- IMDB 2
Based on the true story of Homer Hickam, a coal miner’s son who was inspired by the first Sputnik launch to take up rocketry against his father’s wishes, and eventually became a NASA scientist.
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15 .) Alien (1979) directed by Ridley Scott
Lists It Appears On:
- Huffington Post
- IMDB 1
- List Challenges
- Newsday
During its return to the earth, commercial spaceship Nostromo intercepts a distress signal from a distant planet. When a three-member team of the crew discovers a chamber containing thousands of eggs on the planet, a creature inside one of the eggs attacks an explorer. The entire crew is unaware of the impending nightmare set to descend upon them when the alien parasite planted inside its unfortunate host is birthed.
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14 .) Armageddon (1998) directed by Michael Bay
Lists It Appears On:
- Cheat Sheet
- DVD.com
- Huffington Post
- List Challenges
When an asteroid threatens to collide with Earth, NASA honcho Dan Truman determines the only way to stop it is to drill into its surface and detonate a nuclear bomb. This leads him to renowned driller Harry Stamper, who agrees to helm the dangerous space mission provided he can bring along his own hotshot crew. Among them is the cocksure A.J. who Harry thinks isn’t good enough for his daughter, until the mission proves otherwise.
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13 .) Contact directed by Robert Zemeckis
Lists It Appears On:
- Huffington Post
- IMDB 1
- Movie Fone
- Ranker
Contact is a science fiction film about an encounter with alien intelligence. Based on the novel by Carl Sagan the film starred Jodie Foster as the one chosen scientist who must make some difficult decisions between her beliefs, the truth, and reality.
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12 .) Solaris (1972) directed by Andrei Tarkovsky
Lists It Appears On:
- Huffington Post
- IMDB 1
- Ranker
- Time
A psychologist is sent to a space station orbiting a planet called Solaris to investigate the death of a doctor and the mental problems of cosmonauts on the station. He soon discovers that the water on the planet is a type of brain which brings out repressed memories and obsessions.
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11 .) Sunshine directed by Danny Boyle
Lists It Appears On:
- IMDB 1
- List Challenges
- Ranker
- Time
Fifty years into the future, the sun is dying, and Earth is threatened by arctic temperatures. A team of astronauts is sent to revive the Sun — but the mission fails. Seven years later, a new team is sent to finish the mission as mankind’s last hope.
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10 .) The Martian directed by Ridley Scott
Lists It Appears On:
- DVD.com
- IMDB 1
- IMDB 2
- Ranker
During a manned mission to Mars, Astronaut Mark Watney is presumed dead after a fierce storm and left behind by his crew. But Watney has survived and finds himself stranded and alone on the hostile planet. With only meager supplies, he must draw upon his ingenuity, wit and spirit to subsist and find a way to signal to Earth that he is alive.
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9 .) Marooned (1969) directed by John Sturges
Lists It Appears On:
- IMDB 1
- List Challenges
- Movie Fone
- Ranker
- Time
After spending several months in an orbiting lab, three astronauts prepare to return to earth only to find their rockets wont fire. After initially thinking they might have to abandon them in orbit, NASA decides to launch a daring rescue. Their plans are complicated by a Hurricane headed towards the launch site and a shrinking air supply in the astronauts capsule.
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8 .) Moon (2009) directed by Duncan Jones
Lists It Appears On:
- Huffington Post
- IMDB 1
- List Challenges
- Ranker
- Time
With only three weeks left in his three year contract, Sam Bell is getting anxious to finally return to Earth. He is the only occupant of a Moon-based manufacturing facility along with his computer and assistant, GERTY. When he has an accident however, he wakens to find that he is not alone.
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7 .) Interstellar (2014) directed by Christopher Nolan
Lists It Appears On:
- Cheat Sheet
- Comic Book
- DVD.com
- IMDB 1
- List Challenges
- Ranker
Interstellar chronicles the adventures of a group of explorers who make use of a newly discovered wormhole to surpass the limitations on human space travel and conquer the vast distances involved in an interstellar voyage.
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6 .) Mission to Mars (2000) directed by Brian De Palma
Lists It Appears On:
- CNBC
- Huffington Post
- IMDB 1
- List Challenges
- Movie Fone
- Ranker
When contact is lost with the crew of the first Mars expedition, a rescue mission is launched to discover their fate.
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5 .) Gravity (2013) directed by Alfonso Cuarón
Lists It Appears On:
- Cheat Sheet
- Comic Book
- DVD.com
- IMDB 1
- List Challenges
- Newsday
- Ranker
Dr. Ryan Stone, a brilliant medical engineer on her first Shuttle mission, with veteran astronaut Matt Kowalsky in command of his last flight before retiring. But on a seemingly routine spacewalk, disaster strikes. The Shuttle is destroyed, leaving Stone and Kowalsky completely alone-tethered to nothing but each other and spiraling out into the blackness of space. The deafening silence tells them they have lost any link to Earth and any chance for rescue. As fear turns to panic, every gulp of air eats away at what little oxygen is left. But the only way home may be to go further out into the terrifying expanse of space.
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4 .) Space Cowboys (2000) directed by Clint Eastwood
Lists It Appears On:
- Cheat Sheet
- CNBC
- Huffington Post
- IMDB 1
- IMDB 2
- List Challenges
- Ranker
Frank Corvin, ‘Hawk’ Hawkins, Jerry O’Neill and ‘Tank’ Sullivan were hotdog members of Project Daedalus, the Air Force’s test program for space travel, but their hopes were dashed in 1958 with the formation of NASA and the use of trained chimps. They blackmail their way into orbit when Russia’s mysterious ‘Ikon’ communications satellite’s orbit begins to degrade and threatens to crash to Earth.
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3 .) 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) directed by Stanley Kubrick
Lists It Appears On:
- CNBC
- Comic Book
- Huffington Post
- IMDB 1
- List Challenges
- Movie Fone
- Newsday
- Ranker
- Time
Humanity finds a mysterious object buried beneath the lunar surface and sets off to find its origins with the help of HAL 9000, the world’s most advanced super computer.
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2 .) The Right Stuff (1983) directed by Philip Kaufman
Lists It Appears On:
- CNBC
- Comic Book
- Huffington Post
- IMDB 1
- IMDB 2
- List Challenges
- Movie Fone
- Ranker
- Screen Rant
- Time
A chronicle of the original Mercury astronauts in the formation of America’s space program: Alan Shepherd, the first American in space; Gus Grissom, the benighted astronaut for whom nothing works out as planned; John Glenn, the straight-arrow ‘boy scout’ of the bunch who was the first American to orbit the earth; and the remaining pilots: Deke Slayton, Scott Carpenter and Wally Schirra.
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1 .) Apollo 13 (1995) directed by Ron Howard
Lists It Appears On:
- Cheat Sheet
- CNBC
- Comic Book
- DVD.com
- Huffington Post
- IMDB 1
- IMDB 2
- List Challenges
- Movie Fone
- Ranker
- Screen Rant
- Time
The true story of technical troubles that scuttle the Apollo 13 lunar mission in 1971, risking the lives of astronaut Jim Lovell and his crew, with the failed journey turning into a thrilling saga of heroism. Drifting more than 200,000 miles from Earth, the astronauts work furiously with the ground crew to avert tragedy.
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The 25 Additional Best NASA Movies
| # | Movies | Lists |
| (Titles Appear On 1 List Each) | ||
| 30 | 400 Days | Ranker |
| 31 | A Trip to the Moon | Time |
| 32 | Apollo 18 (2011) |
List Challenges
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| 33 | Approaching The Unknown | Ranker |
| 34 | Barbarella | Newsday |
| 35 | Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970) |
List Challenges
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| 36 | Deep Impact |
Huffington Post
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| 37 | Escape From the Planet of the Apes (1971) |
List Challenges
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| 38 | Event Horizon | Ranker |
| 39 | Forbidden Planet | Newsday |
| 40 | Gattaca |
Huffington Post
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| 41 | Hidden Figures | Ranker |
| 42 | Independence Day |
Huffington Post
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| 43 | Magnificent Desolation |
Screen Rant
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| 44 | Mars Attacks |
Huffington Post
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| 45 | Passengers | Ranker |
| 46 | Rocket’s Red Glare (2000) |
List Challenges
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| 47 | Rocketman (1997) |
List Challenges
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| 48 | Solaris (2002) | IMDB 1 |
| 49 | STAR TREK (2009) | DVD.com |
| 50 | The Adventures of Pluto Nash (2002) | CNBC |
| 51 | The Astronaut Farmer (2006) |
List Challenges
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| 52 | The Last Days On Mars | Ranker |
| 53 | To Boldly Go | Time |
| 54 | Transformers: Dark of the Moon |
Huffington Post
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13 Best Films Featuring Astronauts And NASA Sources/Lists
| Source | Article |
| Cheat Sheet | 5 Movies About Astronauts That You Have to See |
| CNBC | Twelve Movies About NASA |
| Comic Book | The Five Best Astronaut Movies |
| DVD.com | The Six Best Astronaut Movies |
| Huffington Post | Ode To The Space Shuttle: NASA’s Best Movies |
| IMDB 1 | The Best Astronaut Movies |
| IMDB 2 | Top 5 NASA Movies |
| List Challenges | Top 25 Astronaut Movies |
| Movie Fone | The Top Ten Most Memorable Astronaut Movies |
| Newsday | Best astronaut movies: Critic’s picks |
| Ranker | The Best Movies About Astronauts & Realistic Space Travel |
| Screen Rant | The Top 5 Astronaut Movies of All Time |
| Time | Rocket Science: 10 Great Astronaut Movies |
