The Best Space Movies For An Escape Into The Unknown
The Latest: Project Hail Mary, the Ryan Gosling-led space odyssey, is the highest-grossing domestic release of 2026 so far. And on April 1, 2026, four astronauts board the Artemis II as part of NASA’s first crewed mission to the moon in over 50 years.
The mysteries of the universe offer the last frontier for human exploration, which is why Hollywood seems to be so obsessed with making space movies.
For decades, countless movies have used space in their storytelling. Some take a more sci-fi fantasy approach (Star Wars) or use it as the backdrop for superhero arcs (Guardians of the Galaxy); others focus on the extraterrestrial threats that lurk beyond the horizon (the Alien franchise). There’s also, of course, the number of alien invasion films that bring the unknowns of space to Earth, from blockbuster action flicks (Independence Day) to slick realistic “What Ifs” (Arrival).
So we set some parameters for these space movie recommendations: These movies are primarily set in space, not just quick visits (no Fast 9 here). They offer stories of uncharted exploration and conflict in null G. They highlight the human experience even in the most extreme inhuman conditions. And these movies are guaranteed to give you the high-stakes visual spectacle you need when you’re looking for an out-of-this-world escape. — Melissah Yang, Editorial Director
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