There is a special corner dedicated to Space Travel movies in the Science Fiction genre. The Epic 18 minute was the first Sci-Fi film. Hollywood has produced many great sci-fi movies after an epic 18 minute. Most Space Travel Movies are still science fiction. However, these movies are based on real science facts like time dilation and warp drive. These movies try their best to use real science knowledge. In this article, we are going to talk about 10 Space Travel Movies you must watch.
1. Apollo 13 (1995)
This movie is based on the aborted 1970 Apollo 13 mission. Astronauts were going to the moon in Apollo 13 spacecraft when an explosion rocked their aircraft. Tom Hanks has done a marvelous job in this movie. The film features Tom Hanks, Bill Paxton, and Kevin Bacon as the astronauts who are going to the moon. Apollo 13 follows the real-life events of the movie. The astronauts and Mission control team worked together to bring the spacecraft back to the Earth. Many people think that the rescue of Apollo 13 was the best work done by NASA.
Director: Ron Howard
IMDb: 7.6
2. Interstellar (2014)
Interstellar was another mind-bending movie directed by Christopher Nolan. Christopher Nolan has directed amazing movies like The Dark Knight and Inception. The movie features Matthew McConaughey who is an astronaut turned farmer. His mission is to find a new planet for humanity as the original planet is suffering from dust storms and crop failures. The future shown in this movie is very different from other science fiction. NASA is now working from an underground chamber and people think that the Apollo landing was faked. The movie also won an Oscar in the visual effects category. It is one of the best Science-fiction movies ever made.
Director: Christopher Nolan
IMDb: 8.6
3. The Martian (2015)
This movie features Matt Damon as an astronaut who is stranded on Mars. The team of scientists was researching on Mars when they were hit by a dust storm. Mark Watney (Matt Demon) had to plant potatoes by using his own feces. He finally found the Pathfinder and informed NASA that he is still alive. NASA finally decided that they are going to bring him home. This movie was nominated for 7 Oscar awards.
Director: Ridley Scott
IMDb: 8
4. First Man (2019)
The most important moment of the 20th century was when Neil Armstrong visited the moon. “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for all mankind” is still considered as the most famous quote. This movie revolves around the life of Armstrong. You will see him on a test flight at the starting of this movie. The movie will finally conclude with the Apollo 11 mission. First Man also shows the astronaut grief when his two-year daughter and his best friend died. The movie also explores the difficulty that astronauts and their families face during a space program.
Director: Damien Chazelle
IMDb: 7.3
5. Gravity (2013)
The biggest fear of any human is probably being lost in space. Combine this fear with the fact that your shuttle is also broken. This is the story of the movie Gravity. Dr. Ryan Stone and Matt Kowalski were repairing the Hubble Telescope of their Explorer when debris smashed their Explorer. The astronauts need to find a way to reach their nearby station. However, they have very little time as the debris started orbiting their explorer.
Director: Alfonso Cuaron
IMDb: 7.3
6. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
2001: A Space Odyssey is probably the most famous Space Travel movie. It is an epic saga that was directed by Stanley Kubrick. This movie is considered as the pinnacle of Sci-fi movies. The movie starts from the Humanity origins end with the Starchild. This movie has tried to show us humanity’s future. You will see rotating space stations, a moon base, and space shuttles in this movie. Some of the aspects of this movie are outdated. However, it is still one of the best cinematic masterpieces that you can watch.
Director: Stanley Kubrick
IMDb: 8.3
7. The Right Stuff (1983)
The Right Stuff is a historical drama that is based on a book with the same name. You must have seen the big hero shot in some memes where a bunch of movie stars is walking in slow motion. The shot was actually taken from this movie. This movie tells the story of the pilots who are refining the space program. It shows the physical tests that pilots take before qualifying for spaceflight. Also, this movie shows the dangers of the space program. This movie won 4 Oscar awards for film editing, sound-effects editing, original score, and sound.
Director: Philip Kaufman
IMDb: 7.8
8. Sunshine (2007)
According to Scientists, the Sun will absorb our planet after 7.5 billion years. Our Sun will die after approximately 5 billion years. This movie revolves around this concept. The scientists are trying to save the Sun from dying. Humans will go extinct without the sunlight. You might think that it is a ridiculous idea. However, this is actually based on real facts. You will see the dangerous side of the sun in this movie. The ending of this movie is really amazing so make sure to watch it till the end.
Director: Danny Boyle
IMDb: 7.3
9. Contact (1997)
This movie is different from other movies mentioned in this list. It doesn’t focus on traversing the cosmos. Astronomers are searching for radio signals in space. They think that some advanced civilization will send radio signals in the space. Ellie Arroway is the main character of this movie and she is looking for signs of intelligent life. The government was about to shut her lab down but she finds a radio sequence from the Vega system. This system is located light-years away from the planet Earth. Ellie Arroway will try to decode this message.
Director: Robert Zemeckis
IMDb: 7.4
10. Alien (1979)
Alien is still one of the best sci-fi horror movies. You will experience a claustrophobic atmosphere in this movie. The movie revolves around the Nostromo crew that encounters a deadly extra-terrestrial alien. You will have nightmares after watching this movie. Alien was one of the most profitable movie franchises in history.
Director: Ridley Scott
IMDb: 8.5
Also Read : 10 Horror Movies on Amazon Prime You must watch (with IMDb Ratings)
Conclusion
These are the best space travel movies that you can watch. You can see a glimpse of the human future in these movies. If you are a fan of the Sci-fi genre, then you should definitely check out these movies. These movies are both exciting and frightening at the same time.