Ranker FilmList RulesVote up the greatest realistic films about exploring the cosmos.
Space travel movies can be fantastical, but the top films about the galaxy feature realistic stories about astronauts. The best astronaut movies spotlight characters confronting unknown elements in the outer reaches of space. This is a list of the greatest realistic space movies including everything from Apollo 13 to Gravity to The Right Stuff.
What films will you find on this list of the best movies about astronauts? 2001: A Space Odyssey is known for its hyper-realistic depiction of space, so it's hard to believe that this Stanley Kubrick-directed film was released back in 1968. The dangers of relying on technology and encountering extraterrestrial life were among the themes of this classic movie. Contact is another one of the best realistic space movies - though according to NASA, its fellow 1997 release Gattaca is even more plausible. Hidden Figures tells the real-life story of three African-American mathematicians who assisted NASA's space program. Other good movies featured on this list include Europa Report, Space Cowboys, and The Martian.
Do you have a favorite realistic space movie? Give the best films a vote up and please add any good movies that are missing. Then, check out our list of the best animated space movies.
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30075Apollo 13
Tom Hanks, Bryce Dallas HowardReleased: 1995
Directed by: Ron Howard
Apollo 13 is a 1995 American historical docudrama film directed by Ron Howard. The film stars... more
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331114The Martian
Matt Damon, Jessica ChastainReleased: 2015
Directed by: Ridley Scott
The Martian is a 2015 science fiction film directed by Ridley Scott, based on the novel by... more3
344136Interstellar
Anne Hathaway, Matthew McConaugheyReleased: 2014
Directed by: Christopher Nolan
Check out more shows and movies like Interstellar!
Interstellar is a British-American 2014 science fiction epic film directed by Christopher... more4
20763The Right Stuff
Jeff Goldblum, Ed HarrisReleased: 1983
Directed by: Philip Kaufman
The Right Stuff is a 1983 American drama film that was adapted from Tom Wolfe's best-selling... more5
230812001: A Space Odyssey
Arthur C. Clarke, Leonard RossiterReleased: 1968
Directed by: Stanley Kubrick
2001: A Space Odyssey is a 1968 epic science fiction film produced and directed by Stanley... more6
18583Contact
Matthew McConaughey, Jodie FosterReleased: 1997
Directed by: Robert Zemeckis
Contact is a 1997 American science fiction drama film directed by Robert Zemeckis. It is a... more7
15663First Man
Ryan Gosling, Claire FoyDirected by: Damien Chazelle
First Man is a 2018 American historical biographical drama film directed by Damien Chazelle. A... more8
197114Gravity
Sandra Bullock, George ClooneyReleased: 2013
Directed by: Alfonso Cuarón
Gravity is a 2013 science fiction thriller film directed, co-written, and produced by Alfonso... more9
11969Moon
Kevin Spacey, Mary Tyler MooreReleased: 2009
Directed by: Duncan Jones
Moon is a 2009 British science fiction drama film co-written and directed by Duncan Jones. The... more10
14599Hidden Figures
Taraji P. Henson, Octavia SpencerReleased: 2016
Directed by: Theodore Melfi
Hidden Figures is a 2016 American biographical drama film directed by Theodore Melfi, based on... more11
11595Passengers
Jennifer Lawrence, Chris PrattReleased: 2016
Directed by: Morten Tyldum
Passengers is a 2016 romantic science fiction thriller film directed by Morten Tyldum and... more12
8368Mission To Mars
Tim Robbins, Don CheadleReleased: 2000
Directed by: Brian De Palma
Mission to Mars is a 2000 science fiction film directed by Brian De Palma. In 2020, a manned... more13
9483Space Cowboys
Clint Eastwood, Jon HammReleased: 2000
Directed by: Clint Eastwood
Space Cowboys is a 2000 American space adventure film directed and produced by Clint Eastwood.... more14
39242010
Helen Mirren, John LithgowReleased: 1984
Directed by: Peter Hyams
2010 is a 1984 American science fiction film written and directed by Peter Hyams. It is a... more15
4635Ad Astra
Brad Pitt, Tommy Lee JonesReleased: 2019
Directed by: James Gray
Ad Astra is a 2019 American epic science fiction thriller film directed by James Gray. Twenty... more16
5750Approaching The Unknown
Mark Strong, Luke Wilson17
6966Sunshine
Rose Byrne, Chris EvansReleased: 2007
Directed by: Danny Boyle
Sunshine is a 2007 British science fiction thriller film directed by Danny Boyle. The film was... more18
6058400 Days
Caity Lotz, Brandon RouthReleased: 2015
Directed by: Matt Osterman
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6867Europa Report
Sharlto Copley, Michael NyqvistReleased: 2013
Directed by: Sebastián Cordero
Europa Report is a 2013 science fiction film directed by Sebastián Cordero, and starring... more20
4244Armageddon
Ben Affleck, Bruce WillisReleased: 1998
Directed by: Michael Bay
Armageddon is a 1998 American science fiction disaster thriller film, directed by Michael Bay,... more21
128Silent Running
Bruce Dern, Ron RifkinReleased: 1972
Directed by: Douglas Trumbull
Silent Running is a 1972 environmentally-themed American science fiction film starring Bruce... more22
5369Event Horizon
Laurence Fishburne, Jason IsaacsReleased: 1997
Directed by: Paul W. S. Anderson
Event Horizon is a 1997 British-American science fiction horror film. The screenplay was... more23
2735The Astronaut's wife
Charlize Theron, Johnny DeppReleased: 1999
Directed by: Rand Ravich
The Astronaut's Wife is a 1999 American science fiction/thriller film directed and written by... more24
3041Marooned
Gene Hackman, Gregory PeckReleased: 1969
Directed by: John Sturges
Marooned is a 1969 Eastmancolor American film directed by John Sturges and starring Gregory... more25
2638The Astronaut Farmer
Bruce Willis, Billy Bob ThorntonReleased: 2006
Directed by: Michael Polish, Polish brothers
The Astronaut Farmer is a 2006 American drama film directed by Michael Polish, who co-wrote... more
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