Sequels

Sometimes, when a franchise is stretched a little thin, the think tanks behind the scenes have to get a wee bit creative when thinking up new ways to keep the series fresh. Maybe they create a new crop of kids to terrorize, or perhaps they decide to go to New York.Yet somehow, over the years, space has become an option, no matter how bizarre and strange an option it might be for that particular character.And also somehow, these sequels are almost always entertaining.Here are a few unlikely franchises that took their monsters, maniacs, and main cast member with no previous astronaut experience to outer space. Vote up the spacey sequels with the most entertainment value, and vote down the chapters that should have been grounded.

16 Movie Sequels That Inexplicably Went To Space (And Kinda Nailed It) 

General

Erin Maxwell

Underrated

&quot;In space, no one can hear you scream.&quot; This infamous tagline kicked off the marketing campaign for&nbsp;Alien, arguably the best&nbsp;of all <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/scariest-movies-set-in-space/ranker-horror" target="_blank">horror movies set in space</a>.&nbsp;Alien&#39;s success&nbsp;generated&nbsp;a slew of imitators, some of which got imitators of their own. Despite this trend,&nbsp;Alien&nbsp;didn&#39;t invent horror films set in space. That flick was already pulling from a deep well of other movies&nbsp;about astronauts encountering terrible things in the dark void of space.

After all, space is the most inhospitable desert imaginable - a vast and trackless expanse of nothingness that takes years to traverse and in which humans can&#39;t survive for more than a few seconds without protection. That alone is&nbsp;pretty scary -&nbsp;throw in a monster or two, and you&#39;ve got a recipe for big-screen chills. If you&#39;ve already seen classics&nbsp;like&nbsp;Alien&nbsp;and&nbsp;older mainstays like&nbsp;Forbidden Planet, here are a few other horror movies set in space that will sate your hunger for cosmic terror.

Pretty Good Horror Movies Set In Outer Space

Film

Best Horror Movies Set In Space, Ranked By Fans

Orrin Grey

Interesting

Prepare your psyche for some out-there space facts. Outer space can be considered an absolute horror show of unending blackness extraordinarily hostile to life. Simply put: there are a lot of <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/weird-things-astronauts-saw-in-space/johnandrewl" target="_blank">weird things about space</a>. If you&#39;re the sort of person who likes to be intrigued, all you have to do is look up at the night sky and think about <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/earth-size-comparison/sammy-leary" target="_blank">the size of the Earth compared to the rest of the galaxy</a>, or anything on this list full of high-octane nightmare fuel. Of all of the creepy things about space and the universe, these may be the most unsettling. Enjoy?

Creepy Facts About Outer Space You Can't Unlearn

Kellen Perry

The Space Page

Sure, plenty of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://www.ranker.com/list/hottest-astronauts/amylindorff">smoking hot male astronauts</a> have explored the final frontier, but did you know that female astronauts are actually better suited to handle the rigors of space exploration than their manly counterparts? It's true. When most Earthlings think of astronauts, they think of men, but this is a list of women who've boldly gone where no man has gone before. These are NASA babes, specifically, so though women from all over&nbsp;this starship Earth&nbsp;have slipped free from its surly bonds and touched the heavens, this list is only about star-spangled babes who've blasted off on behalf of Uncle Sam, his silly goatee, and all his hyper-phallic rockets.Granted, it's wildly inappropriate to rank such accomplished ladies based on their attractiveness. At the same time, what's sexier than women with intelligence, determination, and the ridiculous courage necessary to fly at 18,000 miles per hour to leave the planet entirely and hang out in the void of space?Nothing, that's what. So vote up the professional lady astronauts who make you want to send the patriarchy packing.

Anna Lee Fisher

The Hottest Lady Astronauts In NASA History

Person

Ranking the 40+ Hottest Women Astronauts in NASA History

Tucker DeSaulnier

Exploring the many ways space, space travels, and extraterrestrial life are depicted in film, TV, literature, anime, comics, and technology.

Imagining Life in Space

Best TV

The outer galaxy has fascinated television viewers for decades. The best <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/current-tv-shows-about-space/ranker-tv?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">space TV shows</a> feature out-of-this-world storylines, extraterrestrial beings, and scientific humanoids. This list of the greatest TV shows about outer space includes everything from Star Trek: The Original Series to Battlestar Galactica to Firefly and is ranked from best to worst by your votes.

What shows will you find on this list of the best TV shows set in space? Since it first premiered in 1963, Doctor Who has become a staple of British - and global - television. The regenerating Time Lord explores space and time from his distinctive blue ship, the TARDIS.&nbsp;The lead characters of Mystery Science Theatre 3000 are trapped in a spaceship and forced to watch B movies as their captor attempts to take over the world. Other good TV shows about space include Babylon 5, Lost in Space, and Farscape. Next to those classics and are <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/current-tv-shows-about-space/ranker-tv" target="_blank">newer TV shows set in space</a>, such as The Mandalorian, For All Mankind, and Space Force.

Which space TV show do you think is the best? Vote up the best TV shows set in space and see where your favorite out-of-this-world series rank.

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Mystery Science Theater 3000

The Best Space Shows In The Galaxy (or at least ever on TV)

TV Program

The Best TV Shows Set in Space, Ranked by Fans

Ranker TV

Lists about the infinite expanses of space and time. Read up to open your mind so wide, it explodes.

Theories of the Universe

Whoa Facts

Black holes. Portals. Dark matter. Parallel worlds. Team Instinct. As common as these terms are today, we're sadly still no closer to knowing the true nature of the universe we live in. To make things worse, we may never reach that day.But in attempting to understand these concepts, we use two distinct sets of rules: Quantum Mechanics, which is the study of all things super-small (atoms, quarks, Ant-Man on occasion), and General Relativity, which is the study of larger things (people, planets, also Ant-Man).The issue? Two sets of rules don't exactly make it easy to explain the already mind-boggling terms listed above. For example, dark matter can be both infinitesimal and super-massive at the same time, so how can we possibly put something like this into perspective?That's where String Theory comes in.String theory is a hypothetical explanation that could potentially unify ALL MATTER in the known universe, big or small.Wouldn't that make things so much easier to understand?In theory, yes. But, like everything in our universe, the concepts presented within string theory are nearly-impossible for our feeble human minds to comprehend, and would undoubtedly only lead to more feelings of societal insignificance regarding our place in the cosmos, <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/creepy-space-facts/kellen-perry">depression epidemics</a>, and a global blanket of general malaise about this whole “existence” thing.So, that said, below are the most fascinating ideas presented within String Theory. &nbsp;

Mind-Bending Facts About String Theory That Will Change The Way You Think

String Theory Facts & Ideas That Will Change The Way You Think

Jeff Richard

Lists about astronauts, space exploration, and what we've learned about the effects of space travel on the human body.

Life in Outer Space

NASA

What is the International Space Station? Only&nbsp;humanity&#39;s largest and most expensive attempt to spend long periods of time in space! As such, it&#39;s a technical marvel, featuring sophisticated computers and laboratory instruments, miles of wire, and state-of-the-art accommodations for the crew. What happens on the ISS? What kinds of discoveries are being made up there, and how did it get up there in the first place? What&#39;s <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/what-is-life-like-on-international-space-station/kelly-patrick" target="_blank">daily life like</a>&nbsp;for the astronauts? It&#39;s time to find out!

The history of ISS is full of stories, from its beginnings featuring dozens of flights just to build it, to the current experiments it runs, to the quirks that each astronaut brings with them into orbit. ISS crew members have done everything from conduct sophisticated research to brew coffee. They&#39;ve brought international foods, recorded songs, and taken countless pictures (and yes, <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/space-selfies/jacob-shelton">even selfies</a>). The best part? This has all been done in a spirit of international cooperation unmatched in history.

Here are some cool International Space Station facts, both about the station itself and the astronauts who have spent time on it.

15 Out-Of-This-World Facts About The International Space Station

15 Cool Facts About the International Space Station

Mike Rothschild

The first thing a band needs is an awesome name. Here are a few that others have tried.

Cool Band Name Alert

Names

What do Earth, Wind &amp; Fire, 30 Seconds to Mars, and Silversun Pickups all have in common? Aside from the fact that they are all musical groups, they are all bands named after space in some way. This list covers planet bands, bands named after stars, and even moon band names – in short, any name that would make a NASA engineer or astronaut proud. Can’t think of many? Grab your telescope, feast your eyes on this list, and be amazed!Virtually every aspect of space is covered in these band names. In terms of bands named after a planet, you have the aforementioned bands with Earth and Mars&nbsp;in their names, respectively. There are many more – and they represent many different genres of music. Among the planet band names: <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/mars-volta-bedlam-in-goliath-demon-curse/melissa-brinks?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">The Mars Volta</a>, The Neptunes, DJ Neptune, and Brave Saint Saturn. You’ll also find a lot of star bands, including Big Star, Mazzy Star, Jefferson Starship, and Midnight Star.Why the overload of great bands named after planets and other celestial bodies? It just sounds cool, and space is always that great mystery. Whether they're named for a notable constellation or one of the mysteries of the cosmos, these groups know how to get earthlings dancing.Vote for your favorite bands with space in their name and the greatest planet band names!

Robyn Hitchcock & The Venus 3

The Best Bands Named After Stars, Planets, and Other Things in Outer Space

Band/Musician

The Best Bands Named After Things in Outer Space, Ranked

Ranker Music

Lists about the gazillions of things spinning around the whole infinite universe.

Space: The Final Frontier

Space

When you stop to consider the mind-boggling size of the universe, yeah, it's easy to feel insignificant. When you puzzle over the challenges of exploring space with our frail, fleshy bodies, sure, it's intimidating. And is that endless abyss full of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/how-space-could-end-life-on-earth/nathan-gibson">apocalyptic scenarios waiting to happen</a>? Yes. But, friends, there is some gorgeous chaos out there.More than two decades in the making and finally launched on December 25, 2021, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is the successor to the Hubble. It is the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2022/07/12/science/webb-telescope-images-nasa">most powerful telescope</a> to be launched into space, and currently resides <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://webb.nasa.gov/content/about/orbit.html">1.5 million kilometers</a> (932,000 miles) from Earth. It is capable of gathering seven times the amount of light as the Hubble, offering us even deeper glimpses into the universe, and even further hints into its past.We were stunned by the pictures of Saturn <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/amazing-pictures-of-saturn-from-nasa-cassini/katejacobson">taken by the Cassini-Huygens spacecraft</a>, but we're absolutely floored by the first color images from the James Webb. Enjoy these unparalleled peeks into our universe's past, and vote up the ones that take your breath away.

Images From The James Webb Space Telescope That Make Us Marvel At The Universe

Pierce Nahigyan

Lists about real men and women who have achieved everyone's childhood dreams to become astronauts, fly through outer space, and even walk on the freaking moon.

Men on the Moon

Weird History

Many Earthlings dream of going to the stars, but once they get there,&nbsp;just what do astronauts do in space? We&#39;ve seen the most glorious historical moments, we&#39;ve passed around conspiracy theories and stories about the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/weird-things-astronauts-saw-in-space/johnandrewl" target="_blank">strange things astronauts have seen,</a> but we rarely talk about what happens to people in outer space&nbsp;on just an average day.

From&nbsp;the famous <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/neil-armstrong-and-the-moon-landing/erin-mccann" target="_blank">Apollo missions</a> of the 1960s&nbsp;to&nbsp;today&#39;s&nbsp;International Space Station&nbsp;residents, astronauts have&nbsp;to deal with mealtimes, bodily functions, and good-old-fashioned workdays in strange and complicated ways. How these brave scientists and military folk deal with <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/astronauts-hygiene-in-space/anncasano" target="_blank">the challenges of living in space</a> is as inventive as you might expect,&nbsp;and possibly more ridiculous.

Weird Details About Astronauts' Everyday Lives In Space

Weird Details About Astronauts In Space

Ryan Sargent

Determined by Apparent Magnitude, these are the 20 brightest stars in the sky from brightest to ... less bright. Magnitude measures brightness as seen from inside Earth's atmosphere... not necessarily size or importance. Which stars are the brightest?Planets may be the brightest *things* in the sky, but they don't count as stars.&nbsp;The white and blue stars tend to be the hottest and shiniest... but some red stars are closer to earth, so they will appear brighter, even when they aren't in actuality. If you've ever looked up and wondered what that big mess was all about, here are some names to give to those bright dots... and a few directions for how to find them.

The 20 Brightest Stars in the Sky

Celestial Object

analise.dubner

Photos

If ever you want a surefire way to calm your nerves on those days when life&#39;s problems seem all-encompassing, wait until nighttime rolls around and head outside for a nice peek up at the stars. When&#39;s the last time you were disappointed by looking at the sky? Or by looking at pictures of the Earth from space, even? We may never know all there is to know about space, about we can definitely admire, learn, and be inspired by checking out the view of Earth from space.&nbsp;

Sometimes in the process of juggling things like work, school, family, and friends, it&rsquo;s easy to forget how big the universe is and how small life&rsquo;s struggles really are in the grand scheme of things. That&rsquo;s why we&rsquo;ve put together this collection of stunning pictures of Earth from space, taken by NASA satellites and astronauts alike.&nbsp;Here you&rsquo;ll see Earth through the eyes of the stars as you check out aerial views of our planet from space.

Come on in and enjoy being part of a moment in history when it&rsquo;s not only possible for humans to explore space, but to bring back pictures for those of us who aren&rsquo;t quite ready to hop on the rocket. Now you&nbsp;can see the beauty of the Earth in a whole new light without so much as a trip to space camp. So without further ado, vote up the most amazing Earth pictures from space and let the Earth gazing begin!

The Most Breathtaking Pictures of Earth from Space

Pictures of Earth from Space

Ashley Reign

Of all the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/cool-hubble-pictures/carlycarano" target="_blank">cool pictures taken by the Hubble telescope</a> and astronomers of the world, the most captivating pictures are the ones of beautiful nebulas. Crazy nebula photos capture these ethereal wonders in a variety of shapes and colors unlike anything seen on earth other than <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/aurora-borealis-facts/katherine-ripley" target="_blank">the Aurora Borealis</a>. Either the beginning or end of a star, a nebula is predominantly made of gas and dust; while these materials usually look pretty boring in on an earthly level, in space they create stunning clouds of light and color. If watching clouds doesn't do it for you, maybe consider getting a telescope to look at nebulas that resemble animals. From the cat's eye nebula to the shark nebula, <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/awesome-space-pictures/mike-rothschild" target="_blank">cool&nbsp;astronomy photos</a> depict something for the fans of felines and Shark Week alike.

26 Beautiful Nebula Photos That Show Just How Beautiful The Cosmos Can Be

26 Insane Nebula Photos That Will Make You Want To Buy a Telescope

Mick Jacobs

Sci-Fi

Stepping away from the low-budget camp of &#39;50s sci-fi, &#39;60s space movies show the genre growing up and coming center stage. Although many &#39;60s sci-fi films were aimed at a younger audience, the second half of the decade brought forth a few experimental films, such as Ray Bradbury&#39;s Fahrenheit 451, which was a social commentary discussion on censorship and restrictions in the government and media.&nbsp; 
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At the top of this 1960s <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/the-best-space-movies/all-genre-movies-lists" target="_blank">space film list</a> are the influential 2001: Space Odyssey, one of Stanley Kubrick&#39;s most prolific films to date; Barbarella, featuring Jane Fonda&rsquo;s famous space-strip tease; and Marooned, the gritty, realistic story of astronauts trapped in space. Another great space film from the &#39;60s is&nbsp;Fantastic Voyage,&nbsp;which tells the story of a space crew shrunk to the size of a human cell and inserted into a spy&rsquo;s circulatory tract. 
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Vote up the best &#39;60s space movies, and be sure to let us know what you think in the comment section.&nbsp;

First Spaceship on Venus

The Best '60s Space Movies

60s Space Movies | List of Best 1960s Space Films

Ranker Film

Lists that rank the greatest, most unforgettable films in every genre released in the Great '80s.

The Best Movies of the 1980s

1980s

When it comes to movies set in space, the &#39;80s was the decade of the sequel. As this 80s space movie list demonstrates, sometimes it pays to stick with what works. Four Star Trek sequels, two Star Wars sequels, one Alien sequel and, just for good measure, a sequel to 2001: A Space Odyssey were all successful space movies from the 80&#39;s. What a great decade to be alive!

But don&rsquo;t worry if you think the 80&#39;s was completely without originality. Among the top 1980s space movies you&rsquo;ll also find The Last Starfighter, Dune, Flash Gordon, and The Transformers: The Movie&mdash;which has spawned a few sequels of its own.

So which do you prefer, Star Wars or Star Trek? Vote up your favorite space movies from the 80&#39;s, or add any that we might have missed.

Sexmission

The Best Space Movies Of The 1980s

80s Space Movies | List of Best 1980s Space Operas

Lists about real explorers and expeditions and fictional depictions of fast-paced, dangerous adventures in film, TV, anime, literature, and other media.

Choose Your Own Adventure

The greatest space adventure films provide audiences with a sense of wonder. They take us to new worlds that offer thrills and excitement, but also occasionally laughter. For that reason, they tend to be incredibly popular at the box office. The top space adventure films rank among the biggest blockbusters ever. Of course, Star Wars is the most notable example. 2001: A Space Odyssey has similarly earned itself a&nbsp;spot as an all-time classic. There are plenty more big hits, including the recent Guardians of the Galaxy adventures.

Vote up the best space adventure films below. Don&#39;t see your favorite on the list? Add it, then check back to see how other users are ranking it.&nbsp;

The Best Space Adventure Films

The Best Space Adventure Films, Ranked

Space lists at Ranker - The ultimate source for hundreds of space lists and rankings

Space lists on Ranker

We have sent a lot of strange things into space, and there is no sign that we will stop putting weird things into space any time soon. From light sabers to sea urchins, it doesn&#39;t seem like there is any limit to what we will send into space. Another thing we have sent into space is bacteria. Scientists were curious about what would happen to bacteria in space, and they found the answer after they sent some salmonella for a journey and then tested it on animals when it came back to earth. They found that the space bacteria had grown much stronger. Because of that, cleanliness in space is of utmost importance. The cost of sending things into space are very high so it must have cost one space tourist a lot of money to get a seat on a rocket headed to the International Space Station. It takes a huge amount of energy to get a rocket free of Earth&#39;s gravitational field and for each additional body you have to add a lot of weight in terms of body mass as well as all of the supplies that each person needs to survive.

In the name of science, NASA and various organizations have sent dozens of random things into outer space. Here are the geekiest and weirdest ones.

The 9 Geekiest Things Sent Into Space

Things Sent Into Space | Weird Stuff In Space

Mark Holmes

Are we the only intelligent lifeforms in the entire universe? Probably not. Exploring the unknown worlds, motives, and visits of extraterrestrial life and UFOs.

Aliens.

Aliens

Over 1,300 movie fans have come together to cast their votes for the best alien invasion movies ever made. From epic blockbusters to low-key sci-fi thrillers, the list is teeming with amazing selections that never fail to captivate audiences around the world.

From Steven Spielberg&#39;s classic Close Encounters of the Third Kind and War of the Worlds, to more recent gems like&nbsp;Cloverfield&nbsp;and Arrival, these are some of our favorite films about otherworldly encounters. Although they explore vastly different themes and genres, each one captures a unique blend of thrills and suspense as humanity finds itself at odds with hostile extraterrestrial forces. Other famous movies about alien invasions include Edge of Tomorrow,&nbsp;Mars Attacks!, Signs, Independence Day, and Men in Black.

Whether you&#39;re hoping for an adrenaline rush or simply looking for a thought-provoking story about human resilience in desperate times, these alien invasion movies will take you on an unforgettable journey into outer space. So why not check out this list today, vote up your favorites, and prepare yourself for a thrilling cinematic adventure.

Mars Attacks!

The Best Alien Invasion Movies

The 50+ Best Alien Invasion Movies, Ranked By Fans

The best alien movies, ranked by fans of space and sci-fi genres. Famous alien related movies can take several forms. What are the best alien movies? Many films about extraterrestrials,&nbsp;alien&nbsp;themed&nbsp;abductions, or visitors from other planets turn them into traditional horror villains. These &quot;alien war&quot; movies tend to follow a simple pattern: 1) UFOs arrive on Earth, 2) a misunderstanding or outright evil intent sparks a war between aliens and humanity, 3) with massively destructive and terrifying results.

Whether the movies are funny, scary, or totally crazy, there are plenty of parallels to be found between them. Consider the similarities of&nbsp;Battle: LA, Steven Spielberg&#39;s War of the Worlds, and even Tim Burton&#39;s genre parody, Mars Attacks. However, there are also films in which aliens are not an interstellar threat but a boon to humanity, or at least well-intentioned explorers like Arrival. E.T. is the classic example of the &quot;friendly alien&quot; genre &ndash; and the xenomorphs in the Alien franchise stay in outer space, so that&#39;s good for humans, too. E.T. is also one of the best alien <a href="https://www.ranker.com/tags/kids-movies?ref=internalCrossLinking_tag">kids movies</a> ever made.

What are the best alien films of all time? Often in these films, the aliens are tragically misunderstood, and it&#39;s the primal nature of human beings that spark conflict. Finally, there are numerous films about aliens which attempt to &quot;realistically&quot; depict what might happen if humans and extraterrestrials interacted. These include Close Encounters of the Third Kind (another Spielberg film!), District 9, and even abduction films purportedly based on &quot;true stories,&quot; such as Fire in the Sky. All-in-all this is far more than just a top 10 list of the best alien movies.

While this list does not include all alien movies ever made, it is a list of the best alien films. What do you think are the greatest alien movies of all time? Vote up the good alien movies you&#39;d watch over and over, and vote down&nbsp;the ones that aren&#39;t worth your time. If you find you want more ideas then check out the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-alien-movies-on-netflix/ranker-streaming" target="_blank">best alien movies on Netflix</a>,&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/the-best-action-movies-on-netflix-instant/polkadotking">best action movies on Netflix</a>, <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/best-movies-on-netflix-instant/polkadotking">best movies on Netflix</a>, the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-predator-movies/ranker-film" target="_blank">best Predator movies</a>,&nbsp;and our list of&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/best-horror-movies-on-netflix-instant/polkadotking">scary movies on Netflix</a>.&nbsp;

2001: A Space Odyssey

The Best Alien Movies Ever Made

The Best Movies About Aliens and Alien Abductions, Ranked

Ranker Community

With over 15,000 movie fans voting to shape these rankings of the best space movies, it's clear that sci-fi has a massive fan following. From classics like 2001: A Space Odyssey and Aliens to more recent favorites such as Gravity and The Martian, there is no shortage of great films set in outer space. These stories have captivated viewers for decades with their thrilling adventures and thought-provoking themes.From Star Wars to Star Trek, science fiction has long been a source of entertainment and inspiration for its devoted audience. Whether it’s an epic intergalactic battle or an intimate character study on humanity’s place in the universe, each film offers something unique that resonates with viewers around the world. As you explore this list of classic space movies and vote up your favorites, take some time to appreciate just how far we've come since Flash Gordon first graced our screens almost 90 years ago!These are the top-rated space movies ever made - from cult classics to mainstream blockbusters - so cast your votes now and help decide which ones deserve recognition as being among the greatest of all time.