The Best Astronaut Movies Of All Time

Harper Brooks
Updated March 15, 2025 32.7K views 45 items

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6.5K votes
1.1K voters
1 reranks
Latest additions: Solaris, Life, Spaceman
Most divisive: Ad Astra
Over 1.1K Ranker voters have come together to rank this list of More Science, Less Fiction

The best astronaut movies offer thrilling adventures that combine the mysteries of space exploration with the human spirit's resilience and determination. Featuring movies about astronauts that are realistic, engaging, and critically acclaimed, these rankings are based on votes from thousands of cinephiles, ensuring that the list reflects a broad consensus of what truly captivates audiences. This collective input makes it necessary to feature a list of astronaut movies that offer authenticity, stellar performances, and impactful storytelling that resonates with space travel enthusiasts.

Among the top movies, some titles consistently draw praise and high rankings. Popular films like Apollo 13, directed by Ron Howard and starring Tom Hanks, showcase the incredible true story of the ill-fated lunar mission. Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar, featuring Matthew McConaughey, takes viewers on a visually stunning journey through wormholes to find a new home for humanity. Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey remains a timeless classic, pushing the boundaries of visual storytelling and philosophical exploration. These good films, along with The Martian, Gravity, First Man, The Right Stuff, Contact, Moon, and Hidden Figures, are just a glimpse into the diverse storytelling within this genre.

Each movie brings something unique to the table. The Martian demonstrates human ingenuity and survival against impossible odds with Matt Damon delivering a captivating performance. Gravity, starring Sandra Bullock and George Clooney, creates an atmospheric, edge-of-your-seat thriller about an astronaut’s harrowing journey to survive after a disaster leaves her stranded in space. Hidden Figures adapts the inspiring true story of African American women at NASA who defied racial barriers to help launch John Glenn into orbit, bringing an essential historical perspective to space travel narratives and diversity in the space program.

Readers are encouraged to vote for their favorite astronaut movies on this crowd-ranked list. Your input is crucial in highlighting the movies that best capture the essence of space exploration and the human spirit. Dive into these incredible stories and vote up the films that you believe make the greatest impact in this genre.

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