One of the best space movies of all time, Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar is extremely relevant even after a decade of being out in the world. In the film, a future Earth is being decimated by a global crop blight and a second Dust Bowl, making the planet uninhabitable. Professor Brand plans to transport Earth’s population to a new home, but first, former NASA pilot Cooper and a team of researchers must find the best planet for mankind’s new home.
A journey across both time and space, Interstellar is a movie you won’t soon forget. If you want more space-traveling action after watching the film, try out one of these six best movies like Interstellar.
6. Sunshine (2007)
Our sixth selection is Sunshine for movies like Interstellar, centering on a dying sun. Fifty years into the future, the Sun begins to die, spelling disaster for Earth and the end of humanity. In a last-ditch effort, a crew of eight men and women are sent into space with a device that could revive the dying star. However, when an accident and a distress beacon from a long-lost spaceship enter the mix, it throws the entire crew and the mission into a tailspin.
Sunshine focuses on the ending of Earth, but due to the death of the Sun rather than environmental issues on the planet.
–IMDb score: 7.2
5. Apollo 13 (1995)
Based on the true events of the Apollo 13 lunar mission, Apollo 13 is our fifth choice for movies like Interstellar. Astronauts Jim Lovell, Fred Haise, and Jack Swigert are sent into space, with everything going to plan after leaving Earth’s orbit. But when an oxygen tank explodes on the ship, their scheduled moon landing is called off. As tensions and technical problems rise, the crew must come together to ensure their survival and safe return to Earth.
Though they are only going to the moon, the crew of Apollo 13 braved several technical problems to find their way back home, just like in Interstellar.
–IMDb score: 7.7
4. Gravity (2013)
Coming in at number four on our movies like Interstellar list is Gravity, premiering in 2009. Dr. Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock) is on her first space mission while her partner Matt Kowalski (George Clooney) is on his last flight before retiring. On a relatively routine spacewalk, the two are hit by debris, destroying the shuttle and leaving Stone and Kowalsky completely alone. Tethered to each other and spiraling into the darkness, the ending is unclear for both astronauts.
While Gravity only has a team of two, they must combine their talents to save themselves from danger, just like at each planet in Interstellar.
–IMDb score: 7.7
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3. Moon (2009)
Sam Rockwell stars as astronaut Sam Bell in our third selection of Moon for movies like Interstellar list. Sam’s three-year shift at a lunar mine is nearly complete, and he’s looking forward to getting back home to see his wife and young daughter. Suddenly, his health takes a turn for the worse, and Sam suffers from painful headaches and hallucinations. After nearly having a fatal accident, he sees what appears to be a younger version of himself. As time runs out before the company crew arrives, Sam must untangle the mystery of the Moon.
Similar to Interstellar, Sam gets help from his computer GERTY to figure out his problems, just like Cooper does with TARS.
–IMDb score: 7.8
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2. The Martian (2014)
One of the newest films on our movies like Interstellar list is The Martian, based on the best-selling novel by Andy Weir. During a manned mission to Mars, astronaut Mark Watney is presumed dead after a dangerous dust storm throws him away from his crew. Alive and alone, Watney must try and survive with meager supplies, his ingenuity, and his spirit. Millions of miles away, a NASA crew works tirelessly to bring “the Martian” home, while his crew mates plan a rescue mission aboard their ship.
The Martian brings to life an astronaut living in a hostile environment, similar to Cooper’s situation as he survives on a dying Earth.
–IMDb score: 8.0
1. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
Finally, our last movies like Interstellar list selection is the godfather of space movies, 2001: A Space Odyssey. Based on the best-selling novel by Arthur C. Clarke, an imposing black structure is the tether between the past and the future. Dr. Dave Bowman and his crew are sent on a mysterious mission, but as they continue into the vacuum of space, their computer system HAL acts increasingly strange. This leads to a tense showdown between man and machine sending everyone into an unforgettable journey.
Both Interstellar and 2001: A Space Odyssey are giants when it comes to space movies, so it only makes sense that they would grace the same space.
–IMDb score: 8.3