On April 1, NASA made history again with the launch of Artemis II, the agency’s first crewed mission around the moon in over 50 years.
Major moments like this often spark renewed interest in space, and Artemis II is no exception. While waiting for the mission to make its scheduled return to Earth on April 10, here is a list of movies to watch to keep the excitement going.
“Project Hail Mary” (2026)
“Project Hail Mary” is a newly released science fiction drama based on Andy Weir’s novel of the same name. The film stars Ryan Gosling as Ryland Grace, a science teacher sent on a space mission to help save humanity. Along the way, he meets an alien named Rocky (James Ortiz), who is trying to save his own planet.
The movie is a heartfelt, feel-good space film and the visuals, particularly the scenes set in space, are stunning and elevate the overall experience. While the alien-human friendship storyline is not original, Ryland and Rocky share a strong comedic dynamic that gives the film much of its charm.
“Project Hail Mary” is currently playing in theaters.
“Interstellar” (2014)
One of the most popular science fiction films of its time, Christopher Nolan’s “Interstellar” is a great choice for space enthusiasts.
Set in a future devastated by dust storms and failing crops, the film follows NASA’s search for another habitable planet. Starring Matthew McConaughey as Cooper, a former NASA pilot and engineer turned farmer. The film also features Anne Hathaway, Michael Caine and Jessica Chastain.
Though I found this film to be confusing at times, much like many of Nolan’s other movies, the powerful performances, moving score, stunning visuals and emotional themes of love more than make up for that. “Interstellar” is the kind of film meant to be experienced on the big screen.
“Interstellar” is streaming on Paramount+ and Peacock.
“The Martian” (2015)
“The Martian” is a science fiction drama based on the novel of the same name, also by Andy Weir, about botanist and astronaut Mark Watney (Matt Damon), who gets stranded on Mars. The film follows his attempts to survive on the planet and make contact with Earth.
“The Martian” explores heavy themes such as isolation and severe food and water shortages, yet still manages to feel like a dramatic comedy. With its straightforward story and entertaining tone, it is a great space movie to watch with friends.
“The Martian” is available to rent or buy on major digital platforms.
“Hidden Figures” (2016)
If you want a true story that will warm your heart, look no further than “Hidden Figures.”
“Hidden Figures” is a historical drama about the real-life contributions of three Black women at NASA: Katherine G. Johnson (Taraji P. Henson), Dorothy Vaughan (Octavia Spencer) and Mary Jackson (Janelle Monáe).
The film highlights their roles in calculating flight trajectories, programming computers and engineering solutions for NASA during the early 1960s Space Race. The film shows the integral role the women played in making John Glenn the first American to orbit the Earth while also confronting segregation and discrimination.
“Hidden Figures” is a powerful story about contributions that often go overlooked. So much of the focus on NASA and spaceflight is placed on the astronauts, but this film highlights the incredible work of these women, especially because they were denied recognition for so long. The movie is captivating, heartfelt and inspiring.
“Hidden Figures” is streaming on HBO Max and is also available to rent or buy on digital platforms.
“2001: A Space Odyssey” (1968)
“2001: A Space Odyssey” is a timeless science fiction classic about a mysterious alien monolith discovered on the moon and the space mission that follows to investigate its origins. As the mission unfolds, the crew must deal with HAL 9000 (Douglas Rain), the ship’s artificial intelligence system, which slowly begins to turn against them.
This film is a little darker than the others on the list, but, directed by Stanley Kubrick, it remains a classic for a reason. The visuals are stunning and original, and the story feels more relevant than ever with the rise of artificial intelligence and the ethical questions surrounding it.
“2001: A Space Odyssey” is available to stream on HBO Max and is also available to rent or buy on digital platforms.
