The best space movies of all time
The top 3 according to 1,139 votes from people: 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) · Apollo 13 (1995) · Alien (1979). (Updated May 12, 2026.)
From 2001: A Space Odyssey to The Martian: the space films critics and fans rank highest (Looper, Consequence, Time Out).
Top 12
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1
2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
Kubrick's film, perhaps the most influential in the genre.
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2
Apollo 13 (1995)
The troubled 1970 lunar mission, and «Houston, we have a problem».
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3
Alien (1979)
A commercial crew answers a mysterious transmission.
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4
The Martian (2015)
Matt Damon science-ing his way to survival on Mars.
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5
Interstellar (2014)
Christopher Nolan, wormholes and a father's promise.
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6
The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
The best Star Wars film for many.
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7
WALL·E (2008)
Pixar's lonely robot, charm and big questions.
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8
Solaris (1972)
Tarkovsky's space station and an ocean that reads minds.
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9
Contact (1997)
Jodie Foster hears a signal from Vega.
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10
Moon (2009)
Sam Rockwell alone on a lunar base.
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11
Gravity (2013)
Sandra Bullock adrift in orbit.
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12
The Right Stuff (1983)
The Mercury 7 astronauts.
How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.
Is something missing?
Comments (9)
2001 at #1 is the only correct answer.
Interstellar should be first, it's the one that actually makes people cry.
Crying isn't the measure of a great film, 2001 changed cinema forever.
WALL·E's first 30 minutes with almost no dialogue are perfect.
Solaris is beautiful but so slow, I fell asleep twice.
Apollo 13 is the most tense movie where you already know the ending.
Where is Sunshine? Danny Boyle's best film.
The Martian is the most fun, 'science the s**t out of this' 😂
Moon is so underrated, Sam Rockwell carries the whole thing alone.