While many of the best sci-fi movies venture into the cosmos, fewer genre offerings take place entirely in space than you might think. Sci-fi movies tend to conjure images of spaceships flying through galaxies, but a number of them take place on Earth, such as Blade Runner and The Terminator. There are also many movies about space exploration that take place largely on other planets, like The Martian or Star Trek.
When it comes to movies that see the entire story unfold in space, they make for an eclectic glimpse of the sci-fi genre. Many of these movies take place on space vessels that are either floating above Earth or far out into the cosmos. Some are smaller standalones, while others are part of mᴀssive sci-fi movie franchises. From horror to adventure to dramas, these space-bound sci-fi movies tell many different stories among the stars.
10
Life (2017)
Directed By Daniel Espinosa
Life ᴀssembles a star-studded cast for a sci-fi horror movie that is clearly influenced by Alien‘s claustrophobic terror. The latter movie follows an international group of astronauts who discover a life form on Mars and bring it aboard their space station, only for it to quickly turn aggressive. With the life form on a ᴅᴇᴀᴅly mission of its own, the astronauts attempt to prevent it from ever reaching Earth.
Life keeps things contained aboard the space station, with even the mission on Mars being heard only through radio communication. It adds to the dread and danger with the eerie isolation of space, which is only broken in the movie’s final moments as Life‘s twist ending deals a devastating blow. While it is a bit derivative of other alien movies, the unique monster is a compelling design compared to others.
9
Pᴀssengers (2016)
Directed By Morten Tyldum
Pᴀssengers may be marred by controversy that has given it an uncomfortable reputation, but the movie is still an entertaining and unique sci-fi story. Pᴀssengers is set on a spaceship making a journey to a new colony only for a malfunction to awaken one of the pᴀssengers (Chris Pratt) prematurely. Facing the rest of his life alone on the ship, he makes the decision to awaken another pᴀssenger (Jennifer Lawrence).
It is a complex and fascinating premise that uses the long journey of space travel as a way of presenting this moral dilemma. The problem with Pᴀssengers is that it doesn’t strike the right tone, going for romance and comedy that attempt to make Pratt’s character more likable. However, it is still an interesting story of two people alone out in space, building tension behind their relationship as the truth will inevitably come out.
8
Alien Resurrection (1997)
Directed By Jean-Pierre Jeunet
There are several movies in the Alien franchise that you might ᴀssume take place only in space. However, the first Alien has the critical moment of the characters landing on a mysterious planet and finding the xenomorph eggs, while Alien: Romulus features several early scenes on a colony planet before heading to the space station. Alien Resurrection depicts the entire story aboard a space station that becomes overrun with xenomorphs.
The contained space station setting is a throwback to the original movie, placing its action on a spaceship. It is also a larger hunting ground for the aliens, allowing for some more exciting sequences, including an underwater chase. The fourth movie in the franchise was seen as a disappointment with its sense of humor being out of place, but having Sigourney Weaver back alongside the likes of Winona Ryder and Ron Perlman was nonetheless fun.
7
Dark Star (1974)
Directed By John Carpenter
Before making iconic sci-fi movies like The Thing, John Carpenter took a much less serious approach to the genre in his directorial debut, Dark Star. This movie deals with the crew of a dilapidated space vessel traveling through the cosmos on their mission to destroy any planets that are deemed unsafe or unstable. However, they soon find more and more dilemmas facing them and their mission.
The movie is an absurdist satire of the genre with Carpenter’s dry sense of humor shining through. It is also one of the first movies to take a mundane approach to space travel. While the crew encounters a lot of danger out there, they also find themselves fighting off boredom. The movie was co-written by Don O’Bannon, who would later bring his blue-collar approach to sci-fi with his script for Alien.
6
Event Horizon (1997)
Directed By Paul W.S. Anderson
Event Horizon didn’t get much attention when it was first released, but it has since earned a reputation as a cult favorite, largely because of its bold genre-bending. The movie follows the crew of a spaceship that goes to investigate another ship that was thought to have been lost, only to suddenly appear floating in space. However, as the characters learn where the ship has been, they confront a terrifying evil force.
The result is a brutal and terrifying experience that is like a blend of Alien and Hellraiser.
While there are a lot of sci-fi horror movies out there, Event Horizon is one of the few that adds in some supernatural elements. The result is a brutal and terrifying experience that is like a blend of Alien and Hellraiser. It is one of the most effective movies at making the emptiness of space feel nightmarish and as if the characters are being consumed by darkness.
5
Moon (2009)
Directed By Duncan Jones
Not only is Moon a sci-fi movie set entirely in space, but it is also an impressive picture with only one main actor seen on screen. Sam Rockwell stars in Moon as a lone astronaut overseeing an outpost on the moon. As he nears the end of his mission, he makes a shocking discovery that reveals the truth about what he is doing there.
While the events of the movie all happen on the moon, the fact that it has no atmosphere and is not another planet allows it to be considered entirely in space. It is also a terrific showcase for Rockwell as a lead actor. He is completely engaging in the complicated role, bringing out many different layers as the story progresses. It is certainly a great sci-fi movie that no one talks about, unfortunately.
4
Sunshine (2007)
Directed By Danny Boyle
Sunshine was a box office flop, despite featuring a packed cast, including Cillian Murphy, Chris Evans, Michelle Yeoh, and more. However, over the years, it has found more of an audience as a thought-provoking and beautiful sci-fi adventure. Directed by Danny Boyle and written by Alex Garland, Sunshine follows a group of scientists and astronauts on a mission to save the Earth by reigniting their dying sun.
The movie is a riveting look at the dangers of space exploration as one wrong decision spirals into one problem after another, putting the crew and the entire human race at risk. The stunning visuals and talented cast further elevate the engaging script that takes the unforgiving nature of space seriously. While the third-act introduction of a human villain seems unnecessary, it doesn’t ruin what comes before.
3
Solaris (1972)
Directed By Andrei Tarkovsky
Solaris is a sci-fi movie that defies genre conventions but is still often hailed as one of the best sci-fi movies of all time. It follows a psychologist who is sent to a space station that has been orbiting a distant planet with a crew that has been suffering hallucinations. As he examines the situation, he finds himself drawn into the same psychological struggles.
It is not a movie about the spectacle of sci-fi, but rather a human story about grief and the struggle to contend with reality over dreams.
In the case of Solaris, deep space is not used for action sequences or a horror setting, but rather to provide the necessary feeling of isolation for this meditative and surreal story. It is not a movie about the spectacle of sci-fi, but rather grief and the struggle to contend with reality over dreams. Director Andrei Tarkovsky immerses the audience in this somber and contemplative tone that makes the mind-bending concepts all the more impactful.
2
Gravity (2013)
Directed By Alfonso Cuarón
Gravity is an interesting space movie as it takes place just off Earth and is focused on escaping the dangers of space in order to return home. Sandra Bullock gives an intense performance in the movie as Ryan Stone, an astronaut on her first space mission when the shuttle is struck by flying debris and destroyed. This forces her to make a perilous trek through space to another station in an effort to get home safely.
What makes Gravity such a harrowing and thrilling experience is that it is filmed as if it is one continuous sH๏τ, putting the audience in Stone’s position as she fights her way from one obstacle to the next. It is a gripping adventure with director Alfonso Cuarón using some groundbreaking approaches to elevate this popcorn entertainment.
1
2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
Directed By Stanley Kubrick
2001: A Space Odyssey is not only a definitive sci-fi masterpiece but also one of the most influential movies of all time, inspiring future filmmakers like Steven Spielberg and Christopher Nolan. It reshaped the sci-fi genre with its approach to visuals, storytelling, and themes, all of which feel visionary even after all these decades. While the iconic prologue is set on a prehistoric Earth, the actual story itself is entirely in space.
From the design of the spacecrafts to the depiction of zero gravity, director Stanley Kubrick’s attention to detail in showing the potential reality of space travel remains hugely influential in sci-fi. The movie’s themes of artificial intelligence, with the creation of HAL 9000, are also still relevant after all of these years. With all of its brilliant accuracy, 2001: A Space Odyssey also finds a way to explore the mysterious unknown of space.
