The Martian, directed by Ridley Scott and starring Matt Damon, is a gripping sci-fi thriller about an astronaut stranded alone on Mars who must use his ingenuity to survive. Released in 2015, the film was a critical and commercial success, praised for its scientific accuracy, strong performances, and edge-of-your-seat storytelling.
If you loved The Martian and are craving more realistic and thought-provoking space movies, look no further. Here are 18 of the best films that capture a similar spirit of exploration, problem-solving, and the indomitable human will to survive against the odds.
1. Interstellar (2014)
Christopher Nolan’s epic space odyssey follows a group of astronauts who journey through a wormhole in search of a new home for humanity. Like The Martian, Interstellar grounds its speculative premise in real science, with renowned theoretical physicist Kip Thorne serving as an executive producer and scientific consultant.
Matthew McConaughey leads an all-star cast as Cooper, a widowed engineer and former NASA pilot recruited for the desperate mission. The film is a visual marvel, with stunning depictions of alien worlds, a black hole, and mind-bending spacetime effects. But at its core, Interstellar is a deeply human story about a father’s love for his children and the lengths he will go to save them.
2. Gravity (2013)
Alfonso Cuarón‘s Gravity is a master class in cinematic suspense, following two astronauts (Sandra Bullock and George Clooney) stranded in space after their shuttle is destroyed by debris. Like Mark Watney in The Martian, Bullock’s character Dr. Ryan Stone must rely on her wits and training to survive in an unforgiving environment.
Shot in long, fluid takes that immerse you in the terrifying beauty of space, Gravity is a technical marvel that makes you feel like you are floating alongside the characters. Bullock delivers a powerhouse performance as a grieving medical engineer pushed to her physical and emotional limits. The film is a breathless survival thriller that also serves as a poignant meditation on grief, rebirth, and the resilience of the human spirit.
3. Apollo 13 (1995)
Directed by Ron Howard and starring Tom Hanks, Apollo 13 dramatizes the aborted 1970 lunar mission that nearly ended in disaster. Like The Martian, it’s a story of a NASA crew facing a life-threatening crisis in space and the ground team working tirelessly to bring them home safely.
Hanks plays mission commander Jim Lovell, with Kevin Bacon and Bill Paxton as fellow astronauts Jack Swigert and Fred Haise. When an oxygen tank explodes and cripples their spacecraft, the crew must work with Mission Control to improvise solutions and navigate their way back to Earth.
Apollo 13 is a riveting docudrama that pays meticulous attention to technical details while keeping the focus on the human drama. It’s a stirring tribute to the ingenuity, teamwork, and courage that defined NASA’s finest hour.
4. The Right Stuff (1983)
Based on Tom Wolfe‘s bestselling book, The Right Stuff is an epic chronicle of the early days of the U.S. space program and the pioneering test pilots who became the first Mercury astronauts. Directed by Philip Kaufman, the film boasts an incredible ensemble cast including Sam Shepard, Ed Harris, Dennis Quaid, and Scott Glenn.
Like The Martian, The Right Stuff celebrates the bravery and problem-solving skills of astronauts pushing the boundaries of human exploration. It’s a sweeping, sometimes irreverent look at the Space Race that doesn’t shy away from the risks and sacrifices involved. The film is a testament to the “right stuff” – the ineffable mix of guts, smarts, and spirit – that propelled the first Americans into space.
5. Moon (2009)
Duncan Jones‘ Moon is a thought-provoking sci-fi drama that shares The Martian‘s theme of isolation and psychological resilience in space. Sam Rockwell stars as Sam Bell, the sole operator of a lunar mining facility nearing the end of his three-year contract.
As Sam’s mental state begins to deteriorate, he makes a shocking discovery that calls his identity and purpose into question. Moon is a low-budget, high-concept film that relies on Rockwell’s captivating solo performance to sell its mind-bending premise. Like The Martian, it’s a smart, minimalist space movie that explores the human condition through the lens of science fiction.
6. Sunshine (2007)
Directed by Danny Boyle, Sunshine follows a crew of astronauts on a mission to reignite the dying sun with a massive stellar bomb. Like The Martian, it’s a visually stunning film that takes the science of space travel seriously while still delivering blockbuster thrills.
Cillian Murphy leads an international cast as physicist Robert Capa, part of a last-ditch effort to save Earth from a solar winter. As the crew contends with equipment failures and interpersonal tensions, they also grapple with existential questions about faith, sacrifice, and the future of humanity.
Sunshine is a gripping blend of hard sci-fi and metaphysical horror that keeps you guessing until the final frame. Like The Martian, it’s a film that respects the audience’s intelligence while still delivering edge-of-your-seat entertainment.
7. Contact (1997)
Based on the novel by Carl Sagan, Contact stars Jodie Foster as Dr. Ellie Arroway, a SETI scientist who discovers a radio signal from an alien intelligence. Directed by Robert Zemeckis, the film is a thoughtful exploration of science, faith, and the search for meaning in the universe.
Like The Martian, Contact takes a grounded approach to its speculative premise, depicting the political and philosophical debates that would surround first contact. Foster delivers a powerful performance as a driven researcher who risks everything to pursue her lifelong dream of communication with extraterrestrial life.
While not strictly a survival story like The Martian, Contact shares its spirit of discovery and its respect for the scientific process. It’s a film that challenges us to look beyond our differences and imagine the incredible possibilities that await us in the cosmos.
8. Passengers (2016)
Passengers is a sci-fi romance that shares The Martian‘s themes of isolation and survival in space. Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Pratt star as Aurora and Jim, two passengers on a colony ship who are awakened from cryosleep 90 years too early due to a malfunction.
As the only two conscious people on the ship, Aurora and Jim must confront the challenges of living out their lives in space while grappling with the ethical implications of their situation. Like The Martian, Passengers is a visually stunning film that takes the realities of long-distance space travel seriously.
While some critics found the central romance problematic, Passengers remains an entertaining and thought-provoking film that explores the human need for connection and purpose in the face of cosmic isolation.
9. First Man (2018)
Directed by Damien Chazelle, First Man is a biopic of astronaut Neil Armstrong, the first person to walk on the moon. Ryan Gosling delivers a understated performance as the famously private Armstrong, chronicling his journey from test pilot to Apollo 11 commander.
Like The Martian, First Man is a film that celebrates the courage and ingenuity of the early space program while also acknowledging the immense risks and sacrifices involved. Chazelle’s intimate, handheld cinematography puts you inside the claustrophobic spacecraft and lets you experience the visceral thrill and terror of the missions.
At its core, First Man is a deeply personal story about a man grappling with grief and his own mortality as he reaches for the stars. It’s a fitting companion piece to The Martian, reminding us of the real-life heroes who paved the way for our fictional journeys to Mars and beyond.
10. Ad Astra (2019)
James Gray‘s Ad Astra is a psychological sci-fi drama that follows astronaut Roy McBride (Brad Pitt) on a mission across the solar system to find his long-lost father (Tommy Lee Jones). Like The Martian, it’s a film that grapples with the emotional and existential challenges of space exploration.
As Roy journeys from Earth to the Moon, Mars, and beyond, he confronts his own demons and the legacy of his absent father. Ad Astra is a visually stunning film that imagines a near future where space travel has become commercialized and militarized.
Like The Martian, it’s a movie that uses the vastness of space as a backdrop for a deeply personal story. Pitt delivers a quietly powerful performance as a man learning to reconnect with his own humanity in the face of the infinite.
11. Europa Report (2013)
Europa Report is a found-footage sci-fi thriller that follows a crew of international astronauts on a mission to Jupiter’s moon Europa to search for signs of extraterrestrial life. When disaster strikes, the crew must fight to survive while continuing their historic mission.
Like The Martian, Europa Report takes a realistic approach to space exploration, depicting the challenges and hazards of long-distance travel and the toll it takes on the crew. The film’s lo-fi aesthetic and documentary-style cinematography create a sense of authenticity and immediacy.
While Europa Report may not have the star power or blockbuster budget of The Martian, it’s a tense and thought-provoking film that explores the sacrifices and rewards of pushing the boundaries of human knowledge.
12. Proxima (2019)
Proxima is a French drama that stars Eva Green as Sarah, an astronaut preparing for a year-long mission aboard the International Space Station. As Sarah trains for her mission, she struggles to balance her dedication to her career with her responsibilities as a single mother to her young daughter.
Like The Martian, Proxima is a film that takes a grounded, realistic approach to space exploration while also exploring the human drama behind the missions. Green delivers a powerful performance as a woman torn between her dreams and her duties, and the film offers a rare glimpse into the challenges faced by female astronauts.
While Proxima may be a more intimate and earthbound film than The Martian, it shares its fascination with the physical and emotional trials of space travel and the resilience of the human spirit.
13. The Wandering Earth (2019)
The Wandering Earth is a Chinese sci-fi blockbuster that imagines a future where Earth’s orbit is altered to escape the expanding Sun, turning the planet into a spaceship. When the mission goes awry, a group of astronauts and rescue workers must fight to save humanity from destruction.
Based on a novella by Liu Cixin, The Wandering Earth is a visually stunning film that combines hard sci-fi concepts with disaster movie thrills. Like The Martian, it’s a story of human ingenuity and cooperation in the face of existential threat.
While The Wandering Earth may not be as scientifically rigorous as The Martian, it’s an entertaining and thought-provoking film that showcases the growing ambition and skill of the Chinese film industry.
14. Aniara (2018)
Aniara is a Swedish sci-fi drama based on the epic poem by Harry Martinson. Set in a dystopian future, the film follows a group of passengers aboard a luxury spaceship bound for Mars that is knocked off course, dooming them to drift through space indefinitely.
As the passengers grapple with their new reality, they turn to hedonism, despair, and cult-like devotion to a mysterious device called the Mima. Like The Martian, Aniara is a film that explores the psychological effects of isolation and the human need for purpose and connection.
While Aniara is a bleaker and more surreal film than The Martian, it shares its fascination with the fragility of human society and the ways we cope with existential dread. It’s a haunting and thought-provoking film that lingers long after the credits roll.
15. High Life (2018)
Directed by Claire Denis, High Life is an art-house sci-fi film that follows a group of criminals sent on a mission to extract energy from a black hole. As the crew contends with the psychological and physical strains of deep space travel, they also grapple with their own dark pasts and the experiments of a sinister doctor (Juliette Binoche).
Robert Pattinson stars as Monte, a convict who becomes the sole caretaker of a baby born on the ship. Like Mark Watney in The Martian, Monte must use his ingenuity and resourcefulness to survive in a hostile environment and protect the life in his care.
High Life is a challenging and unconventional film that uses the tropes of sci-fi to explore themes of human reproduction, violence, and the search for meaning in a vast and indifferent universe. It’s a film that rewards patient and open-minded viewers with its haunting visuals and provocative ideas.
16. Solaris (1972)
Directed by Andrei Tarkovsky, Solaris is a Soviet sci-fi classic based on the novel by Stanisław Lem. The film follows a psychologist sent to investigate strange occurrences on a space station orbiting the mysterious planet Solaris.
As the psychologist delves deeper into the phenomenon, he is confronted with manifestations of his own memories and desires, including his dead wife. Like The Martian, Solaris uses the isolation of space as a backdrop for a psychological drama about grief, guilt, and the nature of reality.
While Solaris is a slower and more contemplative film than The Martian, it shares its fascination with the human mind and the ways it can be tested by the unknown. It’s a haunting and poetic film that invites multiple interpretations and rewards repeated viewings.
17. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
Directed by Stanley Kubrick, 2001: A Space Odyssey is a landmark sci-fi film that chronicles the evolution of human intelligence from prehistoric times to a future where astronauts encounter a mysterious monolith on the moon and embark on a journey to Jupiter.
Like The Martian, 2001 is a film that takes the science of space travel seriously, depicting the mechanics of zero-gravity movement and the challenges of long-distance voyages. Kubrick’s meticulous attention to detail and groundbreaking visual effects create a sense of realism and wonder that still holds up today.
But 2001 is also a deeply philosophical film that grapples with existential questions about the nature of consciousness, the search for meaning, and the possibility of extraterrestrial intelligence. It’s a film that challenges the viewer to think deeply about the place of humanity in the cosmos and the ultimate fate of our species.
18. Gravity (2013)
Directed by Alfonso Cuarón, Gravity is a survival thriller that follows two astronauts (Sandra Bullock and George Clooney) stranded in space after their shuttle is destroyed by debris. Like The Martian, it’s a film that depicts the life-or-death challenges of space exploration and the resourcefulness required to overcome them.
Gravity is a technical marvel, with long, unbroken shots that create a sense of immersion and weightlessness. Cuarón’s use of 3D and surround sound puts the viewer inside the astronauts’ helmets, experiencing the terror and beauty of space alongside them.
But Gravity is also a deeply human story about a woman (Bullock) grappling with grief and finding the will to survive in the face of overwhelming odds. Like Mark Watney in The Martian, she must confront her own mortality and the fragility of life in the vast emptiness of space. It’s a fitting companion piece to The Martian, celebrating the indomitable human spirit in the face of the unknown.
