Best Outer Space Movies
Have you seen Solaris by Andrei Tarkovsky?
For All Mankind is one of my favorite documentaries. I love that it eschews the narrator and opts for just news footage from the time.
Yeah, I have Solaris. There has to be some epic outer space movies I’m missing out on here.. :)
Yeah, I have Solaris. There has to be some epic outer space movies I’m missing out on here.. :)
Starship Troopers-Alien-Moon-Dune-would “City of Lost Children” qualify?
Definitely Alien, I agree.
What about Sunshine?
Total Recall-The Fith Element
Total Recall-The Fith Element
Sunshine was great until the third act, when Boyle made almost a completely new film of a monster chase which basically made everything else in the film seems unimportant. Although, you cut out the last 30-40 minutes or around those scenes, and it still makes a good film.
Sunshine was great until the third act, when Boyle made almost a completely new film of a monster chase which basically made everything else in the film seems unimportant. Although, you cut out the last 30-40 minutes or around those scenes, and it still makes a good film.
Silent Running (1972) Directed by Douglas Trumbull
Trumbull, who worked as a Special Photographic Effects Supervisor on 2001 and would go on to work on "Close Encounters of the 3rd Kind*, Star Trek: The Motion Picture, and Blade Runner, directed this little gem – a grim prophecy of a future where plant life on Earth has been decimated, and the remaining specimens are preserved in space-bound greenhouses. An obvious influence on Duncan Jones’ Moon.
Dark Star (1974) Directed by John Carpenter
Early Carpenter, which is an hilarious dark comedy about a group of astronauts whose mission is to destroy unstable planets in star systems about to be colonised. Brilliant.
I’ve seen Alien, Moon, City of Lost Children, Sunshine, Fifth Element.
Silent Running looks a little interesting. Have not seen Total Recall in ages. I feel like there must be a serious special one missing still.. :/
If you can spare $30 greenbacks, I would recomend you get the Cowboy Bebop boxset and prepare to be blown away. Its an animated series that takes place in outer space and each episode is as good as any of the movies mentioned here.
That is a good recommendation, but I own that too. :)
Thats great! I guess that pretty much covers everything.
I can’t believe no one has mentioned the greatest sci fi out there which even puts Andrie Tarkovsky in his place…
The Adventures of Pluto Nash
Why so serious?This one is one of the best, according to me.
The Hitchhiker’s guide to the Galaxy (2005) Garth Jennings.It’s hilarious, and have loads of quotable lines.
Two old classics from opposite ends of the spectrum: Forbidden Planet, and First Spaceship on Venus. You’ll see what I mean…
2001+Alien (the first one)+Solaris+Galaxy Quest+Screamers
You’ll also have great sequences in Dune by Lynch, the first Planet of the Apes and Quintet by Altman
Galaxy Quest dude?????????
IKARIE XB 1
I am a life long Sci-Fi and space exploration geek.
Despite enjoying films for their pure adventure content, I have a preference for films that are at least in some way based on science fact. Most films labeled as science fiction are really fantasy films.
Star Wars is a great example of this, there is no actual science fiction in SW. High tech devices and spaceships do not make one a Sci-fi picture.
A typical and very good definition of Science Fiction goes like this:
“Works of fiction that use scientific discoveries or advanced technology — either actual or imaginary — as part of their plot.”
While I would easily place SW in a ‘top ten fantasy film’ list, I would never put it on a Sci-Fi list for this reason.
If you want to see some films ‘about space’ but not necessarily mainstream, I can suggest 2 classics:
Destination Moon: 1950 George Pal classic. Won an Academy Award for best SPFX, among other awards. Dated by current standards, but utilizing all known scientific knowledge available at the time. Amazing space art by Chesley Bonestell. if you are interested in space and don’t know about Bonestell, I encourage you to look him up!
The film is entirely about space travel. I must have seen DM a thousand times now and I never ever get tired of it. Made before there was a space program [but during the rocket program], before men actually went into space, before going to the moon was really considered reachable. Almost every piece of science in the film holds up today as accurate- not many Sci-Fi films from that time [or even later] can make that claim.
Available on DVD, and in Technicolor but the print is a somewhat scratched and the sound can get a bit low in quality in a couple of places- but still highly watchable. I wish it were fully restored! A real landmark Sci-Fi picture.
Criterion- are you listening? Not a lot of Sci-Fi on Criterion, this one deserves the full deal :D
Conquest of Space 1955
Another George Pal classic. Sadly, a bit too heavy handed with an odd religious sidestory. The spaceship designs are based on Dr. Wherner Von Braun’s massively ambitious Mars expedition which was actually far more grand in scope than depicted in the film and Chesley Bonestell illustrated the entire plan extensively in the book The Exploration of Mars.
All science in the film was based on what was known at the time to be factual. Based on a non-fiction book by Wily Ley and Chesley Bonestell [who again provides great space art for the film]. the book is more about the science behind space travel and what it will take to accomplish it, while the film is about a trip to Mars and in some small ways touches upon themes of stretching the limits of human ability, physically and psychologically. That aspect is played down however in the film, as it is presented more as an adventure film. It is a lot of fun though, if only to see Von Brauns’ Mars expedition spacecraft realized in a film despite the artistic changes made. Also has a fine attempt at an international crew, something almost unheard of at the time.
On DVD [weak package art, but the print is fine and a widescreen Technicolor print, too]
Heres some of memorable quotes: (Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy):
The Book: “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is a wholly remarkable book. More popular, certainly more successful than the Celestial Home Care Omnibus, better selling than Fifty-Three More Things to do in Zero Gravity, and more controversial than Oolon Colluphid’s trilogy of philosophical blockbusters Where God Went Wrong, Some More of God’s Greatest Mistakes and Who is this God Person Anyway?”
The Book: “Presidents don’t have power, their purpose is to draw attention away from it.”
Ghostly Image: “Greetings. This is a recorded announcement as we are all out at the moment. The Commercial Council of Magrathea thanks you for your esteemed visit but regrets that the entire planet is temporarily closed. If you would like to leave your name and a planet where you can be contacted, kindly do so at the tone.”
Eddie the Computer: “Engaging Infinite Improbability Drive…”
Ford: “No, no, no… Zaphod, buttons aren’t toys! What did you do?”
Arthur: “I think that door just sighed.”
Marvin: “Ghastly, isn’t it? All the doors on this spaceship have been programmed to have a cheery and sunny disposition.”
It’s Hilarious! I’ll tell ya!"
Awesome, thanks for all the recommendations so far!
I Killed Einstein, Gentlemen (1970, Oldrich Lipsky)
Man In Outer Space (1961, Oldrich Lipsky)
Operation Bororo (1973, Otakar Fuka)
The Stolen Airship (1967, Karel Zeman)
hmmm..Czech films..am curious.
Yeah, The Stolen Airship looks the most intriguing.
Oh, I tried to watch Screamers, couldn’t even make it past the first 25 minutes. So bad.
Forbidden Planet
Christopher
Just got done watching For All Mankind. Really set the mood for a outer space run. Looking for recommendations of not general Sci Fi movies, but specifically outer space movies. Don’t recommend the obvious ones (2001, Star Wars etc..).
Thanks!