Netflix’s movies offer an escape from reality, and the best options let you escape the planet’s atmosphere in the process. These space movies run the gamut from quiet introspection to unfathomable monstrosities, so if you’re looking for a thrilling adventure across the stars, then I’ve got you covered.
2024
Runtime
1 hour 47 minutes
Not all Adam Sandler movies are goofy slapstick.Punch Drunk Loveproved that Sandler has impressive dramatic chops as well as wacky comedic sensibilities, and he’s proven it time and again with releases likeUncut Gemsand theMeyerowitz Stories. Well,Spacemanis another dramatic turn for Sandler, which sees him isolated in a spaceship rocketing across the solar system. Plagued with loneliness and sinking into depression, the spaceman longs for his earthbound wife, but soon discovers a spider-like creature on the ship that wants to help him.
Spaceman is a quiet, reflective film that feels almost like a dream. A little bit ofAd Astra, a little bit ofSolaris. It won’t be for everyone—and the reviews are quite split—but is worth checking out if you’ve enjoyed Sandler’s other dramatic performances.
2018
1 hour 42 minutes
You don’t need to have seen2008’s found-footage film,Cloverfield, to watch its space-bound follow-upThe Cloverfield Paradox. In fact, I think it’s easiest to enjoy this film, along with the second installment in this trilogy,10 Cloverfield Lane, if you allow yourself to forget about the links entirely and take each film in isolation. This is probably because each film was written as a standalone film, then adapted to fit into theCloverfielduniverse.
It’s undeniably a clunky approach, but setting that aside, I still enjoyed the body horror aspects ofThe Cloverfield Paradox. We’re aboard an international space station running particle accelerator experiments in an effort to solve the energy crisis. However, when a failed experiment causes the Earth to vanish, all kinds of other creepy and inexplicable events begin to take place aboard the vessel. Don’t fret over making sense of these creepy happenings, just enjoy the gruesomeness of them.
2013
1 hour 37 minutes
Europa is a moon of Jupiter, andEuropa Reporttells the story of a team of astronauts journeying to the moon in search of ancient signs of life beneath the icy crust. Of course, as so many space adventures tend to play out, things don’t go to plan.
A solar storm causes major issues on the way to the moon, but that is only the start of the problems for the crew who have to battle to survive and complete their mission. Presented as found footage from news reports, security cameras, helmet cams, and so on,Europa Reportis remarkably grounded and received critical praise for its plausibility and realism.
1995
2 hours 20 minutes
Speaking of space missions not going to plan,Apollo 13retells the miraculous true story of what would have been the third moon landing, were it not for the explosion of an oxygen tank two days into the mission. Starring Tom Hanks, Kevin Bacon, Bill Paxton, Gary Sinise, and Ed Harris and directed by Ron Howard, this is a classic film—nominated for nine Oscars—and an absolute must-watch for any fans of space travel, fictional or otherwise.
2014
2 hours 49 minutes
Interstellaris an epic, emotional, time-bending adventure from Christopher Nolan, starring Matthew McConaughey, Jessica Chastain, Anne Hathaway, Michael Caine, Matt Damon, and recognizable faces. It’s set in the near future and humanity is struggling to feed itself amid devastating dust storms. McConaughey becomes a part of mankind’s last hope as he pilots a spacecraft across the solar system and into a wormhole in search of new worlds to inhabit.
Interstellaris easily the highest-rated film on this list and one of my personal all-time favorites. But if you want to watch this one on Netflix, you’ll need to act fast as it’s set to leave the platform on August 09, 2025.
I want to add a couple of honorable mentions to this list, both of which are kind-of sort-of space movies, but also not really, and both of which are also excellent films and worth watching.
The first isDune: Part Two. This is only worth watching if you’ve seen part one of Denis Villeneuve’s epic saga, which unfortunately isn’t on Netflix right now. I didn’t include it on this list because there is very little space action in the series, with most scenes taking place on the planet of Arrakis.
My second honorable mention goes toElysium. UnlikeDune, this is largely set in space, on an enormous space station in Earth’s orbit. It’s just that it doesn’t feel like space since the station is so large as to feel like its own planet. Spaciness aside,Elysiumis absolutely worth a watch if you want some gritty, sci-fi action and social commentary, starring Matt Damon and from Neill Blomkamp, the same writer-director who gave usDistrict 9.
Now, with those honorable mentions out of the way,get your watch list in orderand set off on some spacey adventures!
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