Science-fiction films make up a sizable portion of space-related movies, but not every movie in or about space is sci-fi. Starry, planetary themes have surrounded plenty of other great works. Some of these tell moving stories of space exploration, and others are fun comedic pieces for audiences of all ages to enjoy.
Not all viewers want to immerse themselves in the science-fiction genre all the time, so it’s great that there are other space-themed options. Get ready to blast off and peruse a unique collection of movies spanning the galaxies.
Space Buddies (2009): 4.3
While people think the Air Bud franchise has gone on for too long (and Space Buddies receives a fairly low rating all around), the 2009 installment still has something going for it: adorable puppies. Just about no one can deny wanting to watch these little Golden Retrievers follow their humans to a space shuttle launch. The pups must work together in their space suits on the moon, and they eventually make it back to Earth.
Jetsons: The Movie (1990): 5.6
Mr. Spacely promotes George Jetson and sends him and his family to outer space. As the Jetsons get acclimated in their new home, George gets to work. He finds that the Spacely Sprockets plant has been sabotaged, so George must clear his name and get to the bottom of the problem. Once he does, the Jetsons are able to move back to Earth.
This animated voyage was directed by Joseph Barbera, William Hanna, and Iwao Takamoto. It also features several of the voice actors from the classic television series, George O’Hanlon, Mel Blanc, and Penny Singleton.
Muppets From Space (1999): 6.3
Put together Jim Henson’s Muppets and an intergalactic journey, and viewers are in for quite a tale. Gonzo is searching for his bio family, who just might be aliens. Miss Piggy has UFOs on the brain in her role as a news reporter, so Gonzo gets the spotlight. Government agents can then easily locate him, so Kermit and friends must save their friend before he becomes a science experiment.
Zenon: Girl Of The 21st Century (1999): 6.4
Zenon and her parents live on a space station in the year 2049, and Zenon couldn’t be happier to dwell there. She has her best friend, Nebula, her cool neon apparel, and a mega crush on rockstar Proto Zoa. Zenon’s meddling gets her sent to planet Earth, but she has to hurry back to space when a tyrant wants to destroy her family’s home to collect the insurance money. In addition to its stellar characters and frightening plot, the movie predicted plenty of modern technology.
Space Jam (1996): 6.5
1990s kids were struck by Space Jam because of its electrifying theme song, its incorporation of the Looney Tunes, and its star-powered lead, Michael Jordan. With an all-star cast of animated characters and NBA players plus a truly unique aesthetic, Space Jam finds the Looney Tunes facing off against aliens who want to kidnap them. Who could be a better coach than Michael Jordan? It will be interesting to see what happens in the upcoming sequel!
Treasure Planet (2002): 7.2
Robert Louis Stevenson’s 1883 Treasure Island novel has been the basis for many movies, and Disney put yet another spin on the story with Treasure Planet. Jim Hawkins (voiced by Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is drawn to a pirate’s life, and a spherical projector with a map inside is just the ticket for the adventurous protagonist. He won’t stop until he finds Treasure Planet, even in the face of a supernova and a black hole. The rich animation and fresh take on a classic story make this movie one that children can enjoy with the whole family.
First Man (2018): 7.3
Neil Armstrong is one of the most prolific astronauts of the space race. Ryan Gosling portrays Armstrong in the historical drama First Man, which is based on James R. Hansen’s book, First Man: The Life of Neil A. Armstrong (2005).
The award-winning film chronicles Neil Armstrong’s time in the space program and rigorous training along with his fateful achievement in 1969–landing Apollo 11 on the moon with Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins.
Apollo 13 (1995): 7.6
Directed by Ron Howard, Apollo 13 swept up numerous awards with its depiction of the spacecraft’s failed moon mission in 1970. Lunar Module Pilot Fred Haise, Command Module Pilot Jack Swigert, and Commander Jim Lovell are portrayed in the film by Bill Paxton, Kevin Bacon, and Tom Hanks, respectively. NASA explains that despite this lunar mission’s failure to land, “it was classified as a ‘successful failure’ because of the experience gained in rescuing the crew.” This rescue story unfolds in the action of Apollo 13.
October Sky (1999): 7.8
October Sky examines the true story of Homer Hickam Jr. (Jake Gyllenhaal), whose New York Times Bestselling memoir, Rocket Boys (1998), inspired the film. Hickam was formerly a US Army Missile Command engineer and a NASA aerospace engineer. Among many accolades, he trained the astronauts for the “Hubble Space Telescope deployment mission, the first two Hubble repair missions, Spacelab-J (the first Japanese astronauts), and the Solar Max repair mission.” October Sky goes all the way back to Hickam’s interest in rocket science.
Hidden Figures (2016): 7.8
Hidden Figures is based on the true stories of Katherine Johnson (Taraji P. Henson), Dorothy Vaughan (Octavia Spencer), and Mary Jackson (Janelle Monáe). All three Black women work for NASA in the early 1960s, coinciding with the space race and with US Civil Rights Movement. Katherine uses her knowledge as a mathematician to calculate flight trajectories with precision, Dorothy rightfully becomes a supervisor of computer operations, and Mary is a skilled engineer who fights to further her education with additional coursework.
These main characters are shown dealing with the prejudices in each of their departments towards Black women. Even as they struggle against oppression and discrimination, the women’s achievements are lauded and recognized with great care in Hidden Figures.
