What are some great movies like Interstellar?
It’s hard to think of a filmmaker working today that would match the gravitas of Christopher Nolan. He has made some of the more groundbreaking movies of the past decade including The Dark Knight, Inception, and The Prestige and has used the film medium to push the boundaries of what we are technically capable of. None of what he has made though comes close to the cinematic achievement that is 2014’s Interstellar.
Starring Mathew McConaughey and Anne Hathaway, the film follows a group of astronauts on a mission to find a planet suitable for human life as earth begins to fray away. The film manages to mix elements of hard science fiction with mind bending special effects that resonated with audiences who helped the movie pull $677 million worldwide. For those who want a similar experience to the movie, then let me guide you through the top 15 movies that are like Interstellar.
15. The Imitation GameImitation Game Official Trailer
The film follows the real-life story of Alan Turing (Benedict Cumberbatch) who was hired by MI6 to decipher a Nazi code during the WWII era. Through many trials and tribulations, Turing and his team began to find the key to what was considered an unbreakable code. Their success though is cut short when Turing’s sexuality comes into question and leaves him imprisoned.
Benedict Cumberbatch and Kiera Knightley star in the Oscar nominated film.
14. Time Lapse (2014)Time Lapse Official Trailer
When checking on a neighbor, three friends discover that he has invented a machine that spits out a picture of themselves one day in the future. The friends begin to experience wealth when they use the machine to place very lucrative bets. As their luck begins to increase, the machine begins to produce pictures that paint a much grimmer fate for the trio.
Time Lapse experienced much success with critics as an exceptional time travel story with a twist.
13. Solaris (2002)Solaris Official Trailer
A psychologist finds himself face to face with his dead girlfriend after being sent to a ship orbiting the planet of Solaris for an investigation. He finds himself at odds with his lost love’s return since many of the occupants on the ship are experiencing hallucinations. Reality and fantasy become a blur as the doctor races against time to learn the source of the hallucinations while reconciling the return of his girlfriend.
George Clooney headlines this film based on the novel by Stanislaw Lem.
12. Elysium (2013)Elysium Official Trailer
In the future, humanity finds itself divided by social class. The rich and prosperous enjoy a life on a luxurious ship called Elysium while the poor and downtrodden survive the slums of earth. When a factory worker finds himself with little time to live, he is tasked to infiltrate Elysium to retrieve medical supplies that could help him and many others on earth.
Matt Damon headlines director Neil Blomkamp’s follow-up District 9.
11. Europa ReportEuropa Official Trailer
A group of scientists embark on a mission to Jupiter’s moon, Europa, when evidence suggests that there may be something living there. In the style of a documentary, the film follows the group as they begin to touch base on the planet and discover a new life form lurking beneath the planet’s surface. However, they begin to realize the awful truth that what they discovered on Europa never wanted to be found in the first place.
A group of scientist face down the secrets of Jupiter’s moon.
10. PrometheusPrometheus Official Trailer
In what director Ridley Scott calls “a movie with DNA from the Alien franchise”, Prometheus follows a group of scientists on their mission to discover the origins of humanity. Their mission brings them to a desolate planet containing strange artifacts that may lead them to the creation of humanity. However, their earth shattering discovery may lead to something more malevolent that seeks to destroy them and human life all together.
Ridley Scott’s 2012 companion to the Alien franchise raked in $126 million at the box office.
9. Sunshine (2007)Sunshine Official Trailer
The sun’s core is dying and when it does, the earth will find its fate in peril. A group of scientists are placed on the mission to revive the dying star with a device that will revive its power. The mission and their lives are thrown into jeopardy when an accident occurs on the ship that inhibits them from reaching their destination.
Acclaimed director Danny Boyle continued his versatile catalogue of films with Sunshine.
8. Event Horizon (1997)Event Horizon Official Trailer
Years ago, a vessel named “Event Horizon” seemingly disappeared in the recesses of space with no indication as to where or why it vanished. When the ship suddenly reappears, a crew is sent to investigate for answers. Although the ship appears empty, they soon begin to discover something diabolical lurking in the ship that caused the disappearance years before.
The hit sci fi-horror film helped Paul W.S. Anderson land the job as director for Resident Evil.
7. Moon (2009)Moon Official Trailer
Sam (Sam Rockwell) is looking forward to a reunion with his wife and daughter after a lonely three-year mission in space. As a crew nears to take him home, Sam finds himself plagued with an illness that begins to cause eerie hallucinations. Things are only thrown into more complicated territory when he discovers a younger clone of himself near his facility.
Sam Rockwell earned much praise from critics for his role in Moon.
6. The Cloverfield ParadoxCloverfield Paradox Official Trailer
Part of the JJ Abrams produced Cloverfield universe, Cloverfield Paradox centers on a group of astronauts trying to find the key to unlimited energy. Their attempts culminate in a serious malfunction that transport them far from earth’s orbit and with little resources to get back. Things only intensify when they discover a mysterious woman inside their ship.
The sequel to Cloverfield and 10 Cloverfield Lane made its debut on Netflix in 2017.
5. The MartianThe Martian Official Trailer
When a mission on Mars goes awry from a fierce storm, Mark (Matt Damon) is believed to be dead and left behind. There’s one problem, Mark is very much alive, and he is now trapped alone on the red planet with very little resources. Using his intellect, Mark now must overcome the obstacles Mars has to offer while making his resources last long enough for another crew to come rescue him.
Matt Damon stars in the film based on the novel by Andy Weir.
4. Apollo 13Apollo 13 Official Trailer
Boasting an all-star cast, Apollo 13 tells the real-life story of the Apollo 13 mission that would take a group of astronauts to the moon. Everything is going well until technical malfunctions in space puts the mission and the astronauts lives in jeopardy. The film features stand out performances from Tom Hanks, Bill Paxton and Kevin Bacon.
The Oscar nominated film helped Ron Howard become a renowned director.
3. GravityGravity Official Trailer
Stricken by a past tragedy, Dr. Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock) does everything she can to endure her first shuttle mission to space. When something goes wrong with the ship, Ryan and her partner, Matt (George Clooney), find themselves trapped floating in space with no hope of rescue. As hope begins to dwindle, the duo must make tough decisions to survive and try to get back to earth.
Audiences were blown away by the amazing special effects of Gravity.
2. ArrivalArrival Official Trailer
A mysterious spacecraft has landed on earth with a message that no one can encrypt. To help understand the alien language, the government brings in linguistics specialist Louise Banks (Amy Adams). As Banks is in a race against time to decode the alien message, she also begins to experience strange hallucinations that make her question everything she has known. Directed by Denis Villeneuve, Arrival is an intelligent drama that made many critics best of the year list in 2016.
The hit film includes an all-star cast of Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner and Forest Whitaker.
1. 2001: A Space Odyssey2001: A Space Odyssey Trailer
The Stanley Kubrick masterpiece still stands to this day as one of the greatest science fiction movies. The film follows two astronauts on a mission through space who are being guided by HAL, their ship’s computer who is designed to assess danger and the solution to the said danger. The two astronauts are placed in a life or death scenario when HAL begins to assess them as a danger to their mission.
2001 is seen as Kubrick’s best film and one of cinema’s greatest achievements.
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