10 Pulse-Pounding Movies Like “Interstellar” That Will Transport You to Space All Over Again

Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar was so popular it was re-released in theaters for its 10th anniversary and shot to Netflix's top 10 when it was added to the streamer in January 2025.

Starring Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, Bill Irwin, Ellen Burstyn and Michael Caine, the 2014 science-fiction film is set in a near future where Earth is on the cusp of becoming inhabitable. As the threat of human extinction nears, a group of astronauts voyage through space under the guise of attempting to find a new home for mankind.

At the time of its release, Interstellar was lauded for its heartfelt, thought-provoking and visually immersive story. It went on to gross $681 million at the worldwide box office and earned five nominations at the 87th Academy Awards, and won for Best Visual Effects.

While Nolan fans will debate whether or not it’s actually his best film, Interstellar makes for a compelling watch that can easily leave any sci-fi obsessive looking for an equally immersive space story to watch next.

So, if you’ve already tuned into Interstellar on Netflix and are looking for something similar, here are 10 movies that chart a great unknown, offer a five-star visual buffet and will leave you at the edge of your seat.

Arrival 

Director Denis Villeneuve’s filmography has consistently provided some of the sci-fi genre’s best, and his 2016 film Arrival is no exception.

Adapted from the 1998 short story “Story of Your Life” by Ted Chiang, Arrival stars Amy Adams as a linguist named Louise Banks who’s enlisted by the U.S. Army to figure out a way to communicate with extraterrestrial species that have arrived on Earth. Joined by Jeremy Renner, Forest Whitaker and Michael Stuhlbarg, Adams gave a Golden Globes-nominated performance in Arrival, in which her character’s quest swiftly ascends into a matter of life or death for the entire globe.

Much like Interstellar, Arrival has stunning visuals, an impeccable score and a gripping story that masterfully balances heart with the extraordinary. The film was lauded by critics and fans alike upon its release, and received eight nominations at the 89th Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Cinematography and Best Adapted Screenplay. It won for Best Sound Editing.

Watch Arrival on Paramount+

The Martian

While Blade Runner (1982) and Alien (1979) are often the go-tos when it comes to director Ridley Scott’s sci-fi offerings, his 2015 film The Martian stands its own ground.

Adapted from Andy Weir’s 2011 novel of the same name, The Martian stars Matt Damon as Dr. Mark Watney, a multi-hyphenate astronaut who’s left stranded on Mars after a mission goes haywire. While his colleagues at NASA figure out a way to bring him back to Earth, Watney is forced to survive on the Red Planet by any means necessary.

Set in the year 2035, The Martian and Interstellar similarly boast a suspenseful story about space exploration gone rogue and find their beating heart in their characters trying to survive. Along with its visual feast, The Martian also benefits from a star-studded ensemble including Sean Bean, Jessica Chastain, Kristen Wiig, Jeff Daniels, Sebastian Stan and Donald Glover.

The film went on to receive seven nominations at the 88th Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay and a Best Actor nod for Damon.

Watch The Martian on Max

2001: A Space Odyssey

It’s practically impossible to discuss the sci-fi genre without bringing up Stanley Kubrick’s 1968 epic 2001: A Space Odyssey.

Starring Keir Dullea, Gary Lockwood, William Sylvester and Douglas Rain, the film follows an amalgam of scientists, astronauts and a sentient supercomputer named HAL 9000 as they voyage to Jupiter to investigate a mysterious alien monolith.

Setting a precedent for essentially every sci-fi film to come, 2001 was a groundbreaking effort by Kubrick that carved out a new lane for visual and sonic storytelling and was so influential that it was chosen to be preserved in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress in 1991. At the time of Interstellar’s release, critics and fans were quick to draw comparisons between Nolan’s sci-fi epic and Kubrick’s magnum opus. Nolan later disclosed that he was, in fact, inspired by the film.

“You can't make a serious science fiction film about journeying out into the universe that doesn't acknowledge the existence of 2001,” Nolan told Entertainment Weekly in 2018. “When we made Interstellar, we knew that our film was [in] dialogue with 2001, and so there are references and things that were inspired by it.”

Watch 2001: A Space Odyssey on Tubi and Max

Contact

Based on renowned astronomer Carl Sagan’s 1985 novel of the same, Robert Zemeckis’ Contact tells a gripping tale of humanity’s first discovery of extraterrestrial life.

Released in 1997, Contact stars two-time Academy Award winner Jodie Foster as Dr. Eleanor “Ellie” Arroway, a scientist who finds evidence of an alien species and, after a series of hurdles, is selected to make first contact with the mysterious life beyond Earth. Accompanied by a star-studded ensemble including Matthew McConaughey, Angela Bassett and Rob Lowe, Foster delivers a performance in Contact that grounds some of its more head-scratching moments and elevates its strongest by pulling at viewers’ heartstrings.

While the characters in Interstellar and Contact may have different reasons for space exploration, both films employ sci-fi’s staple larger-than-life visuals and boast endings that leave lasting impressions long after their credits roll.

Rent Contact on YouTube and Google Play

Prometheus

After originating one of the most prolific sci-fi franchises through his 1979 film Alien, director Ridley Scott returned to his world of xenomorphs over 30 years later for his 2012 flick Prometheus.

Starring Michael Fassbender, Noomi Rapace, Guy Pearce, Logan Marshall-Green, Idris Elba and Charlize Theron, Prometheus is the fifth installment of the Alien franchise and is set decades before the events of the 1979 film. The sci-fi/horror flick follows a crew aboard a spaceship called Prometheus who, while seeking the answers to humanity’s origin, find a rogue moon that is home to a malicious, advanced alien species.

Related: How to Watch the Alien Movies in Chronological Order: A Guide to the Iconic Sci-Fi Franchise

Although Prometheus posits more fantastical elements than Interstellar (and has significantly more gore), its extraordinary visuals and cinematography are akin to Nolan’s sci-fi epic and will likely leave many in awe.

Rent Prometheus on Apple TV and Google Play

Armageddon

Helmed by a star-studded ensemble including Bruce Willis, Ben Affleck, Liv Tyler, Owen Wilson and Steve Buscemi, Armageddon is a high-stakes disaster film that pushes audiences to the edge of their seats on more than one occasion.

Directed by Michael Bay, the 1998 sci-fi flick follows a group of blue-collar drillers who are tasked by NASA to destroy an asteroid the size of Texas that's barreling toward Earth. The rag-tag bunch are trained to become astronauts and voyage to space to complete their risky mission that could mean life or death if not achieved.

At the time of its release, Armageddon was a huge commercial success and grossed around $553.7 million worldwide, becoming the highest-grossing film of 1998. While it’s not as mind-bending as Interstellar, nor is it as concerned with scientific accuracy, Armageddon is still a fun watch that transports audiences into the depths of space alongside a cast of surprisingly endearing characters.

Watch Armageddon on fuboTV

Sunshine

Despite flying under the radar at the time of its release in 2007, Danny Boyle’s Sunshine has grown to become a sci-fi favorite in the years since.

Starring Cillian Murphy, Chris Evans, Rose Byrne, Michelle Yeoh and Hiroyuki Sanada, Sunshine is set in the year 2057 and follows a group of astronauts tasked with reviving Earth’s dying Sun.

While the film may not be the most scientifically accurate sci-fi flick out there, it still upholds great suspense, stellar acting, jaw-dropping visuals and a seamless blend of genres, including horror.

Rent Sunshine on YouTube and Google Play

The Creator

Much like Interstellar, Gareth Edwards’ 2023 sci-fi/action film The Creator is visually stunning.

Starring John David Washington, Madeleine Yuna Voyles, Gemma Chan, Ken Watanbe, Sturgill Simpson and Allison Janney, The Creator is set in the year 2070 when humans are at war against artificial intelligence. When a military sergeant, Joshua Taylor (Washington), is tasked with hunting down a mysterious weapon that holds the power to end the war, he swiftly finds that he’s in store for a lot more than he bargained for.

The film went on to receive two nominations at the 96th Academy Awards for its visual effects and sound.

Watch The Creator on Prime Video

Blade Runner 2049

Another pick by the illustrious Denis Villeneuve, Blade Runner 2049 is a sequel to Ridley Scott’s legendary 1982 film Blade Runner set 30 years after the events of the first film.

Released in 2017, Blade Runner 2049 blends sci-fi with neo-noir and follows one man’s pursuit of a threatening secret that could destabilize society. Featuring a star-studded cast including Ryan Gosling, Harrison Ford, Ana de Armas, Robin Wright and Dave Bautista, 2049 may not take audiences to the depths of outer space but it definitely takes them far from an Earth they know.

The film packs on some of the most impressive world-building in sci-fi, sweeping audiences from desert wastelands to hyper-futuristic neon-colored cities within the same hour. It went on to receive five nominations at the 90th Academy Awards and won Best Cinematography and Best Visual Effects.

Watch Blade Runner 2049 on fuboTV

Inception

Although Nolan’s 2010 film Inception has little to do with space, it offers another mind-bending, visually extravagant story similar to his work in Interstellar.

Inception packs a star-studded punch with cast members Leonardo DiCaprio, Ken Watanabe, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Marion Cotillard, Elliot Page, Tom Hardy, Cillian Murphy and Michael Caine. The film follows Dom Cobb (DiCaprio) a professional thief who’s able to steal people’s secrets by entering their dreams. When he’s offered a chance to clear his criminal history, Cobb must perform an impossible task in return — plant an idea in someone’s mind that will have rippling consequences.

Like Interstellar, Inception benefits from qualities that have become intrinsic to Nolan’s DNA as a filmmaker, particularly his use of larger-than-life visuals to tell stories stranger than fiction.

If Interstellar left you in awe, Inception is sure to leave you gobsmacked.

Watch Inception on Netflix

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