10 Movies Like Interstellar You Should Watch Next
Christopher Nolan’s 2014 megahit Interstellar has it all: big sci-fi ideas, cool robots, heartbreaking action sequences, and a Matt Damon character in need of saving. Grounded in the tensions of the human experience, this story of humanity’s potential extinction and one man’s sacrifice to save it doesn’t just showcase exotic planets and breathtaking spaceship maneuvers; it also evokes a whirlwind of emotion as Joseph Cooper (Matthew McConaughey) sacrifices everything he has in an attempt to save all of humanity. It’s one of the best sci-fi films of all time, with Nolan’s signature complexity, time manipulation, and powerful emotional impact. If you enjoyed this film, here are ten more that offer similar experiences.
2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
If you enjoyed both the special effects in Interstellar , which make space travel exciting (and terrifying), and the mind-blowing concepts, then this film is for you. Stanley Kubrick’s 1968 epic (written by science fiction master Arthur C. Clarke) traces humanity’s development from moderately intelligent apes to space capitalists who discover a mysterious obelisk on the Moon that becomes the starting point for a mission to Jupiter. While filmed in a cooler emotional vein than Nolan’s film, 2001: A Space Odyssey certainly impresses with its epic scale (and cool—if slightly crazy and deadly—AIs). Watch 2001: A Space Odyssey on HBO Max or rent it on Prime Video .
Project “Ave Maria” (2026)
If you’re looking for existential missions with somewhat reluctant heroes in space, then The Hail Mary Project is your next choice. When the Sun begins to dim due to the interference of an alien being, scientists discover the only nearby star unaffected. Brilliant molecular biologist Ryland Grace (Ryan Gosling) is forced to embark on what appears to be a deadly, one-way mission into deep space to try to find a way to save humanity, unexpectedly receiving help from a charming alien he calls Rocky. The film has the same emotional intensity and big ideas as Interstellar , and fans of Nolan’s film will love it. Watch The Hail Mary Project on MGM+ or Philo , or rent it on Prime Video .
Sunshine (2007)
One of the reasons Interstellar is so gripping is the stakes: humanity is slowly dying out, and a handful of people must make incredible sacrifices to save it. Such is the atmosphere of Sunshine , set in a future where the Sun is dimming and a spaceship is sent to deliver a massive bomb designed to restart the sun’s thermonuclear cycle. But this is the second attempt after the first ship mysteriously disappeared seven years ago, and when a new crew stumbles upon the wreckage of the first mission, events quickly descend into violence and madness—but the crew remains determined to save the world at any cost. Watch Sunshine on Prime Video .
Arrival (2016)
Interstellar works largely because of the emotional dynamics it contains. McConaughey’s character leaves his children and is forced to watch them grow up without him, missing out on their lives and burdened by the knowledge that they hate him despite the necessity of his mission. Arrival is a first contact story centered on language: linguist Louise Banks (Amy Adams) is recruited to try to understand the aliens’ strange, complex language. As she gradually understands how the aliens communicate and perceive time itself, her own pain and loss come into play, giving the film an equally devastating emotional impact. Watch Arrival on Kanopy or Hoopla , or rent it on Prime Video .
Ad Astra (2019)
Family relationships and the hardships of lonely space missions are at the heart of Ad Astra , a film with the same emotional resonance as Interstellar . Twenty-nine years ago, famed astronaut Clifford McBride (Tommy Lee Jones) led the Lima Project, a space station orbiting Neptune searching for intelligent life. Thirteen years ago, Earth lost contact with him. When energy flares emanating from Neptune threaten to destroy life on Earth, his son Roy (Brad Pitt) sets out to find his father. It’s an epic journey with a powerful climax that will satisfy Interstellar fans in every way. Watch Ad Astra on Netflix or rent it on Prime Video .
Prometheus (2012)
Ridley Scott’s prequel to Alien has its flaws, but if you’re looking for an epic space adventure in the vein of Interstellar , this is the perfect choice. When two scientists discover a star map supposedly left by ancient aliens, they receive funding from the Weyland Corporation to mount a space expedition to the said planet. Accompanied by a colorful crew and the android David, they discover a seemingly abandoned outpost of a species called Engineers. The story explores questions of humanity’s origins, purpose, and potential, but since this is an Alien movie, events quickly take a terrifying turn. Watch Prometheus on Prime Video .
Contact (1997)
A film adaptation of Carl Sagan’s 1985 novel , Contact, tells the story of astronomer Dr. Ellie Arroway (Jodie Foster), who becomes embroiled in an attempt to decipher a signal emanating from the star Vega. The signal turns out to be a set of instructions for building a single-person spacecraft, and Arroway is ultimately chosen as the candidate for the mission. The film has a sense of courage in the face of the unknown, reminiscent of Interstellar , as well as the thrill of boarding the spacecraft and turning on the ignition. Plus, you’ll see one of the greatest stunt sequences in cinematic history . Watch Contact on Prime Video .
Solaris (1972)
Stanislav Lem’s 1961 novel Solaris explores Lem’s belief that it is impossible to ever truly understand alien life. Two major film adaptations—Andrei Tarkovsky’s 1972 version and Steven Soderbergh’s 2002 version starring George Clooney—are both worth watching, but Tarkovsky’s film is a masterpiece of psychological horror. Set primarily aboard a space station orbiting a planet covered by a seemingly sentient “ocean,” it chronicles the strange, haunting, and inexplicable experiences of the people living on the station. If you enjoyed the ending of Interstellar , where events take a psychedelic and bizarre turn, you’ll probably enjoy Solaris, too . Watch Solaris on HBO Max , Plex , or Tubi , or rent it on Prime Video .
Europe Report (2013)
The Europa Report tells the story of a mission to Jupiter’s moon Europa in search of intelligent life, and it shares the same terrifying thrills of Interstellar’s missions to various candidate planets. Delving into the fragility of life in an environment not designed to support it, the mission crew faces a constant stream of losses and dangers as they attempt to discover alien life on the frozen, deadly moon, ultimately being forced to make horrific sacrifices to provide humanity with answers. Watch The Europa Report on Netflix , Kanopy , or Hoopla , or rent it on Prime Video .
Aniara (2019)
A film based on the 1956 science fiction epic by the Swedish Nobel laureate might seem an unlikely choice for fans of Interstellar , but it’s actually a perfect fit. As Earth becomes uninhabitable, humanity begins launching ships to colonize Mars. When one of these ships, the Aniara , suffers damage and is irreversibly thrown off course, the passengers and crew are faced with the realization that they will be stranded in the void with no hope of rescue. Over the next few years, despair drives some to suicide and madness, while others cling to the possibility that they might still find a way back. The film offers a different perspective on the existential crisis of human extinction, exploring a worst-case scenario to its bitter, bleak conclusion. Watch Aniara on Kanopy or Hoopla , or rent it on Prime Video .