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Most movies that involve space travel belong to the science fiction genre. These films are often set in the future or sometimes in an alternate version of the past. They will usually feature some form of technology that has yet to be invented or fully developed in real life, and as such, it’s a genre that often speculates on where society might be at some point. Not all sci-fi movies are fantastic, and some are wilder than others. However, they all have something that sets them apart from reality – after all, that’s what the “fiction” part of “science fiction” is all about.
Given that space travel is something that became a reality in the 20th century, not all movies about heroes going into space will be science fiction. Historically accurate or more down-to-earth films about going into space are much rarer than their more extreme counterparts, but they are not unheard of. All of these films show that more realistic takes on space travel movies can be just as exciting as those that belong in the science fiction genre.
“Hidden Figures” (2016)
Hidden figures is a film that spends time with characters on earth as they discuss space travel. Namely, it looks at those who worked behind the scenes at NASA in the early 1960s, which is when American astronauts first traveled to space.
The film’s story focuses on three black women who worked at NASA as mathematicians during this period and how they were looked down upon or overlooked in a male-dominated workplace and at a time when things were segregated based on race. Its focus is on racial and gender issues, but it is based on a true story of how these mathematicians were instrumental in the early years of NASA, presenting space travel in this way.
Space Cowboys (2000)
An underrated and overlooked film from the inside Clint Eastwood filmography, space cowboys, is the rare space travel film that is neither science fiction nor based on true historical events. It centers on a couple of old men who were pilots/astronauts in their youth who are asked some 40 years later to undertake repairs to a satellite in space that no one else is as qualified to do.
It’s sort of an action-adventure movie, but not to the extent that it ventures into science fiction. As such, it walks an interesting line in the pantheon of movies set in space because it could have happened in 2000 without actually happening.
The Right Stuff (1983)
Focusing on the earliest American astronauts in history, The right things mostly in the 1950s and as a result did not involve a huge amount of space travel. It’s more about the early stages of a group of pilots training to become astronauts, with all the main characters struggling to make their dream of flying into space a reality.
Clocking in at over three hours, it’s certainly a long film, but it’s a rewarding one. The characters are memorable, the pacing is very good (thanks to the story spanning a lot of time/years), the score is iconic, and it looks great visually. It’s a film that really has all the right things, although unfortunately it wasn’t that successful at the box office upon its release.
In the Shadow of the Moon (2007)
A critically acclaimed documentary with a 95% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, In the shadow of the moon is one of many documentaries about the various Apollo missions to the moon. It’s also not to be confused with the 2019 film of the same name, a sci-fi film that doesn’t exactly focus on space travel.
As great as biopics or historical films about a trip to the moon are, few things beat the actual footage of NASA and its astronauts on the moon. As such, In the shadow of the moon offers plenty of great images from the lunar surface and also benefits from the inclusion of many interviews conducted with former Apollo astronauts who were still alive in 2007.
“The Meal” (2000)
A film without villains that still has stakes, The meal presents a unique story about space travel by choosing an unexpected group of people to focus on. The film takes place in a remote town in Australia during the Apollo 11 mission to the moon. The city’s giant satellite dish is to be used to broadcast images of the moon landing around the world on live television.
It is a historical drama that also functions as a comedy The meallight tone and humorous characters. A lot goes wrong while making sure everything is just right for the world to see the first moon landing, but luckily, history tells us that everything worked out in the end as far as the broadcast was concerned.
Apollo 13 (1995)
While there’s no shortage of movies that start with the word “Apollo,” few are as famous as Apollo 13. This film chronicles the ill-fated Apollo 13 mission, which was supposed to take its astronauts to the moon, but had to cut it short due to an explosion in space.
As such, those on Earth had to think fast to get those on board back home, which is what Apollo 13 ends with a dramatization. Its star-studded cast and ambitious production ensured it was a huge hit, and as far as non-fiction space travel films go, it undoubtedly remains one of the most famous.
Apollo 10 1⁄2: A Space Age Childhood (2022)
Of course, the underrated and overlooked Apollo 10 1⁄2: Childhood in the Space Age approaches the feel of science fiction. After all, part of this coming-of-age movie set in Houston in the late 1960s involves a kid being trained as an astronaut to be sent to the moon, which isn’t based on historical fact.
Yet it is easy (and perhaps necessary) to read these scenes as improbable or imagined by the film’s protagonist. After all, every other part of the film is very down to earth and feels inspired by the director (Richard Linklater) real childhood. The idea of someone going to the moon excites a lot of people — especially kids — so who can blame the movie’s main character for imagining himself as one of the astronauts?
Outer Space: A Personal Journey (1980)
As its title suggests, Space: A Personal Journey takes a more intimate, metaphorical view of space travel/universe exploration. It was a miniseries written and presented by an astronomer Carl Sagan and took an approach to space-themed topics that was educational, fun, and imaginative at the same time.
It takes more than one sitting to get through all 13 episodes, but for a miniseries made over 40 years ago, it was very cinematic and eye-opening stuff. Part of this comes from the innovative special effects and music, much of which is from Vangeliswho often composes music for films (one of his most famous is Blade Runner).
“The First Man” (2018)
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What Apollo 13 did for the mission of the same name in real life, First person makes for the Apollo 11 mission. Focuses on the career of the first man on the moon, Neil Armstrongas an astronaut with NASA, starting well before 1969, but building up to that flight to the moon, using the dramatic Apollo 11 mission as its climax.
It’s a film that feels a bit slow, partly due to its 141-minute running time, and its tone is rather cold and detached. This is intentional, helping to show how strict and calculating the likes of NASA have to be at times, but it can make it a little harder to get emotionally invested. Still, a lot can be forgiven when it comes to the last half hour, as the dramatization of the Apollo 11 mission is spectacularly done.
“Apollo 11” (2019)
Apollo 11 would make a great double feature with First person. This film also explores the Apollo 11 mission (obviously) but does so in a documentary format. Not only that, but it does it in a way that doesn’t use a narrator or traditional interviews, and as such does a great job of making you feel like you were there in 1969.
For anyone born after 1969, the best way to understand the excitement and nervousness surrounding the first manned trip to the moon. The footage and audio are also incredibly clean, with a striking and captivating presentation.
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