7 movies similar to Interstellar
Interstellar, released in 2014, is an epic science fiction drama directed by Christopher Nolan, who collaborated with his brother Jonathan Nolan to write the screenplay.
The film features a star-studded cast including Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, Bill Irwin, Ellen Burstyn, and Michael Caine. Set in a dystopian future plagued by devastating blight and famine, it tells the story of a team of astronauts who journey through a wormhole near Saturn in a quest to find a new home for humanity.
The film was met with positive reviews and earned over $681 million globally during its original theatrical release, ranking as the tenth-highest-grossing movie of 2014. The computer-generated portrayal of a black hole, based on calculations by physicist Kip Thorne, was praised by both astronomers and physicists.
Interstellar received numerous accolades, including five nominations at the 87th Academy Awards, where it won the award for Best Visual Effects.
To celebrate its 10th anniversary, Interstellar was re-released in IMAX in late 2024, becoming the highest-grossing IMAX re-release with $35.5 million, raising its total earnings to over $720 million.
If viewers enjoyed watching Interstellar for its exploration of human survival, space exploration, and time dilation, then check out these other movies similar to Interstellar.
**Disclaimer: The following list is ranked in no particular order, and the opinions expressed belong entirely to the author.**
The Martian, Tenet, and 5 other movies similar to Interstellar
1) The Martian (2015)
The Martian is a science fiction movie featuring Matt Damon. The screenplay, written by Drew Goddard, is based on the 2011 novel by Andy Weir.
The story centers on an astronaut's struggle to survive on Mars after being abandoned, while NASA attempts to rescue him.
The film received widespread critical praise and garnered several awards, including seven nominations at the 88th Academy Awards. With over $630 million in global box office earnings, The Martian became Ridley Scott's highest-grossing film and the tenth-highest-grossing movie of 2015.
Both movies are based on scientifically accurate principles, including orbital mechanics and space travel. Interstellar incorporates the research of physicist Kip Thorne, while The Martian focuses on realistic space missions and survival tactics.
Where to watch: Prime Video, Apple TV+
2) Arrival (2016)
Arrival is a sci-fi drama directed by Denis Villeneuve, with a screenplay adapted by Eric Heisserer from Ted Chiang's 1998 short story Story of Your Life.
The film features Amy Adams as Louise Banks, a linguist enlisted by the U.S. Army to assist in communicating with extraterrestrials who arrive on Earth, as growing tensions push the world toward conflict.
It earned over $203 million worldwide and was widely praised, especially for its portrayal of extraterrestrial communication, Amy Adams' acting, and Villeneuve's direction.
This film explores the concept of time and human connections in a cerebral manner, much like Interstellar. Both are rooted in the emotional and intellectual challenges of understanding the unknown.
Where to watch: Hulu, Prime Video
3) Gravity (2013)
Gravity is a sci-fi thriller directed by Alfonso Cuarón, who also co-wrote, co-edited, and produced the film. It features Sandra Bullock and George Clooney as American astronauts striving to return to Earth after their Space Shuttle is destroyed in orbit.
The movie which made over $723 million, was widely praised for its acting, directing, and visuals. In addition to winning numerous BAFTA and Golden Globe honors, it took home seven Academy Awards, including Best Director.
The movie's depiction of survival in the vast emptiness of space mirrors Interstellar’s intensity and emotional core, with characters confronting isolation and life-or-death challenges.
Where to watch: HBO Max, Apple TV+
4) Ad Astra (2019)
Ad Astra is a sci-fi film directed, co-written, and produced by James Gray. Starring Brad Pitt, who also produced, alongside Tommy Lee Jones, Ruth Negga, Liv Tyler, and Donald Sutherland, the film follows an astronaut searching for his lost father, whose obsession with finding intelligent alien life jeopardizes the Solar System and life on Earth.
It earned positive reviews, especially for Pitt's performance, and grossed $135 million globally on an $80–100 million budget. Ad Astra was nominated for Best Sound Mixing at the 92nd Academy Awards.
Both movies showcase personal space odysseys. While Interstellar is about saving humanity, Ad Astra delves into familial relationships against the backdrop of space exploration.
Where to watch: HBO Max, Netflix
5) Tenet (2020)
Tenet is a sci-fi action thriller written and directed by Christopher Nolan, who also produced the film alongside his wife, Emma Thomas. The cast includes Robert Pattinson, John David Washington, Elizabeth Debicki, Dimple Kapadia, Michael Caine, and Kenneth Branagh.
The film follows a former CIA agent who joins a covert organization, assigned to uncover the source of objects moving backward through time and their link to a future attack impacting the present.
After considering the movie's primary concepts for more than ten years, Nolan spent more than five years developing the screenplay.
While Tenet did not break even, it was the first big-budget Hollywood film released during the pandemic and grossed $365 million worldwide on a budget of $205 million, finishing fifth at the box office for 2020.
Tenet explores time manipulation and intricate storylines, providing a thrill and stunning visuals similar to Interstellar.
Where to watch: Prime Video
6) Dune: Part One (2021)
Dune (also known as Dune: Part One) is an epic sci-fi film directed and co-produced by Denis Villeneuve, who co-wrote the screenplay with Jon Spaihts and Eric Roth.
It is the first part of a two-part adaptation of Frank Herbert's 1965 novel. Set in the distant future, Dune follows Paul Atreides as his family, the noble House Atreides, becomes entangled in a conflict over the dangerous and unforgiving desert planet, Arrakis.
The film is the third adaptation of Dune, following David Lynch's 1984 movie and John Harrison's 2000 TV miniseries.
It grossed $407.7 million on a budget of $165 million, with praise directed at Villeneuve's direction, performances by the cast, production design, costume design, Hans Zimmer's score, visual effects, and cinematography.
A sequel, Dune: Part Two, was released on March 1, 2024, with a further sequel based on Herbert's 1969 novel Dune Messiah currently in development.
Both Dune and Interstellar tackle themes of survival and destiny on distant planets, with philosophical ideas.
Where to watch: HBO Max
7) Stowaway (2021)
Stowaway is a sci-fi thriller directed by Joe Penna, who co-wrote the script with Ryan Morrison.
In this drama, Anna Kendrick and Toni Collette star alongside Daniel Dae Kim in a critical mission to Mars. Shortly after takeoff, the crew discovers an unexpected stowaway—an injured engineer (Shamier Anderson)—aboard the spacecraft.
What begins as shock quickly escalates into panic when a malfunction in the air filtration system leaves enough oxygen for only three of them to survive. With time running out, the crew must face a life-or-death struggle in the isolation of space.
Both films examine moral challenges and survival in space, stressing how human decisions influence survival amid the vast unknowns of the universe.
Where to watch: Netflix
As of January 1, 2025, Interstellar is available for streaming on Netflix, allowing viewers to watch it on the platform.
