10 Movies Like Interstellar You Need to Watch Next

You just finished watching Interstellar. The music is still in your head. You are thinking about black holes, time, and that emotional ending between a father and his daughter. Now you want more. You want another movie that makes you feel the same way.

Good news: you are in the right place. Below are 10 movies like Interstellar. Each one shares something special with the film. Some have real science. Some make you cry. Some make your brain hurt in a good way. Every movie on this list is worth your time.

I explain each movie in simple words and avoid spoilers. Let’s begin.

What Makes Interstellar So Special?

Before we look at the list, let’s understand why Interstellar is loved by so many people. When you know what made it great, it is easier to find other movies you will enjoy.

Interstellar came out in 2014. Christopher Nolan directed it. It follows a former pilot named Cooper who joins a mission through space to find a new home for humans, because Earth is dying. Three things make it stand out:

1. Real science. The movie uses real ideas about black holes, gravity, and time. A famous physicist named Kip Thorne helped the team make the science feel real.
2. Big emotions. At its heart, this is a story about love between a parent and a child. That is why so many people cry at the end.
3. Huge scale. The movie makes you feel very small in a very big universe. The visuals and the music by Hans Zimmer make this feeling even stronger.

I picked each movie below because it matches at least one of these three things.

The 10 Best Movies Like Interstellar

1. Gravity (2013)

Director: Alfonso Cuarón | Runtime: about 91 minutes | Genre: Sci-fi thriller

Gravity is about an astronaut named Ryan Stone, played by Sandra Bullock. She is fixing a telescope in space when a cloud of broken satellite pieces hits her team. Suddenly she is floating alone, far from home, with very little air left.

Why it’s like Interstellar: Gravity shows space as beautiful and scary at the same time. The views of Earth from above are stunning. Just like Interstellar, it also has a strong emotional side about not giving up.

How it’s different: Gravity is short and stays close to Earth. It is more about survival than about saving all of humanity.

Best for: People who loved the tense space scenes in Interstellar.

2. The Martian (2015)

Director: Ridley Scott | Runtime: about 144 minutes | Genre: Sci-fi adventure

Matt Damon plays Mark Watney, an astronaut who is left behind on Mars by mistake. His team thinks he is gone. He is alive, but he has very little food and no fast way to call home. So he uses science to survive. He even grows potatoes on Mars!

Why it’s like Interstellar: Both movies believe in the power of science and smart thinking. Watching Mark solve one problem after another is exciting, and the movie has heart too.

How it’s different: The Martian is funnier and lighter. Mark makes jokes even in scary moments, so it feels more hopeful than Interstellar.

Best for: People who enjoyed the science parts of Interstellar and want a movie that also makes them smile.

3. Arrival (2016)

Director: Denis Villeneuve | Runtime: about 116 minutes | Genre: Sci-fi drama

Twelve strange spaceships appear around the world. No one knows why the visitors came. Louise Banks, played by Amy Adams, is a language expert. The government asks her to talk with the visitors and find out what they want.

Why it’s like Interstellar: Arrival plays with time in a clever way, and it has a deep, emotional story about family. The ending will make you think about it for days. If the last part of Interstellar touched you, Arrival will do the same.

How it’s different: There are almost no action scenes. The movie is quiet and slow, and the “battle” is about understanding words and ideas.

Best for: People who love stories that make them think and feel at the same time.

4. Ad Astra (2019)

Director: James Gray | Runtime: about 123 minutes | Genre: Sci-fi drama

Brad Pitt plays Roy McBride, an astronaut sent on a long trip across the solar system. His mission is tied to his father, a famous space explorer who went missing many years ago. Roy must travel to the edge of space to find out what happened to him.

Why it’s like Interstellar: Both movies are about fathers and children, and both show how lonely space can feel. Roy’s journey is as much about his feelings as it is about planets and rockets.

How it’s different: Ad Astra is very slow and quiet. It focuses on one man’s thoughts, so it has fewer big science ideas.

Best for: Viewers who cared most about the family story in Interstellar.

5. Sunshine (2007)

Director: Danny Boyle | Runtime: about 107 minutes | Genre: Sci-fi thriller

In the future, our sun is dying, and Earth is freezing. A team of astronauts is sent on a spaceship called Icarus II. Their job is to carry a huge bomb to the sun and restart it. It is a lonely, dangerous trip, and things start to go wrong.

Why it’s like Interstellar: In both movies, a small team must save all of humanity. The stakes are huge, and the crew must make very hard choices. The music and the visuals are also amazing.

How it’s different: Sunshine is darker and scarier. It has moments closer to a horror movie, especially near the end.

Best for: People who want a tense, serious space mission.

6. Moon (2009)

Director: Duncan Jones | Runtime: about 97 minutes | Genre: Sci-fi mystery

Sam Rockwell plays Sam Bell, a worker who lives alone on a base on the Moon. He collects a special fuel for Earth. His three-year job is almost over, and he cannot wait to go home. Then something strange happens, and Sam learns that things are not what they seem.

Why it’s like Interstellar: Moon is about loneliness and missing your family. Like Cooper, Sam is far away from the people he loves. The movie also has a smart, surprising story.

How it’s different: It is a small movie with a tiny cast. You will not see huge planets or big explosions. It is all about one person and one mystery.

Best for: People who like quiet stories with a twist.

7. Inception (2010)

Director: Christopher Nolan | Runtime: about 148 minutes | Genre: Sci-fi action

Inception comes from the same director as Interstellar. Leonardo DiCaprio plays Cobb, a thief who steals secrets by entering people’s dreams. This time, he gets a very hard job: he must plant an idea inside someone’s mind instead of stealing one.

Why it’s like Interstellar: Nolan loves to play with time, and this movie does it in a fun way. Time moves slower inside dreams, and the deeper you go, the slower it gets. There is also a strong story about a father who wants to get home to his kids.

How it’s different: There are no aliens or planets. The whole adventure happens in dreams and in the human mind.

Best for: Fans of Nolan’s style and anyone who enjoys puzzles.

8. Tenet (2020)

Director: Christopher Nolan | Runtime: about 150 minutes | Genre: Sci-fi action

Tenet is another Nolan movie. John David Washington plays a secret agent who learns about a strange power: some objects and people can move backward in time. He must use this power to stop a threat that could end the world.

Why it’s like Interstellar: Time is the big star again. The movie has huge scenes, loud music, and ideas that are hard to forget.

How it’s different: Tenet is much more confusing. Many viewers need to watch it twice to understand it. It also has fewer emotional moments than Interstellar.

Best for: Viewers who love to think hard and don’t mind being a little confused.

9. Annihilation (2018)

Director: Alex Garland | Runtime: about 115 minutes | Genre: Sci-fi mystery

A strange, glowing area called “the Shimmer” appears on Earth and keeps growing. Teams that go inside never come back. A scientist named Lena, played by Natalie Portman, joins a new team to find out what is inside. What she sees is beautiful and very odd.

Why it’s like Interstellar: Like the crew in Interstellar, Lena’s team walks into the unknown with no idea what they will find. The movie is full of big ideas, and its images stay in your mind for a long time.

How it’s different: It is stranger and scarier. Some scenes are creepy, so it is best for older teens and adults.

Best for: People who like mystery and mind-bending ideas.

10. Europa Report (2013)

Director: Sebastián Cordero | Runtime: about 90 minutes | Genre: Sci-fi, found footage

A team of astronauts travels to Europa, one of Jupiter’s moons. Scientists believe there may be an ocean under its icy surface, and maybe even life. The movie is told through video clips recorded by the crew, so it feels like you are watching a real space trip.

Why it’s like Interstellar: This movie tries to stay close to real science. It shows how long, hard, and risky a trip to another world could be. It also shows why humans keep exploring, even when it is dangerous.

How it’s different: It is a small movie with a low budget. It is not as big or as loud as Interstellar, but many people find its calm, realistic style very powerful.

Best for: Space fans who love realistic missions.

Which Movie Like Interstellar Should You Watch First?

Can’t decide? Use this quick guide.

If you are not sure, start with Gravity, The Martian, or Arrival. They are the closest matches to Interstellar, and they are loved by many people.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the movie most similar to Interstellar?

Many people say Arrival and The Martian are the closest. Arrival has the same deep emotions and clever ideas about time. The Martian has the same love for science and never giving up. Gravity is also a top choice for its space visuals.

What other Christopher Nolan movies are like Interstellar?

Inception and Tenet are the best matches. Both play with time in interesting ways. Inception has a strong father story like Interstellar. Tenet is bigger and more confusing, but it has the same “big idea” feeling.

Is Interstellar based on real science?

Partly, yes. The filmmakers worked with physicist Kip Thorne to make the black hole and other space ideas as real as possible. Some parts of the story, like traveling through a wormhole, are still just theories. So the movie mixes real science with imagination.

What are the best space movies of the last 15 years?

Gravity, The Martian, Arrival, and Ad Astra are all excellent. Along with Interstellar, they are among the most popular space movies of the past decade and a half.

Are these movies good for kids?

Not all of them. Gravity, The Martian, and Arrival are usually fine for older kids and teens. Sunshine and Annihilation have scary or intense scenes, so they are better for older teens and adults. It is always a good idea for a parent to check the age rating first.

Final Thoughts

Interstellar is one of those movies that stays with you. It gave us science, feelings, and wonder in one story. The good news is that other filmmakers have made movies that give the same feeling in their own way.

If you want a quick answer, here are our top three picks:

• Arrival for the best mix of heart and big ideas
• The Martian for smart science and fun
• Gravity for a tense, beautiful trip through space

Which of these movies have you already seen? Did you love one more than Interstellar? Tell us in the comments, and check out our other movie lists for more great picks.