6 Best Movies Set in Space Released Since 2000, Ranked

Published Oct 6, 2026, 12:45 PM EDT

Diego Pineda has been a devout storyteller his whole life. He has self-published a fantasy novel and a book of short stories, and is actively working on publishing his second novel.

A lifelong fan of watching movies and talking about them endlessly, he writes reviews and analyses on his Instagram page dedicated to cinema, and occasionally on his blog. His favorite filmmakers are Andrei Tarkovsky and Charlie Chaplin. He loves modern Mexican cinema and thinks it's tragically underappreciated.

Other interests of Diego's include reading, gaming, roller coasters, writing reviews on his Letterboxd account (username: DPP_reviews), and going down rabbit holes of whatever topic he's interested in at any given point.

There's one particularly vast and expansive location that has offered several of history's greatest science fiction stories, one location which has fed the imaginations of sci-fi storytellers for decades and decades: outer space. Indeed, at least from the year 2000 until the present, many of the best sci-fi films of modern times have happened to be set in space. Whether we're talking about a big, epic space opera blockbuster like Rogue One: A Star Wars Story or an awards-worthy hard sci-fi gem like The Martian, one thing is certain, and that's that space has given us some incredible sci-fi movies throughout the last 26 years.

The best part of it all? There are pretty much countless ways for a sci-fi movie to treat space in a way that's deeply compelling. Perhaps it sees it as a terrifyingly big expanse that brings up pure existential dread; perhaps it sees it as a final frontier of exploration that's worthy of being broken through; or perhaps it sees it through scientific eyes as one of the biggest mysteries that modern humanity faces. Regardless of how it sees or treats space, a great sci-fi movie that dares to leave the confines of Earth and does so in a way that feels truly special can offer one of the most irresistibly entertaining experiences a sci-fi lover could possibly imagine.

6 'The Martian' (2015)

Image via 20th Century Studios

So far, Andy Weir has only published three full-length novels, yet he has already become such a mainstream figure that many would reasonably consider him one of the kings of contemporary hard sci-fi literature. This is a subcategory of science fiction that's all about an emphasis on scientific realism, logic, and plausibility, stories grounded in real natural sciences. And as far as hard sci-fi movies from the last 26 years go, it doesn't get much better than The Martian. It's one of Ridley Scott's best 21st-century movies, a survival drama unlike any other from the last couple of decades.

There are a myriad of things that make The Martian one of the best hard sci-fi movies since 2000, from Matt Damon's powerhouse performance in the lead role to Scott's perfect balance between exciting blockbuster sequences and grounded scientific realism. Indeed, for people who love when sci-fi movies treat space not necessarily the way a space opera does, but rather with respect for the actual laws of science, The Martian should prove to be an absolute delight. It's a love letter to both the scientific method and human ingenuity as a whole.

5 'Rogue One: A Star Wars Story' (2016)

Image via Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Back in 1977, it's quite possible that not even George Lucas could have predicted that Star Wars would go on to become the biggest multimedia franchise in the history of pop culture, not even after the film became the highest-grossing movie of its time. But while it's one of the most iconic and influential science fantasy epics of all time, it's not a film devoid of some plot holes and contrivances; and Gareth Edwards' Rogue One was born precisely as a way to fill those holes. In the end, who could have predicted that a spin-off prequel would end up being the best Star Wars film of the 21st century?

Where can one even begin singing Rogue One's praises as one of the best action movies ever to make over $1 billion dollars at the box office? Its action set pieces are incredibly thrilling and technically perfect; its ensemble is vast, yet each character is fleshed out with surprising depth; and its story, while undeniably tragic, is nevertheless Star Wars at its most exquisitely old-school. And what's more, those who would call the space-faring side of Star Wars their favorite part of the franchise should be perfectly satisfied as well, because Rogue One is a planet-hopping adventure that should leave any and all fans satisfied.

4 'WALL·E' (2008)

Image via Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Pixar's Golden Age came between the '90s and 2000s, and from that Golden Age came masterpieces as timeless and universally well-regarded as WALL·E. Part romantic comedy paying tribute to the silent classics and screwball comedies of old, part climate-fiction gem offering warnings about humanity's relationship with technology and the environment, it really is one of the most wonderfully and admirably complex films that have ever been aimed at a young audience. It's one of the greatest animated movies of the last 26 years, and a must-see for pretty much anyone who loves sci-fi—regardless of their age.A good portion of WALL·E actually takes place in a futuristic version of Earth, but as soon as the film takes off into the stars, it becomes one of the best planetary romance movies of all time. Exciting, funny, intelligent, romantic, and visually stunning from beginning to end, it's proof of just how appealing space sci-fi can be to viewers of any and all ages. Led by one of Pixar's most endearing protagoinsts and concluding with one of the studio's most touching endings to date, it's a true classic that's bound to keep aging like fine wine as the decades go on.

3 'Project Hail Mary' (2026)

Image via Amazon MGM Studios

Who, if not Andy Weir, could possibly be responsible for not just one, but two of the books that inspired two of the best space sci-fi films of the last 26 years. But as phenomenal and timeless as The Martian is, there isn't really much of a question as to which one is best: It has to be Project Hail Mary, one of the biggest box office sleeper hits that the sci-fi genre has had to offer at any point during the 21st century. There are remarkably few hard sci-fi movies without any flaws, and this is arguably one of them.

So openly and proudly a cinematic love letter to the scientific method and natural sciences that it's nothing if not a hard sci-fi masterpiece.

Led by Ryan Gosling at the top of his game and directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller at the very top of theirs, Project Hail Mary is a very special kind of hard sci-fi flick. Though it includes some elements that you very rarely see in hard science fiction, such as aliens, it's still so openly and proudly a cinematic love letter to the scientific method and natural sciences that it's nothing if not a hard sci-fi masterpiece. Offering one of the most charming dynamics between a human and an alien that cinema has seen since E.T., it sees space is a realm that's made all the more fascinating by the fact that it's ruled by the unyielding laws of physics.

2 'Interstellar' (2014)

Image via Paramount Pictures

By the time the 2010s rolled in, Christopher Nolan had already had several chances to cement himself as one of the modern kings of Hollywood blockbusters, yet Interstellar did nothing but further enshrine him in that throne. Still remembered by many as Nolan's most fun movie, this enrapturing space opera is another one of the greatest hard sci-fi films of the last 26 years. But although it's a film about space travel on the surface, Interstellar is most prominently a deeply moving story about family and the most powerful force in the entire universe: love.

It's a corny premise, but Nolan justifies its corniness with some of the most exciting set pieces, most stunning production values, and most moving performances that space sci-fi has seen in decades. From Hans Zimmer's rousing score to the jaw-dropping visual effects, and from some of the best world-building of any Nolan movie to one of his most effectively mind-bending and powerful endings, there's pretty much nothing to complain about when you're a die-hard sci-fi fan watching Interstellar.

1 'Dune: Part Two' (2024)

Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

There's no way around it: Dune: Part Two is the closest thing we have to this generation's The Empire Strikes Back, a generation-defining sci-fi masterpiece that's bound to go down in history as one of the greatest cinematic achievements in the history of the genre. Considering that Frank Herbert's Dune is arguably the single most important and groundbreaking sci-fi novel of the 20th century, it's only fitting that the climactic conclusion of Denis Villeneuve's cinematic adaptation happens to be the best blockbuster film of the 2020s so far.

No matter what element of Dune: Part Two we're talking about, it's very likely that it deserves the "masterful" label: Hans Zimmer's unforgettable score, Greig Fraser's stunning cinematography, all of the incredible acting performances, Denis Villeneuve's admirable direction... the list of reasons why Dune: Part Two is worthy of applause goes on and on and on. Sure, the majority of its narrative is set squarely within the alien planet of Arrakis; but space travel nevertheless plays such a key role in the film's narrative that it's perfectly valid to call it the best space sci-fi movie that the big screen has seen since the turn of the 21st century.

Dune: Part Two

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