Lieutenant Uhura, Scotty, Sulu, Chekov, Bones, Captain Kirk and, of course, everyone’s favorite Vulcan, Mr. Spock, are back! In the much-anticipated Star Trek Beyond, the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise sets off on their first leg of the five-year mission that will take them into the far reaches of outer space. If seeing this newest installment of the franchise makes your family yearn for more space adventures, we’ve got eight out-of-this-world suggestions for your next movie night.
Most touching space movie
WALL-E
Rating: G
In this Pixar animated masterpiece, little robot WALL-E (Waste Allocation Load Lifter Earth-class) calls the devastated planet Earth his home. After he develops a crush on the sleek unit EVE he goes on an adventure across the vast galaxy. It’s a Pixar movie, so make sure to have Kleenex on hand.
Most real space movie
Apollo 13
Rating: PG
The all-star cast of Tom Hanks, Bill Paxton, Kevin Bacon, Gary Sinise and Ed Harris shine in this tale based on the true story of the ill-fated 13th Apollo mission. A near-fatal accident derails what was set to be the third lunar-landing mission. It’s a tense ride for sure.
Most watched space movies… ever
Star Wars (all of them)
Rating: PG, PG-13
You have some choices in your Star Wars viewings. You could go old school (hello Princess Leia hair buns), pick a side in the oft-debated Lucas prequels (hello Jar Jar Binks) or go new school with the blockbuster that is Star Wars: The Force Awakens. If your family is filled with the Force, you really have to watch them all.
Most Marvel-esque space movie
Guardians of the Galaxy
Rating: PG-13
A gun-toting raccoon, a treelike creature, a comely green female, a huge heavily tattooed man and a guy named Peter are an unlikely team. The motley crew travels through space causing chaos and saving planets in the process.
Most Disney-esque space movie
Treasure Planet
Rating: PG
This 2002 Disney animated feature takes Robert Louis Stevenson's classic Treasure Island and shoots it into space. This futuristic twist tells the tale of a brave young man's journey to new galactic frontiers aboard a super-cool flying ship.
Most game-y space movie
Zathura: A Space Adventure
Rating: PG
Jon Favreau took viewers on a space odyssey in Zathura, a film based on the book of the same name by Chris Van Allsburg (he also wrote the books turned films Jumanji and The Polar Express). Like Jumanji, two brothers play a board game, which thrusts them into an unexpected and epic adventure.
Most retro space movie
Lost in Space
Rating: PG-13
This 1998 movie (starring Gary Oldman, William Hurt, Matt LeBlanc and Heather Graham among others) is a reboot of the totally retro TV show Lost in Space. The Robinson family thought they were going into space to save humanity, but end up having to save themselves.
Most cult-classic space movie
Serenity
Rating: PG-13
Say the name Joss Whedon in front of certain people and you will get a huge grin (and a big thumbs up). Along with Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog and The Avengers, he’s the man behind the beloved series Firefly which was the inspiration for the feature film installment Serenity. In this space adventure, the renegade crew of the ship Serenity are being pursued by an assassin while they journey to uncharted areas of space.
