1. Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi 2017，IMDB Rating: 6.9, IMDB Votes: 678504, ID: 2527336 Photo by geekblast.com.br, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 While ‘The Last Jedi’ dazzles with its stunning visuals and compelling character arcs, it takes liberties with space science that are hard to ignore. The film’s depiction of hyperspace travel and the infamous ‘silent’ space explosions are more fantasy than reality. Despite these inaccuracies, the movie’s emotional depth and thrilling action sequences make it a captivating watch.
2. Guardians of the Galaxy 2014，IMDB Rating: 8.0, IMDB Votes: 1283590, ID: 2015381 Photo by satyanash.net, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ is a delightful romp through space, filled with humor and heart. However, its portrayal of space physics, like Peter Quill’s survival in the vacuum of space, stretches the bounds of scientific accuracy. Despite these flaws, the film’s charm and the chemistry among the cast make it an enjoyable experience.
3. Interstellar 2014，IMDB Rating: 8.7, IMDB Votes: 2138053, ID: 0816692 Photo by rubicon.blog.hu, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 ‘Interstellar’ is a visually stunning and intellectually stimulating film that explores the far reaches of space and time. However, its depiction of wormholes and black holes, while grounded in theoretical physics, often strays into the realm of science fiction. Despite these scientific liberties, the film’s emotional core and ambitious storytelling make it a must-watch.
4. Gravity 2013，IMDB Rating: 7.7, IMDB Votes: 867729, ID: 1454468 Photo by blogspot.com, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 ‘Gravity’ is a gripping survival story set in the vast emptiness of space. While the film excels in creating a sense of tension and isolation, its depiction of space debris and the ease of movement between different orbits are scientifically questionable. Nevertheless, Sandra Bullock’s powerful performance and the film’s breathtaking visuals make it a standout.
5. Ad Astra 2019，IMDB Rating: 6.5, IMDB Votes: 262789, ID: 2935510 Photo by rinconrandom.com, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 ‘Ad Astra’ is a contemplative journey through space, anchored by Brad Pitt’s nuanced performance. However, the film’s portrayal of space travel, including the feasibility of a journey to Neptune, is often more fiction than fact. Despite these scientific inaccuracies, the film’s introspective narrative and stunning visuals make it a thought-provoking watch.
6. Armageddon 1998，IMDB Rating: 6.7, IMDB Votes: 454677, ID: 0120591 Photo by Wikipedia, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 Armageddon is a thrilling rollercoaster of a movie, but it gets a lot wrong about space. The film’s depiction of astronauts walking around on an asteroid as if it has Earth-like gravity is a major scientific inaccuracy. Despite its flaws, the movie’s high-octane action and emotional moments make it an entertaining watch. Bruce Willis and his team of oil drillers turned astronauts deliver memorable performances, even if the science is more fiction than fact.
7. 2001: A Space Odyssey 1968，IMDB Rating: 8.3, IMDB Votes: 726608, ID: 0062622 Photo by blogspot.com.es, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 2001: A Space Odyssey is a masterpiece of science fiction, but it isn’t without its inaccuracies. The film’s depiction of artificial gravity and the silence of space are more accurate than most, but the idea of a sentient AI like HAL 9000 is still far from reality. Stanley Kubrick’s visionary direction and the film’s philosophical themes make it a must-watch, even if some of its scientific predictions haven’t come true.
8. Mission to Mars 2000，IMDB Rating: 5.7, IMDB Votes: 76857, ID: 0183523 Photo by draco.pe.kr, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 Mission to Mars offers a visually stunning journey to the red planet, but it stumbles with its scientific accuracy. The film’s depiction of a Martian face and the idea of ancient Martian civilizations are purely speculative. Despite these flaws, the movie’s emotional core and the performances of Gary Sinise and Tim Robbins make it an engaging watch. It’s a film that sparks wonder, even if it doesn’t always stick to the facts.
9. Red Planet 2000，IMDB Rating: 5.7, IMDB Votes: 60194, ID: 0199753 Photo by blogspot.com, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 Red Planet is an old-fashioned sci-fi adventure that gets a lot wrong about space. The film’s depiction of Mars’ atmosphere and the behavior of its robotic companion are far from accurate. However, the movie’s suspenseful plot and the performances of Val Kilmer and Carrie-Anne Moss make it an entertaining ride. It’s a film that embraces its genre clichés while delivering a thrilling story.
10. Planet of the Apes 1968，IMDB Rating: 8.0, IMDB Votes: 199183, ID: 0063442 Photo by databazeznamychmist.cz, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 Planet of the Apes is a classic sci-fi film that, while not focused on space travel, still gets some things wrong. The idea of a planet where apes have evolved to dominate humans is a fascinating concept, but it’s more fantasy than science. Charlton Heston’s iconic performance and the film’s thought-provoking themes make it a must-watch, even if its scientific basis is shaky.
11. Spaceballs 1987，IMDB Rating: 7.1, IMDB Votes: 209138, ID: 0094012 Photo by scifi.stackexchange.com, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 Mel Brooks’ ‘Spaceballs’ is a hilarious parody of ‘Star Wars’ that doesn’t take itself too seriously. While it gets many things wrong about space, such as sound in a vacuum and exaggerated explosions, its charm lies in its comedic take on these inaccuracies. The film’s strength is its ability to make audiences laugh with its absurd characters and witty dialogue, even if the science is far from accurate.
12. Star Trek 2009，IMDB Rating: 7.9, IMDB Votes: 622564, ID: 0796366 Photo by DeviantArt, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 J.J. Abrams’ ‘Star Trek’ reboot is a thrilling space adventure that reintroduces the iconic characters of the USS Enterprise. Despite its engaging plot and impressive visuals, the film takes liberties with scientific accuracy, particularly with its depiction of black holes and time travel. However, the movie’s emotional depth and character development make it a captivating watch, even if the science is more fiction than fact.
13. Alien 1979，IMDB Rating: 8.5, IMDB Votes: 962525, ID: 0078748 Photo by Stack Exchange, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 Ridley Scott’s ‘Alien’ is a masterpiece of sci-fi horror that has stood the test of time. The film’s depiction of space travel and alien life is more about creating a terrifying atmosphere than adhering to scientific accuracy. While it may not get all the details right, its suspenseful storytelling and iconic performances make it a must-watch for any sci-fi fan.
14. The Martian 2015，IMDB Rating: 8.0, IMDB Votes: 935627, ID: 3659388 Photo by phcityonweb.com, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 Ridley Scott’s ‘The Martian’ is a gripping tale of survival on Mars, with Matt Damon delivering a stellar performance. The film is praised for its scientific accuracy, but it still takes some creative liberties, such as the intensity of Martian storms. Despite these minor inaccuracies, the movie’s optimistic tone and focus on problem-solving make it an inspiring and entertaining watch.
15. Apollo 13 1995，IMDB Rating: 7.7, IMDB Votes: 318481, ID: 0112384 Photo by draco.pe.kr, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 Ron Howard’s ‘Apollo 13’ is a riveting retelling of the real-life space mission that nearly ended in disaster. The film is lauded for its attention to detail and realistic portrayal of space travel. While it may dramatize certain events for cinematic effect, its commitment to authenticity and the human spirit’s resilience make it a powerful and moving film.
15 Sci-Fi Movie Myths: The Space Science They Get Wrong
