Best Movies like Gravity (2013)

There’s something unforgettable about watching characters fight for survival in the vast, unforgiving emptiness of space. Gravity takes this tension to new heights, following Dr Ryan Stone and veteran astronaut Matt Kowalski as they struggle after a disastrous accident during a spacewalk. If you’re drawn to science fiction thrillers that combine high-stakes drama with the isolation of outer space, the movies below capture a similar mix of suspense and survival. Check out these gripping recommendations next.

Apollo 13

"Houston, we have a problem."
Streaming on:
Genre: Drama, History
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 2h 20m
Release date: 30th June 1995
Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ (7.5/10)

Apollo 13 centers on astronauts stranded in space, fighting for survival after a life-threatening malfunction. Like Gravity, it explores high-stakes danger in Earth’s orbit and the determination required to endure when every moment counts during a crisis outside the planet’s atmosphere.

The true story of technical troubles that scuttle the Apollo 13 lunar mission in 1970, risking the lives of astronaut Jim Lovell and his crew, with the failed journey turning into a thrilling saga of heroism. Drifting more than 200,000 miles from Earth, the astronauts work furiously with the ground crew to avert tragedy. Apollo 13 is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 20m runtime, released in 1995 with an average rating of 7.5 by 6,011 people. The movie made an estimated total of $355,237,933 in the box office.

The Martian

Bring him home.
Streaming on:
Genre: Science Fiction, Drama, Adventure
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 2h 21m
Release date: 30th September 2015
Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ (7.7/10)

The Martian follows a protagonist isolated and battling to survive alone after an accident during a space mission. Both films focus on resourcefulness, overcoming technological failures, and the immense psychological and physical challenges posed by life-threatening events in space.

During a manned mission to Mars, Astronaut Mark Watney is presumed dead after a fierce storm and left behind by his crew. But Watney has survived and finds himself stranded and alone on the hostile planet. With only meager supplies, he must draw upon his ingenuity, wit and spirit to subsist and find a way to signal to Earth that he is alive. The Martian is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 21m runtime, released in 2015 with an average rating of 7.7 by 21,538 people. The movie made an estimated total of $631,058,917 in the box office.

Ad Astra

The answers we seek are just outside our reach.
Streaming on:
Genre: Science Fiction, Drama
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 2h 3m
Release date: 17th September 2019
Rating: ★★★★★★☆☆☆☆ (6.1/10)

Ad Astra immerses viewers in a tense journey through the dangers and isolation of outer space. Like Gravity, it delves into existential themes, personal resolve, and the emotional weight of being physically and psychologically untethered far from Earth.

The near future, a time when both hope and hardships drive humanity to look to the stars and beyond. While a mysterious phenomenon menaces to destroy life on planet Earth, astronaut Roy McBride undertakes a mission across the immensity of space and its many perils to uncover the truth about a lost expedition that decades before boldly faced emptiness and silence in search of the unknown. Ad Astra is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 3m runtime, released in 2019 with an average rating of 6.1 by 7,317 people. The movie made an estimated total of $127,461,872 in the box office.

Moon

250,000 miles from home, the hardest thing to face... is yourself.
Streaming on:
Genre: Science Fiction, Drama
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 37m
Release date: 12th June 2009
Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ (7.6/10)

Moon shares with Gravity the narrative of a lone individual facing life-threatening circumstances in outer space. Both films convey isolation, technical crises, and personal endurance as central to the characters’ struggle for survival beyond Earth.

With only three weeks left in his three-year contract, Sam Bell is eager to return to Earth. Stationed alone at a Moon-based facility with his computer assistant GERTY, an unexpected accident sets off a series of unsettling events that shake his isolation. Moon is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 37m runtime, released in 2009 with an average rating of 7.6 by 6,380 people. The movie made an estimated total of $9,760,104 in the box office.

2001: A Space Odyssey

An epic drama of adventure and exploration.
Streaming on:
Genre: Science Fiction, Mystery, Adventure
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 2h 29m
Release date: 2nd April 1968
Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ (8.0/10)

2001: A Space Odyssey presents an odyssey of survival and human limits amid the vastness of space. It parallels Gravity by immersing characters in perilous environments where both mind and body are tested against the loneliness and unpredictability of the cosmos.

Humanity finds a mysterious object buried beneath the lunar surface and sets off to find its origins with the help of HAL 9000, the world's most advanced super computer. 2001: A Space Odyssey is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 29m runtime, released in 1968 with an average rating of 8.0 by 12,760 people. The movie made an estimated total of $71,923,560 in the box office.

Arctic

Survival is the only option.
Streaming on:
Genre: Drama, Adventure
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 38m
Release date: 21st November 2018
Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (6.5/10)

Arctic chronicles a solitary struggle against nature’s lethal indifference, echoing the survivalist narrative in Gravity. Though set on ice rather than in orbit, both stories revolve around minimal character interactions, endurance, and the fight to overcome insurmountable odds in isolated, hostile settings.

A man stranded in the Arctic is finally about to receive his long awaited rescue. However, after a tragic accident, his opportunity is lost and he must then decide whether to remain in the relative safety of his camp or embark on a deadly trek through the unknown for potential salvation. Arctic is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 38m runtime, released in 2018 with an average rating of 6.5 by 1,406 people. The movie made an estimated total of $4,100,000 in the box office.

All Is Lost

Never give up.
Streaming on:
Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 46m
Release date: 23rd August 2013
Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (6.6/10)

All Is Lost tracks a lone individual’s fight to survive after a disaster strikes, similar to the predicament in Gravity. Both films focus on personal perseverance, the drive to overcome seemingly hopeless situations, and a protagonist confronting danger in a stark, isolated environment.

During a solo voyage in the Indian Ocean, a veteran mariner awakes to find his vessel taking on water after a collision with a stray shipping container. With his radio and navigation equipment disabled, he sails unknowingly into a violent storm and barely escapes with his life. With any luck, the ocean currents may carry him into a shipping lane -- but, with supplies dwindling and the sharks circling, the sailor is forced to face his own mortality. All Is Lost is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 46m runtime, released in 2013 with an average rating of 6.6 by 1,778 people. The movie made an estimated total of $6,108,720 in the box office.

Europa Report

Fear. Sacrifice. Contact.
Streaming on:
Genre: Science Fiction, Thriller, Drama
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 30m
Release date: 27th June 2013
Rating: ★★★★★★☆☆☆☆ (6.3/10)

Europa Report follows a crew’s mission in deep space affected by disaster, highlighting teamwork, scientific exploration, and the perils of space travel. Similar to Gravity, it explores the fragility of human endeavor and survival far from Earth’s safety.

A crew travels to Europa, Jupiter’s icy moon, to investigate signs of life in its subsurface ocean, but disaster cuts them off from Earth, leading to a tense and dangerous exploration. Europa Report is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 30m runtime, released in 2013 with an average rating of 6.3 by 1,571 people. The movie made an estimated total of $125,687 in the box office.

Sunshine

If it dies, so do we.
Streaming on:
Genre: Science Fiction, Thriller, Horror
Country: United Kingdom
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 48m
Release date: 5th April 2007
Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (7.0/10)

Sunshine involves astronauts confronting unforeseen threats during a mission far from Earth. Both films portray characters under extraordinary pressure in the void of space, where technical failure and the need for cooperation create a relentless atmosphere of danger and urgency.

Fifty years into the future, the sun is dying, and Earth is threatened by arctic temperatures. A team of astronauts is sent to revive the Sun — but the mission fails. Seven years later, a new team is sent to finish the mission as mankind’s last hope. Sunshine is a movie from United Kingdom in English, with a total 1h 48m runtime, released in 2007 with an average rating of 7.0 by 4,344 people. The movie made an estimated total of $34,800,000 in the box office.

Stowaway

Millions of miles from home, survival comes with sacrifice.
Streaming on:
Genre: Science Fiction, Drama, Thriller
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 56m
Release date: 24th June 2021
Rating: ★★★★★★☆☆☆☆ (6.0/10)

Stowaway depicts the struggle for survival on a perilous space journey after an unexpected complication threatens the entire crew. It matches Gravity’s focus on moral dilemmas, limited resources, and the daunting environment encountered during human space missions.

A three-person crew on a mission to Mars faces an impossible choice when an unplanned passenger jeopardizes the lives of everyone on board. Stowaway is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 56m runtime, released in 2021 with an average rating of 6.0 by 693 people.

Crazy, Stupid, Love.

This is crazy. This is stupid. This is love.
Streaming on:
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 58m
Release date: 29th July 2011
Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (7.3/10)

Crazy, Stupid, Love. does not share setting, themes, or premise with Gravity and centers on entirely different genre conventions without any overlap in survival, space, or isolation elements.

Cal Weaver is living the American dream. He has a good job, a beautiful house, great children and a beautiful wife, named Emily. Cal's seemingly perfect life unravels, however, when he learns that Emily has been unfaithful and wants a divorce. Over 40 and suddenly single, Cal is adrift in the fickle world of dating. Enter, Jacob Palmer, a self-styled player who takes Cal under his wing and teaches him how to be a hit with the ladies. Crazy, Stupid, Love. is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 58m runtime, released in 2011 with an average rating of 7.3 by 9,390 people. The movie made an estimated total of $145,079,584 in the box office.

The Midnight Sky

There's a universe between all of us.
Streaming on:
Genre: Science Fiction, Drama
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 58m
Release date: 10th December 2020
Rating: ★★★★★★☆☆☆☆ (5.7/10)

The Midnight Sky details survival amid cosmic catastrophe, again featuring a protagonist isolated in space or outer environments. Both films deal with overcoming adversity far from civilization, highlighting the dangers and existential weight of safeguarding life in extreme circumstances.

A lone scientist in the Arctic races to contact a crew of astronauts returning home to a mysterious global catastrophe. The Midnight Sky is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 58m runtime, released in 2020 with an average rating of 5.7 by 2,048 people. The movie made an estimated total of $70,018 in the box office.

High Life

Oblivion Awaits.
Streaming on:
Genre: Science Fiction, Drama, Mystery
Country: France
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 53m
Release date: 26th September 2018
Rating: ★★★★★★☆☆☆☆ (5.7/10)

High Life centers on characters confronting existential peril and psychological strain during a voyage through deep space. Like Gravity, themes of isolation, survival, and coping with the unpredictability of space are central to the narrative.

Monte and his daughter are the last survivors of a damned and dangerous mission to deep space. The crew—death-row inmates led by a doctor with sinister motives—has vanished. As the mystery of what happened onboard the ship is unraveled, father and daughter must rely on each other to survive as they hurtle toward the oblivion of a black hole. High Life is a movie from France in English, with a total 1h 53m runtime, released in 2018 with an average rating of 5.7 by 1,244 people. The movie made an estimated total of $2,133,033 in the box office.

Life

Be careful what you search for.
Streaming on:
Genre: Horror, Science Fiction, Mystery
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 44m
Release date: 22nd March 2017
Rating: ★★★★★★☆☆☆☆ (6.5/10)

Life is set aboard a space station where the crew faces catastrophic threats, paralleling Gravity’s depiction of a confined setting and the mounting dangers of surviving and adapting to life-threatening events away from Earth.

The six-member crew of the International Space Station is tasked with studying a sample from Mars that may be the first proof of extra-terrestrial life, which proves more intelligent than ever expected. Life is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 44m runtime, released in 2017 with an average rating of 6.5 by 8,014 people. The movie made an estimated total of $100,541,806 in the box office.

Silent Running

Amazing companions on an incredible adventure... that journeys beyond imagination!
Streaming on:
Genre: Adventure, Science Fiction, Drama
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 29m
Release date: 9th March 1972
Rating: ★★★★★★☆☆☆☆ (6.4/10)

Silent Running draws on the narrative of a character isolated in space, forced to make difficult decisions about survival, mirroring the core aspects of isolation, environmental hazards, and individual perseverance found in Gravity.

After the entire flora goes extinct, ecologist Lowell maintains a greenhouse aboard a space station for the future with his android companions. However, he rebels after being ordered to destroy the greenhouse in favor of carrying cargo, a decision that puts him at odds with everyone but his mechanical companions. Silent Running is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 29m runtime, released in 1972 with an average rating of 6.4 by 649 people.

First Man

One giant leap into the unknown.
Streaming on:
Genre: History, Drama
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 2h 21m
Release date: 10th October 2018
Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (7.0/10)

First Man provides an intimate portrayal of an astronaut’s journey, emphasizing both the technical and psychological demands of human space travel. Like Gravity, it immerses viewers in the high risks and profound solitude associated with venturing beyond Earth's atmosphere.

A look at the life of the astronaut, Neil Armstrong, and the legendary space mission that led him to become the first man to walk on the Moon on July 20, 1969. First Man is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 21m runtime, released in 2018 with an average rating of 7.0 by 5,731 people. The movie made an estimated total of $105,713,218 in the box office.

Mission to Mars

For centuries we've been looking for the origin of life on earth. We've been looking on the wrong planet.
Streaming on:
Genre: Science Fiction, Adventure, Mystery
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 54m
Release date: 10th March 2000
Rating: ★★★★★★☆☆☆☆ (6.0/10)

Mission to Mars explores astronauts’ challenges and the unpredictability faced during a space mission gone wrong. Survival, teamwork, and confronting the hostile conditions of alien environments connect it to the core tension in Gravity.

When the first manned mission to Mars meets with a catastrophic and mysterious disaster after reporting an unidentified structure, a rescue mission is launched to investigate the tragedy and bring back any survivors. Mission to Mars is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 54m runtime, released in 2000 with an average rating of 6.0 by 1,621 people. The movie made an estimated total of $110,983,407 in the box office.

The Wandering Earth

Streaming on:
Genre: Science Fiction, Action, Drama
Country: China
Language: Mandarin
Runtime: 2h 6m
Release date: 5th February 2019
Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (6.6/10)

The Wandering Earth presents humanity battling for survival amid cosmic-scale disaster and hostile conditions in space. Both films explore the ingenuity and resilience required when familiar environments turn deadly and the fate of characters hinges on their ability to adapt.

When the Sun begins to expand in such a way that it will inevitably engulf and destroy the Earth in a hundred years, united mankind finds a way to avoid extinction by propelling the planet out of the Solar System using gigantic engines, moving it to a new home located four light years away, an epic journey that will last thousands of years. The Wandering Earth is a movie from China in Mandarin, with a total 2h 6m runtime, released in 2019 with an average rating of 6.6 by 1,176 people.

Contact

Take a journey to the heart of the universe.
Streaming on:
Genre: Drama, Science Fiction, Mystery
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 2h 30m
Release date: 11th July 1997
Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (7.4/10)

Contact approaches cosmic exploration and personal transformation through a protagonist’s profound experiences beyond Earth. While thematic focus differs, both films depict the awe, risk, and isolation encountered in the pursuit of scientific discovery in outer space.

A radio astronomer receives the first extraterrestrial radio signal ever picked up on Earth. As the world powers scramble to decipher the message and decide upon a course of action, she must make some difficult decisions between her beliefs, the truth, and reality. Contact is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 30m runtime, released in 1997 with an average rating of 7.4 by 5,082 people. The movie made an estimated total of $171,120,329 in the box office.

Interstellar

Mankind was born on Earth. It was never meant to die here.
Streaming on:
Genre: Adventure, Drama, Science Fiction
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 2h 49m
Release date: 5th November 2014
Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ (8.5/10)

Interstellar investigates humanity’s endurance in extraordinary space conditions, focusing on profound risks, remote journeys, and personal sacrifice for survival—key narrative elements shared with Gravity’s depiction of survival and adaptation in the emptiness of space.

The adventures of a group of explorers who make use of a newly discovered wormhole to surpass the limitations on human space travel and conquer the vast distances involved in an interstellar voyage. Interstellar is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 49m runtime, released in 2014 with an average rating of 8.5 by 40,566 people. The movie made an estimated total of $746,606,706 in the box office.

Sphere

Terror can fill any space.
Streaming on:
Genre: Science Fiction, Mystery, Thriller
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 2h 14m
Release date: 13th February 1998
Rating: ★★★★★★☆☆☆☆ (6.1/10)

Sphere details a group’s survival after being cut off from Earth in a remote, technological environment. Both this film and Gravity challenge their characters with isolation, the need to improvise, and the psychological effects of being trapped in an alien setting.

A spacecraft is discovered at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean, presumed to be at least 300 years old and of alien origin. A crack team of scientists and experts is assembled and taken to the ocean floor to investigate. However, the ship is not as it seems and when a giant perfect sphere is discovered in the cargo bay, things begin to fall apart. Sphere is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 14m runtime, released in 1998 with an average rating of 6.1 by 1,860 people. The movie made an estimated total of $37,020,277 in the box office.

The Last Days on Mars

The search for life is about to end.
Streaming on:
Genre: Science Fiction, Thriller, Horror
Country: United Kingdom
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 38m
Release date: 11th August 2013
Rating: ★★★★★★☆☆☆☆ (5.5/10)

The Last Days on Mars follows a space crew confronting disaster during an off-world mission. The themes of technical crisis, isolation, and the struggle for life against environmental hostility are mutual with the challenges portrayed in Gravity.

On the last day of the first manned mission to Mars, a crew member of Tantalus Base believes he has made an astounding discovery – fossilized evidence of bacterial life. Unwilling to let the relief crew claim all the glory, he disobeys orders to pack up and goes out on an unauthorized expedition to collect further samples. But a routine excavation turns to disaster when the porous ground collapses and he falls into a deep crevice. His devastated colleagues attempt to recover his body. However, when another vanishes, they start to suspect that the life-form they have discovered is not without danger. The Last Days on Mars is a movie from United Kingdom in English, with a total 1h 38m runtime, released in 2013 with an average rating of 5.5 by 933 people. The movie made an estimated total of $24,084 in the box office.

Solaris

How far will you go for a second chance?
Streaming on:
Genre: Drama, Science Fiction, Mystery
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 39m
Release date: 27th November 2002
Rating: ★★★★★★☆☆☆☆ (5.9/10)

Solaris explores the psychological consequences of space isolation and the toll extraordinary situations take on its protagonists. Its narrative, like Gravity’s, uses the backdrop of outer space to dissect the human drive to survive and adapt far from home.

A troubled psychologist is sent to investigate the crew of an isolated research station orbiting a bizarre planet. Solaris is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 39m runtime, released in 2002 with an average rating of 5.9 by 1,481 people. The movie made an estimated total of $30,002,758 in the box office.

The Silent Star

You are there … on man’s most incredible journey!
Streaming on:
Genre: Science Fiction
Country: East Germany
Language: German
Runtime: 1h 33m
Release date: 26th February 1960
Rating: ★★★★★☆☆☆☆☆ (4.9/10)

The Silent Star presents a perilous space expedition confronted by unexpected dangers. Its focus on ensemble survival, technical setbacks, and the confrontation with the unknown in space mirror the high-stakes conflict and setting seen in Gravity.

A mysterious magnetic spool found during a construction project is discovered to have originated from Venus. A rocket expedition to Venus is launched to discover the origin of the spool and the race that created it. The Silent Star is a movie from East Germany in German, with a total 1h 33m runtime, released in 1960 with an average rating of 4.9 by 82 people.

Oblivion

Earth is a memory worth fighting for.
Streaming on:
Genre: Action, Science Fiction, Adventure, Mystery
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 2h 4m
Release date: 10th April 2013
Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (6.7/10)

Oblivion, though distinct in plot, shares with Gravity the motif of a protagonist navigating a desolate, hazardous environment with minimal support. Themes of isolation and the struggle to persist in a world rendered unrecognizable unite both narratives.

Jack Harper is one of the last few drone repairmen stationed on Earth. Part of a massive operation to extract vital resources after decades of war with a terrifying threat known as the Scavs, Jack’s mission is nearly complete. His existence is brought crashing down when he rescues a beautiful stranger from a downed spacecraft. Her arrival triggers a chain of events that forces him to question everything he knows and puts the fate of humanity in his hands. Oblivion is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 4m runtime, released in 2013 with an average rating of 6.7 by 11,661 people. The movie made an estimated total of $286,168,572 in the box office.

Passage to Mars

Our Journey to a New World Has Begun.
Streaming on:
Genre: Adventure, Documentary, Science Fiction
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 34m
Release date: 31st May 2016
Rating: ★★★★☆☆☆☆☆☆ (3.8/10)

Passage to Mars recounts a journey into extreme, unforgiving conditions as explorers push the limits of endurance far from civilization. Like Gravity, it offers a survival narrative focused on the risks, isolation, and relentless challenge of mission-based exploration.

A NASA Arctic expedition designed to be the first Martian road trip on Earth becomes an epic two-year odyssey of human adventure and survival. Passage to Mars is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 34m runtime, released in 2016 with an average rating of 3.8 by 16 people.

Prospect

No one survives alone.
Streaming on:
Genre: Science Fiction
Country: Canada
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 38m
Release date: 2nd October 2018
Rating: ★★★★★★☆☆☆☆ (6.2/10)

Prospect places central characters amidst dangerous territory beyond Earth, relying on resourcefulness and resilience to survive. Its remote extraterrestrial setting and focus on high-stakes individual struggle echo the isolated, life-or-death scenario central to Gravity.

A teenage girl and her father travel to a remote alien moon, aiming to strike it rich. They've secured a contract to harvest a large deposit of the elusive gems hidden in the depths of the moon's toxic forest. But there are others roving the wilderness and the job quickly devolves into a fight to survive. Prospect is a movie from Canada in English, with a total 1h 38m runtime, released in 2018 with an average rating of 6.2 by 994 people. The movie made an estimated total of $22,777 in the box office.

Like Gravity, these films immerse viewers in the tension of survival against impossible odds and the isolation of space. Each movie combines gripping drama and science fiction to create a suspenseful, visually compelling experience.

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