Best Movies like Passengers (2016)

Waking up early on a journey through space is a recipe for drama, romance, and unexpected twists, as Passengers explores when two travelers find themselves alone on a massive spacecraft, decades from their destination. If you’re drawn to movies that blend science fiction with intimate human connections and the mysteries of deep space, you’ll find plenty to enjoy in the recommendations below. Each film shares elements of isolation, futuristic settings, and relationships tested far from home.

Discover your next cosmic adventure here.

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, like Passengers, is set on a distant space outpost and explores the isolation and psychological challenges faced by a protagonist far from Earth, delving into the effects of solitude and confinement in a futuristic environment.

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 6,388 people. The movie made an estimated total of $9,760,104 in the box office.

I Am Mother

She’ll keep you safe.
Streaming on:
Genre: Science Fiction, Thriller
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 53m
Release date: 7th June 2019
Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (6.7/10)

I Am Mother features a contained setting where a small group faces a crisis dependent on advanced technology, drawing parallels with Passengers’ focus on human survival and unexpected interactions in a high-stakes, artificial environment.

A teenage girl is raised underground by a robot "Mother", designed to repopulate the earth following an extinction event. But their unique bond is threatened when an inexplicable stranger arrives with alarming news. I Am Mother is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 53m runtime, released in 2019 with an average rating of 6.7 by 2,886 people. The movie made an estimated total of $643,593 in the box office.

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. shares a central romantic storyline with Passengers, centering on unexpected connections and the complexities of building relationships under unusual circumstances, though set in a contemporary rather than science fiction world.

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 9,405 people. The movie made an estimated total of $145,079,584 in the box office.

The Space Between Us

What's your favorite thing about Earth?
Streaming on:
Genre: Romance, Science Fiction, Drama
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 2h 1m
Release date: 26th January 2017
Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (7.0/10)

The Space Between Us follows characters confronting life-altering challenges in space and features an unconventional romance that develops in a futuristic setting, echoing both the journey and the emotional stakes found in Passengers.

A young man raised by scientists on Mars returns to Earth to find his father. The Space Between Us is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 1m runtime, released in 2017 with an average rating of 7.0 by 2,572 people. The movie made an estimated total of $14,793,385 in the box office.

Sunshine

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

Sunshine transports its ensemble cast on a mission across deep space, focusing on the psychological and interpersonal pressures that arise, which resonates with the setting and human dynamics aboard the spacecraft in Passengers.

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 4,355 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 sends a small crew on a crucial space mission disrupted by a life-threatening malfunction, creating ethical dilemmas and tension similar to the unexpected awakening and survival predicament in Passengers.

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.

Aniara

A simple trip to mars will become the journey of a lifetime.
Streaming on:
Genre: Science Fiction, Drama
Country: Denmark
Language: Swedish
Runtime: 1h 46m
Release date: 1st February 2019
Rating: ★★★★★★☆☆☆☆ (6.1/10)

Aniara explores the fate of passengers stranded aboard a malfunctioning spacecraft headed for a new home, tackling existential questions and interpersonal struggles akin to the themes of isolation and adaptation present in Passengers.

A ship carrying settlers to a new home on Mars after Earth is rendered uninhabitable is knocked off-course, causing the passengers to consider their place in the universe. Aniara is a movie from Denmark in Swedish, with a total 1h 46m runtime, released in 2019 with an average rating of 6.1 by 444 people. The movie made an estimated total of $40,124 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 features characters embarking on long-duration journeys to uncharted worlds, blending themes of survival, love, and the unknown, which intersect with the dramatic and romantic elements explored in Passengers’ interstellar voyage.

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 40,623 people. The movie made an estimated total of $746,606,706 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 spotlights a protagonist’s ingenuity and struggle for survival in a hostile space environment, aligning with Passengers’ exploration of what it means to face unexpected peril and adapt aboard advanced spacecraft.

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 21,569 people. The movie made an estimated total of $631,058,917 in the box office.

Gravity

Don't let go.
Streaming on:
Genre: Science Fiction, Thriller, Drama
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 31m
Release date: 3rd October 2013
Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (7.2/10)

Gravity’s narrative centers on characters stranded in space after a critical malfunction, and their fight for survival, mirroring the urgent, high-stakes conflict experienced by the awakened passengers in Passengers.

Dr Ryan Stone, an engineer on her first space mission, and Matt Kowalski, an astronaut on his final expedition, have to survive in space after they are hit by debris while spacewalking. Gravity is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 31m runtime, released in 2013 with an average rating of 7.2 by 16,507 people. The movie made an estimated total of $723,192,705 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 places a small group of people on a deep-space journey where their isolation and uncertain future force them to confront their humanity, much like the relational and existential challenges faced by the leads in Passengers.

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.

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 unfolds aboard a spacecraft far from Earth, using themes of isolation, environmental stewardship, and emotional resilience that parallel the psychological and interpersonal challenges encountered in Passengers.

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 650 people.

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 involves a lone protagonist navigating the vastness of space and dealing with familial and existential questions, echoing Passengers’ focus on deep-space travel and intimate, character-driven storytelling.

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 7,321 people. The movie made an estimated total of $127,461,872 in the box office.

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 envisions a future shaped by advanced technology and human relationships within isolated environments, connecting with Passengers through its depiction of few characters navigating both emotional ties and a high-tech, unfamiliar world.

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 11,677 people. The movie made an estimated total of $286,168,572 in the box office.

Prometheus

The search for our beginning could lead to our end.
Streaming on:
Genre: Science Fiction, Mystery, Horror
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 2h 4m
Release date: 30th May 2012
Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (6.6/10)

Prometheus presents a diverse spaceship crew discovering the unforeseen dangers of exploring deep space, drawing direct similarity with Passengers’ premise of space travel, advanced technology, and the unpredictable consequences faced by its characters.

A team of explorers discover a clue to the origins of mankind on Earth, leading them on a journey to the darkest corners of the universe. There, they must fight a terrifying battle to save the future of the human race. Prometheus is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 4m runtime, released in 2012 with an average rating of 6.6 by 13,430 people. The movie made an estimated total of $403,354,469 in the box office.

Pandorum

Don't fear the end of the world. Fear what happens next.
Streaming on:
Genre: Action, Horror, Mystery, Science Fiction, Thriller
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 48m
Release date: 8th September 2009
Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (6.6/10)

Pandorum showcases people who awaken unexpectedly aboard a drifting colony ship, forcing them to face psychological strain and survival dilemmas, closely aligning with the premise and tension found in Passengers.

Two crew members wake up on an abandoned spacecraft with no idea who they are, how long they've been asleep, or what their mission is. The two soon discover they're actually not alone – and the reality of their situation is more horrifying than they could have imagined. Pandorum is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 48m runtime, released in 2009 with an average rating of 6.6 by 2,713 people. The movie made an estimated total of $20,648,328 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 centers on a crewed deep-space mission where technical failures and isolation challenge human perseverance, reflecting Passengers’ themes of adversity and resilience aboard a spacecraft far from home.

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 1,572 people. The movie made an estimated total of $125,687 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 follows humanity attempting interstellar survival using advanced technology, highlighting group dynamics and large-scale risks associated with ambitious space journeys reminiscent of the central voyage in Passengers.

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 1,180 people.

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 immerses viewers in the solitude and wonder of human space travel, using evocative spaceship settings and themes of existential discovery that align with the atmosphere and questions raised by Passengers.

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 12,776 people. The movie made an estimated total of $71,923,560 in the box office.

Voyagers

What does it feel like?
Streaming on:
Genre: Science Fiction, Thriller
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 48m
Release date: 8th April 2021
Rating: ★★★★★★☆☆☆☆ (6.0/10)

Voyagers sends a group of young people on a multi-generational voyage to a distant planet, exploring the psychological effects and interpersonal complexities of long-term space travel similar to the challenges experienced in Passengers.

With the future of the human race at stake, a group of young men and women -- bred for intelligence and obedience -- embark on an expedition to colonize a distant planet. When they uncover disturbing secrets about the mission, they defy their training and begin to explore their most primitive natures. As life on the ship descends into chaos, they soon become consumed by fear, lust and an insatiable hunger for power. Voyagers is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 48m runtime, released in 2021 with an average rating of 6.0 by 990 people. The movie made an estimated total of $4,298,184 in the box office.

Solaris

The planet where nightmares come true…
Streaming on:
Genre: Drama, Science Fiction, Mystery
Country: Soviet Union
Language: Russian
Runtime: 2h 47m
Release date: 20th March 1972
Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ (7.8/10)

Solaris examines the effects of isolation and emotional turmoil on characters aboard a spacecraft, echoing Passengers’ interest in personal relationships tested by extraordinary circumstances in the void of space.

A psychologist is sent to a space station orbiting a planet called Solaris to investigate the death of a doctor and the mental problems of cosmonauts on the station. He soon discovers that the water on the planet is a type of brain which brings out repressed memories and obsessions. Solaris is a movie from Soviet Union in Russian, with a total 2h 47m runtime, released in 1972 with an average rating of 7.8 by 1,869 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 pursues humanity’s search for meaning and connection through a blend of science fiction and intimate drama, akin to Passengers’ focus on relationships and the human experience within a technologically advanced setting.

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 5,091 people. The movie made an estimated total of $171,120,329 in the box office.

Passengers

The line between this world and the next is about to be crossed
Streaming on:
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Thriller, Romance
Country: Canada
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 33m
Release date: 26th September 2008
Rating: ★★★★★★☆☆☆☆ (6.1/10)

Passengers (2008) shares its title and a focus on dramatic personal journeys, although its context differs; both films center on the aftermath of a life-altering event and the relational connections that emerge from unexpected situations.

After a plane crash, a young therapist, Claire, is assigned by her mentor to counsel the flight's five survivors. When they share their recollections of the incident -- which some say include an explosion that the airline claims never happened -- Claire is intrigued by Eric, the most secretive of the passengers. Passengers is a movie from Canada in English, with a total 1h 33m runtime, released in 2008 with an average rating of 6.1 by 1,023 people. The movie made an estimated total of $2,000,000 in the box office.

The Fountain

What if you could live forever?
Streaming on:
Genre: Drama, Adventure, Science Fiction, Romance
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 36m
Release date: 22nd November 2006
Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (6.9/10)

The Fountain spans science fiction and romance, intertwining existential themes and emotional journeys that resonate with Passengers’ blend of love story and futuristic setting.

Spanning over one thousand years, and three parallel stories, The Fountain is a story of love, death, spirituality, and the fragility of our existence in this world. The Fountain is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 36m runtime, released in 2006 with an average rating of 6.9 by 3,157 people. The movie made an estimated total of $15,304,890 in the box office.

Never Let Me Go

These students have everything they need. Except time.
Streaming on:
Genre: Drama, Romance, Science Fiction
Country: United Kingdom
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 44m
Release date: 18th March 2010
Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (6.9/10)

Never Let Me Go uses science fiction elements to explore deep emotional bonds and existential questions, paralleling Passengers’ interest in romance and fate within a context defined by profound ethical and personal dilemmas.

As children, Kathy, Ruth, and Tommy spend their childhood at an idyllic and secluded English boarding school. As they grow into adults, they must come to terms with the complexity and strength of their love for one another while also preparing for the haunting reality awaiting them. Never Let Me Go is a movie from United Kingdom in English, with a total 1h 44m runtime, released in 2010 with an average rating of 6.9 by 2,509 people. The movie made an estimated total of $9,918,093 in the box office.

Another Earth

Streaming on:
Genre: Drama, Science Fiction
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 32m
Release date: 22nd July 2011
Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (6.7/10)

Another Earth investigates parallel lives and second chances through a compelling blend of science fiction ideas and personal drama, echoing Passengers’ emphasis on consequential choices and interpersonal connection in an extraordinary scenario.

On the night a duplicate Earth is discovered in the solar system, the lives of a young woman and an accomplished composer become tragically connected after a fatal accident. Another Earth is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 32m runtime, released in 2011 with an average rating of 6.7 by 1,838 people. The movie made an estimated total of $1,938,783 in the box office.

Titan A.E.

Get ready for the human race.
Streaming on:
Genre: Animation, Science Fiction, Adventure, Family, Action
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 35m
Release date: 16th June 2000
Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (6.6/10)

Titan A.E. charts a journey across space for a group seeking a new home after catastrophe, mirroring Passengers’ focus on colonization, survival, and adapting to the vast unknown of outer space.

A young man finds out that he holds the key to restoring hope and ensuring survival for the human race, while an alien species called the Drej are bent on mankind's destruction. Titan A.E. is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 35m runtime, released in 2000 with an average rating of 6.6 by 1,211 people. The movie made an estimated total of $36,754,634 in the box office.

Coherence

Rearrange your brain.
Streaming on:
Genre: Thriller, Science Fiction
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 29m
Release date: 6th April 2014
Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (7.2/10)

Coherence, though set on Earth, delves into reality-bending premises and the unpredictable consequences of an extraordinary event, reflecting Passengers’ interest in how characters respond to profound disruptions of normal life.

Four couples gather for dinner the night a mysterious and powerful comet passes overhead. Coherence is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 29m runtime, released in 2014 with an average rating of 7.2 by 3,515 people. The movie made an estimated total of $139,745 in the box office.

Love and Monsters

An apocalyptic love story.
Streaming on:
Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 49m
Release date: 16th October 2020
Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (7.3/10)

Love and Monsters combines an unconventional romantic story with survival in a post-catastrophic world, aligning with Passengers’ blend of high-stakes adventure and emotional connection in a challenging, rapidly changed environment.

Seven years since the Monsterpocalypse began, Joel Dawson has been living underground in order to survive. But after reconnecting over radio with his high school girlfriend Aimee, Joel decides to venture out to reunite with her, despite all the dangerous monsters that stand in his way. Love and Monsters is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 49m runtime, released in 2020 with an average rating of 7.3 by 4,524 people. The movie made an estimated total of $1,122,066 in the box office.

If you enjoyed Passengers for its blend of romance, high-stakes survival, and isolated space settings, these similar films offer engaging stories that explore relationships and ethical dilemmas far from Earth.

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