Best Movies like The Martian (2015)

Apollo 13 also centers on a crew who must survive with limited resources and ingenuity after a mission goes wrong in space. Both films focus on the realistic challenges of life-threatening situations, problem-solving, and the determination of astronauts to communicate with Earth and stay alive.

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 6,023 people. The movie made an estimated total of $355,237,933 in the box office.

Gravity depicts a stranded astronaut facing isolation and a harsh extraterrestrial environment, paralleling the themes of survival and ingenuity present in The Martian. Both stories are set in space and follow characters who must improvise and fight for their lives while awaiting rescue.

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.

Moon follows an isolated protagonist working alone on an extraterrestrial base, with a character arc that echoes the resourcefulness and psychological struggle of Mark Watney on Mars. Both films use the confined setting to explore personal endurance and practical problem-solving in hostile planetary environments.

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.

Europa Report features a team of astronauts on a deep space mission encountering unforeseen dangers, emphasizing the challenges and uncertainty of human exploration beyond Earth. Similar to The Martian, it focuses on technical obstacles and the perseverance required for survival 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.

Ad Astra explores the psychological and physical demands placed on astronauts during deep space missions. Like The Martian, it uses the setting of outer space to address themes of isolation, ingenuity, and the drive to reconnect with humanity across overwhelming distances.

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.

Interstellar shares the genre blend of science fiction, drama, and adventure, placing human ingenuity and problem-solving at the forefront of planetary survival. Both movies feature emotional journeys and utilize grand, visually immersive settings beyond Earth.

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.

Cast Away follows a lone survivor stranded in a hostile environment who must rely on wit, resilience, and self-sufficiency to endure isolation, mirroring the central journey of Mark Watney on Mars. Each film centers on human adaptability when separated from civilization.

Chuck Noland, a top international manager for FedEx, and Kelly, a Ph.D. student, are in love and heading towards marriage. Then Chuck's plane to Malaysia crashes at sea during a terrible storm. He's the only survivor, and finds himself marooned on a desolate island. With no way to escape, Chuck must find ways to survive in his new home. Cast Away is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 23m runtime, released in 2000 with an average rating of 7.7 by 12,405 people. The movie made an estimated total of $429,632,142 in the box office.

Solaris delves into the personal challenges of space travel, set on a remote station and featuring an isolated protagonist. Like The Martian, it addresses the psychological and existential tests astronauts face in alien environments far removed from Earth.

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 1,483 people. The movie made an estimated total of $30,002,758 in the box office.

Contact explores the intersection of scientific pursuit and human resilience against isolation, set against a backdrop of space exploration. Both films use science fiction elements to examine how individuals cope with extraordinary circumstances beyond Earth.

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.

Life unfolds on a space station where the crew moves from the initial success of discovery to an unanticipated survival challenge. The narrative structure and setting, along with the focus on scientific problem-solving under duress, align with the experience of The Martian.

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 8,019 people. The movie made an estimated total of $100,541,806 in the box office.

Stowaway revolves around a crew forced to confront survival threats on a space mission, making tough decisions due to dwindling resources. It shares with The Martian the scenario of coping with unexpected life-and-death dilemmas in a spacecraft environment.

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. is unrelated in premise, genre, and setting to The Martian. As a romantic comedy without any focus on survival, space exploration, or similar themes, it stands apart from the rest of this selection.

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 Silent Star is an early science fiction work depicting a space crew journeying to another planet. Like The Martian, it highlights the technical and existential difficulties of interplanetary missions, with a dramatic focus on the unexpected consequences of venturing into the unknown.

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.

Robinson Crusoe on Mars tells the story of a man stranded alone on Mars, making it highly relevant. It parallels The Martian’s narrative about solitary survival, problem-solving, and perseverance on the Martian surface with limited supplies.

Stranded on Mars with only a monkey as a companion, an astronaut must figure out how to find oxygen, water, and food and companionship on the lifeless planet. Robinson Crusoe on Mars is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 50m runtime, released in 1964 with an average rating of 6.3 by 157 people.

The Midnight Sky centers on the challenges of survival and communication in a remote, inhospitable environment, blending science fiction and drama. Like The Martian, it focuses on the themes of isolation, endurance, and the longing for connection under extreme conditions.

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.

The Space Between Us also takes place on Mars, involving characters who experience life in an extraterrestrial setting away from Earth. Shared elements include the planet’s harsh conditions and themes of adjustment, survival, and the human experience on another world.

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.

Prospect is set on a distant, hostile planet where survival depends on ingenuity and resourcefulness. It shares with The Martian the premise of facing peril with limited resources and exploring humanity’s adaptability in unforgiving alien environments.

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 995 people. The movie made an estimated total of $22,777 in the box office.

The Wandering Earth brings together themes of large-scale planetary crisis and human determination in a science fiction setting. Both it and The Martian depict humanity’s struggle to ensure survival during extraordinary catastrophic events beyond Earth.

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.

The Right Stuff recounts the early days of astronauts confronting the perils and unknowns of space travel. It shares with The Martian an emphasis on human courage, scientific achievement, and the pioneering spirit required for overcoming unprecedented challenges.

At the dawn of the Space Race, seven test pilots set out to become the first American astronauts to enter space. However, the road to making history brings momentous challenges. The Right Stuff is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 3h 13m runtime, released in 1983 with an average rating of 7.4 by 987 people. The movie made an estimated total of $21,500,000 in the box office.

Silent Running presents a solitary protagonist maintaining life in an artificial environment in deep space. Like The Martian, it explores the themes of isolation, the will to survive independently, and the ethical decisions required under dire circumstances.

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.

First Man dramatizes a real-life NASA mission where survival, technical risk, and emotional endurance are paramount. Both films depict the relentless drive and adaptation needed to confront life-threatening obstacles during human space exploration.

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 takes the action to the red planet itself, similar to The Martian. Both stories revolve around astronauts encountering life-or-death situations on Mars, requiring resilience, teamwork, and problem-solving with constrained resources.

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 1,623 people. The movie made an estimated total of $110,983,407 in the box office.

The Last Days on Mars also unfolds on Mars and centers on a crew struggling with survival when an expedition goes awry. Its conflict-driven plot and setting closely mirror the dire circumstances faced by Mark Watney on the Martian surface.

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 934 people. The movie made an estimated total of $24,084 in the box office.

Mars: One Day on the Red Planet focuses directly on the Martian environment, offering a perspective into the planet’s challenges and conditions. Like The Martian, it likely explores the difficulty of existing and surviving in Mars’s harsh, alien landscape.

An epic journey around Mars — built from real satellite and rover data — revealing the red planet as you’ve never seen it before. Mars: One Day on the Red Planet is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 28m runtime, released in 2020 with an average rating of 6.7 by 15 people.

Sunshine depicts astronauts on a critical mission facing escalating survival dilemmas, with a strong focus on problem-solving under extreme pressure. Its space setting and themes of isolation and endurance make it thematically compatible with the core narrative of The Martian.

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.

Apollo 18 tracks astronauts confronting unforeseen dangers during a mission gone wrong, echoing the use of limited resources and unexpected threats found in The Martian. Both set their survival drama in the realistic confines of space travel.

Officially, Apollo 17 was the last manned mission to the moon. But a year later in 1973, three American astronauts were sent on a secret mission to the moon funded by the US Department of Defense. What you are about to see is the actual footage which the astronauts captured on that mission. While NASA denies its authenticity, others say it's the real reason we've never gone back to the moon. Apollo 18 is a movie from Canada in English, with a total 1h 26m runtime, released in 2011 with an average rating of 5.3 by 1,118 people. The movie made an estimated total of $25,562,924 in the box office.

Arctic is about a lone survivor battling to stay alive in a remote, uninhabitable environment after a catastrophic event. Its focus on individual ingenuity and persistent hope strongly parallels the personal journey seen in The Martian.

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 follows the ordeal of a man fighting for survival in isolation after disaster strikes, paralleling the themes of self-reliance, resourcefulness, and endurance present in The Martian—except the struggle here unfolds at sea rather than on Mars.

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 1,779 people. The movie made an estimated total of $6,108,720 in the box office.

High Life centers on characters tested by solitude and unpredictability on a deep space mission. It shares with The Martian the isolated setting, examination of survival, and psychological challenges of life in an alien environment.

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.

Passengers tells of individuals abruptly awakened during an interstellar voyage and forced to survive with limited resources. Like The Martian, it emphasizes adaptation and inventive solutions under the constraints of an unforgiving space setting.

A spacecraft traveling to a distant colony planet and transporting thousands of people has a malfunction in its sleep chambers. As a result, two passengers are awakened 90 years early. Passengers is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 56m runtime, released in 2016 with an average rating of 7.0 by 14,375 people. The movie made an estimated total of $303,144,152 in the box office.

Love and Monsters features a protagonist navigating and surviving in a dangerous, unfamiliar world after disaster. While the setting is Earth, the survival journey, inventive problem-solving, and use of humor evoke elements similar to Mark Watney’s experience on Mars.

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.

Space Cowboys portrays veteran astronauts undertaking a perilous mission, emphasizing teamwork, technical obstacles, and the challenges of navigating space. Like The Martian, it highlights the high-stakes complexity and ingenuity essential for space missions.

Frank Corvin, ‘Hawk’ Hawkins, Jerry O'Neill and ‘Tank’ Sullivan were hotdog members of Project Daedalus, the US Air Force's test program for space travel, but their hopes were dashed in 1958 with the formation of NASA and the use of trained chimps. They blackmail their way into orbit when Russia's mysterious ‘Ikon’ communications satellite's orbit begins to degrade and threatens to crash to Earth. Space Cowboys is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 10m runtime, released in 2000 with an average rating of 6.4 by 1,555 people. The movie made an estimated total of $128,900,000 in the box office.

The Martian Chronicles draws its inspiration and setting from Mars, exploring themes of survival and the human condition under extraterrestrial circumstances. As with The Martian, the story is grounded in the drama and unexpected consequences of people grappling with life on the red planet.

In an effort to conceal the embezzlement of large sums of money received from the presidential fund, the corrupt and mired in the most low-grade debauchery, the Governor of the City starts a grandiose scam called the "Martian Expedition". The vacancies of voluntary suicides are readily accepted by an artist, director, architect, choreographer and porn star. Meanwhile, the "shadow administration" of the City, consisting of the bosses of the largest gangster groups, is joining the division of the "financial cake"... The Martian Chronicles is a movie from Russia in Russian, with a total 1h 10m runtime, released in 2000 with an average rating of 6.0 by 1 people.