the interstellar studies bibliography
Interstellar Themed Films
This page lists films that are related to interstellar studies. It includes films that feature interplanetary themes which have something to say about our further aspirations to explore beyond the Solar System and around other stars. We also include films which feature ET/aliens since by implications they originate from interstellar space or at the very least exo-Earth. It includes fims which give a rigorous hard technology treatment of the science fiction to philosophy but also comedies; hence the range is large.
To take account of the different types of films we use a three-level rating so as to guide people in the sort of film to be expected and its coverage of the subject matter. The category award is assessed based on three measures. (1) Is their a good treatment of the technology, spans of time and distance, aliens, planetary atmospheres, philosophical issues? (2) Is the subject matter treated seriously? (3) What is the dominance of interstellar themes in the story? On the basis of these considerations, the ratings are as follows:
High [H*]: This is considered an exceptional treatment of the subject matter and addresses themes with credibility.
High [H]: This film is a good treatment of the subject matter and highly relevant to interstellar researchers.
Medium [M]: This film is a moderate treatment of the subject matter and has some relevance to interstellar researchers.
Low [L]: This film only has tertiary relevance to the subject matter.
Moving up the scale, a film will have more relevant themes, philosophy, technology and treat the subject matter more rigorously. The award of these categories should not be interpreted as an opinion on how good or bad the film is, since that is not the intention here and such assessments are best left to film critics. For example a film may give a serious treatment of the subject and also feature good technology and planetary landscapes, but because it is mostly focussed on our solar system it may be downgraded to reflect the fact it is more interplanetary than it is interstellar; yet this says nothing about how good the film is. Instead it is the intention merely to give some guidance on how relevant the films are for a researcher. This is obviously a subjective assessment and any appeals to change the rating will be considered. In general a film with a lower rating is pure entertainment wheareas a film with a higher rating is also educational and likely to be thought provoking. Where a rating is not given it is because insufficient information is available to make an assessment or we simply have not seen the film to come to a conclusion. Films which are set on Earth (such as alien invasion films) are automatically downgraded by one level to reflect their lack of treatment of space. Finally, we currently do not include animation films in this list.
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Total Number Films 103 (updated 30 Jun 2020)
2020…
none
2019…
Ad Astra, Directed by James Gray, 20th Century Fox, Polybona Films, 29 Aug 2019. [H]
The Wandering Earth, Director Frant Gwo, China Film Group Corporation, 2019.
2018...
The Predator, Director Shane Black, TSG Entertainment/Davis Entertainment, 2018. [M]
Transformers: Bumblebee, Director Travis Knight, Allspark Pictures/Di Bonaventura Pictures/Tencent Pictures/Platinum Dunes, 2018. [L]
2017…
Guardians of the Galaxy 2, Director James Gunn, Walt Disney Studios, Motion Pictures, 2017. [M]
Alien: Covenant, Director Ridley Scott, Director 20th Century Fox/TSG Entertainment/Brandywine Productions/Scott Free Productions, 2017. [H]
Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets, Director Luc Besson, EuropaCorp/TF1 Films Production/Fundamental Films/BNP Paribas/Orange Studio/Novo Pictures/River Road Entertainment/Belga Films Fund, 2017. [H]
Teleios, Director Ian Truitner, Thousand Mile Media, 2017.
Attraction, Director Fyodor Bondarchuk, Art Pictures Studio/Vodorod 2011/Cinema Foundation/Russia-1, 2017.
Transformers: The Last Knight, Director Michael Bay, Hasbro/Di Bonaventura Pictures/Huahua Media/Weying Galaxy/The H Collective, 2017. [L]
2016…
Passengers, Director Morten Tyldum, Columbia Pictures/Village Roadshow Pictures/Start Motion Pictures/Original Film/LStar Capital/Wanda Pictures/Company Films, 2016. [H*]
2015…
none
2014…
Interstellar, Director Christopher Nolan, Legendendary Pictures & Warner Brothers Pictures, Oct 2014. [H*]
Guardians of the Galaxy, Director James Gunn, Marvel Studios, 2014. [M]
Transformers: Age of Extinction, Director Michael Bay, Hasbro/Di Bonaventura Pictures, 2014. [L]
Edge of Tomorrow, Director Doug Liman, Village Roadshow Pictures/RatPac-Dune Entertainement/3 Arts Entertainment/Viz Productions, 2014.
2013…
Star Trek into Darkness, Director J.J.Abrams, Paramount Pictures, 2013. [H]
Riddick, Director David Twohy, Radar Pictures/One Race Films, 2013. [H]
After Earth, Director Manoj Nelliyattu ‘M Night’ Shyamalan, Columbia Pictures, Overbrook Entertainment, Blinding Edge Pictures, Relativity Media, 2013.
Europa Report, Director Sebastian Cordero, Start Motion Pictures/Wayfare Entertainment/Ventures LLC, 2013.
Oblivion, Director Joseph Kosinski, Relativity Media/Chernin Entertainment/Monolith Pictures/Radical Studios, 2013.
2012…
Prometheus, Dirctor Ridley Scott, Scott Free Productions/Brandywine Productions/Dune Entertainment, 2012. [H*]
John Carter, Director Andrew Stanton, Walt Disney Pictures, 2012.
2011…
Transformers: Dark of the Moon, Director Michael Bay, Hasbro/Di Bonaventura Pictures, 2011. [L]
Cowboys & Aliens, Director Jon Favreau, Universal Pictures/DreamWorks Pictures/Reliance Entertainment/Relativity Media/Imagine Entertainment/KO Paper Products/Fairview Entertainment/Platinum Studios, 2011.
2010…
Predators, Director Nimrod Antal, Davis Entertainment Company, Dune Entertainment, Ingenious Media, Troublemaker Studios, 2010. [M]
2009…
Pandorum, Director Christian Alvart, Overture Films, 2009.
Star Trek, Director J.J.Abrams, Paramount Pictures, 2009. [H]
Avatar, Director James Cameron, 20th Century Fox, 10 Dec 2009. [H*]
District 9, Director Neill Blomkamp, QED International/WingNut Films/TriStar Pictures, 2009. [M]
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, Director Michael Bay, Hasbro/Di Bonaventura Pictures, 2009. [L]
2008…
The Day the Earth Stood Still, Director Scott Derrickson, 20th Century Fox, 2008. [M]
The Day the Earth Stopped, Director Christopher Howell, 2008. [L]
2007…
Alien vs Predator: Requiem, Director Greg and Colin Strause, 20th Century Fox, 2007. [H]
Sunshine, Director Danny Boyle, Moving Picture Company/DNA Films/UK Film Council/Ingenious Film Partners, 2007. [H*]
Transformers, Director Michael Bay, DreamWorks Pictures/Paramount Pictures/Hasbro/Di Bonaventura Pictures, 2007. [L]
Species - The Awakening, Director Nick Lyon, 2007. [L]
2006…
2005…
Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, Director George Lucas, 20th Century Fox, 2005. [H]
Serenity, Director Joss Whedon, Universal Pictures, 2005.
Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, Director Garth Jennings, Touchstone Pictures/Spyglass Entertainment/Hammer & Tongs/Everyman Pictures, 2005. [L]
2004…
The Chronicles of Riddick, Director David Twohy, Radar Pictures/One Race Films, 2004. [H]
Alien vs Predator, Director Paul W S Anderson, Davis Entertainment Company/Brandywine Productions/Impact Pictures/Stillking Films, 2004. [H]
Species III, Director Brad Turner, MGM Television Entertainment, 2004. [L]
2003…
2002…
Star Trek: Nemesis, Director Stuart Baird, Paramount Pictures, 2002. [H]
Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones, Director George Lucas, 20th Century Fox, 2002.[H]
Pitch Black, Director David Twohy, PolyGram Filmed Entertainment/Interscope Communications, 2000. [H]
Treasure Planet, Director Ron Clements & John Musker, Walt Disney Pictures/Walt Disney Feature Animation, 2002. [L]
Solaris, Director Steven Soderbergh, Lightstorm Entertainment, 2002. [H]
2001…
2000…
1999…
Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, Director George Lucas, 20th Century Fox, 1999. [H]
Galaxy Quest, Director Dean Parisot, DreamWorks Pictures, 1999. [M]
1998…
Star Trek: Insurrection, Director Jonathan Frakes, Paramount Pictures, 1998. [H]
Lost in Space, Director Stephen Hopkins, New Line Cinema/Salire Entertainment, 1998. [M]
Species II, Director Peter Medak, FGM Entertainment, 1998. [L]
1997…
Alien Ressurrection, Director Jean-Pierre Jeunet, 20th Century Fox/Brandywine Productions, 1997. [H]
Event Horizon, Director Paul W S Anderson, Paramount Pictures/Golar Productions/Impact Pictures, 1997. [H]
Contact, Director Robert Zemeckis, South Side Amusement Company, 1997. [H]
1996…
Star Trek: First Contact, Director Jonathan Frakes, Paramount Pictures, 1996. [H]
1995…
Species, Director Roger Donaldson, Frank Mancuso Jr Productions, 1995. [L]
1994…
Star Trek: Generations, Director David Carson, Paramount Pictures, 1994. [H]
Stargate, Director Roland Emmerich, Centropolis Film Productions/Carolco Pictures/Le Studio Canal+, 1994. [M]
1993…
1992…
Alien 3, Director David Fincher, 20th Century Fox/Brandywine Productions, 1992. [H]
1991…
Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, Paramount Pictures, 1991. [H]
Abraxas, Guardian of the Universe, Director Damian Lee, Rose & Ruby, 1991.
1990…
Predator 2, Director Stephen Hopkins, Silver Pictures/Gordon Company/Davis Entertainment, 1990. [M]
1989…
Star Trek: V: The Final Frontier, Director William Shatner, Paramount Pictures, 1989. [H]
The Abyss, Director James Cameron, 20th Century Fox, 1989. [M]
1988…
1987…
Spaceballs, Director Mel Brooks, Brooksfilms/Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1987.
Predator, Director John McTieman, Lawrence Gordon Productions/Silver Pictures/Davis Entertainment, 1987. [M]
1986…
Star Travel IV: The Voyage Home, Director Leonard Nimoy, Paramount Pictures, 1986. [H]
Fight of the Navigator, Dirctor Randal Kleiser, Producers Sales Organization/Viking Film AS, 1986. [L]
Aliens, Director James Cameron, 20th Century Fox/Brandywine Productions, 1986. [H]
1985…
Creature, Director William Malone, 1985.
1984…
Star Trek III: The Search for Spock, Director Leonard Nimoy, Paramount Pictures, 1984. [H]
2010: The Year We Make Contact, Director Peter Hyams, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1984. [H*]
Voyage of the Rock Aliens, Director James Fargo and Bob Giraldi, KGA/Interplanetary-Curb Communications, Inter Planetary, 1984. [L]
Dune, Director David Lynch, Dino De Laurentis Corporation, 1984. [H]
The Brother from Another Planet, Director John Sayles, 1984.
1983…
Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, Director Richard Marquand, 20th Century Fox, 1983. [H]
1982…
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, Director Nicholas Meyer, Paramount Pictures, 1982. [H]
E.T the Extra-Terrestrial, Director Steven Spielberg, Universal Studios/Amblin Entertainment, 1982. [M]
1981…
1980…
Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, Director Irvin Kershner, 20th Century Fox, 1980. [H]
Battle Beyond the Stars, Director Jimmy T Murakami, New World Pictures, 1980.
1979…
Star Trek: The Motion Picture, Director Robert Wise, Paramount Pictures, 1979. [H]
Alien, Director Ridley Scott, 20th Century Fox, Brandywine Productions, 1979. [H]
Star Odyssey, Director Alfonso Brescia, 1979.
1978…
War of the Robots, Director Alfonso Brescia, Koala Cinematografica Nais Film, 1978.
Battle of the Stars, Director Alfonso Brescia, 1978.
1977…
Star Warps Episode IV: A New Hope, Director George Lucas, 20th Century Fox, 1977. [M]
Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Director Steven Spielberg, EMI Films, 1977. [M]
Cosmos: War of the Planets, Director Alfonso Brescia, 1977.
1976…
1975…
1974…
Dark Star, Director John Carpenter, Jack H Harris Enterprises, University of Southern California, 1974.
1973…
1972…
The Andromeda Strain, Director Robert Wise, Universal Pictures, 1971. [M]
Solaris, Director Andrei Tarkovsky, Mosfilm, 1972. [H]
1971…
1970…
Toomorrow, Dirctor Val Guest, Lowndes Productions Limited, 1970. [L]
1969…
Zeta One, Director Michael Cort, Tigon British Film Productions, 1969. [L]
1968…
2001: A Space Odyssey, Director Stanley Kubrick, Stanley Kubrick Productions, 1968. [H*]
Voyage to the Planet of Prehistoric Women, Director Peter Bogdanovich, The Filmgroup, 1968.
1967…
They Came from Beyond Space, Director Freddi Francis, Amicus Productions, 1967. [L]
1966…
1965…
Space Probe Taurus, Director Leonard Katzman, American International Pictures, 1965.
1964…
1963…
1962…
1961…
1960…
Visit to a Small Planet, Director Norman Taurog, Paramount Pictures, 1960. [L]
1959…
1958…
1957…
1956…
Warning from Space, Director Koji Shima, Daiei Film, 1956.
1955…
This Island Earth, Director Joseph M Newman and Jack Arnold, Universal-International, 1955. [L]
1954…
1953…
The War of the Worlds, Director Byron Haskin, Paramount Pictures, 1953. [M]
1952…
1951…
The Day the Earth Stood Still, Director Robert Wise, 20th Century Fox, 1951. [M]
1950…
= = = End of List = = =