Not only scientists and researchers are engaged in the development of the vast expanses of our space, but also filmmakers around the world are willing to create masterpieces in this genre, while films about space can be both adventure and dramatic.
The purpose of our article is to talk about the best films related to space; the most exciting and intriguing that you may have heard of but not yet watched. Fasten your seat belts, we begin.
How it all started
No, George Lucas' Star Wars, of course, was not the discoverer of the genre. They just came at the time and place, because today they are considered classics. The Americans, who saw the picture first, were indescribable delight, and many of our compatriots managed to get to know the Jedi Knights later. Do Star Wars (1977) make it into the best films related to space? Definitely! Few people know that the director hardly managed to persuade the studio on a budget of $ 11 million. The producers did not regret, although they were skeptical. Profit amounted to more than 775 million, and Lucas was called a legend. The film paved the way for such stars as Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford.
To be continued
With success of this magnitude — in the world today, an army of Star Wars fans who have long turned into a saga has millions of fans — three years later, a sequel came out called “The Empire Strikes Back”. The next part, which can be included in films related to space, was shot by Irwin Kershner, which did not affect the box office, nor the frenzied popularity. On the contrary - two nominations and two Oscar figurines.
In 1983, a new episode appeared on the screens. “The Return of the Jedi” was filmed by Richard Marquand, and again - awards and nominations, world success.
The continuation of the story resulted in the following parts, to which, in particular, George Lucas returned. His latest saga film is 2005 Revenge of the Sith. The freshest piece called Han Solo: Star Wars. Stories ”appeared at the box office in May 2018.
In 2008, Stargate: Continuum was released on video. It was a free interpretation of Martin Wood, remotely related to the main saga. Viewers noted the high level at which the film was created, as well as the unusual presentation of the material, including musical accompaniment. The main character Ba`al performed by Cliff Simon turned out to be an interesting, bright character, whose charisma rests on the whole picture.
A new look at the problem of humanity
This picture, the work on which started a year before the start of filming, was the most anticipated. Interstellar, the 2014 film, talks about a group of research scientists who have to go into space to explore new spaces and find a solution to how the world can cope with drought ...
Steven Spielberg oversaw the project for a long time and scripted along with Jonathan Nolan. And he, in turn, attracted his brother Christopher, who later became the director. Critics consider this picture to be the best work of Christopher, who knows how to “open new horizons in a language accessible to the viewer.” Hence the Oscar and unconditional success.
The story of the main characters who set off on a dangerous journey at their own peril and risk was filled with “simple” drama, because according to the plot of their return here, on Earth, the closest people were waiting ... If you somehow missed the release, remember: “Interstellar ”- a film (2014), which will not leave the audience indifferent.
Force of gravity
Alfonso Cuaron and George Clooney wrote the story of Doctor of Science Ryan Stone, who will have her first space journey, where she meets with a veteran of astronautics who ends her career on this flight. But the destruction of the ship leads to the fact that the main characters remain face to face with the vast expanses of space, without any hope of communication and salvation from Earth ...
With a budget of $ 100 million, “Gravity” (2013), which we rightly classify as “Space-related Films,” brought creators seven times more profit. And seven more Oscars.
From anime - to the big screen
It was unlikely that anyone could have imagined that the 1974 anime called “The Yamato Space Cruiser” would become so popular a couple of decades later that its plot would form the basis of a feature film. Pictures made in Japan are rarely awarded the world premiere. However, “2199: A Space Odyssey” (2010) appeared in many European countries and was featured as part of several festivals. Takashi Yamazaki is better known in his native country for TV shows, but he managed to raise the level of full-length fiction to a new level.
What is this movie about? The plot tells the story of the battleship “Yamato”, set off to explore Iskander, the last of the remaining planets where you can find salvation for the Earth ...
From the cradle to perdition
Showing in 1979 to the world of “Alien” Ridley Scott did not forget about his favorite genre of the fantastic thriller, the plot of which unfolds somewhere in the vast expanses of the universe. In the picture “Prometheus” (2012), he sends a group of researchers for new knowledge. Their goal is an unknown planet, information about which was hidden to us by ancestors. Why was this done? What is unusual to surprise an unknown place? At first glance, the planet seems quite friendly, until the main characters meet the terrible inhabitants inhabiting this cosmic territory ...
The Prometheus category falls into the category “Films Associated with Space” deservedly - an interesting and energetic plot, large-scale scenery and special effects (Oscar nomination), box-office success and public recognition.
By the way, the director is known for his love of everything large-scale, and, as a rule, he films his films with great scope and reliability. As a space enthusiast, Scott should note two more paintings, shot later in the same genre - “Martian” (2015) and “Alien: Testament” (2017). Bravo once again, maestro Ridley Scott.
How old robbers saved humanity
As if a tribute to the elderly, who still have “gunpowder in the powder flasks”, in 2000, Clint Eastwood presented the audience his new work “Space Spartans”. The action takes us to the distant 50s, telling about a team of fellow pilots who were chosen first who were supposed to go into space. However, they were removed from flights and safely forgotten. And only after almost forty years, with the news of the breakdown of a satellite that has every chance of falling to the ground, our old heroes-astronauts are urged to save the situation. For them, this is an opportunity to nevertheless go into space, albeit many years later ...
At the turn of the century
On the eve of the new millennium, in 1998, the fantastic thriller “Collision with the Abyss” was released. The plot turned out to be relevant and incredibly interesting. The comet is heading towards the Earth, which means that from this kind of collision our planet will be destroyed.
To prevent the inevitable, American astronauts send a group of astronauts who must blow up a flying space body. But the explosion can give rise to a splitting of the comet into small fragments, which will only aggravate the situation. In a word, the main characters will have to gather all their courage into a fist and find a solution from which the world could calmly move into the coming new century ... In the picture, warmly received by the audience, little-known Hollywood stars appeared, whose career went uphill after the premiere, including Elijah Wood , Thea Leoni, John Favreau, Lily Sobeski, Dugrey Scott.
Man’s great journey
All her life, the science-oriented heroine of the film “Contact” (1997) Ellie performed by Jodie Foster receives an unknown signal from space. She becomes the test subject of a new device that allows you to interact with other stellar civilizations. Going to one of the planets of the star system, Ellie meets a man who is not a man. He reveals to her the secrets of these places, telling them that artificial intelligence participated in their creation. The heroine enjoys such communication, because she understands that each new discovery connects her with her own fears from her past ...
The film was well received by both viewers and critics. The bewitching story of representatives of different civilizations, filled with drama, impresses with an amazing acting and worthy soundtrack.
Our achievements, our native space ...
Klim Shipenko wrote the script and directed the national film “Salute 7” (2017), based on the real events of 1985. Two experienced astronauts have to go to the ceased functioning space station to figure out what’s the matter and make a dangerous dock. In the worst case, the station can crash to the ground, at best - the astronauts will return as living heroes. The expedition is very responsible and complex, and the fate of mankind depends on its outcome ...
It is pleasant to note that the Russian tape was warmly received by the audience and became a “guest” at many European festivals. The main roles were played by Pavel Derevyanko and Vladimir Vdovichenkov.
Speaking about the achievements in Russian cinema, one cannot but recall the Soviet adventure drama “Kin-Dza-Dza” (1986), which somehow raises the theme of space. Remember how the superintendent performed by Stanislav Lyubshin went to the store for shopping, but ended up being embroiled in an incredible journey to an unknown galaxy? And then he met a funny Uef character performed by Evgeny Leonov. The film turned out to be unusual and ambiguous. Accustomed to comedies and “simple Soviet paintings”, viewers for a long time did not know how to relate to the new creation of George Danelia. And over time, they fell in love with a picture that was repeatedly shown on Soviet television.
In the end
We present to your attention other films, no less worthy to be noted, related to space:
- “Alien” (1979).
- “Passengers” (2016).
- “Guardians of the Galaxy" (2014).
- “Solaris” (1972).
- “Time of the First” (2017).
- “Geostorm” (2017).
- The Martian (2015).
- “Apollo 13” (1995).
- “Living” (2017).
- “Hidden Figures” (2016).