6 Best Astronomer and Stargazing Movies

By Vlad Zakh · June 19, 2026

The wonder of looking up at the stars and the scientists who devote their lives to understanding them have powered some of cinema’s most awe-inspiring films. In Interstellar (2014): A team of explorers travels through a wormhole in search of a new habitable planet for humanity. Another standout is Hidden Figures (2016): Three brilliant Black women mathematicians play a crucial role in NASA’s early space race.

Interstellar (2014)

IMDb ★ 8.7 RT 73% Metacritic 74

A team of explorers travels through a wormhole in search of a new habitable planet for humanity.

Directed by Christopher Nolan · 2h 49m · Rated PG-13

Won 1 Oscar45 wins & 148 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, Paramount+ Roku Premium Channel, Amazon Prime Video with Ads · Rent: JustWatch TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Arrival (2016)

IMDb ★ 7.9 RT 94% Metacritic 81

A linguist is recruited to communicate with mysterious alien visitors before global tensions escalate into war.

Directed by Denis Villeneuve · 1h 56m · Rated PG-13

Won 1 Oscar73 wins & 276 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Peacock Premium, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, Paramount+ Roku Premium Channel, Peacock Premium Plus · Rent: JustWatch TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Hidden Figures (2016)

IMDb ★ 7.8 RT 93% Metacritic 74

Three brilliant Black women mathematicians play a crucial role in NASA's early space race.

Directed by Theodore Melfi · 2h 07m · Rated PG

Nominated for 3 Oscars37 wins & 94 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: HBO Max Amazon Channel, Cinemax Amazon Channel, HBO Max, Cinemax Apple TV channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Contact (1997)

IMDb ★ 7.5 RT 69% Metacritic 62

A dedicated radio astronomer discovers an extraterrestrial signal that could change humanity forever.

Directed by Robert Zemeckis · 2h 30m · Rated PG

Nominated for 1 Oscar15 wins & 32 nominations

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Dish (2000)

TMDB ★ 6.8

A small Australian town's radio telescope becomes crucial to broadcasting the first moon landing.

Directed by Rob Sitch · 1h 41m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Rent or buy: CosmoGo

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

October Sky (1999)

TMDB ★ 7.7

A coal miner's son defies his father's expectations to pursue his dream of building rockets.

Directed by Joe Johnston · 1h 47m · Rated PG

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Streaming availability data from JustWatch, via TMDB. Availability changes often, so check the service before you plan a movie night.

Vlad Zakh

Founder, Movieix

Founder of Movieix, built to fix a specific annoyance: most recommendation sites are just algorithm-driven noise. Our lists are researched and organized by who's in a film, where it's from, and the mood you're actually in tonight.

6 Best Astronomer and Stargazing Movies

Interstellar (2014)

Arrival (2016)

Hidden Figures (2016)

Contact (1997)

The Dish (2000)

October Sky (1999)

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