6 Best Mars Mission and Exploration Movies

By Vlad Zakh · June 7, 2026

The mystery and danger of the red planet has powered some of cinema’s most thrilling and imaginative science fiction adventures. In The Martian (2015): An astronaut stranded alone on Mars must use his ingenuity to survive until a rescue mission can reach him. Just as strong is Total Recall (1990): A construction worker’s memory implant for a fake Mars vacation unravels a real conspiracy about his hidden past.

The Martian (2015)

IMDb ★ 8.0 RT 91% Metacritic 80

An astronaut stranded alone on Mars must use his ingenuity to survive until a rescue mission can reach him.

Directed by Ridley Scott · 2h 21m · Rated PG-13

Nominated for 7 Oscars40 wins & 199 nominations

Where to watch

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

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

John Carter (2012)

TMDB ★ 6.6

A Civil War veteran mysteriously transported to Mars becomes embroiled in an epic conflict between its warring civilizations.

Directed by Andrew Stanton · 2h 12m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

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

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Ghosts of Mars (2001)

TMDB ★ 5.1

A police unit sent to transport a dangerous prisoner discovers a colonized Martian mining town possessed by an ancient force.

Directed by John Carpenter · 1h 38m · Rated R

Where to watch

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

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Red Planet (2000)

IMDb ★ 5.7 RT 14% Metacritic 34

A crew sent to terraform Mars must survive after their spacecraft is critically damaged in orbit.

Directed by Antony Hoffman · 1h 46m · Rated PG-13

1 nomination

Where to watch

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

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Mission to Mars (2000)

IMDb ★ 5.7 Metacritic 34

A rescue mission to Mars uncovers a stunning secret behind the mysterious disaster that killed the first expedition.

Directed by Brian De Palma · 1h 54m · Rated PG

3 nominations

Where to watch

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

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Total Recall (1990)

IMDb ★ 7.5 RT 80% Metacritic 60

A construction worker's memory implant for a fake Mars vacation unravels a real conspiracy about his hidden past.

Directed by Paul Verhoeven · 1h 53m · Rated R

Nominated for 2 Oscars7 wins & 16 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: fuboTV, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, Paramount+ Roku Premium Channel · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store · 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 Mars Mission and Exploration Movies

The Martian (2015)

John Carter (2012)

Ghosts of Mars (2001)

Red Planet (2000)

Mission to Mars (2000)

Total Recall (1990)

You might also like

20 Best Space Exploration Movies of All Time

8 Best Movies of 2015

50 Best Sci-Fi Movies of All Time

50 Best Movies of the 1990s

50 Best Action Movies of All Time

15 Best 90s Action Movies