6 Best Planetarium and Observatory Movies

By Vlad Zakh · March 31, 2026

The vast, star-filled ceiling of the planetarium and observatory has long served cinema as a place of wonder, romance, and quiet reflection. In La La Land (2016): An aspiring actress and a passionate jazz musician pursue their dreams while falling in love in Los Angeles. Also notable is October Sky (1999): A coal miner’s son dreams of building rockets and escaping his small West Virginia town.

The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976)

TMDB ★ 7.0

An alien visitor stranded on Earth seeks a way to save his dying home planet.

Directed by Nicolas Roeg · 2h 19m · Rated R

Where to watch

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

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

La La Land (2016)

IMDb ★ 8.0 RT 91% Metacritic 94

An aspiring actress and a passionate jazz musician pursue their dreams while falling in love in Los Angeles.

Directed by Damien Chazelle · 2h 09m · Rated PG-13

Won 6 Oscars246 wins & 313 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Lionsgate+ Amazon Channel · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling · 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 triumphs.

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

October Sky (1999)

TMDB ★ 7.8

A coal miner's son dreams of building rockets and escaping his small West Virginia town.

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

Contact (1997)

IMDb ★ 7.5 RT 69% Metacritic 62

A scientist's discovery of an extraterrestrial signal leads her toward humanity's greatest journey.

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

Rebel Without a Cause (1955)

TMDB ★ 7.7

A troubled new student clashes with his parents and peers as tensions boil toward tragedy.

Directed by Nicholas Ray · 1h 51m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Stream: YouTube TV · 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 Planetarium and Observatory Movies

The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976)

La La Land (2016)

Hidden Figures (2016)

October Sky (1999)

Contact (1997)

Rebel Without a Cause (1955)

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