Before NASA+ Lands on Netflix, 4 Space Movies Should Be Your Must Watch

Published 4 days ago• 4 minute read

Netflix is teaming up with NASA to launch NASA+ live programming straight into the online streaming interface this summer. The service is completely ad-free and at no extra cost to viewers with an existing Netflix subscription. The live programming is all set to immerse audiences in real-time rocket launches, spacewalks, mission coverage, and Earth views from the ISS (via Netflix Tudum).

While we patiently wait for NASA+ to grace our Netflix screens, there is no dearth of space-centric films and documentaries on the streamer. Before you dive into the world of real-time space programming, here is a list of 4 Netflix movies that should be at the top of your summer 2025 watchlist.

This 76% rated (via Rotten Tomatoes) 2021 sci-fi thriller, directed by Joe Penna, features 3 astronauts- Anna Kendrick as Zoe, Toni Collette as Marina, and Daniel Dae Kim as David, and an unexpected passenger or stowaway, if you will, played by Shamier Anderson.

A still from Stowaway on Netflix — A still from *Stowaway* (Credit: Netflix)

The movie begins with the three astronauts going on a 2-year journey to Mars. However, when they find out they have an accidental guest on board, emotional, technical, and life stakes reach an all-time high. With diminishing resources and a life-threatening situation at hand, the characters face a moral dilemma that adds to the existing tensions of space travel.

George Clooney took on the role of the director and lead actor of this 2020 sci-fi thriller spanning across a post-apocalyptic Earth. Clooney’s character, a scientist in a post-cataclysmic Arctic, races to stop a crew of astronauts from returning to Earth, which is uninhabitable. His only mission is to save the Aether crew and help them return to Jupiter.

A still from The Midnight Sky on Netflix — A still from *The Midnight Sky* (Credit: Netflix)

The scintillating contrast between the cosmos and the lonely hero highlights the universal theme of isolation.

The film earned polarizing reviews, based on personal taste, but this review from The News-Herald is exactly why you should give the film a chance. The film’s Academy Award-worthy visuals make it a worthy precursor to the realness of live ISS feeds.

This 2022 documentary follows the inspirational journey of SpaceX and Elon Musk’s 20 years’ worth of efforts to help revive America’s space travel aspirations and send NSA astronauts back to ISS, transforming space travel. The documentary film features never-before-seen footage and insider accounts from America’s first crewed space mission since the retirement of the Space Shuttle in the year 2011.

A still from Return to Space on Netflix — A still from *Return to Space* (Credit: Netflix)

The movie is a truly inspirational account for those passionate about all things space. It highlights the importance, intricacies, and implications of space travel while painting a heroic portrait of the crew. The film has received an impressive 79% Tomatometer rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

This 2017 documentary delves into the lives of self-proclaimed space nerds and teenagers at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama, with dreams and aspirations of interplanetary travel to Mars. They train via simulations and theoretical classes and get to meet with experts (via Tudum).

A still from The Mars Generation on Netflix — A still from *The Mars Generation* (Credit: Netflix)

The documentary premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2017, and it, along with ambitious teenagers, also features expert and insider accounts on NASA’s history and future, all in the context of space travel.

Ahead of the NASA+ live program, this documentary is the perfect watch if you’re looking to gain insights about space, interplanetary missions, and all things NASA.

If you’re an aspiring space geek, a fan of immersive media, or simply looking to indulge in a couple of space-centric narratives ahead of the NASA+ live programming on Netflix, these films are our top recommendations.

Have you watched these movies yet, or planning to? Do you have some space films you’d like to add to the list? Let us know!

If it streams, screams, or makes you laugh till you can't breathe, Jasmine has probably binged it, dissected it, and published it. With over 5 years of experience across lifestyle, entertainment, technical, and academic domains, she now channels her love for screen stories into articles for FandomWire. Her expertise lies in all things Netflix, Prime Video, and Paramount+. She's deeply invested in universes like Dexter, Harry Potter, Peaky Blinders, and Modern Family- and could probably quote Brooklyn Nine-Nine or FRIENDS' dialogues faster than you can say 'pivot'. A long-standing sitcom lover and bookworm, Jasmine strikes the perfect balance between fandom and analytical depth, thanks to her background as a psychology student. Whether it's shining a light on a hidden gem or breaking down a plot twist, her thoughtful insights blended with an unmistakable love for storytelling make every piece just as entertaining as its cover.

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