Happy Space Day Celebrated on the first Friday in May, this global educational initiative highlights the extraordinary achievements, benefits, and opportunities in the exploration and use of space

The wonders of the universe have captured the attention of people for centuries, from Galileo and Copernicus to those who witnessed last month's total solar eclipse Whether you want to learn more about the scientific aspects of space exploration, immerse yourself in the great emotion of awe of the universe, or simply experience an adventure that takes place against a backdrop that is literally out of this world Here are the seven best space movies you can stream right now

It's hard to talk about space movies without mentioning Stanley Kubrick's "2001: A Space Odyssey" This iconic film is the precursor to many other beloved space movies, including "Star Wars" released in 1968, it is an adaptation of a 1951 science fiction short story by Arthur C Clarke James Vernier, in his essay "The A List: The National Society of Film Critics' 100 Essential Films," argues that the film's accuracy around space travel He attributed the film's accuracy to the fact that major aerospace companies, including NASA and Boeing, consulted on the film

The film follows two astronauts (Gary Lockwood and Kier Dallaire) as they travel from Earth to Jupiter With them is HAL 9000 (voiced by Douglas Lane), a computer that begins to malfunction and act out against the crew Come to this film for an exploration into space and enjoy the immersive storytelling and the blend of music and visuals

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I am one of those people who find space deeply unsettling When I imagine an endless black void, devoid of oxygen, I look for the nearest exit But the feeling that there is no escape makes outer space the perfect secret room for a horror film And "Alien" definitely fits the bill; released in 1979, it was only Ridley Scott's second film

After Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) and her crew discover an abandoned spaceship with extraterrestrial eggs aboard, one of the aliens begins hunting them Alien received a 93% on Rotten Tomatoes, with LA Weekly's Michael Ventura giving it the highest rating: "This movie scared the crap out of me Alien' is a masterpiece of terror" If you like this movie, then there are several other sequels you can add to your watch list

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You may not be a fan of actual space travel But thinking about space can bring about a wide range of emotions If you want to explore those emotions, check out "Melancholia" The story focuses on Justine (Kirsten Dunst) on her wedding day as she tries to balance her personal and family desires As she sinks into depression, she also faces the literal end of the world Justine's sister Claire (Charlotte Gainsbourg) becomes increasingly upset as the planet approaches, but Justine remains eerily calm

NPR called the film "breathtaking," citing director Lars von Trier's gorgeous cinematography, adding, "I wish I could stay in the presence of this amazing film a little longer"

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The film should be seen for its racy cast alone Michelle Yeoh, Cillian Murphy, Chris Evans, and Hiroyuki Sanada star as the crew that must travel to stop the sun from burning out completely And behind the scenes, Danny Boyle is directing Boyle drew inspiration from other science fiction films such as "2001" and "Alien"

The film also blends genres: it is a science fiction story about a crew embarking on a mission to re-ignite the sun in 2057 However, during the course of the mission, the spacecraft is damaged and several of the oxygen tanks are destroyed The crew members are transformed from team members to adversaries in order to survive

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The amount of work, and mathematics, required to send astronauts into space is mind-boggling If you want to learn more about the mathematicians who were essential to the space program, "Hidden Figures" should be next on your list The film follows three black mathematicians, Dorothy (Octavia Spencer), Mary (Janelle Monae), and Catherine (Taraji P Henson), who worked for both NASA and NACA (National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics) during the space race

The film received a 93% on Rotten Tomatoes, and Nathan Mathis of Ars Technica wrote, "'Hidden Figures' puts a familiar period drama lens on an overlooked part of space history that doesn't gloss over the ugly parts and allows the best and brightest It gives us hope for what science and technology can achieve when it does," he writes

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The film feels like a bent version of "Space Wars" Based on Ted Chang's short story "Story of Your Life," "Arrival" follows linguist Louise Banks (Amy Adams) as she deciphers the language of the aliens who have arrived on Earth The more we learn about their language, the more we understand how they experience time It is an interesting film about how our use of language affects our perception of the world

The film received critical acclaim, with SlashFilm's Angie Han writing that "everything about Arrival feels meticulously crafted, from the gorgeously composed shots to Jóhann Jóhannsson's score" The American Film Institute listed "Arrival" among its top 10 films of 2016

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Several films about space travel have been about being years away from Earth Interstellar and Martian Man are examples That is part of the premise of Moon Samuel Bell (Sam Rockwell) has been away from home for three years, working on Helium 3 mining on the Moon But just weeks before his return, he is injured in a probe accident When he wakes up, he discovers that Lunar Industries has been playing with his memory to get him to work on the moon

Simon Crook of Empire magazine described the film as "a fresh blast of old-fashioned science fiction, bursting with ideas and featuring a fine performance by Rockwell"

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