12 Best Movies Like The Martian to Watch Next (2026)
Searching for movies like The Martian? Explore 12 space and survival picks, from Interstellar and Dune: Part One to Ad Astra and Prospect.
If you’re searching for movies like The Martian, the best picks usually mix survival, space travel, and a problem-solving mindset under pressure. This list leans into that same spirit with titles such as Interstellar, Ad Astra, Dune: Part One, and Prospect, plus more survival-focused stories like Z for Zachariah and The Last Days on Mars. You’ll also find a few darker, stranger options, including High Life and Rubikon, for readers who want a more uneasy edge. Whether you want smart sci-fi, tense isolation, or a mission that goes badly off course, these choices offer a strong place to start.
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01
Ad Astra
1 Oscar nomination
adventure · drama · mystery · sci-fi · thriller
The near future, a time when both hope and hardships drive humanity to look to the stars and beyond. While a mysterious phenomenon menaces to destroy life on planet Earth, astronaut Roy McBride undertakes a mission across the immensity of space and its many perils to uncover the truth about a lost expedition that decades before boldly faced emptiness and silence in search of the unknown.
Why watch: If you want a more introspective space journey, Ad Astra may fit well with its adventure, drama, mystery, sci-fi, and thriller mix. It suits viewers drawn to long-range missions and a sense of uncertainty in deep space.
Directed by James GrayCast Brad Pitt, Tommy Lee Jones, Ruth Negga, Donald Sutherland, Kimberly EliseNetflixMore details on IMDb → -
02
Rubikon
drama · sci-fi · thriller
The company soldier Hannah and the scientists Gavin and Dimitri are researching an algae project on board the Rubikon space station, which is supposed to permanently supply humanity with oxygen and food. But suddenly the earth disappears below them in a brown, toxic fog and all contact is broken off - are they the last survivors of humanity? Should they initiate the safe station, dare the return flight and thereby risk their lives?
Why watch: If you like survival stories set in isolated sci-fi environments, Rubikon is worth a look. Its premise centers on a broken-off connection to Earth and difficult choices about whether to stay put or risk a return flight.
Directed by Magdalena LauritschCast Julia Franz Richter, George Blagden, Mark Ivanir, Nicholas Monu, Daniela KongAMC+More details on IMDb → -
03
High Life
drama · sci-fi · thriller
Monte and his daughter are the last survivors of a damned and dangerous mission to deep space. The crew—death-row inmates led by a doctor with sinister motives—has vanished. As the mystery of what happened onboard the ship is unraveled, father and daughter must rely on each other to survive as they hurtle toward the oblivion of a black hole.
Why watch: If you enjoy tense stories about the last survivors in deep space, High Life is a strong pick. The father-daughter dynamic and the thriller elements give it a more unsettling angle than a straightforward rescue tale.
Directed by Claire DenisCast Robert Pattinson, Juliette Binoche, André 3000, Mia Goth, Agata BuzekAmazon Prime VideoTubiMore details on IMDb → -
04
Thirst
action · adventure · horror · mystery · sci-fi · thriller
A group of wayward teens at a wilderness boot camp must fight for their lives against the attacks of a ruthless blood-sucking alien. The attacks begin after they discover a strange "orb" in the middle of the desert. With no communication, and nowhere to hide, they realize their only chance for survival is to fight.
Why watch: If you want sci-fi survival with action and horror mixed in, Thirst leans hard into danger. It may appeal if you like stories where being cut off and outmatched is part of the appeal.
Directed by Greg KieferCast John Redlinger, Jes Macallan, Karl Makinen, Clare Niederpruem, Ryan ZimmerFreeveeMore details on IMDb → -
05
Interstellar
Won 1 Oscar 5 nominations
adventure · drama · sci-fi
The adventures of a group of explorers who make use of a newly discovered wormhole to surpass the limitations on human space travel and conquer the vast distances involved in an interstellar voyage.
Why watch: If you’re after an ambitious space adventure with drama at its core, Interstellar is an easy recommendation. Its focus on a mission through a newly discovered wormhole gives it a grander scale than many other picks here.
Directed by Christopher NolanCast Ellen Burstyn, Matthew McConaughey, Mackenzie Foy, John Lithgow, Timothée ChalametAmazon Prime VideoParamount PlusMore details on IMDb → -
06
Extinction
action · adventure · drama · horror · sci-fi · thriller
And suddenly, overnight, the world came to a halt. Two men, two survivors, one kid, and hatred that separates them. A place forgotten by everyone, including the creatures that inhabit the Earth... until now.
Why watch: If you prefer post-disaster survival stories with a sci-fi and horror edge, Extinction could be a fit. The setup suggests isolation, tension, and a world changed overnight.
Directed by Miguel Ángel VivasCast Matthew Fox, Jeffrey Donovan, Quinn McColgan, Clara Lago, Valeria VereauAmazon Prime VideoMore details on IMDb → -
07
Prospect
adventure · drama · sci-fi · thriller
A teenage girl and her father travel to a remote alien moon, aiming to strike it rich. They've secured a contract to harvest a large deposit of the elusive gems hidden in the depths of the moon's toxic forest. But there are others roving the wilderness and the job quickly devolves into a fight to survive.
Why watch: If you like rugged frontier-style sci-fi with survival pressure, Prospect may be the best match. The remote alien moon setting and toxic forest give it a harsh, uncertain atmosphere.
Directed by Christopher Caldwell, Zeek EarlCast Sophie Thatcher, Jay Duplass, Pedro Pascal, Luke Pitzrick, Arthur DeranleauHuluTubiMore details on IMDb → -
08
Dune: Part One
Won 6 Oscars 10 nominations
action · adventure · drama · sci-fi
Paul Atreides, a brilliant and gifted young man born into a great destiny beyond his understanding, must travel to the most dangerous planet in the universe to ensure the future of his family and his people. As malevolent forces explode into conflict over the planet's exclusive supply of the most precious resource in existence-a commodity capable of unlocking humanity's greatest potential-only those who can conquer their fear will survive.
Why watch: If you want a bigger, more mythic sci-fi adventure, Dune: Part One is a strong choice. Its adventure, drama, and sci-fi mix works well for viewers who like dangerous planets and high-stakes missions.
Directed by Denis VilleneuveCast Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Jason Momoa, Stellan SkarsgårdMaxMore details on IMDb → -
09
Z for Zachariah
drama · romance · sci-fi · thriller
In the wake of a nuclear war, a young woman survives on her own, fearing she may actually be the proverbial last woman on earth, until she discovers the most astonishing sight of her life: another human being. A distraught scientist, he’s nearly been driven mad by radiation exposure and his desperate search for others. A fragile, imperative strand of trust connects them. But when a stranger enters the valley, their precarious bond begins to unravel.
Why watch: If you prefer a quieter survival story with tension between characters, Z for Zachariah is a good fit. It’s especially appealing if you like post-disaster setups built around trust and uncertainty.
Directed by Craig ZobelCast Chiwetel Ejiofor, Margot Robbie, Chris PineTubiMore details on IMDb → -
10
Spaceman
adventure · drama · romance · sci-fi
Six months into a solo mission, a lonely astronaut confronts the cracks in his marriage with help from a mysterious creature he discovers on his ship.
Why watch: If you want a lonely-space premise with some emotional weight, Spaceman may suit you. Its mix of adventure, drama, romance, and sci-fi makes it a softer, more reflective option.
Directed by Johan RenckCast Adam Sandler, Carey Mulligan, Paul Dano, Kunal Nayyar, Isabella RosselliniNetflixMore details on IMDb → -
11
Apocalypse Pompeii
action · adventure · drama · thriller
When a former Special Ops commando visits Pompeii, his wife and daughter are trapped as Mt. Vesuvius erupts with massive force. While his family fights to survive the deadly onslaught of heat and lava, he enlists his former teammates in a daring operation beneath the ruins of the city of Pompeii.
Why watch: If your taste runs toward disaster survival rather than pure space sci-fi, Apocalypse Pompeii offers that angle. It focuses on a family in danger and a rescue effort set against a volcanic catastrophe.
Directed by Ben DemareeCast Adrian Paul, Jhey Castles, Georgina Beedle, John Rhys-Davies, Dylan VoxPeacock PremiumMore details on IMDb → -
12
The Last Days on Mars
adventure · horror · sci-fi · thriller
On the last day of the first manned mission to Mars, a crew member of Tantalus Base believes he has made an astounding discovery – fossilized evidence of bacterial life. Unwilling to let the relief crew claim all the glory, he disobeys orders to pack up and goes out on an unauthorized expedition to collect further samples. But a routine excavation turns to disaster when the porous ground collapses and he falls into a deep crevice. His devastated colleagues attempt to recover his body. However, when another vanishes, they start to suspect that the life-form they have discovered is not without danger.
Why watch: If you enjoy Mars-set stories that tilt into horror and suspense, The Last Days on Mars is an easy one to consider. It combines a mission gone wrong with mystery and a growing sense of threat.
Directed by Ruairi RobinsonCast Liev Schreiber, Elias Koteas, Romola Garai, Olivia Williams, Johnny HarrisAmazon Prime VideoMore details on IMDb →
Wrapping Up
That’s the value of this list: it gives you several different ways to enjoy the same broad appeal, from big-screen space travel to tighter stories about survival, mystery, and endurance. If you want a hopeful, high-stakes pick, start with Interstellar or Dune: Part One; if you prefer something more fragile and uncertain, try Z for Zachariah or Rubikon. Bookmark this page and come back when you want another space or survival recommendation. We update it regularly so it stays useful as your next watch changes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes these movies similar to The Martian?
These picks were matched by tone, themes, and story style using a similarity model trained on plot synopses, genres, and cast — not just shared genre tags — so the connection runs deeper than a simple category match.