Summary
- The narrative potential of Mars has fascinated sci-fi lovers through history, inspiring alien exploration and discovery films.
- Mars has been depicted in movies as the most comparable planet to Earth, offering commentary on the universe’s vast unknown nature.
- Films like The Martian and Total Recall explore Mars’ potential for human life, addressing themes like authoritarianism and survival.
For as long as science fiction has existed, there have been stories about the red planet known as Mars, and the film landscape has been no different. From movie serials of the 1930s right up until modern times, sci-fi lovers have been fascinated by the narrative potential of Mars as filmmakers have depicted alien stories of exploration and discovery. While there have been many films about Martians invading Earth, there have also been just as many movies that explored the planet of Mars itself.
Like the best sci-fi movies, films about Mars offer commentary not just on the endless potential of the universe but also on humans’ perception of its vast, unknowable nature. As the most comparable planet to Earth in terms of its potential for life and colonialization, it’s no surprise that Mars has been continually depicted in sci-fi movies since the birth of cinema itself. While some movies about Mars have been the subject of harsh criticism and initially received a negative reception, looking back, there were many underappreciated and highly intelligent sci-fi movies about Mars.
10 John Carter (2012)
Directed by Andrew Stanton
John Carter PG-13Adventure Sci-FiAction Where to Watch
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Adapted from Edgar Rice Burroughs’ A Princess of Mars, Disney’s John Carter brings the author’s Barsoom series to life. When American Confederate Civil War captain John Carter accidentally transports himself to Mars, he soon becomes entangled in the planet’s own internal power struggles. Using the increased strength and speed afforded to him by Mars’ atmosphere, Carter fights to achieve peace on the distant planet known by the natives as Barsoom.
Director Andrew Stanton Release Date March 9, 2012 Studio(s) Disney Distributor(s) Disney Writers Michael Chabon , Mark Andrews , Andrew Stanton Cast Mark Strong , Willem Dafoe , Taylor Kitsch , Lynn Collins , Bryan Cranston Runtime 132 minutes Franchise(s) John Carter Budget $250 million Expand
As one of the most expensive movies ever made and among the biggest box office flops of all time, the conversation around Disney’s John Carter has consistently revolved around its financial failure. In what has been dubbed “one of the worst marketing campaigns in movie history“ (via El Pais), viewers did not turn out to witness what had been planned as the first in a new franchise. The miserable failure of John Carter was a lesson to Hollywood about the need to promote movies in a way that compels audiences to show up at theaters.
John Carter was a fun story about a Civil War soldier who was transported to Mars, where he became entangled in a long-standing war between different factions of the planet. Released just a few years after Avatar, John Carter’s promotion made it seem like a lackluster rip-off rather than a visually impressive adaptation of the acclaimed Barsoom series of novels by Edgar Rice Burroughs. With source material boasting a rich Martian mythology, John Carter could have been a lot better than it was, but it did not deserve such to be such a catastrophic failure.
9 Mission To Mars (2000)
Directed by Brian De Palma
Although director Brian De Palma boasts a filmography filled with classic releases like Scarface, The Untouchables, and Mission: Impossible, others, such as Mission to Mars, were not as acclaimed. With a story revolving around the first manned mission to Mars, things go awry when they must conduct a rescue mission for their colleague. With a mixed reception, Mission to Mars divided critics upon release, as some felt De Palma missed the mark, while others praised its impressive visuals.
However, looking back on Mission to Mars, almost a quarter of a century since its release, the bad reviews felt overly harsh as this was an engaging film with entertaining action sequences. While aspects of Mission to Mars‘ visual style may have felt derivative of 2001: A Space Odyssey, that was one of the greatest sci-fi movies ever made. In truth, behind all the criticisms of Mission to Mars, there was an intelligent sci-fi film that’s well worth checking out for those with an interesting Martian-based cinema.
8 The Last Days On Mars (2013)
Directed by Ruairí Robinson
In the same vein as Ridley Scott’s 1979 classic Alien, The Last Days on Mars depicted a group of astronauts succumbing one by one to a mysterious force while collecting specimens on Mars. As a mix between sci-fi adventure and B-movie horror, Irish director Ruairí Robinson also paid homage to alien movies of the 1950s with the advantage of modern-day special effects. As a relatively swift old-school space story, The Last Days on Mars was categorized by an intense sense of paranoia and claustrophobia.
With impressive visuals and strong cinematography, The Last Days on Mars looked fantastic, although contemporary reviews criticized it for being too derivative of other works. While the film didn’t break down any boundaries regarding storytelling, the slow and unnerving building of tension as the crew became increasingly stir-crazy was thoroughly enjoyable. Although The Last Days on Mars didn’t quite live up to its potential as a tense horror set in space, there’s plenty to enjoy here.
7 Red Planet (2000)
Directed by Antony Hoffman
The feature film-making career of Antony Hoffman began and ended with the commercial failure of Red Planet. As a box office bomb that recouped just over $33 million of its $88 million budget, Red Planet failed to register with audiences at the time who did not connect with this interesting and realistic sci-fi film about astronauts searching for a solution to a dying Earth on Mars. While Red Planet was known for a shocking behind-the-scenes movie fight between co-stars Tom Sizemore and Val Kilmer, there was so much more to this highly underrated film.
Most critics slated Red Planet upon its release. However, the acclaimed reviewer Roger Ebert recognized the film’s merits and highlighted its impressive “emphasis on situation and character.” Ebert highlighted how Red Planet brought to mind sci-fi movies of the 1950s in the way that scientists were forced to think themselves out of complex problems. Although Red Planet’s bad reputation may put viewers off, those willing to give it a chance will find a human sci-fi story of real depth awaits them.
6 Flash Gordon’s Trip To Mars (1938)
Directed by Ford Beebe, Robert F. Hill, & Frederick Stephani
Flash Gordon was one of the most popular sci-fi pulp heroes of the 1930s, and his epic 15-chapter movie adventure was among the best movie serials of that era. The full film has a total runtime of a whopping 299 minutes as Flash Gordon traveled to Mars to battle Ming the Merciless and his new ally, Queen Azura. As the second of three long-form movie serials released by Universal between 1936 and 1940, Trip to Mars had a focused plotline that was developed over the course of its multiple installments.
Flash Gordon’s Trip to Mars will be a real treat for those with nostalgia for an earlier era of sci-fi filmmaking, as each approximately 20-minute chapter ended on a cliffhanger that encouraged cinema-goers to return to the theater time and time again. Flash Gordon was a great piece of 1930s escapism that had an important influence on the genre in the subsequent decades. With plenty of pulpy fun to be enjoyed, Trip to Mars ranked among the best Flash Gordon releases.
5 The Angry Red Planet (1959)
Directed by Ib Melchior
The Angry Red Planet was a highly ambitious piece of 1950s sci-fi filmmaking that was produced on a budget of $200,000 in just nine days (via TCM.) The use of “CineMagic,” a technique that combined live-action footage with hand-drawn animation, gave this fascinating film a unique aesthetic. From the appearance of miles-high Martian buildings to the depiction of tentacled man devouring plants, The Angry Red Planet was packed with B-movie sci-fi spectacle.
As a film packed with suspense and intrigue, The Angry Red Planet pushed modern moviemaking to its absolute limit as it used unique techniques to depict sci-fi creatures in a way technology was not yet capable of using traditional means. With oversized creatures and Mars colorized in a sinister tinge of red, The Angry Red Planet can, at times, feel like a fever dream in its sheer outrageousness. As a highly underrated film exploring the strange and unusual potential of life on Mars, The Angry Red Planet was a perfect example of campy 1950s B-movie fun.
4 Aniara (2018)
Directed by Pella Kågerman and Hugo Lilja
Aniara RSci-FiDrama
Aniara is a Swedish sci-fi drama directed by Pella Kågerman and Hugo Lilja, based on the poem by Harry Martinson. The film follows the journey of a spaceship carrying settlers to Mars, which veers off course and plunges into existential despair. As the passengers and crew confront the void of space, they grapple with loss, isolation, and humanity’s deeper existential questions. The film stars Emelie Jonsson and Bianca Cruzeiro.
Director Pella Kagerman , Hugo Lilja Release Date May 17, 2019 Writers Pella Kagerman , Hugo Lilja , Harry Martinson Cast Emelie Garbers , Bianca Cruzeiro , Arvin Kananian , Anneli Martini , Jennie Silfverhjelm , Emma Broomé , Jamil Drissi , Leon Jiber Runtime 106 Minutes Main Genre Sci-Fi Expand
After climate change has ravaged the Earth, humanity must find a new home on Mars, as shown in the Swedish-Danish film Aniara. However, when passengers on a mass migration spaceship were knocked off course, they were forced to reckon with their place in the universe in this insightful and thought-provoking sci-fi drama. With a grand and ambitious feeling, Aniara was a deeply philosophical film that embraced the existential nature of humanity carving out a new existence away from Earth.
Aniara was based on a 1956 Swedish epic poem by Harry Martinson, which was a masterpiece of esoteric science-fiction literature. This impressive adaptation explored the transitory nature of human existence, which was confounded by the endless expansion of space and time, with humans only being miniscule in comparison. Aniara may not connect with viewers looking for action-packed sci-fi adventures, but with philosophical-minded viewers interested in life’s big questions, it will be a cinematic treat to behold.
3 Robinson Crusoe On Mars (1964)
Directed by Byron Haskin
Robinson Crusoe on Mars adapted the iconic 1719 novel by Daniel Defoe about a man stranded on a desert island and gave an enjoyable sci-fi twist. With Paul Mantee as Commander Kit Draper, this retelling of a classic tale was released in the midst of the Cold War space race as plans to get mankind to the Moon were starting to take shape. However, despite this film’s contemporary relevance, impressive special effects, and imaginative designs, Robinson Crusoe on Mars did not do well at the box office.
However, the reputation of this sci-fi story has only grown in the years since, as modern viewers appreciate the story of Mantee stranded on Mars with nothing but a monkey companion. Filming took place mostly at Death Valley National Parks in California (via National Parks Service), which realistically captured the essence of the isolated red planet. A highly ambitious film, in many ways, Robinson Crusoe on Mars was ahead of its time as its plot had much in common with Ridley Scott’s 2015 film The Martian.
2 Total Recall (1990)
Directed by Paul Verhoeven
Total Recall R Sci-FiThrillerAction Where to Watch
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Based on Philip K. Dick’s short story “We Can Remember It for You Wholesale”, Total Recall tells the story of Douglas Quaid (Arnold Schwarzenegger), a construction worker who receives an implanted memory of an adventure in humanity’s colony on Mars. Quaid finds his memories playing out in real time, hunted by agents of a mysterious organization as he works to topple the tyrannical regime of a Martian dictator (Ronny Cox).
Director Paul Verhoeven Release Date June 1, 1990 Studio(s) Carolco Pictures Distributor(s) Tri-Star Pictures Writers Dan O’Bannon , Gary Goldman , Ronald Shusett Cast Marshall Bell , Ronny Cox , Sharon Stone , Rachel Ticotin , Michael Ironside , Arnold Schwarzenegger Runtime 113 minutes Budget $65 million Expand
The sci-fi action classic Total Recall had truly unbelievable special effects for 1990 as it told an outrageous story of implanted memories, shadowy organization, and a hidden Martian secret. With Arnold Schwarzenegger as Douglas Quaid, a man on a fantastical adventure on Mars, the unreliable nature of its narrative has viewers debating to this day how much of Total Recall was real and what was a dream. The unique premise of Total Recall made for a thrillingly ambitious adventure that played with audience expectations.
Total Recall also boasted a rich narrative that addressed themes of authoritarianism and colonialism, making it one of Schwarzenegger’s best movies. Like the best movies set on alien planets, Total Recall has a lot more to say about humans’ lived experiences and the very nature of existence. While the success of Total Recall sadly led to a lackluster remake in 2012, this has not tarnished the legacy of this visually spectacular story based on a short story by Philip K. Dick.
1 The Martian (2015)
Directed by Ridley Scott
The Martian PG-13 Sci-Fi Where to Watch
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Adapted by Ridley Scott from Andy Weir’s novel of the same name, The Martian follows the plight of astronaut Mark Watney (Matt Damon) after he finds himself stranded alone on Mars after he is falsely presumed dead during a mission. Unable to communicate with Earth and armed with little more than his scientific expertise as a botanist, Watney must find a way to survive on the barren planet until the next scheduled mission arrives.
Director Ridley Scott Release Date October 2, 2015 Studio(s) 20th Century Distributor(s) 20th Century Writers Drew Goddard Cast Kristen Wiig , Sean Bean , Matt Damon , Jessica Chastain , Kate Mara Runtime 2h 24m Budget 108 million Expand
Of all the many movies about Mars that have been released over the past number of decades, Ridley Scott’s The Martian stood out. With impressive direction from Ridley Scott, a compelling lead performance from Matt Damon, and an engaging script by Drew Goddard based on Andy Weir’s original novel, The Martian gained widespread acclaim and was one of the best movies of 2015. With equal parts comedy and drama, The Martian felt both tense and lighthearted as it told the story of an astronaut botanist surviving alone on Mars.
The Martian was simultaneously smart and thrilling and told a moving story of survival whose infectious soundtrack kept things lighthearted with the inclusion of music by the likes of Donna Summer and David Bowie. As a thrilling return to form for director Ridley Scott, The Martian ranked as one of Scott’s best movies in recent times as he proved himself once again a master of the sci-fi genre. With impressive scientific accuracy about how one could truly survive on Mars, The Martian must be commended as the greatest sci-fi film about the red, mostly inhospitable, planet.
Sources: El Pais, Roger Ebert, TCM, National Parks Service