20 Best Sci-fi Movies About Mars
People were always fascinated by the vastly unexplored, red planet, Mars. Also, there are some theories that we have come from Mars, which is what is even more interesting to people around the world. But, probably the most important thing is if we could come from Mars, could there be other species inhabiting it, or even invade our Earth from it? Well, in this article, we are bringing you the best sci-fi movies about Mars that are trying to answer those questions.
Some of the movies on this list are taking place on Mars, while others just start invasions from it. Whichever the case, the movies you can find on this list are the best when we are talking about Mars, so choose your next watch below.
The Martian (2015)
Astronaut Watney is left alone on a merciless planet with only meager supplies and must rely on his inventiveness, ingenuity and spirit to survive and find a way to send a signal to Earth that he is still alive.
Millions of kilometers away, NASA and a team of international scientists are working tirelessly to bring “The Martian” home, while his crewmates simultaneously hatch a plan for a daring, and perhaps impossible, rescue mission. As the story of incredible bravery unfolds, the world unites in wanting Watney to return safely to Earth.
John Carter (2012)
The main character of the story is a war-weary ex-military captain John Carter (Taylor Kitsch) who is inexplicably transported to Mars where against his will he becomes involved in a conflict of epic proportions between the local inhabitants of the planet which includes Tars Tarkas (Willem Dafoe) and the captive princess Dejah Thoris ( Lynn Collins).
In a world on the brink of collapse, Carter will rediscover his humanity after discovering that the fate of Barsoom and its people lies in his hands.
Total Recall (1990)
Douglas Quaid (Arnold Schwarzenegger) finds out that the memory he has is not actually his, but belongs to a memory chip implanted in his brain.
Quaid is actually a secret agent, who has become a danger to his government so they implant him with a chip with a false memory so that he becomes just one of the citizens leading a normal life. When he learns of the deception, Quaid travels to Mars to discover his true identity and the person responsible for his implanted memory.
Total Recall (2012)
The story of this action sci-fi spectacle is set in the future where the federal states of Euromerica and New Shanghai are fighting for supremacy, and a factory worker (Farrell) begins to suspect that he is a spy, although he is not sure whose side he is on…
Robinson Crusoe on Mars (1964)
SF story about what it’s like to be Robinson Crusoe on Mars. On a lifeless planet, astronaut Kit Draper must find oxygen, water and food to survive with his only companion, the monkey Lisa.
Invaders from Mars (1953)
One night, boy David McLean (J. Hunt) sees a spaceship crashing nearby. His father goes to investigate what happened and returns changed…
Mission to Mars (2000)
The international astronaut team on Mars finds a huge pile of rocks that disrupts the operation of all their devices. Soon an inexplicable accident occurs in which everyone disappears. The rescue team is made up of good friends, Jim (G. Sinise), Woody (T. Robbins) and his wife Terri (C. Nielsen) and young Phil (J. O’Connell).
A shower of micrometeorites hits the rescue ship and the astronauts are forced to save themselves in the most radical way possible – using an orbiting satellite. Although the situation keeps getting worse, the astronauts do not lose hope. Somehow they manage to land and soon there are signs that could change the future of the human race – signs of extraterrestrial life.
Capricorn One (1977)
In Capricorn One a reporter discovers that a supposed Mars landing by a crewed mission to the planet has been faked via a conspiracy involving the government and—under duress—the crew themselves.
Mars Needs Moms (2011)
One day Martians visit Earth and, among other things, kidnap the mother of the boy Milo, since they believe that mothers are more needed on Mars than on Earth. Milo will immediately embark on the adventure of his life to save his mom and bring her home before it’s too late…
Aelita, the Queen of Mars (1924)
Los is an engineer who has only one dream – to build a life on Mars. Therefore, frustrated by the political conflicts on his home planet, Los decides to build a spaceship and leave Earth forever. However, Los will discover that even on Mars he cannot avoid the proletarian struggle.
Species II (1998)
Dennis (Mykelti Williamson) and Ross (Justin Lazard) are two astronauts who carry out the first successful mission to Mars. But during that mission, Ross is infected. He begins to slowly change and the only thing on his mind when he returns to Earth is sex with Eve (Natasha Henstridge). But unfortunately, Ross discovers that every time he has intercourse with a woman, she immediately becomes pregnant.
And each embryo develops with lightning speed to the size of a preschool child, destroys the mother’s belly and comes to life. As long as Ross is sexually active the problem continues… All the while Eve, who is also an alien, is in a telepathic relationship with Ross. And while the police are looking for him…
Red Planet (2000)
In the near future, life on Earth will be in great danger as the planet slowly dies. One of the desperate solutions is to establish a colony on the inhospitable Mars, so the world powers gather a group of scientists with the task of going on the first human expedition to the red planet. The six astronauts will have to overcome their mutual differences and ideological disagreements in order to survive not only for them, but also for humanity as a whole.
When their equipment breaks down irretrievably, they will be forced to rely on each other because the alien environment of Mars will not allow them to easily complete the mission, and many questions about their fate, God and the nature of the universe will cry out for answers. Ever since the first serious studies, Mars occupies a special place in the mythology of all those interested in the expanses of space and extraterrestrial life.
The Last Days on Mars (2013)
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.
The War of the Worlds (1953)
A meteor-like object crashed not far from a small town in Southern California. Among the interested “scouts” are the scientist Clayton Forrester (Gene Barry), who befriends Sylvia Van Buren (Ann Robinson), and a cousin of the local priest (Lewis Martin). Since the meteor is too hot to approach, Clayton decides to wait a few days and then continue his investigation, leaving three men to guard the object.
Left alone, the guards decide to approach the meteorite and immediately run into trouble because it turns out that they are not guarding the meteorite but a spaceship from Mars. The Martians are equipped with heat waves and begin attacking the helpless earthlings.
When the army comes to negotiate, the aliens demonstrate their unscrupulousness by killing Sylvia’s cousin who was sent as a negotiator for a peaceful resolution of the conflict. As Clayton and Sylvia seek cover, the Martians embark on a mission to take over Earth and nothing can stand in their way…
Ghosts of Mars (2001)
In the distant year 2176, Mars, although extremely dangerous and with poor living conditions, turned into an alternative living destination to the overcrowded Earth. Lieutenant Melanie Ballard (Natasha Henstridge) is tasked with bringing to justice the most dangerous criminal on the planet, the infamous James Desolation Williams (Ice Cube), in which her loyal team should help her.
However, the fight between justice and crime will turn into something completely different and much more dangerous when the careless professor Arlene Whitlock (Joanna Cassidy) mistakenly releases the long-dormant evil spirits of the Red Planet at the scene of an archaeological dig. To fend off unimaginable horrors, Ballard and Desolation must now work closely together.
Mars Attacks! (1996)
The Martians have made contact with Earthlings and announced their imminent arrival. President James Dale (J. Nicholson), his wife (G. Close) and daughter (N. Portman) and numerous advisers prepare a magnificent welcome, convinced that it is a friendly visit.
In New York, events are followed by journalist Natalie West (S. J. Parker) and her boyfriend Jason Stone (M. J. Fox), in Las Vegas by a casino owner (J. Nicholson), his new-age wife (A. Bening), singer Tom Jones, a vulgar gambler (D. De Vito) and a former boxer (J. Brown) who tries to reconcile with his wife (P. Grier). In Kansas, a young man, Richie (L. Haas), takes care of his grandmother (S. Sidney) and carefully follows the events on the small screen, not realizing that he and his grandmother will play a key role in the upcoming events. When the Martians finally arrive, it turns out that they have no good intentions at all…
Doom (2005)
In the near future, humans have successfully colonized Mars, which they then began to explore. In one station, unscrupulous scientists conduct potentially dangerous experiments with natural Martian substances, using humans as guinea pigs. However, the experiment goes awry, and the research station is quarantined.
In order to find out what’s going on, the authorities send a squad of marines and scientist Samantha Grimm (Rosamund Pike) on a mission. What they will encounter exceeds their wildest nightmares. In a cast filled with burly guys, the beautiful Rosamund Pike stands out as the fearless scientist.
Invaders from Mars (1986)
One night, boy David McLean (J. Hunt) sees a spaceship crashing nearby. His father goes to investigate what happened and comes back changed…
The Martian Chronicles (1980)
In the 21st century, Earth begins the colonization of Mars. However, things do not go as planned, at first due to the hostile Martian natives and later because of the self-destructive Earthmen.
The Angry Red Planet (1959)
Earth’s first expedition to Mars loses contact — and never gets it back. Mission Control successfully lands the ship remotely, but finds the crew’s only two survivors in a fight for their lives.
