Outer space is a topic that has been explored in movies for a long time, and Disney-Pixar's upcoming Lightyear, featuring Toy Story's very own Buzz Lightyear, is set to take viewers on a journey through space as it delves into the beloved character's origins.
As anticipation for Lightyear grows, it's worth taking the time to look back at some of the previous space-related movies for kids. Each has elements, whether it be characters or the story, that makes it appealing, but their IMDb ratings show that some hold up better than others.
Space Buddies (2009) - 4.2
Stream on Disney+
The five loveable golden-retriever puppies have gone on countless adventures from playing basketball to racing in a sled-dog race, and are now going to the moon! The five puppies end up getting stuck onto a spaceship that actually gets launched into space. With the spaceship not being fully fueled, a visit to the moon, and getting derailed on the way back home, this was their biggest adventure yet.
Space Buddies hasn't received the highest rating on IMDb, but to be fair, it is a movie about five talking puppies who go to space, so it's definitely geared toward a certain age group. The subsequent films about Air Bud's puppies haven't hit off as well as 1997's Air Bud did, but the content of the movies works well for kids who love dogs, and in this case, also space.
Fly Me To The Moon (2008) - 4.5
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Fly Me To the Moon is a movie about three adventurous flies that board the Apollo 13 flight and go on a trip to the moon. The three flies - Nat, I.Q., and Scooter - have to overcome obstacles and work together to help the astronauts of the ship when things start to go wrong. Viewers of all ages will root for these three flies as they journey into space and experience things that no other fly has before.
It is a great beginner space movie for kids, although it has been criticized for a lack of substance and a concept that falls a little flat at times. The film also received a lot of flack for creating an unbelievable storyline about the famous Apollo 13 flight, and some may see this as an attempt to capitalize on the success of Alvin and the Chipmunks since the three flies seem to share many personality traits with the beloved chipmunks.
Planet 51 (2009) - 6
Stream on Hulu
Planet 51 flips the alien invasion concept on its head, exploring how an alien race would react if a human arrived on their planet. The titular Planet 51 is filled with extraterrestrials who live their lives similar to how humans do on Earth. Chaos ensues when human astronaut Chuck Baker lands on the planet.
Even though it doesn't have the highest IMDb rating, Planet 51 is a kid-friendly alien invasion movie viewers can watch over and over. The film arguably falls into many classic alien movie clichés, but its zany humor and colorful characters are bound to keep kids entertained. Meanwhile, the films non-stop pop culture references to 1950s America may be enough to keep adults tuned in.
Zathura: A Space Adventure (2005) - 6.2
Stream on IMDb TV
With a concept similar to Jumanji, Zathura is a space-themed board game that seemed harmless at first but ends up having magical properties. Highlighting the dangers of space, but also the fascinating, and beautiful parts, this film shows just how unpredictable space really can be, and that there are plenty of parts of outer space that are not to be trifled with.
For a kid's movie, there are definitely parts of Zathura that get a little scary. There are also a few concepts that might fly over some younger kids' heads, but for older kids, this movie can be great fun due to its interesting, if not unique, concept of a board game coming to life.
Muppets From Space (1999) - 6.2
Stream on HBO Max
Muppets From Space explores where Gonzo is from as his alien family tries to reach him. Naturally, he is kidnapped by a government organization and an adventure ensues as his friends try to help free him and help him reach his family.
A story about loving yourself for who you are, no matter where you came from, as well as themes of friendship, family, and loyalty - combined with some space travel, of course - make for a unique take on the space movie genre. This particular Muppets film may not be the highest-rated in the franchise but it is still loved and enjoyed for its unique concept.
Space Jam (1996) - 6.5
Stream on HBO Max
The classic 1996 film Space Jam tells the story of Bugs Bunny and his friends as they recruit professional basketball player Michael Jordan to help them beat the Nerdlucks so they won't be taken to Swackhammer's theme park. The battle between the Looney Tune gang and the Monstars is one for the books, especially considering Space Jam was based on a commercial.
Space Jam is a gem in the lineup of space-related movies as it is an incredibly beloved and popular movie despite the mediocre rating it received. The classic cast of the Looney Tunes, combined with other popular actors and stars made it a hit. So much so that a sequel was released in 2021 - Space Jam: A New Legacy.
Monsters Vs. Aliens (2009) - 6.5
Available to rent on AppleTV+ & Amazon Prime Video
Not only did Monsters Vs. Aliens have an absolutely star-studded cast, but the movie also made a war between aliens and monsters kid-friendly. Five monsters - B.O.B, The Missing Link, Dr. Cockroah, Susan, and Insectosaurus - band together to help the government defeat an alien invasion.
While it may not be one of the best "friendly" alien movies, Monsters Vs. Aliens is great in its own way as it shows that what people perceive as 'scary' and 'bad' can end up being good and helpful. It shines a light on the fact that people shouldn't be judged by how they look, or what others may have said about them.
Home (2015) - 6.6
Stream on Netflix
In the movie Home, an alien species called the Boov takes over planet Earth and captures all the humans. Tip is the only human that managed to escape the Boov's hands, and she continues to hide from them with her cat named Pig as she searches for her mother.
This journey is filled with laughs and tears, and a bond that ends up being stronger than the two ever could have imagined. An adventure around the world and through space, and a wonderful story about the importance of friendship and family make for a great film for families to watch together.
Treasure Planet (2002) - 7.1
Stream on Disney+
Viewers follow the young Jim Hawkins as he joins a pirate crew and travels through space in search of the mysterious "Treasure Planet." Jim and the crew encounter supernovas and new species of creatures such as B.E.N., who is a robot. This means that, as well as being a great space movie, Treasure Planet is one of the best animated films to have a robot protagonist.
While there may be a few scenes that aren't great for young kids due to the violence, it is the perfect space adventure for older kids. There is much to explore and learn about space, pirates, and adventures in general in this movie, making it more than deserving of its high IMDb rating.
Wall-E (2008) - 8.4
Stream on Disney+
One of Disney-Pixar's best space-related movies is Wall-E. The movie follows one of the trash cleaning robots, named Wall-E, who seems to be the only one left cleaning up the mess that humans left behind on Earth.
Wall-E was quickly loved and cherished by viewers of all ages. As it follows a cute and curious robot, moviegoers were captivated by the protagonist, their story, and the broader important themes in the film, leading to its high rating. While there are some aspects that only adults might understand, there is plenty to be loved and enjoyed by audiences of all ages.