Movies Like Approaching the Unknown (2016)

Approaching the Unknown is a 2016 drama, science fiction, thriller film from Mark Elijah Rosenberg with a MovieMagicScore of 5.3/10. Here are 20 similar films, ranked by real viewer ratings — starting with Gattaca and 2010.

Drama Science Fiction Thriller

Gattaca

1997

Vincent is an all-too-human man who dares to defy a system obsessed with genetic perfection. He is an "In-Valid" who assumes the identity of a member of the genetic elite to pursue his goal of traveling into space with the Gattaca Aerospace Corporation.

7.6

MagicScore

2010

1984

While planet Earth poises on the brink of nuclear self-destruction, a team of Russian and American scientists aboard the Leonov hurtles to a rendezvous with the still-orbiting Discovery spacecraft and its sole known survivor, the homicidal computer HAL.

6.6

MagicScore

Project Hail Mary

2026

Science teacher Ryland Grace wakes up on a spaceship light years from home with no recollection of who he is or how he got there. As his memory returns, he begins to uncover his mission: solve the riddle of the mysterious substance causing the sun to die out. He must call on his scientific knowledge and unorthodox ideas to save everything on Earth from extinction.

8.6

MagicScore

Mission to Mars

2000

When the first manned mission to Mars meets with a catastrophic and mysterious disaster after reporting an unidentified structure, a rescue mission is launched to investigate the tragedy and bring back any survivors.

6.0

MagicScore

First Man

2018

A look at the life of the astronaut, Neil Armstrong, and the legendary space mission that led him to become the first man to walk on the Moon on July 20, 1969.

7.0

MagicScore

Doppelgänger

1969

A planet is discovered in the same orbit as Earth's but is located on the exact opposite side of the sun, making it not visible from Earth. The European Space Exploration Council decide to send American astronaut Glenn Ross and British scientist John Kane via spaceship to explore the other planet.

6.2

MagicScore

It! The Terror from Beyond Space

1958

The first manned expedition to Mars is invaded by an unknown life form, which stows away on the rescue ship.

5.9

MagicScore

Conquest of Space

1955

A team of American astronauts leave their space station on the first mission to Mars, but the captain's religious beliefs may get in the way.

5.5

MagicScore

Robinson Crusoe on Mars

1964

Stranded on Mars with only a monkey as a companion, an astronaut must figure out how to find oxygen, water, and food and companionship on the lifeless planet.

6.3

MagicScore

#10

Sunshine

2007

Fifty years into the future, the sun is dying, and Earth is threatened by arctic temperatures. A team of astronauts is sent to revive the Sun — but the mission fails. Seven years later, a new team is sent to finish the mission as mankind’s last hope.

7.0

MagicScore

#11

Spaceman

2024

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.

6.7

MagicScore

#12

Tik Tik Tik

2018

An asteroid, which is expected to hit Chennai and its surrounding places, poses a threat to the lives of around four crore people. A five-member team is sent by the Defence Space Division to space to stop the celestial body from hitting the planet.

5.3

MagicScore

#13

Gravity

2013

Dr. Ryan Stone, a brilliant medical engineer, is on her first Shuttle mission, with veteran astronaut Matt Kowalsky in command of his last flight before retiring. But on a seemingly routine spacewalk, disaster strikes. The Shuttle is destroyed, leaving Stone and Kowalsky completely alone-tethered to nothing but each other and spiraling out into the blackness of space. The deafening silence tells them they have lost any link to Earth and any chance for rescue. As fear turns to panic, every gulp of air eats away at what little oxygen is left. But the only way home may be to go further out into the terrifying expanse of space.

7.2

MagicScore

#14

2001: A Space Odyssey

1968

Humanity finds a mysterious object buried beneath the lunar surface and sets off to find its origins with the help of HAL 9000, the world's most advanced super computer.

8.0

MagicScore

#15

Flight to Mars

1951

Four scientists and a newsman crash land on Mars and meet martians who act friendly.

5.1

MagicScore

#16

Spaceballs

1987

When the nefarious Dark Helmet hatches a plan to snatch Princess Vespa and steal her planet's air, space-bum-for-hire Lone Starr and his clueless sidekick fly to the rescue. Along the way, they meet Yogurt, who puts Lone Starr wise to the power of "The Schwartz." Can he master it in time to save the day?

6.9

MagicScore

#17

The Dark Side of the Moon

1990

It is the year 2022. A mysterious systems failure causes the crew of a spaceship to be stranded on the dark side of the moon, while rapidly running out of fuel and oxygen. They are surprised to discover a NASA space shuttle floating in space, and board it in the hope of salvaging some supplies. One by one, the crew is possessed and killed, and it is up to Paxton Warner to find the links between the dark side of the moon, the Bermuda Triangle, and the Devil himself.

5.0

MagicScore

#18

Total Recall

1990

Construction worker Douglas Quaid's obsession with the planet Mars leads him to visit Recall, a company that manufactures memories. When his memory implant goes wrong, Doug can no longer be sure what is and isn't reality.

7.3

MagicScore

#19

John Carter

2012

John Carter is a war-weary, former military captain who's inexplicably transported to the mysterious and exotic planet of Barsoom (Mars) and reluctantly becomes embroiled in an epic conflict. It's a world on the brink of collapse, and Carter rediscovers his humanity when he realizes the survival of Barsoom and its people rests in his hands.

6.4

MagicScore

#20

A Trip to Mars

1910

A certain professor of chemistry discovers two substances that, combined, make it possible to contravene the laws of gravity, a discovery that will have unexpected consequences for him.

6.2

MagicScore

Frequently asked

What are the best movies like Approaching the Unknown?

The top films similar to Approaching the Unknown by MovieMagicScore are Gattaca (7.6), 2010 (6.6), Project Hail Mary (8.6). Each shares drama/science fiction/thriller themes and is ranked by real viewer ratings, not critics or studios.

Is Approaching the Unknown worth watching?

Approaching the Unknown holds a MovieMagicScore of 5.3/10 from 323 viewer ratings.

What kind of movie is Approaching the Unknown?

Approaching the Unknown (2016) is a drama, science fiction, thriller film directed by Mark Elijah Rosenberg, starring Mark Strong, Luke Wilson, Sanaa Lathan.

Where can I find more recommendations like Approaching the Unknown?

Browse the full ranked list above, or explore more drama recommendations on MovieMagicScore, where every list is ordered by genuine viewer ratings.

Keep exploring

Movies like Gattaca Movies like 2010 Movies like Project Hail Mary Movies like Mission to Mars Movies like First Man Movies like Doppelgänger

About movies like Approaching the Unknown

This ranked list pairs Approaching the Unknown (2016), a drama and science fiction and thriller film from Mark Elijah Rosenberg, with similar titles by genre, theme and cast overlap (fans of Mark Strong take note). Unlike critic-driven sites, every position here is ordered by MovieMagicScore — a rating built only from real viewers, with no studio marketing or paid placement. Scores update as more people rate, so the list stays current.

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