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Many films, particularly those set in space, often push the boundaries of realism to the point where they challenge our suspension of disbelief. Since most of us have never experienced outer space firsthand, distinguishing fact from fiction can be tricky. This is where real-life astronauts provide invaluable insights:
Chris Hadfield, a retired Canadian astronaut, engineer, and former Royal Canadian Air Force pilot, made history as the first Canadian to perform a spacewalk. He participated in two Space Shuttle missions and commanded the International Space Station (ISS).
Garrett Reisman, an American engineer and former NASA astronaut, served as a backup for Expedition 15 and later joined Expedition 16 on the International Space Station. He also became a key member of Expedition 17 during his time in space.
Nicole Stott, another accomplished American engineer and retired NASA astronaut, contributed as a Flight Engineer on ISS Expedition 20 and Expedition 21. She also played a vital role as a Mission Specialist on STS-128 and STS-133.
This list features 10 films evaluated by the aforementioned experts.
Warning: Potential spoilers ahead!
10. Interstellar (2014)
Directed by Christopher Nolan and featuring stars like Matthew McConaughey and Anne Hathaway, Interstellar is a sci-fi masterpiece. The story unfolds in a dystopian future where Earth's decline threatens humanity's survival. A courageous group of NASA scientists, engineers, and pilots embarks on a mission through interstellar space to locate a new planet capable of sustaining life.
When a seasoned astronaut admits, 'I’m confused,' it’s a red flag. Hadfield points out that the film’s depiction of black holes is purely speculative, as no human has ever entered one and returned to describe the experience. This leaves much of the science open to interpretation.
Reisman isn’t particularly fond of the bookshelf tesseract concept, but he still gives the film an 8 out of 10 for its accurate portrayal of other scientific elements, particularly relativistic effects.
9. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
Reisman remarks, 'Honestly, any movie featuring a talking raccoon gets a thumbs-up from me.'
The scene depicted here aligns with the absurdity of a talking raccoon. While Star-Lord (Chris Pratt) dons a helmet to shield himself from the vacuum of space, the rest of his body remains unprotected. Though viewers understand this is a fictional and exaggerated portrayal of his love for Gamora (Zoe Saldana), it’s fascinating to hear real astronauts explain the actual consequences of such exposure to a vacuum.
First, barotrauma occurs as gases in the lungs and sinuses rapidly expand in the absence of external air pressure. Next, decompression sickness, or 'the bends,' similar to what deep-sea divers experience when surfacing too quickly, arises from the imbalance of gases inside and outside the body. While serious, it’s far less graphic than Arnold Schwarzenegger’s depiction in Total Recall.
8. Total Recall (1990)
In the 1990s, Total Recall stood out as one of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s most iconic action films. It’s also considered one of the more intellectually engaging projects in his career. Even today, fans debate the film’s ambiguous ending: Was Douglas Quaid (Schwarzenegger’s character) truly a secret agent with implanted memories, or was the entire narrative a construct of those fabricated memories?
As expected, the astronauts focus less on the plot’s intricacies and more on the film’s scientific accuracy. For instance, Stott notes that the helmets depicted in the movie are far less durable than real-life versions. While certain parts might crack under extreme conditions, visors are made from robust polycarbonate, which doesn’t shatter as dramatically as shown.
7. Gravity (2013)
All experts agree that Gravity is unparalleled in its depiction of outer space. Stott praises its visual and auditory accuracy, which closely mirrors her own experiences during spacewalks. Hadfield adds that the film’s opening scenes, with the Earth’s slow rotation and stunning lighting, capture the awe-inspiring beauty of space. However, he advises viewers to overlook the astronauts’ actions, as they often defy realism.
Reisman acknowledges that while the film is visually stunning, it blatantly disregards the laws of physics. It revolves around space debris wreaking havoc on the International Space Station. While it’s true that a significant amount of debris orbits Earth, Stott points out that every piece larger than a fist is meticulously tracked by scientists on the ground. A sudden, overwhelming cloud of debris catching astronauts off guard is simply unrealistic.
In one scene, Sandra Bullock’s character detaches from the robot arm during repairs to the Hubble telescope and drifts into space as if an external force acts on her rather than the equipment. Later, she grabs George Clooney’s tether, and he insists she let him go to save herself. This makes little sense—once his momentum stops, he wouldn’t drift further. Even the satellite zooming past at 120 mph is laughably inaccurate. Real satellites travel at 5 miles per second, ten times faster than a bullet, making it impossible to identify them in such a scenario.
6. Armageddon (1998)
Most viewers would agree that this film leans heavily into fiction. Much of its content is scientifically absurd. Hadfield describes it as tragicomic, stating, 'It’s among the worst space movies ever made—just dreadful.'
Stott, however, highlights a few positive aspects, particularly the swimming pool scene. She notes that the underwater training depicted closely mirrors her own experiences at NASA. During such training, safety divers assist with equipment and movement, though she adds that maneuvering in space is actually easier than in water.
While she acknowledges that compressing training into 12 days is nearly impossible, Stott believes NASA aimed to simulate the sensations of space. This explains the use of pools and T-38 jets. Real astronauts undergo similar training to master complex systems in environments resembling space.
5. First Man (2018)
Astronauts often begin their careers in technical fields, such as test pilots, like Neil Armstrong and his colleagues. The film depicts Armstrong piloting an X-15, which is accurate, but the portrayal is flawed. Hadfield notes that an X-15’s vibrations would be barely noticeable. If the aircraft rattled as shown, it would indicate a serious issue. Additionally, the sudden silence in the cockpit is unexplained and unrealistic.
The depiction of the sky through the aircraft’s windows is also inaccurate. In reality, the sky darkens progressively with altitude. In the movie, it shifts abruptly from sky blue to light blue and then to black, which is inconsistent with real-world observations.
Hadfield finds the film’s somber tone most disappointing. While astronauts understand the risks and gravity of their missions, they also experience immense joy and wonder at the prospect of exploring space. The movie fails to capture this sense of adventure and excitement.
4. Passengers (2016)
How can gravity be simulated without a nearby planet? Experts explain that spinning a spacecraft generates a gravity-like effect through centrifugal force. Similar to amusement park rides, the rotation pushes objects, including people, toward the outer walls of the vessel.
The swimming pool scene in Passengers vividly illustrates what would occur if the ship’s rotation ceased, eliminating the centrifugal force. However, Hadfield notes that stopping such a massive spacecraft would require an enormous external force or braking mechanism. Additionally, the force wouldn’t instantly return, causing chaos as depicted. Restarting the rotation of such a structure would demand significant time and energy.
The behavior of water forming large globules is highly accurate, mirroring how water behaves on the International Space Station. Stott confirms that even tears behave similarly in microgravity.
3. Apollo 13 (1995)
'Perhaps the most realistic space movie ever made,' according to Hadfield.
Apollo 13 recounts the harrowing journey of astronauts Lovell, Haise, and Swigert, who face a life-threatening crisis after their spacecraft is damaged during the Apollo 13 moon mission. The iconic line, 'Houston, we have a problem,' resonates deeply. Hadfield has used this phrase himself, noting its unparalleled ability to command immediate attention and focus from everyone involved.
This docudrama masterfully captures the problem-solving processes inherent in spaceflight, albeit with less drama than real-life scenarios. Director Ron Howard meticulously ensured the film’s accuracy, even replicating dialogue from NASA’s mission transcripts. Reisman praises the film, stating it’s as close to a documentary as possible without actually filming in space.
2. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
Both Reisman and Hadfield hold this film in high regard, praising its artistic brilliance and scientific accuracy. The movie’s portrayal of space is both visually stunning and remarkably realistic.
After his first spacewalk, Hadfield struggled to describe the experience to his wife, eventually saying, 'It’s exactly like they imagined in the movie.' This is remarkable, given the film was created before humans even reached the moon. The movie also accurately depicts the use of centrifugal force to simulate gravity by rotating the space station. Reisman notes that the film even gets the rotation speed right—about 1.5 rpm, generating roughly half the gravitational force felt on Earth, enough to keep objects and people stable.
1. The Martian (2015)
Reisman gives this film a 9 out of 10 for its accuracy, aside from the unrealistic idea that puncturing a spacesuit glove would turn it into a jetpack, propelling someone through space like Iron Man.
Hadfield, however, points out several scientific inaccuracies. For instance, Mark Watney (played by Matt Damon) wouldn’t be as muscular as depicted, given Mars’ gravity is only 38% of Earth’s. Watney’s weight would be significantly less. Additionally, Mars’ thin atmosphere—equivalent to climbing Mount Everest four times on Earth—makes many outdoor scenes implausible.
The concept of Watney growing potatoes on Mars isn’t far-fetched. With nutrient-rich soil (created using his own waste), along with heat, water, and oxygen—all achievable through basic chemical reactions using the spacecraft’s resources—this scenario is plausible. Such skills are part of an astronaut’s training.
