Space

Le Voyage Dans La Lune (A Trip To The Moon)

Cert

Age group7+

Duration13 mins

Le Voyage Dans La Lune (A Trip To The Moon)(1902)

Fascinating early slice of science fiction and a founding stone of modern cinema.

From the earliest days of cinema, filmmakers have used space travel as a springboard to imagine the extraordinary. This legendary silent film from French director Georges Melies has influenced just about every science-fiction movie produced and remains remarkably inventive and entertaining, well over 100 years since it was made.

Cert

Age group5–11

Duration84 mins

Fly Me To The Moon(2008)

Animated yarn about a trio of flies who hitch a ride into space on the 1969 Apollo 11 moon mission.

This animated hit tells the story of a trio of flies so entranced by preparations for the Apollo 11 moon landing that they decide to hop on board and go along themselves! With the flies hidden in the helmets of Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins (who appear in the voice cast), this is a sweet-natured take on an alternative slice of history.

Cert

Age group7–14

Duration105 mins

Explorers(1985)

Explorers is an inventive, sophisticated fantasy adventure in which two kids build their own space craft in a suburban garage.

Lots of children attempt to build their own space crafts and dream of encountering aliens. This fantasy adventure from the director of Gremlins takes that premise and turns it into one of the seminal family films of the 1980s, complete with playful humour, exciting set-pieces and bucket-loads of charm.

Cert

Age group7+

Duration99 mins

First Men In The Moon(1964)

Adaptation of a HG Wells story about a group of astronauts who visit the moon, only to discover someone got there before them - in 1899!

Few science-fiction writers tapped into the imagination as effectively as HG Wells. Produced five years before man actually set foot on the moon, this adaptation imagines that people had landed there as far back as 1899. Using stop-motion effects from the legendary Ray Harryhausen, this is a fun look at how people imagined space travel before it truly began to advance.

Cert

Age groupAll ages

Duration98 mins

WALL-E(2008)

A small, rather hopeless looking robot is left alone on Earth to clean up the mess left by humans, in this wonderful Pixar animation.

This beloved Pixar classic imagines a scenario where Earth has been rendered inhospitable due to our poor treatment of the environment, leaving one intrepid little robot behind to clear up the mess. But after he meets EVE, Wall-E sets off on an adventure that takes him deep into space and an extraordinary journey back home.

Cert

Age group7–14

Duration113 mins

Zathura(2005)

Fantastic adventure centred on a board game which can turn reality upside down, discovered by a kid in his basement and transporting him to space.

Based on a book by the author of Jumanji, this family adventure tells the story of two young brothers whisked into an intergalactic adventure when a magical board game reveals unexpected twists. Emphasising the imagination more than relying on special effects, the film explores one of the great “what ifs” that all young people ponder with childlike enthusiasm.

Cert

Age group7–11

Duration91 mins

Treasure Planet(2002)

Based on the Robert Louis Stevenson classic, Treasure Island, this animated Disney film follows a treasure-hunting teen on his adventures - in Space!

Ingeniously blending two beloved styles of adventure story, this film takes Robert Louis’ Stevenson’s iconic tale and relocates it to outer space. Surprisingly faithful to the source material, this animation is a great example of tackling alternative approaches to storytelling and a terrific adventure story in its own right.