Mixing laughter, adventure, and a rocket ride through the galaxy, movie night can’t get better than this, can it? Space comedies are a perfect blend of fun and fantasy, thus giving families everything they want: hilarious characters, insane plots, and just the right amount of cosmic chaos. If you are the one managing little astronauts or movie-loving teens, these intergalactic laugh-fests are the surest way to get a nod from everyone. The 10 best space comedies can kick off the family movie night with a bang: from contemporary hits to timeless cosmic classics.
10. Starship Troopers
On the surface, Starship Troopers looks like a sci-fi action movie, but it is actually a very smart satire that uses a space shoot-’em-up as a disguise. The bug-fighting extravaganza directed by Paul Verhoeven scoffs at the propaganda and military heroics that it portrays through the most serious of its tongue. It is big, loud, and crazy, thus making it a perfect popcorn movie for families who like their humor with a little sting (and if there are a couple of giant alien insects thrown in, so much the better).
9. Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie
And how about the worst movie can be the funniest thing to watch? The answer is: MST3K does this to the extreme by performing the task of watching a bad movie with the robots, who are making fun of it all the time. The film turns to art the characters’ mockery of cinema, as they find themselves trapped in space, with no option but to bear the worst of the worst. The jokes are quick, fun, and quite clever; in short, they are just right for families who love to share inside jokes.
8. Barbarella
Before Luke Skywalker had even thought of using a lightsaber, Jane Fonda was already Barbarella – the brave, fashion-forward space diva who made the intergalactic trip a laugh by turning it into a campy parody. The psychedelic ‘60s classic is a weird, vibrant one, and it is stuffed to the rafters with tongue-in-cheek charm. It’s a retro romp that shows that a sci-fi story can be fun without being serious.
7. Dark Star
That was a long time before Alien; John Carpenter made Dark Star, a low-budget, high-concept, hilarious parody of space exploration. A crew of bored astronauts has to face an escalating series of absurd situations, among them an alien of the shape of a beach ball with a bad attitude. The film is of a low budget, but has a high concept, and is very funny, a cult classic that will be loved by sci-fi fans for the way it satirizes the genre with its clever absurdity.
6. Explorers
The 80s classic tells the story of Ethan Hawke and River Phoenix as young inventors and genius kids who go completely wild with their imagination and eventually build their own spacecraft to wander the universe. But what they find in the galaxy is totally different from what they had expected. The film is equally funny, nostalgic, and heartfelt, just right for parents to share with children who dream of going to space.
5. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
This is a no-miss watch, that’s for sure! The Film adaptation of the book written by Douglas Adams, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, is the story of an ordinary fellow who is snatched from Earth just a few moments before the latter is destroyed to make way for a hyperspace bypass. The film is full of dry British humor, weird aliens, and ridiculous cosmic wisdom; that is what makes it the ultimate comedy of errors taking place across the universe.
4. Spaceballs
Spaceballs is what Mel Brooks does to Star Wars when you extend the craziness 0 times. This spoof with characters like Dark Helmet and Pizza the Hutt has been amusing families for ages. It’s silly, quotable characters, and endlessly rewatchable, a reminder that the Force is funny, too.
3. Galaxy Quest
If you are a fan of Star Trek, you should watch Galaxy Quest. This smart mockery shows the actors of a sci-fi show that got canceled long ago, who are taken by aliens for real heroes, to a world of trouble. Tim Allen, Sigourney Weaver, and Alan Rickman provide both comedic and dramatic elements to the plot, which is a fan letter as much as a thrilling laugh-out-loud adventure. Never give up, never surrender, just press play.
2. Guardians of the Galaxy
The funniest and most charming bad guys of Marvel, Star-Lord, Rocket, Groot, and the gang take the space opera turned on its head with humor, heart, and a killer soundtrack. Guardians of the Galaxy is a perfect blend of comedic and touching moments, thanks to the sharp writing and sincere emotion, thus creating a nightclub that’s as funny as it is touching. To this group of intergalactic misfits, even non-superhero fans will find plenty of reasons to love them.
1. Wall-E
One of the famously known sad movies made without the use of dialogue is Pixar’s WALL-E, which tells the story of a lonely little robot cleaning up Earth long after humanity has left. His adventures in space are full of charm, gentle humor, and breathtaking visuals. It’s a combination of romance, comedy, and eco-friendly fable, an ideal movie night for every generation.
Space comedies remind us that even in the vast unknown, laughter is the best survival tool. They mix big ideas with big laughs, teaching us about friendship, teamwork, and how to find joy in the chaos. So get your snacks ready, start one of the great movies, and get ready for a family movie night that’s truly out of this world.