25 best moon movies ever

SpaceCamp (1986)

A young Joaquin Phoenix is among the group of kids who, when attending NASA’s summer space camp, mistakenly launch themselves into space with the help of a sentient robot. Stop tittering at the back: it could happen to anyone. Released in the aftermath of the Challenger disaster, this film would have struggled even if it had been good – but it’s far from a classic.

Magnificent Desolation (2005)

3D is now commonplace in cinemas, but back in 2005 it was a rarity, and this film – named after Buzz Aldrin’s description of the lunar landscape – was both 3D and designed for IMAX theatres. With Tom Hanks as writer and producer, it’s a documentary about NASA’s moon missions that uses both actual footage and CGI, plus a star-studded voice cast to tell its compelling stories.

The Right Stuff (1983)

Adapted from Tom Wolfe’s book, The Right Stuff tells the tale of the test pilots involved in high speed flights in the 1950s – including those selected to become the first US astronauts. Interestingly Chuck Yeager, the legendary pilot who was first to break the sound barrier, is played in the movie by Sam Shepard, who suffers from a fear of flying.

Iron Sky (2012)

What if the Nazis set up a base on the moon in 1945, then decided to return to a near future Earth to take over? Well, that’s what happens in Iron Sky, a moon-sized slice of knowing, politically incorrect cheese from Finnish director Timo Vuorensola. Nailed on to become a future cult classic merely from its subject matter.

The Mouse on the Moon (1963)

A British satirical take on the space race, The Mouse on the Moon concerns a tiny nation that beats the USA and Soviet Union to the moon by using a rocket powered by explosive wine. Terry-Thomas and Bernard Cribbins lead a cast of Brit stalwarts in an amusing tale of the underdog succeeding.