Narrated by Brian Cox, this BBC series takes viewers on a stunning tour of the solar system, blending the latest science with jaw-dropping visuals. Each episode shows just how far our understanding of the planets has come compared to even a generation ago. With rich production and Cox’s engaging delivery, it feels like Planet Earth reimagined for the cosmos. | © BBC Studios
Hosted by Morgan Freeman, this series dives into some of the biggest questions in science, from parallel universes to the origins of existence. Top scientists share their research in a way that’s challenging yet still accessible, making complex ideas feel within reach. It’s a rare show that respects curiosity and leaves you seeing the world differently after each episode. | © Science Channel
This film follows two small companies trying to break into orbital launches while living in the shadow of SpaceX. Peter Beck drives Rocket Lab with passion and persistence, while Chris Kemp takes a more profit-driven approach. Their contrasting stories show both the promise of private innovation and the frustration of politics slowing progress. | © HBO
This documentary tells the often-overlooked story of Black astronauts and their struggle to break barriers during the height of America’s space program. Through interviews with pioneers like Ed Dwight, Guy Bluford, and Charlie Bolden, it reveals the prejudice they faced and the resilience that kept them pushing forward. By blending history with culture it highlights both the setbacks and the ongoing fight for true equality in space exploration. | © National Geographic
This HBO miniseries covers the entire Apollo program, from its earliest days to the last steps taken on the Moon. Each episode blends historical accuracy with emotional storytelling, capturing the triumphs, tragedies, and human moments behind the missions. With Tom Hanks leading the production and an ensemble cast bringing it to life, it remains one of the most powerful and comprehensive space stories ever put on screen. | © HBO
This Netflix documentary revisits the 1970 Apollo 13 mission, when an explosion left three astronauts fighting to make it home. Using rare archival footage, reconstructions, and interviews, it recreates the tension that gripped both the crew and mission control. The result is a gripping look at teamwork under impossible pressure and the ingenuity that saved lives. | © Netflix
This series takes its time to build a vast, believable world, but once it gets going, it delivers one of the smartest space operas ever made. Politics, war, and survival collide across Earth, Mars, and the Belt, with characters who feel layered and real. Add in stunning visuals, grounded physics, and standout performances, and you’ve got a show that rewards patience with unforgettable payoff. | © Syfy
This four-part series blends hard science with stunning CGI to imagine what life might look like on distant exoplanets. Each episode builds a new world by applying Earth’s biology to alien environments, creating creatures and ecosystems that feel both strange and believable. It’s the mix of imaginative visuals and grounded science that makes it as thought-provoking as it is beautiful to watch. | © Netflix
This film follows the small group of veteran engineers still keeping the Voyager probes alive decades after launch. With power fading and signals taking 20 hours to reach Earth, every decision means shutting down instruments to stretch the mission a little longer. It’s a moving portrait of quiet dedication, as a handful of people guard humanity’s farthest reach into space. | © Gravitas Ventures
This series takes a big-picture look at how fast technology is advancing and what it means for our future. Episode 5, “Space Vacations,” stands out as it explores how space travel could become quicker and even available to everyday people. With sleek visuals and insights from experts, it turns bold predictions into something that feels just within reach. | © Netflix
This documentary tells the wild true story of a small group of German engineers who set out to build a rocket program in Zaire during the 1970s. With firsthand accounts from those involved, it feels almost too strange to be real – yet it happened. Director Oliver Schwehm delivers it with gripping storytelling that makes this forgotten chapter of space history unforgettable. | © Novak Production
This documentary looks at SpaceX’s early steps toward making Mars colonization a reality. While it doesn’t spend much time on the planet itself, it highlights the technical hurdles and breakthroughs shaping space travel today. It’s a reminder that we’re still at the very beginning of a new era, and what’s learned now could one day decide humanity’s future. | © Disney+
This documentary dives into SpaceX’s Crew Dragon Demo-2 mission, the first crewed U.S. launch since the Space Shuttle era. It follows astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley through years of preparation, the nerve-racking launch, and their safe return to the ISS. Along the way, it captures both the technical hurdles and Elon Musk’s bigger vision of humans living beyond Earth. | © Netflix
Instead of spotlighting astronauts, this series focuses on the thousands of engineers and designers who made the Apollo missions possible. It walks through the challenges of building the rockets, spacecraft, and systems that had to work flawlessly to get people to the Moon and back. Hearing these unsung heroes reflect on both triumphs and disasters makes the story feel deeply human and unforgettable. | © Science Channel
Built entirely from restored 70mm footage, this documentary drops you right into the heart of the first Moon landing. The images look so sharp and immediate that it feels like stepping into a time machine, especially on an IMAX screen. While it skips the technical deep dive, the sheer immersion captures the awe of one of humanity’s greatest moments. | © Universal Pictures
Space documentaries capture the wonder, danger, and ambition of reaching beyond our world. Whether it’s revisiting Apollo’s tense missions, imagining alien life, or following the innovators shaping tomorrow’s launches, these films remind us how vast the universe is and how far curiosity can take us. Here are 15 of the best to watch right now.
