Movies like Battlestar Galactica (1978)
The best movies like Battlestar Galactica (1978) are Conquest of the Earth (1980), Mission Galactica: The Cylon Attack (1979) and Forbidden Planet (1956). If Battlestar Galactica hooked you with its science fiction and adventure, these 30 similar films are what to watch next, and every pick says why it matches.
Quick picks
- Highest ratedStar Wars (1977)8.2/10 from 23,153 votes
- NewestThe Robinsons: Lost in Space (2004)Released 2004
- Same seriesConquest of the Earth (1980)Battlestar Galactica (Original)
Conquest of the Earth (1980)
A compilation of Battlestar Galactica episodes 1–3 and 7–9, with alternate footage. The Galactica and its ragtag fleet of ships finally arrive on Earth, only to discover that the planet is not prepared for the inevitable Cylon invasion.
Why it matches: Same series: Battlestar Galactica (Original) · both science fiction & adventure
Mission Galactica: The Cylon Attack (1979)
A compilation of Battlestar Galactica episodes 10–12 and 21, with alternate footage. Running low on fuel, the Battlestar Galactica receives the help of the supposedly lost Battlestar Pegasus which is taking the offensive with the Cylons.
Why it matches: Same series: Battlestar Galactica (Original) · both science fiction
Worth the HypeMovies like thisForbidden Planet (1956)
Starship C57D travels to planet Altair 4 in search of the crew of spaceship "Bellerophon," a scientific expedition that has been missing for twenty years. They find themselves unwelcome by the expedition's lone survivor and warned of destruction by an invisible force if they don't turn back immediately.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both science fiction & adventure
Worth the HypeMovies like thisBattle Beyond the Stars (1980)
A young farmer assembles a band of diverse mercenaries to defend his peaceful planet from an evil tyrant.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both science fiction & adventure
SnoozefestMovies like thisDestination Moonbase-Alpha (1978)
After an atomic explosion blasts the Moon out of Earth orbit, Moonbase Alpha drifts in space, with 300 people on board. When a rescue team from Earth arrives in a faster-than-light space ship, everyone is overjoyed that they can now return to Earth. But Moonbase Commander John Koenig, having undergone an experimental brain soothing process after receiving a concussion in a crash on the Lunar surface, sees not friends from Earth but gruesome monsters which have telepathically caused all others on Alpha to see an illusion of an Earth party. The aliens are desperate for radiation and plan to manipulate the Alphans into detonating nuclear waste on the Lunar surface, reducing the Moon and everyone on it to dust. Koenig must expose this conspiracy to save his people. Compiled from the two part episode The Bringers Of Wonder from the TV series Space: 1999's second series.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both science fiction & adventure
Queen of Outer Space (1958)
An aborted mission strands a crew on Venus where they find the planet inhabited only by women led by their evil Queen Yllana. Yllana had all the men of Venus killed, now that's she met Earth men, she wants them dead, too.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both science fiction & adventure
SnoozefestMovies like thisBuck Rogers in the 25th Century (1979)
Capt. William "Buck" Rogers is a jovial space cowboy who is accidentally time-warped from 1987 to 2491. Earth is engaged in interplanetary war following a global holocaust, and Buck's piloting skills make him an ideal starfighter recruit for the Earth Defense Directorate.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both science fiction & adventure
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisEscape from Mars (1999)
Five astronauts make the first manned trip to Mars in the second decade of the 21st century. They must battle and overcome inferior computer components, corporate greed and indifference, and their own personal problems, as well as the surprises that the Red Planet has in store for them.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both science fiction
Star Trek: The Cage (1965)
Led by Captain Christopher Pike, the crew of the starship Enterprise investigates of a far-off planet which was the site of a shipwreck eighteen years earlier. They encounter telepathic aliens who seek a human male specimen for their menagerie.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both science fiction
Dune (1984)
In the year 10,191, the most precious substance in the universe is the spice Melange. The spice extends life. The spice expands consciousness. The spice is vital to space travel. The spice exists on only one planet in the entire universe, the vast desert planet Arrakis, also known as Dune. Its native inhabitants, the Fremen, have long held a prophecy that a man would come, a messiah who would lead them to true freedom.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both science fiction & adventure
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisWing Commander (1999)
In the mid-27th century, the Terran Confederation is at war with the vicious alien Kilrathi Empire. When the Kilrathi capture a crucial navigational device that could lead them to Earth, the Confederation’s only hope rests with a small group of young fighter pilots. Lieutenant Christopher Blair, along with his wingman Todd 'Maniac' Marshall and Commander Jeanette 'Angel' Deveraux, must intercept the alien fleet and prevent the destruction of mankind. Battling overwhelming odds and racing against time, they face not only external threats but also inner fears and rivalries as they fight to save Earth from annihilation.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both science fiction & adventure
SnoozefestMovies like thisMessage from Space (1978)
The peaceful planet of Jillucia has been nearly wiped out by the Gavanas, whose leader takes orders from his mother rather than the Emperor. King Kaiba sends out eight Liabe holy seeds, each to be received by a chosen one to defend the Gavanas. Each recipient, ranging from hardened General Garuda to Gavana Prince Hans to young Terrans Meia, Kido, and Aaron all have different reactions to being chosen.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both adventure & science fiction
SnoozefestMovies like thisEnemy Mine (1985)
A soldier from Earth crashlands on an alien world after sustaining battle damage. Eventually he encounters another survivor, but from the enemy species he was fighting; they band together to survive on this hostile world. In the end the human finds himself caring for his enemy in a completely unexpected way.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both science fiction
Worth the HypeMovies like thisStargate (1994)
An interstellar teleportation device, found in Egypt, leads to a planet with humans resembling ancient Egyptians who worship the god Ra.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both adventure & science fiction
Worth the HypeMovies like thisSpacehunter: Adventures in the Forbidden Zone (1983)
On a distant planet inhabited by mutants, two bounty hunters race to rescue three Earth female captives from the clutches of an evil warlord.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both adventure & science fiction
SnoozefestMovies like thisThe War in Space (1977)
The year is 1988, and in the midst of recovering from a near-miss with a large comet, Earth finds that there are much worse matters at hand: the sudden arrival of a strange army of aliens and their fleet of unstoppable warships.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both adventure & science fiction
Lost in Space (1998)
The prospects for continuing life on Earth in the year 2058 are grim. So the Robinsons are launched into space to colonize Alpha Prime, the only other inhabitable planet in the galaxy. But when a stowaway sabotages the mission, the Robinsons find themselves hurtling through uncharted space.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both science fiction & adventure
SnoozefestMovies like thisThe Ice Pirates (1984)
In the not too distant future, where by far the most precious commodity in the galaxy is water. The last surviving water planet was somehow removed to the unreachable centre of the galaxy at the end of the galactic trade wars. The galaxy is ruled by an evil emperor presiding over a trade oligarchy that controls all mining and sale of ice from asteroids and comets.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both science fiction & adventure
SnoozefestMovies like thisSilent Running (1972)
After the entire flora goes extinct, ecologist Lowell maintains a greenhouse aboard a space station for the future with his android companions. However, he rebels after being ordered to destroy the greenhouse in favor of carrying cargo, a decision that puts him at odds with everyone but his mechanical companions.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both science fiction & adventure
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisBraveStarr: The Legend (1988)
Marshall Bravestarr is the lawman of the wild-west planet "New Texas" with help from Thirty-Thirty, his cybernetic talking horse and Deputy Fuzz, his sidekick and Shaman, his mentor. Bravestarr with his special powers fights the outlaw Tex-Hex, the leader of the Carrion Bunch, who are after the mineral Kerium, Bravestarr sets out to set things right and enforce peace and justice on "New Texas".
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both science fiction
Worth the HypeMovies like thisThe Black Hole (1979)
The explorer craft USS Palomino is returning to Earth after a fruitless 18-month search for extra-terrestrial life when the crew comes upon a supposedly lost ship, the USS Cygnus, hovering near a black hole. The ship is controlled by Dr. Hans Reinhardt and his monstrous robot companion, but the initial wonderment and awe the Palomino crew feel for the ship and its resistance to the power of the black hole turn to horror as they uncover Reinhardt's plans.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both adventure & science fiction
SnoozefestMovies like thisThe Silent Star (1960)
A mysterious magnetic spool found during a construction project is discovered to have originated from Venus. A rocket expedition to Venus is launched to discover the origin of the spool and the race that created it.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both science fiction
SnoozefestMovies like thisStar Wars (1977)
Princess Leia is captured and held hostage by the evil Imperial forces in their effort to take over the galactic Empire. Venturesome Luke Skywalker and dashing captain Han Solo team together with the loveable robot duo R2-D2 and C-3PO to rescue the beautiful princess and restore peace and justice in the Empire.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both adventure & science fiction
Absolute CinemaMovies like thisFantastic Voyage (1966)
In order to save an assassinated scientist, a submarine and its crew are shrunk to microscopic size and injected into his bloodstream.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both science fiction & adventure
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisBabylon 5: A Call to Arms (1999)
Allies of the Shadows seek revenge against humanity. This movie sets up the series, "Crusade," the sequel to "Babylon 5."
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both science fiction & adventure
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe Robinsons: Lost in Space (2004)
In the year 2082, the Earth was invaded by aliens after it was long determine that existence of extra terrestrials was long thought to be science fiction. Major cities crumbled from the destruction of the beings from beyond the stars. The invasion came to a halt when Earth's own armed forces led by Col. John Robinson fought off the invaders and thus Earth won the battle which came to be known as "Robinson's Raid". 15 years have passed by and John Robinson attends a ceremony for his retirement from his services in defending the Earth from alien threat. This disfunctional family is one of the fewest families chosen to be part of the space program that is heading for a planet called Nova which will become occupied with a new farming colony.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both adventure & science fiction
Waterworld (1995)
In a futuristic world where the polar ice caps have melted and made Earth a liquid planet, a beautiful barmaid rescues a mutant seafarer from a floating island prison. They escape, along with her young charge, Enola, and sail off aboard his ship. But the trio soon becomes the target of a menacing pirate who covets the map to 'Dryland'—which is tattooed on Enola's back.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both adventure
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisSlipstream (1989)
In the near future, where Earth has been devastated by man's pollution and giant winds rule the planet, bounty hunter Matt kidnaps a murderer out of the hands of two police officers, planning to get the bounty himself.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both science fiction & adventure
SnoozefestMovies like thisStar Trek: The Motion Picture (1979)
When an unidentified alien destroys three powerful Klingon cruisers, Captain James T. Kirk returns to the newly transformed U.S.S. Enterprise to take command.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both science fiction & adventure
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisBarbarella (1968)
In the far future, a highly sexual woman is tasked with finding and stopping the evil Durand-Durand. Along the way she encounters various unusual people.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both science fiction & adventure
Popcorn FlickMovies like this
Like Battlestar Galactica and something else?
Blend two favourites and we’ll find the films in between.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best movies like Battlestar Galactica?
The closest matches to Battlestar Galactica are Conquest of the Earth (1980), Mission Galactica: The Cylon Attack (1979) and Forbidden Planet (1956). Below are 27 more, each with the reason it matches.
What should I watch after Battlestar Galactica?
People who watched Battlestar Galactica most often go on to Forbidden Planet (1956), Battle Beyond the Stars (1980) and Destination Moonbase-Alpha (1978).
What is the highest-rated movie like Battlestar Galactica?
Star Wars (1977), rated 8.2/10 by 23,153 TMDB users.
What is the newest movie like Battlestar Galactica?
The Robinsons: Lost in Space (2004) is the most recent release on this list.
Is Battlestar Galactica part of a series?
Yes. It belongs to Battlestar Galactica (Original), which includes Conquest of the Earth (1980) and Mission Galactica: The Cylon Attack (1979).
Are there English movies like Battlestar Galactica?
Yes: Conquest of the Earth (1980), Mission Galactica: The Cylon Attack (1979) and Forbidden Planet (1956).
How are movies similar to Battlestar Galactica chosen?
First come films that Trakt’s viewers watch alongside Battlestar Galactica, then TMDB’s recommendations and films it rates as similar in story and genre. Each pick says which signal put it there.