Movies like Contact (2017)
The best movies like Contact (2017) are No Time for Nuts (2006), Final Flight of the Osiris (2003) and Mooned (2023). If Contact hooked you with its animation and science fiction, these 30 similar films are what to watch next, and every pick says why it matches.
Quick picks
- Highest ratedThe Wrong Trousers (1993)7.8/10 from 1,225 votes
- NewestOrdeal of Evil (2026)Released 2026
No Time for Nuts (2006)
Scrat comes across a time machine and is transported to various times all in pursuit of his beloved acorn.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & science fiction
Worth the HypeMovies like thisFinal Flight of the Osiris (2003)
Immediately before the events of The Matrix Reloaded, the crew of the hovercraft Osiris discovers a quarter of a million sentinels drilling through the surface of the earth towards the last human city of Zion. But can the Osiris survive long enough to warn Zion?
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both science fiction & animation
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisMooned (2023)
Villainous Vector must figure out how to get off the moon and return to Earth.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & science fiction
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisDC Showcase: Adam Strange (2020)
On a rugged asteroid mining colony, few of the toiling workers are aware that their town drunk was ever anything but an interplanetary derelict. But when the miners open a fissure into the home of a horde of deadly alien insects, his true identity is exposed. He is space adventurer Adam Strange, whose heroic backstory is played out in flashbacks as he struggles to save the very people who have scorned him for so long.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & science fiction
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisBeyond (2003)
While looking for her cat, a young woman and some kids find an abandoned building where strange things happen and the rules of physics don't always apply. Part of the Animatrix collection of animated shorts set in the Matrix universe.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both science fiction & animation
Worth the HypeMovies like thisKid's Story (2003)
A high school student is haunted by thoughts of "The Matrix" and a person named "Neo".
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both science fiction & animation
Worth the HypeMovies like thisMass Effect: Paragon Lost (2012)
An untold chapter in the Mass Effect saga, following the early career of Alliance Marine, James Vega, as he leads a squad of elite special forces into battle against a mysterious alien threat known as The Collectors. Stationed at a colony in a remote star system, Vega and his troops must protect the inhabitants from an invasion of the deadly insectoid warriors determined to collect the population for unknown purposes. Soon after the attack, Vega's commanding officer falls in battle, forcing the young officer to embrace the responsibility of leadership for the colony's survival. Having idolized Earth's greatest hero and warrior, Commander Shepard (the central character in the Mass Effect video games), the young and idealistic Vega must now make life and the death decisions that will effect not only the lives of his squad, but the lives of every person in the colony - all of whom he has sworn to protect...
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & science fiction
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisRunaway Brain (1995)
In an attempt to convince Minnie that he hasn't forgotten to buy her an anniversary present, Mickey Mouse ends up promising to take her to Hawaii. Funds being short, he applies for a job as lab assistant to the sinister Dr. Frankenollie, who happens to be searching for a donor to provide his monstrous creation with a brain.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & science fiction
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe Second Renaissance Part II (2003)
The battle for Earth turns against the humans, despite their infamous desperate act of blackening the skies.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both science fiction & animation
Worth the HypeMovies like thisBlush (2021)
When a horticulturalist-astronaut crashes onto a desolate planet, he encounters an ethereal visitor and discovers the joy of building a new life—realizing the universe has delivered something astonishing.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & science fiction
Worth the HypeMovies like thisBURN·E (2008)
What lengths will a robot undergo to do his job? BURN·E is a dedicated hard working robot who finds himself locked out of his ship. BURN·E quickly learns that completing a simple task can often be a very difficult endeavor.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & science fiction
Worth the HypeMovies like thisSpider-Ham: Caught in a Ham (2019)
Spider-Ham faces off against bad guys, chows down on hot dogs, and makes plenty of food-based puns.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & science fiction
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisDC Showcase: Blue Beetle (2021)
SUFFERIN' SCARABS! Silver Age Blue Beetle is back! Thrill to the adventures of Ted Kord, alias the Blue Beetle, as he teams up with fellow Charlton Comics heroes Captain Atom, The Questions and Nightshade to battle the nefarious finagler of feelings, Doctor Spectro!
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & science fiction
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe Congress (2013)
An aging, out-of-work actress accepts one last job, though the consequences of her decision affect her in ways she didn't consider.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both science fiction & animation
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisPigeon: Impossible (2009)
The tale of Walter, a rookie secret agent faced with a problem seldom covered in basic training: what to do when a curious pigeon gets trapped inside your multi-million dollar, government-issued nuclear briefcase.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore (2012)
After a hurricane levels his city, a young man wanders into a mysterious library where books literally come to life. This film won the Oscar for Best Animated Short Film in 2012.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation
Worth the HypeMovies like thisGhost Recon: Alpha (2012)
Ghost Recon: Alpha sees a team led by Ghost Leader infiltrate a trade at a Russian depot between a general and a mysterious other figure.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both science fiction
Worth the HypeMovies like thisArctic Dogs (2019)
Animals band together to save the day when the evil Otto Von Walrus hatches a sinister scheme to accelerate global warming and melt the Arctic Circle.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation
SnoozefestMovies like thisDC Showcase: The Phantom Stranger (2020)
Jess joins her friends at a party in a dilapidated mansion hosted by the mysterious Seth. When odd things begin to happen to Jess and her friends, the Phantom Stranger intervenes to save her from a dreary fate.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisChips Ahoy (1956)
Chip and Dale are starving in their tree home when they notice a plentiful supply of acorns on an island in a lake. To get to the island, they borrow a miniature model ship of Donald's to sail on. The irate Donald, however, doesn't appreciate them stealing his ship and makes several attempts to get it back and thwart their scheme to get to their acorn paradise. Chip and Dale are, of course, always one step ahead of Donald.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisA Grand Day Out (1990)
Wallace and Gromit have run out of cheese, and this provides an excellent excuse for the duo to take their holiday to the moon, where, as everyone knows, there is ample cheese.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both animation & science fiction
Worth the HypeMovies like thisLuxna (2016)
A man named Tom, who as a young boy, was passionate about astronomy and always dreaming about outer space.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both science fiction & animation
Batman Beyond (2014)
This short celebrating 75 years of Batman from artist Darwyn Cooke returns fans to the world of Batman Beyond as Terry McGinnis' futuristic Dark Knight faces his most formidable foe of all - himself.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both animation & science fiction
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisReturn (2008)
Polish animator Anna Błaszczyk’s humorous short—a collage of drawing, cut-out, and computer animation—was inspired by Stanisław Lem’s 1961 novel Return from the Stars, a time-paradox tale of an astronaut who returns to Earth after many years away.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both animation & science fiction
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe Wrong Trousers (1993)
Wallace rents out Gromit's former bedroom to a penguin, who takes up an interest in the techno trousers created by Wallace. However, Gromit later learns that the penguin is a wanted criminal.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both animation
Worth the HypeMovies like thisA Close Shave (1996)
Wallace's whirlwind romance with the proprietor of the local wool shop puts his head in a spin, and Gromit is framed for sheep-rustling in a fiendish criminal plot.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both animation
Worth the HypeMovies like thisMotor Tour (1982)
Animated hijinks of a man whose car just will not start, no matter what he does.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both animation
Stick and Stone (2017)
When Stick rescues Stone from a prickly situation with a Pinecone, the pair becomes fast friends. But when Stick gets stuck, can Stone return the favor? With a subtle anti-bullying message even the young will understand, Stick and Stone have energy, emotion, and personality to spare and share a story of kindness and friendship that all will enjoy.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both animation
Ordeal of Evil (2026)
In a university controlled by a totalitarian regime, Lucas gradually becomes aware of the oppressive world around him. Guided by Elena, he discovers an underground network that is trying to save books by digitizing and distributing them.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both science fiction
The Forger (2017)
Adolfo Kaminsky started saving lives when chance and necessity made him a master forger. As a teenager, he became a member of the French Resistance and used his talent to save the lives of thousands of Jews. The Forger is a well-crafted origin story of a real-life superhero.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both animation
Like Contact and something else?
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Frequently asked questions
What are the best movies like Contact?
The closest matches to Contact are No Time for Nuts (2006), Final Flight of the Osiris (2003) and Mooned (2023). Below are 27 more, each with the reason it matches.
What should I watch after Contact?
Start with No Time for Nuts (2006), the closest match to Contact.
What is the highest-rated movie like Contact?
The Wrong Trousers (1993), rated 7.8/10 by 1,225 TMDB users.
What is the newest movie like Contact?
Ordeal of Evil (2026) is the most recent release on this list.
Are there English movies like Contact?
Yes: No Time for Nuts (2006), Final Flight of the Osiris (2003) and Mooned (2023).
How are movies similar to Contact chosen?
First come films that Trakt’s viewers watch alongside Contact, then TMDB’s recommendations and films it rates as similar in story and genre. Each pick says which signal put it there.