Movies like The Lightning-Scarred Planet Mars (2011)
The best movies like The Lightning-Scarred Planet Mars (2011) are Good Night Oppy (2022), MARS: Inside SpaceX (2018) and Star Wars: The Legacy Revealed (2007). If The Lightning-Scarred Planet Mars hooked you with its documentary, these 30 similar films are what to watch next, and every pick says why it matches.
Quick picks
- Highest ratedLo and Behold: Reveries of the Connected World (2016)6.6/10 from 340 votes
- NewestA Toxic Love Story (2026)Released 2026
Good Night Oppy (2022)
The inspirational true story of Opportunity, a rover that was sent to Mars for a 90-day mission but ended up surviving for 15 years. Follow Opportunity’s groundbreaking journey on Mars and the remarkable bond forged between a robot and her humans millions of miles away.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Worth the HypeMovies like thisMARS: Inside SpaceX (2018)
The inside story of SpaceX's plan to get humanity to Mars, providing an unprecedented glimpse into one of the world's most revolutionary companies. A behind-the-scenes journey with Elon Musk and his engineers as they persevere amidst both disheartening setbacks and huge triumphs to advance the space industry faster than we ever thought possible.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Worth the HypeMovies like thisStar Wars: The Legacy Revealed (2007)
The special focuses on how Star Wars is relevant today and the history that inspired it, and also makes various connections to Greek mythology. It consists of several interviews with well-known politicians, journalists, and critics, along with historical content and clips from all six of the Star Wars movies.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Worth the HypeMovies like thisAbove Majestic (2018)
A look at the origins, history and conspiracies behind the "Majestic 12", a clandestine group of military and corporate figureheads charged with reverse-engineering extraterrestrial technology.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Worth the HypeMovies like thisWhat We Left Behind: Looking Back at Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (2018)
A documentary exploring the legacy of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, the reasons it went from the black sheep of Star Trek to a beloved mainstay of the franchise, and a brainstorm with the original writers on what a theoretical eighth season of the show could look like.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Worth the HypeMovies like thisThe Mars Generation (2017)
Aspiring teenage astronauts reveal that a journey to Mars is closer than you think.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe Captains (2011)
The Captains is a feature-length documentary film written and directed by William Shatner. The film follows Shatner as he interviews the other actors who have portrayed starship captains in the Star Trek franchise.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisElstree 1976 (2015)
A documentary about ten very different lives connected by having appeared onscreen wearing masks or helmets in Star Wars.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisIn the Realms of the Unreal (2004)
In the Realms of the Unreal is a documentary about the reclusive Chicago-based artist Henry Darger. Henry Darger was so reclusive that when he died his neighbors were surprised to find a 15,145-page manuscript along with hundreds of paintings depicting The Story of the Vivian Girls, in What is Known as the Realms of the Unreal, of the Glodeco-Angelinnian War Storm, Cased by the Child Slave Rebellion.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Worth the HypeMovies like thisSecrets of the Force Awakens: A Cinematic Journey (2016)
An inside look at the making of the movie Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015), featuring footage and exclusive interviews with the actors and filmmakers.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Worth the HypeMovies like thisMarvel Studios Assembled: The Making of Hawkeye (2022)
Join the likes of Jeremy Renner, Hailee Steinfeld, Florence Pugh, and Vincent D’Onofrio as they reveal how Marvel Studios’ “Hawkeye” was conceived and created. Witness firsthand what it took to pull off the show’s pulse-pounding action set pieces, and discover how iconic characters from the pages of Marvel Comics such as Kate Bishop were adapted and brought to life for the six-episode series.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Worth the HypeMovies like thisNational Geographic: Journey to the Edge of the Universe (2008)
In one single, epic camera move we journey from Earth's surface to the outermost reaches of the universe on a grand tour of the cosmos, to explore newborn stars, distant planets, black holes and beyond.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Worth the HypeMovies like thisLo and Behold: Reveries of the Connected World (2016)
Werner Herzog's exploration of the Internet and the connected world.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe Skywalker Legacy (2020)
The story lives forever in this feature-length documentary that charts the making of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Absolute CinemaMovies like thisChaos on the Bridge (2014)
Canadian acting legend William Shatner takes viewers inside the creation of Star Trek: The Next Generation, the bold attempt in 1986 to recreate the success of the original television series, in which Shatner played Captain James T. Kirk.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisA Toxic Love Story (2026)
A string of threatening emails escalates into a revenge plot involving a newly married US marshal and his ex-girlfriend.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisSouth of the Border (2009)
A road trip across five countries to explore the social and political movements as well as the mainstream media's misperception of South America while interviewing seven of its elected presidents.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisSherman's March (1986)
Documentarian Ross McElwee originally set out to make a travelogue of sorts tracing General William T. Sherman's infamous scorched-earth march through the Confederacy in the latter stages of the Civil War. Instead, haunted by a recent breakup with a girlfriend, McElwee ends up documenting his progress -- or lack thereof -- in starting a new relationship. His journey then becomes one of self-reflection and self-discovery rather than a historical/sociological exploration.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisAvatar: The Deep Dive - A Special Edition of 20/20 (2022)
An inside look at one of the most anticipated movie sequels ever with James Cameron and cast.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Worth the HypeMovies like thisHouston, We Have a Problem! (2016)
The cold war, the space race, and NASA’s moon landing are landmark events that defined an era. But they are also fodder for conspiracy theories. In Houston, We Have a Problem! filmmaker Žiga Virc adds new material to the discussion on both fronts. This intriguing docu-fiction explores the myth of the secret multi-billion-dollar deal behind America’s purchase of Yugoslavia’s clandestine space program in the early 1960s.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Worth the HypeMovies like thisUltimate Mars Challenge (2012)
With access to the scientists and engineers responsible for the Curiosity rover's on-the-ground experiments, NOVA captures its landing on Mars
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary
detours while speaking of monsters (2024)
Here, where even monsters are political, the topography has its own memory. It has the mythological blues. Meanwhile, old gods are upset with us, and I am upset with my father.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary
Mythos: Drachen - Die größten Rätsel der Geschichte (2023)
The great myths of mankind have captivated us for thousands of years. Inexplicable phenomena, places shrouded in legend and superhuman heroes puzzle us and fire our imagination. But what if the legends are more than pure fiction? Scholars have been sketching dragons since ancient times, and the belief in their existence extends into modern times. Whether with wings or breathing fire, as creator or destroyer - the dragon is one of the oldest myths of mankind.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary
Exomars: The Hunt for Life (2016)
Did Mars ever have life on it? To answer this question, Europe and Russia have launched a unique and ambitious 2-stage project: ExoMars 2016-2018. This documentary is a thrilling look behind the scenes of a magnificent human and scientific adventure. We will uncover the most fascinating aspects of this mission and the search for signs of life on Mars.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary
maɬni—towards the ocean, towards the shore (2020)
An experimental look at the origin of the death myth of the Chinookan people in the Pacific Northwest, following two people as they navigate their own relationships to the spirit world and a place in between life and death.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary
Space: The Longest Goodbye (2024)
Social isolation affects millions of people, even Mars-bound astronauts. A savvy NASA psychologist is tasked with protecting these daring explorers.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary
The Mythology of Star Wars (1999)
George Lucas discusses how Joseph Campbell and his concept of the Monomyth (aka the Hero's Journey) and other concepts from mythology and religion shaped the Star Wars saga.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary
Roving Mars (2006)
Join the Mars rovers Spirit and Opportunity for an awe-inspiring journey to the surface of the mysterious red planet.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary
Thomas Pesquet : Objectif Mars (2018)
French astronaut Thomas Pesquet recently returned from his expedition to the ISS space station - a veritable laboratory of the future where researchers from all over the world work together. During scientific experiments in space, he investigated how long-term missions, such as to Mars, could become possible.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary
The Mystery of the Sphinx (1993)
Hosted by Charlton Heston, it explores the possibility that the Sphinx maybe older than expected. John Anthony West examines that water erosion on the Sphinx can pre-date it to 10,000 years old?. Other mysteries such as how they moved 200 ton stone blocks to build the pyramids, the secret chambers under the Sphinx and the links to the pyramids that are suggested on Mars.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary
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Frequently asked questions
What are the best movies like The Lightning-Scarred Planet Mars?
The closest matches to The Lightning-Scarred Planet Mars are Good Night Oppy (2022), MARS: Inside SpaceX (2018) and Star Wars: The Legacy Revealed (2007). Below are 27 more, each with the reason it matches.
What should I watch after The Lightning-Scarred Planet Mars?
Start with Good Night Oppy (2022), the closest match to The Lightning-Scarred Planet Mars.
What is the highest-rated movie like The Lightning-Scarred Planet Mars?
Lo and Behold: Reveries of the Connected World (2016), rated 6.6/10 by 340 TMDB users.
What is the newest movie like The Lightning-Scarred Planet Mars?
A Toxic Love Story (2026) is the most recent release on this list.
Are there English movies like The Lightning-Scarred Planet Mars?
Yes: Good Night Oppy (2022), MARS: Inside SpaceX (2018) and Star Wars: The Legacy Revealed (2007).
How are movies similar to The Lightning-Scarred Planet Mars chosen?
First come films that Trakt’s viewers watch alongside The Lightning-Scarred Planet Mars, then TMDB’s recommendations and films it rates as similar in story and genre. Each pick says which signal put it there.