There’s something about space that just makes horror hit differently. Maybe it’s the isolation, or the fact that if something goes wrong, you’re completely on your own. No help, no backup, just you and whatever’s out there. When you think about it, it’s really the perfect setting for a horror story.
These space horror movies feature haunted ships, alien creatures, and missions that go off the rails in the worst way. Some are classics, some are hidden gems, but they all bring the kind of tension that only deep space can deliver.
Here are some of the best horror movies set in space. Let me know if your favorite made the list, or if I missed one you love! And if you enjoy space horror movies, then you might also enjoy these sci-fi and dystopian horror movie lists:
- The Best Time-Loop Horror & Thriller Movies That Will Make Your Head Spin
- 9 Shocking Dystopian Horror Movies You Need to See
1. Alien (1979)
Alien is arguably the best space horror movie ever made, and probably inspired every other movie in this list. Directed by Ridley Scott and starring Sigourney Weaver, Alien follows the crew of the Nostromo as they investigate a distress signal and accidentally bring a deadly alien onboard. What starts as a routine mission quickly turns into a terrifying fight for survival in deep space. This one’s a must-watch if you’re into slow-building tension and creature horror.
2. Aliens (1986)
James Cameron cranks up the intensity in this action-packed sequel. Ripley returns, this time alongside a team of space marines, to check out a colony that’s gone silent. The Xenomorphs are back, and there are a lot more of them. It’s thrilling, scary, and one of the best sequels out there.
3. Alien: Romulus (2024)
Directed by Fede Álvarez, the latest entry in the Alien series takes place between the original two films. It follows a group of young people on a remote space station who come face to face with the Xenomorphs for the first time.
4. Event Horizon (1997)
A rescue crew boards a ship that disappeared years ago that has just randomly reappeared. Directed by Paul W.S. Anderson and starring Sam Neill and Laurence Fishburne, this movie blends sci-fi and supernatural horror in a really disturbing way.
5. Pandorum (2009)
Two astronauts wake up on a massive ship with no memory of who they are or what their mission was. As they explore, they realize the ship isn’t empty, and something is hunting them. Directed by Christian Alvart and starring Ben Foster and Dennis Quaid, this one’s dark, claustrophobic, and full of creepy twists.
10. Pitch Black (2000)
Vin Diesel stars as Riddick, a convict who ends up being the unlikely hero after a spaceship crash-lands on a planet where deadly creatures only come out in the dark, and an eclipse is coming. It’s part creature feature, part survival horror, and a solid space scare.
6. Life (2017)
Jake Gyllenhaal, Ryan Reynolds, and Rebecca Ferguson star in this tense sci-fi horror about a team aboard the International Space Station that discovers a life form from Mars. It starts off amazing, then grows fast and becomes terrifying. Think Alien, but more modern and just as intense.
8. Europa Report (2013)
Told through found footage, this film follows a crew on a mission to explore one of Jupiter’s moons. They’re looking for signs of life but discover more than they bargained for. It’s slow-burning, grounded in science, and really unsettling by the end.
9. Apollo 18 (2011)
This found-footage horror imagines a secret NASA mission to the moon that never made it into the history books. The astronauts land, explore, and realize they’re not alone. It’s low-budget and not the best, but has some pretty creepy moments if you like found footage-style horror.
7. The Cloverfield Paradox (2018)
A group of scientists aboard a space station tests an experimental energy source, only to accidentally open a door to another dimension. Things get weird fast. Directed by Julius Onah, this entry in the Cloverfield series mixes sci-fi, horror, and mind-bending reality shifts.
12. Supernova (2000)
A deep space rescue team answers a distress call and ends up dealing with a mysterious alien artifact that causes all kinds of trouble. It had a messy production, but it still delivers some solid sci-fi horror vibes and cool visuals.
14. Galaxy of Terror (1981)
A rescue team lands on a strange planet and starts getting attacked by things pulled from their own minds. It’s weird, gory, and full of practical effects. Produced by Roger Corman, this one has major cult status and early James Cameron involvement.
15. The Last Days on Mars (2013)
A research team on Mars finds signs of life, which quickly turn into a serious threat. Crew members get infected and start turning into violent, zombie-like creatures. It’s got cool visuals and a creepy, slow-building sense of dread.
