Eight-to-twelve is a fascinating window. Kids this age are starting to ask real questions — about the universe, about what's out there, about whether any of this matters. Animated space adventures are great, but there's something different about watching actual humans (or mostly humans) navigate the cosmos. The stakes feel higher. The science feels more real. And the emotional payoff tends to land harder.

According to Screenwise community data, 92% of families in our network have at least one TV in regular use, and kids in this age range are averaging about 4.2 hours of screen time daily — so what they're watching genuinely matters. Live-action space films are one of those rare categories where screen time can actually spark curiosity about physics, astronomy, and problem-solving rather than just... vibes.

Let's break it down by what your kid is actually ready for.

This one is criminally underrated and I will die on this hill. Made by Jon Favreau in 2005, it's basically Jumanji but in space — two brothers find a board game that launches their house into the cosmos, and chaos ensues. It's got genuine tension, real sibling dynamics, and a story that actually respects kids' intelligence. Rated PG, totally appropriate for the younger end of this range, and it holds up way better than you'd expect for a 20-year-old movie. If your kid hasn't seen this, fix that this weekend.

This 1999 film about a coal miner's son who becomes obsessed with rocketry after Sputnik launches is one of the best "kid discovers a passion" movies ever made. Jake Gyllenhaal plays Homer Hickam as a teenager, and the whole film is basically a love letter to curiosity and persistence. Rated PG, and the themes around following your dreams against your parents' expectations hit hard for this age group in the best way. Bonus: it's based on a true story, which opens up great conversations. Learn more about using October Sky as a STEM conversation starter.

Rated PG and genuinely one of the best films of the 2010s, full stop. The story of Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson — the Black women mathematicians who were essential to NASA's early space program — is thrilling, emotional, and important. Kids 9 and up will follow the story easily, and the math-as-superpower framing is genuinely inspiring. This is the rare movie where you don't have to do any parental prep work — just watch it together and let it do its thing.

Okay, here's the honest truth: The Martian is rated PG-13, and it earns that rating mostly through language (Matt Damon drops some words). The violence is minimal, the themes are completely appropriate, and the core message — science your way out of problems — is basically perfect for curious 10–12 year olds. A lot of families watch this together around age 10-11 with a quick heads-up about the language, and it's totally fine. The book by Andy Weir is also excellent if you have a strong reader. If you want a deeper breakdown, ask our chatbot about age-appropriate PG-13 movies for tweens.

Rated PG, and this Ron Howard classic from 1995 is still one of the most gripping survival stories ever put on film. Tom Hanks, Kevin Bacon, Bill Paxton, and a whole NASA ground crew trying to bring three astronauts home alive. The tension is real, the stakes are real, and the science is (mostly) real. Some kids find it slow to start, but once the crisis hits, it's edge-of-your-seat stuff. Great for kids who are into history or engineering.

The Ryan Gosling adaptation of Andy Weir's incredible novel is finally happening, with a 2025 release. The story — a lone astronaut wakes up with no memory, millions of miles from Earth, and has to figure out how to save humanity — is one of the best science fiction plots in years. The book skews toward adult readers but the film is expected to land around PG-13. If your 11 or 12 year old is a strong reader, the book is absolutely worth tackling first. Explore our guide to Project Hail Mary for kids and families.

Lost in Space (the 1998 movie) — not the Netflix show, which is actually decent — is just kind of a mess. It's not offensive, it's just not good, and there are so many better options. The Lost in Space Netflix series is worth a look if your kid wants more episodic space adventure content, though.

Moonfall — this is a hard no. It's not inappropriate, it's just genuinely terrible filmmaking, and your kid deserves better. The moon is hollow and full of nanobots or something. Pass.

One of the best things about this genre is how naturally it leads to real conversations. Some prompts worth having:

If your kid is getting deep into space content, it might also be worth exploring space science podcasts for kids, books about space exploration for middle schoolers, or even educational space games and apps — there's a whole ecosystem here beyond movies.

A quick note on streaming availability: about 40% of families in the Screenwise community use Netflix regularly with their kids, and 50% use Disney+ for family co-watching — but most of these films are scattered across platforms and may require renting. Apollo 13, Hidden Figures, and Zathura rotate around fairly regularly. October Sky is often free on Prime (about 30% of families in our community use Amazon Prime without supervision restrictions, so worth double-checking your settings). Check your streaming setup for age-appropriate access.

Also worth noting: the PG-13 films on this list (The Martian, Interstellar, First Man) are all on the milder end of PG-13. None of them are PG-13 for violence or sexual content — it's mostly language and emotional intensity. You know your kid.

Q: What is the best space movie for an 8-year-old?

Zathura is the clear answer for younger kids in this range — it's PG, genuinely exciting, and doesn't require any parental prep. October Sky and Hidden Figures are also great for kids on the more mature end of 8.

Q: Is The Martian okay for a 10-year-old?

Mostly yes — the science is fantastic, the story is gripping, and the themes are completely age-appropriate. The main issue is language (some strong words). Many families watch it together around 10–11 with a quick heads-up. It's rated PG-13 but it's one of the milder ones.

Q: Are there any live-action space movies based on true stories for kids?

Yes, and these are some of the best ones. Hidden Figures, Apollo 13, October Sky, and First Man are all based on real events and real people. Hidden Figures and Apollo 13 are the most accessible for this age range.

Q: Is Interstellar appropriate for a 12-year-old?

For a mature 12-year-old, probably yes — but go in knowing it's emotionally heavy and deals with themes of abandonment and loss in a way that might hit hard. It's not scary or violent, it's just a lot. Watch it together if you can. Ask our chatbot about Interstellar for tweens.

Q: What's a good space movie for a kid who loves science?

The Martian is probably the most science-forward film on this list — it's basically a love letter to problem-solving and the scientific method. Hidden Figures is a close second, especially for kids interested in math. October Sky is perfect for kids who like building and engineering.

The live-action space genre for this age group is genuinely rich, and most parents are sleeping on half of it. Start with Zathura if you haven't, graduate to Hidden Figures and Apollo 13, and save The Martian for when they're ready. The best of these films don't just entertain — they make kids feel like the universe is something they could actually participate in. That's a pretty good return on a Friday night.

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