By Philip Etemesi
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Summary
- Rebel Moon, directed by Zack Snyder, has been well-received by fans and is creating buzz.
- Movies like Rebel Moon share themes of major conflicts between oppressors and rebels, set in space or on Earth.
- Enemy Mine, Prospect, The War in Space, Ender's Game, Outland, Jupiter Ascending, Buck Rogers, and Seven Samurai are similar movies to check out.
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After struggling to craft the best stories for DC characters like Superman and Batman, Zack Snyder appears to have found comfort at Netflix. His last two movies for the streaming service have been received well by fans, with the latest one, Rebel Moon – Part One: A Child of Fire, creating an even bigger buzz. Starring Charlie Hunnam, Sofia Boutella, Djimon Hounsou, Anthony Hopkins, and Ray Fisher, the film follows a group of warriors as they try to stop an oppressive intergalactic regime from oppressing the residents of the fictional moon of Veldt.
Those who’ve already watched the space opera film might be itching to check out something similar. Luckily, there is plenty on offer. Movies that share DNA with the Zack Snyder flick are those set in space and revolve around a major conflict between oppressors and rebels, or protectors. A few others are set on Earth, and don’t necessarily fall under the science fiction genre, but still use the same themes and narrative structures as the recent Netflix release.
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Here are 15 movies like Rebel Moon to check out next.
Rebel Moon
- Release Date
- December 22, 2023
- Director
- Zack Snyder
- Cast
- Sofia Boutella , Charlie Hunnam , Stuart Martin , Michiel Huisman , Anthony Hopkins , Cary Elwes , Corey Stoll , Djimon Hounsou
- Main Genre
- Sci-Fi
15 Enemy Mine (1985)
Based on Barry B. Longyear's 1979 novella of the same name, Enemy Mine centers around the spaceship pilot, Davidge, and Shigan, a warrior from an alien group known as Dracs, who both become stranded on another planet during the war between intergalactic species. Facing a hostile environment and deadly creatures, they are forced to put their differences aside and team up to survive.
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How It's Like Rebel Moon
Like Rebel Moon, the conflict in Enemy Moon stems from one party trying to bully the other. Early in the movie, it’s revealed that humans are the oppressors. They raid planets, hunting for Dracs to keep them as slaves. Additionally, the ‘80s space opera film has a protagonist who is burning with the desire to protect others against enemies who have a major advantage when it comes to tactics and resources. Even after Shigan dies, Davidge vows to protect the self-reproducing alien’s child from human hunters. Rent on AppleTV
14 Prospect (2018)
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Prospect, is undoubtedly one of the most underrated sci-fi movies of the 2010s. In it, space explorer Cee (Sophie Thatcher) and her father, Damon (Jay Duplass), head to an unnamed moon in search of gems that are rumored to be worth billions of dollars. Many challenges pop up along the way, with the major one coming in the form of another miner, Ezra (Pedro Pascal), who is also seeking to extract minerals from the moon. At some point, the hostile locals also show up, making the entire mission a lot harder.
How It's Like Rebel Moon
Though there are no sadistic villains in Prospect, the movie shares a couple of plot similarities with Rebel Moon. In the Zack Snyder film, there is a party looking to take all the grain from the locals (yet they barely have enough), while in the Zeek Earl film, greedy minders want to take all the minerals from a region that is already suffering from shortages. Both films are also set on moons, making them cinematic cousins. Stream on Peacock
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13 The War in Space (1977)
The space craze that emerged in the late-70s wasn’t restricted to Hollywood only. The Japanese film industry jumped on it, too, and one of the first movies to come out was The War in Space. Falling under the Tokasatsu subgenre (Japanese sci-fi productions that make heavy use of special effects), the film centers around an attack on Earth by an alien race based on Venus.
How It's Like Rebel Moon
Judging by its first act, The War in Space might look like any other space movie, but in the second act, its similarities with Rebel Moon become evident. The aliens reveal that their planet has died, so they intend to take over Earth. Like the villains of the Snyder film, they ignore the fact that the resources they are seeking are already being used by others (who have no intention of handing them over). In addition to that, the two sci-fi flicks dedicate a lot of time to the preparation of defense against an impending attack by enemies. Rent on Prime Video
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12 Ender’s Game (2013)
Based on Orson Scott Card's 1985 book of the same name, Ender’s Game follows the protégé Andrew "Ender" Wiggin (Asa Butterfield) as he undergoes training in an advanced military academy in outer space as preparation for a future invasion by the Formic alien race. Though not necessarily one of the best science fiction war films, the Gavin Hood production has strong performances, thanks to a talented cast that includes Harrison Ford, Viola Davis, and Ben Kingsley.
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How It's Like Rebel Moon
Both Rebel Moon and Ender’s Game have empathetic protagonists, and in both films, morality is a recurring theme. In the former, Kora chooses to recruit warriors after learning that the Imperium is more evil than people think. Ender, on the other hand, defects to the Formic side, after learning that he and his fellow soldiers were manipulated into conducting a genocide by their superiors. Besides that, audiences are forced to endure unsatisfactory endings where none of the primary antagonists pay for their actions. Thankfully, fans of Rebel Moon have little to worry about, since a sequel has been confirmed. Stream on Peacock
Related: Rebel Moon - Part One: A Child of Fire Review | A Stale Retread of Blockbuster Material
11 Outland (1981)
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Outland happens to be one of the Hollywood remakes that aren’t the same genre as the original, but the switch wasn’t necessarily a bad thing for it. Based on the critically acclaimed western, High Noon, the film follows Federal Marshal William O'Niel (Sean Connery) as he oversees a titanium mining operation on Jupiter’s third-largest moon, Io. Soon, he discovers that the boastful general manager is using powerful drugs to boost employee productivity.
How It's Like Rebel Moon
O’Neil is no different from Kora. He is willing to do everything in his power to end despotism, so he goes out of his way to ensure his boss is stopped. The only difference is that he adopts a one-man-army approach instead of recruiting a team of fighters. The two movies share multiple thematic similarities too, with the major one being capitalism and its effects. The superiors don’t care who gets hurt. All they want is to have the best goods and services for themselves. Rent on AppleTV
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10 Jupiter Ascending (2015)
Jupiter Ascending
PG-13
- Release Date
- February 6, 2015
- Director
- Lana Wachowski , Lilly Wachowski
- Cast
- Eddie Redmayne , Sean Bean , Mila Kunis , Channing Tatum
- Runtime
- 127 Minutes
- Main Genre
- Action
Jupiter Ascending is considered the worst movie directed by the Wachowskis, but it still qualifies as guilty pleasure viewing. In it, Jupiter Jones (Mila Kunis), who cleans homes for wealthy people for a living, teams up with intergalactic hunter Caine (Channing Tatum), to reclaim her inheritance after she is informed that she is genetically related to a galactic matriarch who happens to be Earth’s rightful owner.
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How It's Like Rebel Moon
The theme of women empowerment shines brightly in Rebel Moon and Jupiter Ascending. Not only are the main characters of both movies women, but they are also being hunted by nefarious figures who are aware of their potential and hope to capture them to prevent them from achieving their dreams. Jupiter’s enemies don’t want her to become the Earth’s owner, while Kora’s owners are hoping to capture her because she was once an imperial soldier who switched over to the good side. Stream on Tubi
9 Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (1975)
Events in Buck Rogers in the 25th Century begin in 1987, when Captain William "Buck" Rogers finds himself in a state of suspended animation while on a space mission. He gets reawakened 500 years later by a space ruler from the Draconian race, who tricks him into returning to Earth after planting a tracker on his ship. She does this to find a way through Earth’s defense systems so that she and her fellow aliens can attack.
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How It's Like Rebel Moon
Loyalty, and the factors that drive it, is one of the topics that are keenly addressed in each of the sci-fi films. Kora chooses to side with the villagers instead of her former employers because her heart is pure. In Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, the Draconian ruler, Princess Ardala, eventually chooses to side with Buck because she has feelings for him. Ultimately, the loyalty-inspired choices determine the trajectory that the conflicts take in the respective films. Rent on Prime Video
8 Seven Samurai (1954)
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Akira Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai is set in 1586 during the Sengoku period (an era characterized by endless civil unrest). In it, crop farmers in a small village hire a group of rōnin (masterless samurai) to deal with bandits who have made plans to raid after the harvest and take all the crops. At the time of its release, it was the most expensive Japanese film ever made.
How It's Like Rebel Moon
Rebel Moon has been described as an unofficial Seven Samurai remake, and Snyder himself has openly admitted that the film was the main inspiration for his work (per IndieWire). Narratively, the movies are identical as they feature villains seeking to take grain from villagers who have worked hard for it. Additionally, both stories introduce audiences to a group of secondary protagonists who assemble to deal with the oppressors. Cinephiles who hate space operas are, therefore, more likely to enjoy the Kurosawa project than the Snyder project. Stream on Max
7 Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (2017)
Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets
PG-13
- Release Date
- July 20, 2017
- Director
- Luc Besson
- Cast
- Cara Delevingne , Ethan Hawke , Clive Owen , Dane DeHaan , Rihanna , John Goodman
- Runtime
- 129
- Main Genre
- Sci-Fi
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Based on the French sci-fi comic series Valérian and Laureline, Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets follows special operatives Valerian (Dane DeHaan) and Laureline (Cara Delevigne) as they enforce law and order in the diverse city of Alpha during the 28th Century. Soon, a sinister figure emerges, looking to create havoc in the peaceful city, forcing the officers into action.
How It's Like Rebel Moon
In the futuristic worlds of both movies, time travel is normal, so intergalactic travel is fairly easy. However, the CGI and production design are the most commendable things in each of the projects. Like every other Snyder flick, Rebel Moon is visually pleasing and so is Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets. Besides that, the importance of unity is highly emphasized. Before the chaos, Alpha is shown to be a multicultural city where infrastructural development happens quickly because everyone gets along. Stream on Prime Video
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6 Babylon 5: In the Beginning (1998)
Babylon 5: In the Beginning is a television movie that serves as a prequel to the Babylon 5 television show. Events occur in the 2200s, when humans embark on a colonization mission across the galaxy. They conquer many planets, before meeting their match in the form of the Minbari race. The aliens overpower humans before backing out at the last minute for reasons that remain a mystery for a decade.
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How It's Like Rebel Moon
Apart from taking audiences on wild journeys across the galaxy, Babylon 5: In the Beginning serves the same kind of greed-inspired conflict that is witnessed in Rebel Moon. Not content with what they have, humans feel the need to take what doesn’t belong to them. It goes well in the beginning, but as is always the case, someone eventually stands up against oppression. The action sequences are wonderful, too, making the film a treat for both science fiction buffs and movie lovers in general. Not Currently Available to Stream or Purchase
Related: 9 Things You Missed in Rebel Moon
5 Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977)
Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope
PG
- Release Date
- May 25, 1977
- Director
- George Lucas
- Cast
- Mark Hamill , Harrison Ford , Carrie Fisher , Alec Guinness , David Prowse , James Earl Jones , Frank Oz , Anthony Daniels , Kenny Baker , Peter Mayhew , Peter Cushing
- Runtime
- 121 Minutes
- Main Genre
- Sci-Fi
Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope is the first-ever film to be released under the popular franchise, though it’s fourth in the chronological order of events. In it, the villainous Imperial Forces led by the sadistic Darth Vader kidnap Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher), hoping the move will put a halt to the revolt against the totalitarian Galactic Empire. The movie spurs the protagonists Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) and Han Solo (Harrison Ford) into action, with the two not only eager to rescue Leia, but to also bring much-needed freedom to the galaxy.
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How It's Like Rebel Moon
Most Star Wars movies revolve around conflicts between the Galactic Empire and The Rebellion, but the first installment of the franchise resembles Rebel Moon the most because it has a woman protagonist who is supposed to be allied to the villains, but is leading a rebel movement instead. At the start of the movie, Princess Leia is revealed to be an Imperial Senator. From the outside, she appears loyal, yet she is so deep in the opposition faction that she steals crucial schematics herself. Stream on Disney+
4 Destination Moonbase Alpha (1978)
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The chaos in Destination Moonbase Alpha begins when an atomic explosion causes the Moon to fall out of Earth’s orbit. Colonists on the moon get stranded, and when they see a rescue ship from Earth, they become overjoyed. However, the moon base leader, whose brain is advanced because of a concussion, realizes that the visitors aren’t humans, but aliens masquerading as rescues. The aliens, who feed on radiation, intend to manipulate the astronauts to cause a nuclear explosion on the moon’s surface.
How It's Like Rebel Moon
Destination Moonbase Alpha’s setting makes it similar to Rebel Moon. The movie also shares narrative DNA, in that, in both cases, unwanted visitors are looking for nourishment, and they intend to take it by force. In both circumstances, it also takes one person to notice what’s wrong and take the necessary action. On top of that, this particular film is tense, with audiences not only left wondering whether the base members will ever go back to Earth, but also whether they will be able to deal with the aliens. Stream on YouTube
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3 Flash Gordon (1980)
Based on the similarly titled King Features comic strip, Flash Gordon follows star football quarterback Flash Gordon (Sam J. Jones) and his friends, Dale Arden and Hans Zarkov, as they bring together the enemy factions of Planet Mongo so that they can rise against the tyrannical ruler, Ming the Merciless. Flash and his allies decide to act because Ming not only makes his people miserable but is also keen on destroying Earth by causing natural disasters.
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How It's Like Rebel Moon
Like the comics, Flash Gordon is packed with gripping action sequences and lots of memorable confrontations. Fans of Rebel Moon will love it because its protagonist is a great team player, like Kora. He opens other peoples’ eyes, enabling them to see their potential and motivating them to stand up for themselves. He isn’t overpowered either, so his plight comes off as realistic compared to that of many other heroes in space operas. Besides, the ‘80s sci-fi flick has a strong and mean villain who never hesitates to cause suffering to those beneath him. Rent on Prime Video
2 The Last Starfighter (1984)
The Last Starfighter
PG
- Release Date
- July 13, 1984
- Director
- Nick Castle
- Cast
- Lance Guest , Dan O'Herlihy , Catherine Mary Stewart , Barbara Bosson , Norman Snow , Robert Preston
- Runtime
- 101
- Main Genre
- Action
The Last Starfighter covers the misadventures of teenager Alex Rogan (Lance Guest), who happens to be a skilled gamer. After meeting the designer of his favorite video game, he is informed that he has been selected to fight a battle in space because of his skills. However, he struggles to apply his screen skills to real life, and because the world's fate is at stake, he grows more and more frustrated.
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How It's Like Rebel Moon
The video game creator, Centauri, has the same ideology as Kora. He aims to recruit as many skilled people as possible to ensure the galactic baddies are defeated. And he doesn’t just sit on the sidelines. He puts his life on the line several times, earning the respect of those he approaches. In general, audiences are likely to enjoy the aerial dogfight scenes. All of them are neatly done. They also go on for several minutes, leaving fans both satisfied and awed. Rent on AppleTV
1 Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
Guardians of the Galaxy
PG-13
- Release Date
- July 30, 2014
- Director
- James Gunn
- Cast
- Chris Pratt2 , Zoe Saldana , Dave Bautista , Vin Diesel , Bradley Cooper , Lee Pace
- Runtime
- 121
- Main Genre
- Adventure
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When it was first released, James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy didn’t make as many headlines as other MCU movies, but its awesomeness has been acknowledged in recent years. In it, space mercenary Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) goes on the run after stealing an artifact coveted by the villain, Ronan the Accuser. Certain that he won’t be able to deal with his quagmire on his own, he teams up with four misfits.
How It's Like Rebel Moon
Ronan doesn’t throw the first punch, but he is no different from Rebel Moon’s villain. He is tyrannical and wants the best of what the galaxy has to offer for himself. Furthermore, he and his cronies are so powerful that it takes several heroes to defeat them. Still, viewers are likely to enjoy the MCU film more because it has better subplots, better friendship arcs, and superior humor. None of the characters resemble each other either. Each has a different appearance, skill set, and personality, enabling audiences to easily pick a favorite from the bunch. What's great about Guardians of the Galaxy is that it marked the beginning of one of the MCU's best trilogies, followed by Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Stream on Disney+
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- Movie Lists
- Rebel Moon (2023)
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