Space

This Tag assembles a diverse group of films set partially or entirely in extraterrestrial locales, regardless of how physically distant such settings may be from our own planet, ranging from low earth orbit in films such as "Life" (2017) to sideral distances in films such as "Interstellar" (2014).

"Space opera" constitutes an important sub-category here, featuring stories in an action/adventure vein, generally set in interstellar or even intergalactic space. Cosmic voyages, battles waged with futuristic weapons, and interactions with amazing alien civilizations are among the most popular ingredients in this genre characterized by a wildly inconsistent level of scientific plausibility. Traditionally facile films aimed at a young audience, "space operas" have over time matured and grown more ambitious, to the point that numerous authors have used them to reflect upon themes of significant social, political, and even existential relevance. Finally, we will include those films that unfold exclusively - or nearly so - on the surface of one or more celestial bodies (planets, planetoids, moons, etc.) as well as on any possible artificial space structures.

Trivia: A celestial body's atmosphere doesn't disappear all at once, but instead becomes gradually more rarified as one moves away from the planet. The conventional boundary between Earth's atmosphere and outer space is represented by the imaginary "Kármán line" 100 kilometers (~62 miles) above Earth's mean sea level. While experts disagree on exactly where the atmosphere ends and space begins, the Kármán line is accepted by the FAI (Fédération aéronautique internationale, also known as the World Air Sports Federation) as well as by the United Nations. The US Armed Forces, however, defines an astronaut as a person who has flown higher than 50 miles (~80 km) above mean sea level, and in 2005, NASA changed their definition of an astronaut to match that of the military in order to eliminate inconsistency (for example, when both military and civilian personnel are aboard the same vehicle).