If you loved
Red Planet
Antony Hoffman · Film · 2000
What hooked you in Red Planet was the terrifying way that humanity’s desperate reach for survival on a hostile world inevitably unravels.
Start with the source
Books on the same thread
The Martian
Andy Weir · Book · 2015
Shares a thread with Red Planet: Hard Science Fiction.
If you enjoyed the harrowing isolation of Red Planet, this book captures that same struggle for survival, replacing the technical failures of a doomed mission with ingenious scientific problem solving.
Project Hail Mary
Andy Weir · Book · 2021
Shares a thread with Red Planet: Hard Science Fiction.
Much like the stranded crew in Red Planet, the protagonist here must rely on sheer intellect and resourcefulness to overcome the lethal challenges of space exploration and planetary survival.
The Martian Chronicles
Ray Bradbury · Book · 1977
Explores: Colonialism, Nostalgia, Environmentalism.
This collection explores the same hubris and consequences found in Red Planet, shifting from a single mission failure to the broader, haunting reality of humanity colonizing a foreign Mars.
Tunnel in the Sky
Robert A. Heinlein · Book · 2005
Shares a thread with Red Planet: Hard Science Fiction.
If the desperate survival stakes of Red Planet kept you engaged, you will appreciate this story of students forced to rely on their own grit when their planetary mission fails.
Series on the same thread
Mars
Ron Howard · Series · 2016
Shares a thread with Red Planet: Hard Science Fiction.
This series mirrors the grounded, high-stakes atmosphere of Red Planet, focusing on the immense human perseverance required to establish a colony when everything on Mars begins to go wrong.
Lost in Space
Irwin Allen · Series · 2018
Explores: Family Survival, Interplanetary Colonization, Human vs. Environment.
Similar to the crew in Red Planet, this family faces a sudden crash and must navigate a lethal environment, proving that space exploration is often a fight against impossible odds.
Red Dwarf
Doug Naylor · Series · 1988
Explores: Existentialism, Slacker Humor, Male Bonding.
While Red Planet treats its stranded mission with dread, this show explores the same premise of being trapped in deep space, albeit through a lens of existential, cynical humor.
Podcasts on the same thread
The Habitat
Gimlet · Podcast · 2020
This podcast grounds the fictional dread of Red Planet in reality, showing how the psychological and physical isolation of a simulated Mars mission tests the limits of human endurance.
Revolutions
Mike Duncan · Podcast · 2025
Explores: societal collapse, power dynamics, cyclical history.
For those fascinated by the systemic collapse and hubris depicted in Red Planet, this account of a Martian revolution examines the political fallout when humanity's reach exceeds its grasp.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Red Planet based on a book?
Yes, Red Planet was adapted from the 1990 book of the same name. While the 2000 movie depicts astronauts searching for solutions to save a dying Earth on Mars, the book serves as the original source material for the story.
What is the plot of the Red Planet movie?
The 2000 film Red Planet follows a group of astronauts who travel to Mars to find solutions for a dying Earth. Their mission goes terribly awry once they arrive on the planet, leading to significant challenges for the crew during their search.
Should I read the Red Planet book before watching the movie?
You can choose to consume either version independently. The 1990 book and the 2000 movie both explore the core premise of astronauts searching for ways to save a dying Earth on Mars, though the mission in the film is specifically noted for going terribly awry.
Is the Red Planet movie a direct adaptation of the 1990 book?
Red Planet is adapted from the 1990 book of the same name. Both versions center on the premise of astronauts searching for a way to save a dying Earth by exploring Mars, though the movie specifically focuses on the mission going terribly awry.