Space Movies Are Back! Why the Final Frontier Is Captivating Audiences Again

Channing Tatum stars in two recent releases, Space Cadet and Fly Me to the Moon, that take a lighthearted approach to the ambitious goal of space exploration.

In Space Cadet, space exploration is now a hot commodity, and Tatum plays a no-nonsense launch director focused on highlighting the accomplishments of scientists and astronauts.

Fly Me to the Moon is more of a silly reimagining of a real-life event set in 1969, but it also celebrates the hard work astronauts do to actually make it into orbit.

Both movies are lighthearted romantic comedies that heavily feature astronauts and NASA, and they both take a lighthearted approach to the ambitious goal of space exploration.

The studios also might have chosen to release these films on and around July 4 because space exploration feels inherently patriotic and hopeful.

These two movies both coming out in July might have something to do with the fact that astronauts first landed on the moon in July of 1969, 55 years ago.