The Martian, 2015
Ridley Scott’s adaptation of the novel of the same name could easily have been a bleak, harrowing look at the unforgiving nature of space. The film follows Matt Damon’s Dr. Mark Watney, who gets stranded on Mars and must survive long enough for NASA to stage a rescue. That premise may sound like the makings of a distressing thriller. Instead, The Martian is a rollicking, funny, and cheer-worthy depiction of people coming together for a common goal. It has its moments of despair, darkness, and high stakes, but I look back fondly on the 2015 film as a hopeful jaunt to the stars and back, carried by excellent performances from its stacked cast. — Kenneth Shepard
