7. The Martian (2015)
As smart, funny, and suspenseful as Andy Weir’s book—and featuring a striking auburn-orange color palette to bring Mars to life—The Martian allows Ridley Scott to flex different tonal muscles. The film manages to be as light as zero gravity without downplaying the severity of its premise. Matt Damon delivers a commanding performance, supported by an exceptional ensemble cast (Jessica Chastain, Kristen Wiig, Jeff Daniels, Sean Bean, and many more), even though most of the characters feel light years apart from each other for much of the runtime. The Martian is simply good stuff—very good stuff.
