Do you have a popular franchise that’s run out of ideas? Are you desperate to create a new entry, but don’t know what it could possibly be about or where it could be set? May I make a suggestion… send it to space!
I mean, why not? Tons of other franchises already have, and yes, there’s been mixed results, but whether they’re famous for being great or infamous for being horrible, they all remain weirdly iconic in their own right. Oddly enough, the phenomenon is especially popular in the horror genre, where many of your favorite villains were blasted into space (and often the future) to pursue some intergalactic carnage.
From the Friday the 13th to Fast & Furious series, if you want to watch some fantastic (or fantastically bad) franchises that went to space, check out the list below. Streamers like HBO Max, Apple TV, and more will let you watch these misadventures now.
Jason X (2001)
In 2001, the Friday the 13th franchise tried to answer the age-old question: What exactly do you do with killers like Michael Myers and Jason Voorhees, who seemingly can’t die? In Jason X we learn the answer is that you cryogenically freeze him and keep him frozen for eternity. Well, that was the plan… until, in the distant future, a group of space humans travel back to Earth, find Jason, and unfreeze him aboard their spaceship.
Yes, it’s wild. But really, what else do you expect from Friday the 13th? After all, the previous entry Jason Goes Hell (1993) featured demon-worm-monsters, so honestly, why not go to space? Plus, Jason X is super campy, kitschy, and tacky, which in modern times comes off as incredibly fun and endearing. If you enjoyed the wildness of Freddy vs. Jason (2003), you’ll love Jason X.
Dracula 3000 (2004)
Dracula got a jolt of modernity in 2000 with Dracula 2000, which brought the iconic vampire into (then) present-day London. Four years later, the world got Dracula 3000, which thrust the vampire into the year 3000 aboard a spaceship. In theory, it makes sense, since vampires are immortal (assuming they never go out in daylight, come near garlic, or get a wooden stake through their heart).
But this straight-to-video romp is completely incoherent and absurd. Still, its awfulness is also its strength. For starters, if you know that infamous NSFW line from Shark Attack 3 (2002), you’ll definitely love the… um… “unique” dialogue in Dracula 3000. It’s also great for anyone who loves those cheesy Syfy Channel original movies since it absolutely feels like it was intended to be one.
Leprechaun 4: In Space (1996)
Many franchises that went to space became unintentional comedies. But the Leprechaun franchise knew exactly what it was doing. The cult hit always knew it was a comedy, but Leprechaun 4: In Space, which takes place on a spaceship in the year 2096, leaned heavily into humor. It features a mind-controlled drag queen commando, a mutated doctor becoming a spider, and a space princess, all on top of already having Lubdan the Leprechaun (Warwick Davis) as the antagonist.
While going to space is always an odd choice for any franchise, Leprechaun already stars a mythical Irish being as its lead villain, so why not go to space? Clearly, realism was never important for the franchise anyway. After going to space, everyone’s favorite evil Leprechaun found himself in the hood, leading to even more madness. If you love horror movies that are totally aware of how stupid they are, like Hansel & Gretel Get Baked (2013), this is the film for you.
Hellraiser: Bloodline (1996)
Not all outer space horror movies have the audacity of Jason X or Leprechaun 4. In Hellraiser: Bloodline, Pinhead is brought to space in the year 2127 with the hopes of finally killing him for good. There’s a really great twist at the end, and as far as horror franchises that go to space, Bloodline is probably the most straight-laced, serious of them all. It doesn’t go for campy bombast, and instead tries to remain a true horror film.
Because of that, it’s more similar to proper sci-fi horror movies, like Event Horizon (1997), than it is to other late-sequel slasher films. If you love the creepy, disturbing vibe of Hellraiser (1987) or the fascinating setting that space provides, be sure to check out Hellraiser: Bloodline.
Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla (1994)
In Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla we learn that Godzilla’s DNA made its way to space thanks to Biollante (long story, don’t ask). There, it was irradiated by a black hole, creating SpaceGodzilla, who grows himself a giant crystalline comet and flies through space to destroy Earth. Why and how? Who knows. But considering that the modern MonsterVerse involves a supernatural subterranean Earth filled with giant creatures, I’d say this isn’t exactly the franchise to be asking questions like “What?”, “How?”, or “Why?” Instead, just enjoy the madness of big monsters beating each other up.
Plus, if you’re a Godzilla fan, why wouldn’t you watch this Heisei era classic? It’s also perfect for anyone who loves those wonderfully wild late-80s/early-90s practical monster effects, like in the remake of The Blob (1988).
Josie and the Pussycats in Outer Space (1972)
In 1970, the Josie and the Pussycats cartoon premiered. Based on the Archie comic of the same name, the show followed the iconic girl band as they toured the world and got mixed up in capers and hijinks. But after the series concluded in 1972, it was followed by the spin-off Josie and the Pussycats in Outer Space. As the title implies, the show follows the band as they accidentally fall into a spaceship and blast off into outer space.
Of all the comic franchises to send to space, Josie and the Pussycats is easily the most outlandish and unnecessary, creating some strange blend of The Powerpuff Girls (1998) and Space Ghost (1966). If you love the idea of banging your tambourine while battling aliens, this is the show for you. It’s also perfect for fans who enjoyed the wild eccentricity of the 2001 Josie and the Pussycats movie.
Airplane II: The Sequel (1982)
Airplane! (1980) is a bit of everything. It’s a spoof, a parody, and a satire, all mixed into one, lampooning both the air industry and Hollywood blockbusters like Airport (1970) and Jaws (1975). The sequel took it to the next level, creating a seriously silly plot about a commercial space shuttle that’s taking tourists to the moon.
Honestly, out of every franchise on the list, going to space makes the most sense for Airplane! since the entire point of the franchise is to be as loony and ridiculous as possible. If you love madcap parodies like The Naked Gun (1988) or Scary Movie (2000), then you already know the type of humor you’re in for when you watch Airplane II.
Critters 4 (1992)
Leprechaun 4, Hellraiser: Bloodline… and Critters 4. For some reason, the fourth entry seems to be the sweet spot for horror franchises to launch themselves into space. In the year 2045, a salvage crew comes across the critter eggs in space. Naturally, after bringing them aboard their ship, the critters hatch, madness ensues, and a joyous horror comedy emerges.
Plus, Critters 4 stars Oscar-nominated actress Angela Bassett and Tony-nominated actor Terrence Mann. How did a B-movie get such star power? The vibe of the entire Critters franchise is more comedy-focused, similar to Gremlins (1984), so it’s perfect for anyone who loves horror comedies.
Amityville in Space (2022)
The Amityville franchise has taken a very dark and weird turn over the last decade, spawning films such as Amityville Death Toilet (2023) and Amityville Bigfoot (2024). These no-budget films are the types of movies you need to watch late at night with a big group of friends.
In 2022, the franchise went to space with Amityville in Space because, of course, it did. It takes place in the future after the Amityville house was lifted from Earth and sucked into a black hole. Now, a team of future space people must discover the hauntings within the iconic house as it floats through the vacuum of space. Luckily for everyone, the movie is streaming for free on Tubi, so you too can experience this clickbait brainrot without spending a penny!
F9 (2021)
Yes, in 2021 the Fast & Furious franchise briefly ended up in space in F9. Tej (Ludacris) and Roman (Tyrese Gibson) have to take a rocket car to space to crash into a satellite and destroy its capabilities of hacking into global weapons systems. Look, is it stupid? Yes. But also, if you're the type of person who has stuck with the Fast & Furious franchise until its ninth movie, you probably don’t care.
Considering the movie made over $700 million at the box office, it’s clear that most audiences were on-board for whatever hijinks Vin Diesel could think of. If you loved the other Fast & Furious movies, then buckle up, because this one’s a doozy.
