10 Movie Missions to Mars

John Carter

Over the years, there have been countless cinematic adventures about the red planet. The latest, John Carter, invades theaters on March 9th – based on Edgar Rice Burroughs' sci-fi novel about Civil War vet John Carter (Taylor Kitsch), who hides in a cave from Apache Indians, and wakes up on Mars. Who'd a thought? Following are nine more Martian flicks, some good and some out-of-this-world crazy. If you're a Martian movie lover, then prep for blast off!

Mars Needs Moms 3D

One of the most recent kid-friendly trips to outer space was CGI animated and in 3D. Mars Needs Moms 3D adapts the hit book about a boy who journeys to save his mom from the pesky Martians who've abducted her.

Total Recall

Loosely based on a Philip K. Dick short story, 1990's Total Recall starring Ah-nuld Schwarzenegger has the muscled one discovering that his whole life's been a sham of fake memories implanted into his brain. His delayed self-realization takes him to Mars where new discoveries are nearly eye-popping.

Red Planet

Back at the turn of the millenium, when Val Kilmer was slightly leaner, he co-starred in Red Planet alongside Benjamin Bratt, Tom Sizemore and Matrix heroine Carrie-Anne Moss. Earth's dying, so the crew of adventurers sojourn to Mars to find out what went wrong with the Terraforming Project. Hint: it's something buggy.

Ghosts of Mars

While not on the scale of Carpenter classics a la Halloween or Escape from New York, John Carpenter's Ghosts of Mars does offer the entertaining spectacle of watching Species star Natasha Henstridge and the one and only Ice Cube grabbing some heavy metal artillery and laying the smackdown on some Martian zombies and their Marilyn Manson-looking figurehead.

Mission to Mars

There's some sort of pseudo-physiological-metaphysical-agricultural-mumbo jumbo happening taking place on Mars. And contact has been lost with the crew stationed there. Now, it's up to Gary Sinise, Tim Robbins, Connie Nielsen and a twentysomething Jerry O'Connell in Mission to Mars to figure out the mystery. It's hokey. But it looks great, and it's a radical departure from most projects associated with Hitchcock-loving auteur Brian De Palma.

The Angry Red Planet

The Angry Red Planet, a notorious and hilarious late '50s entry into the Martian movie genre, is directed by and stars one Gerald Mohr, cast as a surviving crew member who returns to Earth with a most macabre tale - and a strange growth on his arm. Originally projected in "Cinemagic" (basically, a red tint that sort of looked like 3D...sort of).

Santa Claus Conquers the Martians

Who doesn't want to watch Santa Claus kick butt on some evil Martians? 1964's Santa Claus Conquers the Martians has the Martians dragging Mr. Claus to their planet to entertain the alien children. Our beloved St. Nick, though, has some crafty, holiday tricks and treats up his sleeve.

Mars Attacks!

Tim Burton and an all-star cast including Jack Nicholson, Natalie Portman and Tom Jones, send up '50s sci-fi in Mars Attacks!, a crazy, oddball comedy that features lots of flying saucers, short green guys with big craniums, and plenty of zapping of national treasures.

Martian Child

Martian Child isn't really a traditional Martian movie at all. It's about a kid who thinks he's an alien, and is adopted by a alien book writer played by John Cusack. The thing is, though, is he an actual alien? You'll have to watch this affecting drama/comedy to find out.

These are obviously just 10 Martian movies to get you started...feel free to keep the ball rolling with your favorites in the comments below...

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