The exploration of space is not only one of the great scientific ambitions of humankind -- sadly only modestly realized at this stage -- but a cornerstone of science fiction, with so much of the genre both on the page and the screen given over to stories set amidst the stars. As we continue to celebrate Space Month here at Blastr, below are some 25 films dealing with our ongoing desire to push out into the universe and discover what waits for us out there.

Some are masterpieces, while others are a level or two above schlock. A number are based in plausible science, while some are outright fantasies, but all deal primarily with the notion of exploration. So you won't find space operas like Star Wars or Serenity on the list, nor will survival dramas like Gravity or Apollo 13 turn up (with one exception). You may not agree with all the choices and you might have some we've missed. Let's hope that the common thread of all of them -- humanity getting off the Earth and finding its way to the stars and beyond -- someday comes true.