From Total Recall to Capricorn One: Five movies to watch as The Martian hits theaters

With NASA announcing the presence of water on present-day Mars and Ridley Scott's _The Martian_ dropping this weekend, to say the Red Planet has been on our mind would be an understatement. [caption id=“attachment_2451318” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  The Martian.[/caption] NASA’s announcement was huge, and on different scales of measure, so could be Scott’s movie. Hollywood has always been fascinated with space and especially with Mars. Dozens of movies have featured the planet in some capacity over the years. Some better than the others. Scott’s latest, based on Andy Weir’s bestselling book by the same name, places the protagonist, played by Matt Damon, on the red planet under testing conditions. Stranded on Mars, Damon’s character must survive on the planet until help arrives, which could take years. Now, if this premise has got your sci-fi juices flowing, we’ve got some recommendations of movies based on Mars which you can check out before you go out for the movie. Total Recall (1990) Arguably the most popular movie set on Mars stars Arnold Schwarzenegger as Douglas Quaid, whose life begins to unravel when he goes on a virtual vacation to the red planet, and loses the sense of what is real and what is not. The film is based on Philip K Dick’s short story We Can Remember It For You Wholesale.

Robinson Crusoe on Mars (1964) This 1964 sci-fi has much in common with The Martian: an astronaut stranded on Mars who must figure out how to find oxygen, water, and food on the lifeless planet. Also, did we mention he has a monkey for company?

John Carter (2012) Although a commercial disaster, this Disney film can be a fun watch on a lazy afternoon. The film tells the story of a Civil War vet who is transported to Mars (also known as Barsoom in the movie), a planet seemingly inhabited by 12-foot tall barbarians. Also features a princess in desperate need of a savior.

Capricorn One (1977) The film does not take place on Mars, but its premise begs it to be on the list. When a Nasa Mars mission doesn’t work out, and its funding is endangered, the crew decides to fake it. But they have to keep their endeavors secret. Exiting stuff.

Doom (2005) An action movie starring Dwayne ‘Rock’ Johnson, set on Mars, and based on a video game. You don’t one of these everyday.