You’re probably here because you want to see Asa Butterfield play a kid born on Mars who just wants to find his dad and a girl he met on the internet. It sounds like a typical YA premise, but The Space Between Us has this weirdly earnest heart that keeps people coming back to it years after its 2017 release. Finding where to watch The Space Between Us shouldn't feel like rocket science, but with the way streaming licenses hop around these days, it’s basically a moving target.
Honestly, it’s a bummer when you're in the mood for a specific vibe—that "lost in the world" feeling—and the movie isn't on the first app you open.
Right now, your best bet depends entirely on whether you want to pay a one-time fee or if you're hoping it’s tucked away in a subscription you already pay for. Let's get into the specifics of where this intergalactic road trip movie is actually hiding.
The Best Streaming Services for The Space Between Us
As of early 2026, the streaming landscape for STX Entertainment films (the studio behind this one) is a bit of a patchwork quilt. Most often, you’ll find this movie rotating through the libraries of Netflix or Hulu, but it rarely stays in one place for more than six months at a time.
If you have a Netflix subscription, check there first. They’ve had a long-standing relationship with STX, though the "coming and going" nature of their catalog means it might be there today and gone by the first of next month. It’s annoying. I know.
If it’s not on the "Big Two," you should look at Tubi or Pluto TV. People sleep on these free, ad-supported services, but they are goldmines for mid-budget sci-fi dramas from the late 2010s. You’ll have to sit through a few commercials about insurance or snacks, but it beats paying $3.99 for a rental.
Sometimes, Amazon Prime Video includes it as part of the "Freevee" rotation. It’s a bit of a gamble. One day it’s free with ads, the next it’s $14.99 to buy.
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Renting or Buying: The Permanent Solution
Look, if you’re a superfan of the Gardner and Tulsa dynamic, renting is the most reliable way to watch The Space Between Us. You aren't at the mercy of a CEO's licensing meeting.
Standard pricing across the board is usually $3.99 for a 48-hour rental or $12.99 to $14.99 to own it digitally. You can find it on:
- Apple TV (iTunes)
- Google Play Movies
- Vudu (now Fandango at Home)
- The Microsoft Store
Interestingly, the 4K version isn't always available on every platform. If you have a high-end OLED TV and want to see those Mars landscapes in crisp detail, Apple TV usually offers the best bitrate for this particular title.
Why This Movie Still Carries a Cult Following
Why are we still talking about where to watch The Space Between Us nearly a decade later? It isn't because the science is perfect. It definitely isn't. (Wait, how did his bones not just shatter the second he hit Earth's gravity? The movie explains it with "carbon fiber enhancements," but let’s be real, it’s movie magic.)
People love it because of the chemistry between Asa Butterfield and Britt Robertson. Butterfield has this "stranger in a strange land" innocence that he later perfected in Sex Education, but here it’s applied to things like discovering what rain feels like or seeing a horse for the first time. It’s sweet. It’s also one of those rare sci-fi movies that focuses more on the human heart than the actual spaceships.
Director Peter Chelsom, who also did Serendipity, knows how to lean into the romance. It’s a road trip movie at its core. They just happen to start the road trip several million miles away from the destination.
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The Technical Reality of Mars in Film
If you're watching this for the "science" part of science fiction, you have to turn your brain off just a little bit. Gary Oldman plays Nathaniel Shepherd, the visionary behind the Mars colony, and while his performance is top-tier, the logistics of a secret Martian pregnancy are... questionable.
Real-world experts, like those at the Mars Society or even figures like Elon Musk, have often pointed out that the radiation exposure for a fetus on Mars would be a massive biological hurdle. The movie glosses over the "how" to get to the "why." The "why" is the connection.
International Viewing: A Quick Guide
If you are reading this from the UK, Canada, or Australia, your options for where to watch The Space Between Us change significantly.
In the UK, the movie frequently lands on Amazon Prime as a standard inclusion. In Canada, Crave is often the holder of these mid-tier theatrical releases. If you’re traveling, a VPN can sometimes help you access your home library, but most streaming services are getting better at blocking those, so don't bank on it.
Critical Reception vs. Fan Reality
When it came out, critics weren't exactly kind. It holds a relatively low score on Rotten Tomatoes. But here’s the thing: critics often miss the "comfort watch" factor.
The Space Between Us is a definitive comfort watch. It’s got a great soundtrack—featuring Ingrid Michaelson and BANNERS—that fits the "indie-pop-emotional-crescendo" vibe perfectly.
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"What's your favorite thing about Earth?"
That line is the soul of the film. It forces the audience to think about the mundane things we take for granted. Hot sauce. Dogs. The wind. It’s cheesy? Yes. Does it work? Absolutely.
Troubleshooting Your Stream
If you've found the movie but the quality looks like it was filmed on a potato, check your settings. Because the film relies heavily on the contrast between the red, dusty Mars and the lush, blue-green Earth, you want to watch this in at least 1080p.
If you are streaming on a browser, Chrome sometimes caps resolution at 720p for certain services due to DRM (Digital Rights Management) issues. Use the native app on your Smart TV or a dedicated streaming stick like a Roku or Fire TV for the best color depth.
Physical Media: Is it Worth It?
Believe it or not, some people still buy Blu-rays. For The Space Between Us, the Blu-ray actually includes some decent deleted scenes and an alternate ending. If you find it in a bargain bin at a local media store for $5, grab it. It’s the only way to ensure you never have to search for where to watch it ever again.
Final Steps for Your Movie Night
To get the most out of your viewing of The Space Between Us, follow these quick steps:
- Check the "JustWatch" or "Reelgood" apps. These are real-time trackers that tell you exactly which service has the movie in your specific region today.
- Verify the Resolution. If you’re renting, ensure you select the "HD" or "4K" option; sometimes the "SD" version is only a dollar cheaper but looks significantly worse on modern screens.
- Sync the Soundtrack. If you enjoy the music, the official soundtrack is available on Spotify and Apple Music. It’s the perfect "driving through the mountains" playlist.
- Prepare for the Tonal Shift. The first act is heavy sci-fi; the rest is a romantic road movie. Adjust your expectations accordingly.
Finding the movie is the first step. Once you've got it queued up, just sit back and enjoy the view of Earth through the eyes of someone seeing it for the first time. It's a perspective shift we all need every once in a while.