Poll: Best Use of a Solar or Lunar Eclipse in a Movie?

Results of 193 votes:

1. 1.
   

   2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

    

   2001: A Space Odysesey's opening sequence features an eclipse of the Sun by both the Earth and the Moon. The three bodies and the camera (which is further out in space) are perfectly aligned.
2. 2.
   

   Pitch Black (2000)

    

   Pitch Black features a planet with three orbiting suns and continuous daylight that is only broken by an eclipse that repeats every 22 years. On the eve of such an eclipse, a group of travelers are sh…
3. 3.
   

   Apocalypto (2006)

    

   Apocalypto depicts the Yucatán civilization (circa 1511), where Mayan leaders interpret a solar eclipse as a sign that the gods have been angered and claim their blood thirst must be satisfied.
4. 4.
   

   Michelle Pfeiffer and Rutger Hauer in Ladyhawke (1985)

    

   Ladyhawke features a climatic solar eclipse that allows the two star-crossed lovers to reunite after being cursed to be separated forever, as painfully depicted throughout much of this European mediev…
5. 5.
   

   Avatar: The Way of Water (2022)

    

   Avatar: The Way of Water features a solar eclipse that occurs during a pivotal moment in the final battle scene.
6. 6.
   

   Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)

    

   Rogue One: A Star Wars Story has a dramatic solar eclipse scene that occurs over a holy site located on the moon, Jedha. The eclipse is caused by The Death Star, a spherical space station that acts as…
7. 7.
   

   Fantasia (1940)

    

   In the Fantasia's 'The Rite of Spring' film segment, a lunar eclipse takes place as the age of dinosaurs ends. When the solar eclipse is shown from space, a transformative period in earth's history wi…
8. 8.
   

   Kathy Bates in Dolores Claiborne (1995)

    

   In this film, the title character Dolores Claiborne argues with her husband, Joe during a solar eclipse. He has been abusing their daughter, as well as, intends to drink away her life's savings. While…
9. 9.
   

   A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court (1949)

    

   A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court features an American mechanic who uses his knowledge of an upcoming solar eclipse to save his own life and that of his friends. He has been transported back…
10. 10.
    

    Levi Stubbs in Little Shop of Horrors (1986)

     

    Little Shop of Horrors stars Audrey II, a monstrous houseplant born as a result of a solar eclipse.
11. 11.
    

    Berserk: The Golden Age Arc III - The Advent (2013)

     

    The climatic eclipse scene in the final film of the Berserk: Golden Age Arc anime film trilogy is the series' defining event of the entire magna, both symbolically and plot-wise.
12. 12.
    

    Carla Gugino and Chiara Aurelia in Gerald's Game (2017)

     

    Gerald's Game features a solar eclipse during a memory flashback scene during which the lead female character is sexually assaulted as a youngster.
13. 13.
    

    Ron Perlman in Hellboy (2004)

     

    Hellboy features a lunar eclipse at the same time its title character opens a gate to hell during his battle with supervillain, Grigori Rasputin.
14. 14.
    

    Wolf Creek (2005)

     

    Wolf Creek features a well-timed solar eclipse that heightens the suspense of the serial killer's pursuit of his victim, Ben across the Australian outback in this thriller.
15. 15.
    

    Demi Moore in The Seventh Sign (1988)

     

    The Seventh Sign details the Book of Revelation and a prophecy of a battle over an unborn child and features a solar eclipse as a key plot device.
16. 16.
    

    Baraka (1992)

     

    Baraka has no narrative or voice-over and explores themes via a compilation of natural events, life, human activities and technological phenomena. Its title is derived from the Islamic concept of bara…
17. 17.
    

    Your Highness (2011)

     

    In Your Highness', Thadeous and Fabious, attempt to thwart the Warlock Leezar upon learning of his plan to overthrow King Tallious. He seeks to gain control of the kingdom by having a dragon at his co…
18. 18.
    

    Rosalie Chiang in Turning Red (2022)

     

    Turning Red features a female family line who can transform into red pandas when excited. This inherited trait has served to protect their family over generations. But, the trait can be bothersome in …
19. 19.
    

    Carl Chase in Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001)

     

    Lara Croft: Tomb Raider features a solar eclipse that is part of a rare planetary alignment that allows access to a treasured relic that can control both space and time.
20. 20.
    

    Anna Paquin in Darkness (2002)

     

    The backdrop for the film, Darkness is a house custom-built to perform a ritual sacrifice of seven children during a solar eclipse that happens only once every forty years.
21. 21.
    

    Danny Trejo in From Dusk Till Dawn 2: Texas Blood Money (1999)

     

    In the direct-to-video title, From Dusk Till Dawn 2: Texas Blood Money, a criminal gang of vampires robs a bank and attack the residents of a small Texas town. The residents appear to have defeated th…
22. 22.
    

    The Land Before Time X: The Great Longneck Migration (2003)

     

    The direct-to-video title, The Land Before Time X: The Great Longneck Migration, features a prophetic solar eclipse dream that drives the "longneck" tribe of dinosaurs to gather from around …
23. 23.
    

    Edie Falco in Judy Berlin (1999)

     

    In the film, Judy Berlin, the town residents of Babylon, New York experience an hours-long solar eclipse upon which they wander the streets in search of finding meaning in their suburban lives.
24. 24.
    

    Leo Fafard and Amy Matysio in Wolfcop (2014)

     

    Wolfcop features the story of a small town deputy sheriff who has been transformed into a werewolf and uses his powers to fight crime. Unbeknownst to him, a cabal of reptilian shapeshifters intentiona…
25. 25.
    

    Aria Bedmar in Sister Death (2023)

     

    In Sister Death, the prequel to the 2017 film, Verónica, a nun is blinded when she stares directly into a solar eclipse. The story intertwines the occult of the eclipse, the dark secrets of this parti…
26. 26.
    

    The House of the Devil (2009)

     

    The House of the Devil features a small-town university student who is hired to attend to an old woman overnight during a full lunar eclipse at a remote house by a pair of eclipse occultists.
27. 27.
    

    Consuelo Trujillo in Veronica (2017)

     

    In Veronica, the companion film to the 2023 film, Sister Death, a teenager is possessed by a demon after using an Ouija board with her closest friends, while most of her classmates watch a solar eclip…
28. 28.
    

    Angus Imrie in The Kid Who Would Be King (2019)

     

    The Kid Who Would Be King features a solar eclipse that will empower the wicked sorceress, Morgana, allowing her to enslave all of Britain. Only the wizard, Merlin and a band of schoolkids can prevent…
29. 29.
    

    Lacey Chabert, Obba Babatundé, Flea, Danielle Harris, Tom Kane, and Kimberly Brooks in The Wild Thornberrys (2002)

     

    The Wild Thornberrys features a group of poachers who, under the cover of a solar eclipse, target an elephant herd traveling through the valley, only to be foiled by the Thornberry family.
30. 30.
    

    Barabbas (1961)

     

    Barabbas features a solar eclipse that supposedly took place during the crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth. It details the choice of the Jewish people to spare Barrabas over Jesus, when given the choice…
31. 31.
    

    Dragonslayer (1981)

     

    Dragonslayer features a climactic battle scene between a dragon and a dragonslayer set against the backdrop of a solar eclipse.
32. 32.
    

    Juana Acosta, Ernesto Alterio, Dafne Fernández, Eduard Fernández, Pepón Nieto, Eduardo Noriega, and Belén Rueda in Perfect Strangers (2017)

     

    Perfect Strangers, aka Perfectos desconocidos (Spain, 2017) or Perfect Strangers, aka Perfetti sconosciuti (Italy, 2016) features seven lifelong friends, a dinner party, a blood-red moon eclipse, a…
33. 33.
    

    The King's Daughter (2022)

     

    The King's Daughter features the story of an underwater creature that can grant immortality to the King when her mermaid heart is ceremonially removed during an eclipse.
34. 34.
    

    Arctic Blast (2010)

     

    Arctic Blast features a solar eclipse that sends a colossal blast of super-chilled air towards the earth. The event threatens to trigger a catastrophic chain of events that will start the dawn of anot…
35. 35.
    

    Bloody Birthday (1981)

     

    Another Movie Eclipse Example Not Listed (pictured example: Bloody Birthday) In Bloody Birthday's opening act, three children are born at the same hospital while an eclipse is simultaneously occurring…