A space shuttle embarks on the first mission to colonize Mars. Shortly after takeoff, Sarah Elliot (Janet Montgomery), the lead female astronaut in the group discovers she is pregnant. 
Back on Earth, Dr. Nathaniel Shepherd (Gary Oldman) the head Scientist of the “Genesis Program”, insists that the pregnancy be kept a secret from the public. Fearing bad publicity will end the necessary funding for this life-on-Mars mission, when Sarah Elliot dies from complications during childbirth, Dr. Shepherd demands that the child, too, be kept a secret.
Sixteen years later, we meet Gardner Elliot (Asa Butterfield), the boy who calls the Mars Space Station home, his world being the empty expanse of the Red Planet, a group of astronauts, and high tech equipment. A curious, obviously intelligent, good looking teenager, Gardner develops an online friendship with Tulsa (Britt Robertson), a beautiful street-smart girl around his age living in a group foster home in Colorado. Having a non-existent social life with anyone his age, and after seeing a photograph of his deceased mother with a man he assumes is his father, Gardner is determined to go to Earth to find his dad who he knows nothing about, and to meet Tulsa in person.
Accompanied by female astronaut Kendra (Carla Gugino) who served as his mother-figure on Mars, Gardner makes the journey to Earth, and as feared by a very concerned Dr. Shepherd, medical tests show that Gardner’s organs and body chemistry can’t withstand Earth’s atmosphere. Learning that he will die unless he returns to Mars, Gardner runs for his freedom.
Using real footage from NASA rocket launches, THE SPACE BETWEEN US is a believable story with natural relationships and sentimental emotions. Although there were some contrived twists and turns, this movie was engaging, the characters were likable, and the ending was sweet.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT EARTH? is a question that resonates with us all.
Asa Butterfield … Gardner Elliot
Britt Robertson … Tulsa
Gary Oldman … Dr. Nathaniel Shepherd
Carla Gugino … Kendra
BD Wong … Genesis Director Chen
Janet Montgomery … Sarah Elliot
A production of STX Entertainment