20 supremely cozy books and movies for hibernation season

9. Galaxy Quest

Depending on the individual, science fiction may or may not enter into the realm of the cozy. One person might be utterly lulled into fantasy visa the work of someone like Ray Bradbury or Ursula K. LeGuin. Or, they could be bright right down into a philosophical whirlpool, thanks to those same authors’ focus on the light and dark sides of human nature. Grand, cosmic questions could enlighten you or induce stress, depending on your state of mind. And, though we’re all for asking tough questions even in fiction, it doesn’t necessarily make for comforting reading.

But Galaxy Quest is its own creation. It’s goofy and subversive like some of the best self-aware sci-fi, but very little of it is downbeat. If you need something cozy even in the cold void of outer space, then the crew of Galaxy Quest is here to deliver.

It starts out admittedly rough. Tim Allen plays with Tim Allen as Jason Nesmith, a washed-up actor who once played Commander Peter Quincy Taggart on the sci-fi series, Galaxy Quest. Along with the other cast members (which include Sigourney Weaver, Tony Shalhoub and a pretty delightful performance from Alan Rickman), Jason spends his time attending fan conventions. He’s kind of a jerk, though, taking the love of his fans for granted.

However, he probably should have paid more attention. At one gathering, he’s approached by a group calling themselves “Thermians”. They claim to need his help saving their planet. Jason, however, brushes them off as extra-nerdy fans in some sort of role-playing situation.

Except, they’re not. The Thermians are an actual alien race who mistakenly think that Jason and his fellow cast members are real spacefarers. Indeed, they think that the Galaxy Quest show is a documentary series. Thermians everywhere have completely shaped their society to fit with the ideals and aesthetics of the show. Awkward.

This leads to the actors being taken onto a real starship, where they must face an honest-to-goodness alien villain. Tense as that may sound, the script and acting make for a wonderful balance of sarcasm, humor, and genuine heart.