Elon Musk Reveals the One Film He Thinks Everyone on Earth Needs to See

Elon Musk has built his public image around the future. From electric cars to rockets and artificial intelligence, nearly everything he works on points forward. But when it comes to movies, his biggest inspiration comes from the past. According to Musk himself, one film had a huge impact on his life.

Musk says his love for space began much earlier in the childhood. During an interview on the Full Send podcast, he shared that Star Wars was the first movie he ever saw in a theater. “I suppose it would probably be, like, the original Star Wars,” Musk said. “That’s the first movie I ever saw in a theatre.” He explained that he was around six years old at the time.

That experience clearly stayed with him. Musk said the movie may have influenced his lifelong obsession with rockets and space travel. “It really made an impression; maybe that’s why I like rockets, maybe that’s why I like space,” he said. “It’s probably had an effect, yeah.” The film’s story of rebellion, exploration, and life beyond Earth left a strong mark on him.

The movie, later titled Star Wars: A New Hope, became one of the most important sci-fi films ever made. For Musk, it was more than entertainment. It showed a future where humanity looked to the stars and fought for survival and freedom. Those ideas line up closely with his current goal of making humans a multi-planetary species through SpaceX.

As of early 2026, Musk remains one of the most talked-about figures in the world. According to recent media reports, he appeared at the World Economic Forum in Davos, where he spoke about artificial intelligence and humanoid robots. He also claimed AI could surpass individual human intelligence by the end of the year.

At the same time, Musk is focused on Tesla’s Optimus robots and changes to the Full Self-Driving program. SpaceX is also preparing for a possible initial public offering in 2026, with reports suggesting a target valuation of over one trillion dollars. That money would help fund the Starship program and long-term plans to reach Mars. The next Starship test flight is currently scheduled for March 2026.

Outside of business, Musk continues to stir debate through his political views and involvement in AI policy discussions. From xAI to government efficiency projects, he remains deeply involved in shaping how future technology is used.Even with all the controversy and ambition, Musk’s favorite movie choice points back to a simple childhood moment.

A young boy watching Star Wars in a movie theater may have helped spark the ideas that now drive some of the biggest tech projects on Earth. 

Can a movie you loved as a kid really shape the path of your entire life? Share your thoughts in the comments!