We used to look up at the stars and wonder about our place in the universe. Now we just look down at our drinks and wonder how many sips it takes to survive an emotionally devastating sci-fi masterpiece.
Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar is one of those movies that leaves you in awe, questioning the nature of time, space, and love. But what if, instead of existential dread, you walked away with a good buzz? Enter the Interstellar drinking game—the best sci-fi movie drinking game—a surefire way to turn this mind-bending space epic into an out-of-this-world party.
Whether you’re shouting “Murph!” at the screen, trying to survive the laws of time dilation with your drink in hand, or roleplaying as TARS with a monotone voice, this game guarantees a cosmic adventure full of laughs, chaos, and maybe a few emotional breakdowns.
Table of Contents
How to Play the Interstellar Drinking Game
The concept is simple. Every time a specific event happens in the movie, you take a sip, a gulp, or even finish your drink, depending on the rule. The beauty of this game is that it can be as laid-back or as intense as you want it to be.
What You’ll Need
- Your drink of choice (beer, wine, cocktails, or something space-themed)
- A copy of Interstellar (streaming or Blu-ray)
- Friends to suffer with (optional but recommended)
Basic Rules
- Take a sip when a minor but recurring event happens.
- Take a big gulp when a major event or emotional moment occurs.
- Finish your drink when something truly mind-blowing happens.
- Adjust the rules based on your tolerance level—this is a long movie, and you want to make it to the end.
The Official Interstellar Drinking Game Rules
Take a Sip When…
- Someone says “Murph”
- The watch is shown
- A video message plays
- A new planet is introduced
- TARS or CASE deliver a sarcastic line
Take a Big Gulp When…
- Cooper cries
- A wormhole or black hole is shown
- Someone discusses love in a weirdly scientific way
- Time dilation ruins someone’s life
Finish Your Drink If…
- Someone dies (RIP Doyle)
- The iconic docking scene happens (extra points if you shout “It’s necessary!”)
- The movie makes you question your entire existence
Wild and Creative Variations for Interstellar Party Night
1. The “Fifth-Dimensional Being” Challenge
Once the movie reaches the tesseract scene, the real chaos begins.
- Everyone has to communicate like Cooper trying to talk to Murph across time—by shouting random words that barely make sense.
- If someone actually makes a coherent sentence, they take a shot.
- If someone accidentally makes another player burst into tears, they finish their drink.
2. The “Time Dilation” Rule
Since time passes differently on different planets, drinking should too.
- One person plays as the “Earth Timekeeper,” sipping at a normal pace.
- Another player is “Miller’s Planet,” where time runs faster—meaning they have to drink twice as much as everyone else.
- Every time the movie reminds you that every hour on Miller’s Planet equals seven years on Earth, “Miller’s Player” takes a shot in honor of the lost time.
- Switch roles at the next major scene change, so no one gets permanently stranded in the drinking abyss.
3. The “TARS Challenge”
One player must roleplay as TARS, the sarcastic, blocky robot.
- They can only speak in a robotic monotone and deliver snarky one-liners.
- If they break character, they take a drink.
- If they manage to deliver an actually funny joke, everyone else drinks instead.
4. The “Murph!” Echo Game
Every time Cooper yells “Murph!”, the last person to repeat it has to take a drink.
- Bonus points if you dramatically throw your drink across the room like Cooper reaching out through the tesseract.
5. The “Endurance Survival Mode”
Interstellar is a long movie, and only the strong survive.
- Every hour, someone is eliminated from drinking duty, meaning they must stop drinking for the rest of the movie.
- The last person still drinking by the time the credits roll is declared “The Last Astronaut Standing” and must deliver a speech about love transcending space and time.
6. The “Gargantua Gravity Challenge”
As the ship gets closer to Gargantua, players must simulate the increasing gravity by progressively making their drinking more difficult.
- Start by drinking normally.
- By the time the ship is near the black hole, players must drink with their non-dominant hand.
- During the slingshot maneuver, players must drink while spinning in a chair (at their own risk).
Interstellar Alternative Versions & Music Drinking Game
Sci-Fi Mashup
- How to Play: Take the Interstellar to the next level by combining it with other sci-fi universes like Star Wars or The Big Bang Theory.
Example Mashup Rules:- Star Wars Twist: Every time a familiar sound from Star Wars (like the lightsaber hum or Darth Vader’s breathing) is heard in the movie, take a sip. If it’s the Force or a reference to the Jedi, take two sips.
- Big Bang Theory Twist: When a scientific term or scientific explanation is dropped in the movie, take a sip, but if it’s something mind-boggling like a wormhole or time dilation, take two sips. (Bonus: When a joke about physics is mentioned, laugh and take a sip!)
- Ultimate Sci-Fi Challenge: Combine all of these rules into one massive drinking game, forcing players to balance Interstellar, Star Wars, and Big Bang Theory cues. The final challenge? Whoever has the most points at the end of the movie wins the title of “Ultimate Space Explorer”.
Interstellar Music Game
Music plays a huge role in the emotional depth of Interstellar, and now it can play a key role in your drinking game. Every time a specific music cue or moment happens in the film, take a drink. To make it even more interesting, try these variations:
- Hans Zimmer’s Score
Every time the iconic organ music kicks in (especially the more intense moments), take a sip. For a bigger challenge, take a drink whenever you hear the ticking sound of time in the background. The deeper the sound, the more drinks you owe. - Time-Warp Tunes
When Cooper travels through the tesseract, and the music gets ethereal and intense, everyone must hold their drink and take a simultaneous sip. If anyone spills their drink during the scene, they must take another sip as a penalty. - Ambient Sound Challenge
During the quieter scenes, like when Murph solves the gravity equation, take a drink every time you hear a subtle shift in the ambient sound. The softer the cue, the slower you should drink—see if you can catch them all!
Space-Themed Drinks to Pair with the Game
A proper Interstellar drinking game deserves drinks that match the cosmic experience. Here are a few ideas:
- Black Hole Shot – A dangerously strong mix of vodka and Jägermeister
- Wormhole Cocktail – Tequila, Blue Curacao, and a splash of lime for a swirling galaxy effect
- The TARS Tonic – A futuristic take on a gin and tonic with activated charcoal for a deep-space look
Enjoy the Fun and Play Safely
Player Customization: Adjust the difficulty by changing when people drink based on the intensity of the moment, or add fun trivia questions related to the movies to keep everyone engaged.
Safety First: Always know your limits and stay hydrated. Drink water between rounds to avoid passing out halfway through.
Music is Key: Each movie scene and musical cue counts. Choose your favorite tracks from Interstellar and match them to the rules for added excitement!