Solar eclipses in fiction

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This is a list of fictional stories in which solar eclipses feature as an important plot element. Mere passing mentions are not listed.

Contents

Written works

Novels

Films

There is a body of films featuring solar eclipses. Compared to other astronomical events featured in films, such as full moons and asteroid strikes, solar eclipses are less commonly seen. When they have featured in films, they often drive the plot and have a portentous presence. [2] NPR's Glen Weldon said that films use eclipses "to signal to audiences that the normal rules have temporarily lifted, and things are about to get weird." The first film to feature a solar eclipse was the 1907 silent film The Eclipse, or the Courtship of the Sun and Moon , which featured a solar eclipse as a fantastical consummation between the Sun and the Moon. [3] Eclipses have been seen as bad omens throughout history and filmmakers leverage that belief "as visual cues or key plot points", according to The Oregonian 's Amy Wang. [4] Lisa Yaszek, a professor in the School of Literature, Media, and Communication at Georgia Tech, has remarked that the most accurate depiction of a solar eclipse she has seen in film was in the 1961 religious epic Barabbas , which included film of an actual solar eclipse during a crucifixion scene. [5]

Television

Comic books

Other

References

  1. "Illegal Alien Reading Guide - The Official Website of Robert J. Sawyer" . Retrieved May 20, 2012.
  2. Hickman, Matt (August 8, 2017). "9 movies starring solar eclipses". MNN. Mother Nature Network . Retrieved September 11, 2017.
  3. Weldon, Glen (August 17, 2017). "In Movies, A Solar Eclipse Means Change Is Coming". npr.org. NPR . Retrieved September 11, 2017.
  4. Wang, Amy (August 6, 2017). "15 movies that include eclipses (not always accurately)". The Oregonian . Retrieved September 11, 2017.
  5. White, Amy (August 18, 2017). "Solar eclipses have been a science fiction theme for thousands of years". Vox . Retrieved September 11, 2017.
  6. Lacson, Therese (June 4, 2021). "REVIEW: PRETTY GUARDIAN SAILOR MOON ETERNAL levels up the sailor scouts". The Beat. Archived from the original on June 4, 2021. Retrieved August 1, 2025. Sailor Moon Eternal picks up right where season three left off, with Usagi (Konoto Mitsuishi), Mamoru (Ryō Hirohashi), and Chibiusa (Misato Fukuen) looking up at a full solar eclipse on the day that Chibiusa is supposed to go back to the 30th Century. Of course, whenever there are major celestial events, you can bet that some kind of deep space shenanigans are about to go down. Meet the Dead Moon Circus, bent on disseminating nightmares, taking the Legendary Silver Crytal, and taking over the Earth and the Moon.
  7. Nicholson, Max (September 8, 2015). "Avatar: The Last Airbender - "The Day of Black Sun, Part 2: The Eclipse" Flashback Review". IGN . Archived from the original on September 10, 2015. Retrieved August 1, 2025. "The Day of Black Sun, Part 2" kicked off "guns blazing," as the long-awaited eclipse arrived. For Team Avatar, this meant a thrilling showdown with Azula, even if it was merely a distraction tactic. But the heart of this episode was Zuko's confrontation with Ozai, as he revealed the truth about the Avatar and his own destiny.
  8. "'The Owl House' Season Finale Review: Season 2 Episode 21 "King's Tide"". TV Source Magazine. May 31, 2022. Archived from the original on May 31, 2022. Retrieved April 9, 2024.
  9. October Colors Hendrik Muerkens: Jazz Harmonica and More. Retrieved: 2022-05-12. Quote: "I wrote Night In The Afternoon for the movie Dolores Claiborne starring Kathy Bates. And starring Hendrik Meurkens. Really. The shoot was in Nova Scotia and they flew me up there to record the tune and play it on screen. Dolores Claiborne is a very dark movie. A very dark vibe with lots of grey autumn colors."
  10. "Track Premiere: Axioma – 'Live Totality'". Decibel Magazine. 2024-10-24. Retrieved 2025-05-31.