First Man (2018)
Kernel Score: 78% · 5,581 ratings · Rated PG-13
Genres: History, Drama
Released: 2018-10-10
Runtime: 141 minutes
Is First Man worth watching?
Depends on your taste. A quiet, intense portrait of Neil Armstrong and the cost of going to the Moon. It's grounded and beautifully shot, but cold and slow, and it keeps its hero at a distance. Patient viewers will get more from it.
Watch it if you
- like serious space history
- enjoy restrained character studies
- want realistic flight scenes
Skip it if you
- want a triumphant space adventure
- dislike slow, sombre drama
Best for: Quiet night in
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch First Man
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
A look at the life of the astronaut, Neil Armstrong, and the legendary space mission that led him to become the first man to walk on the Moon on July 20, 1969.
First Man parents' guide: ages 11+
Parents need to know that First Man is a biographical drama about Neil Armstrong involving space mission danger, grief over a child's death from cancer, and intense emotional themes.
- Violence & scariness: Some — Depicts dangerous space missions with crash sequences and peril; not graphic but tense.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official PG-13 rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like First Man
If you liked First Man, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- Apollo 13 (1995) — 90%: A more traditional, rousing space story.
- La La Land (2016) — 90%: Same director and star, in a different style.
- Whiplash (2014) — 96%: Same director, a much more intense take on obsession.
- The Right Stuff (1983) — 83%: Epic account of early test pilots and astronauts.
- Apollo 11 (2019) — 87%: Real footage of the Apollo 11 mission.
- Interstellar (2014) — 95%: Space epic with strong emotion.
Director
Cast
- Ryan Gosling as Neil Armstrong
- Claire Foy as Janet Shearon
- Jason Clarke as Ed White
- Kyle Chandler as Deke Slayton
- Corey Stoll as Buzz Aldrin
- Patrick Fugit as Elliot See
- Christopher Abbott as David Scott
- Ciarán Hinds as Robert R. Gilruth
- Olivia Hamilton as Patricia White
- Pablo Schreiber as Jim Lovell
First Man FAQ
Is First Man worth watching?
Depends on your taste. A quiet, intense portrait of Neil Armstrong and the cost of going to the Moon. It's grounded and beautifully shot, but cold and slow, and it keeps its hero at a distance. Patient viewers will get more from it.
Where can I watch First Man?
In the US you can rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Is First Man OK for kids?
First Man is rated PG-13. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 11+. Parents need to know that First Man is a biographical drama about Neil Armstrong involving space mission danger, grief over a child's death from cancer, and intense emotional themes.
What movies are like First Man?
If you liked First Man, try Apollo 13, La La Land, Whiplash and The Right Stuff.