October Sky (1999)
89%RT Audience Score: 88%
Awards & Nominations: 4 wins & 11 nominations
Rich in sweet sincerity, intelligence, and good old-fashioned inspirational drama, October Sky is a coming-of-age story with a heart to match its Hollywood craftsmanship.
If you’re looking for a movie that will make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside, October Sky is the perfect pick. It’s got everything you need for a feel-good flick: inspiring characters, a heartwarming story, and a whole lot of determination. Sure, some critics might call it a “paint-by-numbers feel-gooder,” but who cares? Sometimes you just need a little bit of cheesy sentimentality in your life. Plus, it’s based on a true story, so you can feel good about learning something while you’re at it. So grab some popcorn, settle in, and get ready to feel all the feels.
Production Company(ies)
Plattform Produktion Film i Väst Essential Filmproduktion, GmbH,
Distributor
Universal Pictures
Release Type
Streaming, Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Petros, Tennessee, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG for language, brief teen sensuality and alcohol use, and for some thematic elements
Year of Release
1999
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:DTS Dolby Digital SDDS
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Aspect ratio:2.39 : 1
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Runtime:1h 48m
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Feb 19, 1999 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 16, 2003
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Chris Cooper, Laura Dern, Scott Miles, Chris Owen, William Lee Scott, Chad Lindberg, directed by Joe Johnston, written by Homer H Hickam Jr., Lewis Colick, drama, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Lisa Schwarzbaum, Nell Minow, Trevor Johnston, Kevin Maher, Desson Thomson, Cody Clark, Zaki Hasan, David Nusair, John A Nesbit, Mark Bourne, Robin Clifford, Philip Martin, PG, coal miner, rocket science, Sputnik 1, coming-of-age story, inspirational drama, West Virginia, football scholarship, rocketry, teacher, Larry J Franco, Charles Gordon, Universal Pictures, SDDS, Dolby Digital, DTS, Surround
Worldwide gross: $34,698,753
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $62,285,229
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,236
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 6,792,282
US/Canada gross: $32,570,685
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $58,465,288
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,008
US/Canada opening weekend: $5,905,250
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $10,600,088
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 939
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $25,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $44,875,697
Production budget ranking: 870
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $24,165,563
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$6,756,031
ROI to date (est.): -10%
ROI ranking: 1,448
Chris Cooper – John Hickam
Laura Dern – Miss Frieda Riley
Chris Owen – Quentin Wilson
William Lee Scott – Roy Lee Cook
Chad Lindberg – Sherman O’Dell
Director(s)
Joe Johnston
Writer(s)
Homer H. Hickam Jr., Lewis Colick
Producer(s)
Larry J. Franco, Charles Gordon
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
4 wins & 11 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (74) | Top Critics (20) | Fresh (67) | Rotten (7)
September 7, 2011 | Rating: B
Lisa Schwarzbaum
Entertainment Weekly
TOP CRITIC
Inspiring tale for older tweens and up.
December 26, 2010 | Rating: 5/5
Nell Minow
Common Sense Media
TOP CRITIC
The TV movie subject matter is infused with genuine feeling for the value of learning as a passport to freedom, and an authentic regard for the honest graft of working men.
January 26, 2006
Trevor Johnston
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
Retreads the soggy ground staked out by Field of Dreams, with sentimental tears and group hugs as the answer to conflicting ideological standpoints.
December 2, 2002
Kevin Maher
Sight & Sound
TOP CRITIC
Another Universal Pictures paint-by-numbers feel-gooder!
January 1, 2000
Desson Thomson
Washington Post
TOP CRITIC
October Sky will go straight to the heart of any man who recalls looking up at the night sky as a boy and getting stars in his eyes.
January 1, 2000
Cody Clark
Mr. Showbiz
TOP CRITIC
Put simply, October Sky is a great movie, the kind that restores one’s faith in the power of cinema. It deserves to be cherished and treasured.
January 29, 2019 | Rating: A-
Zaki Hasan
Zaki’s Corner
…compulsively watchable…
August 29, 2015 | Rating: 3/4
David Nusair
Reel Film Reviews
uplifting family film with great values
February 24, 2011 | Rating: B
John A. Nesbit
Old School Reviews
…plays like a TV movie made for everyone who subscribes to Reader’s Digest. Still, its manipulations are sincere rather than cynical…
April 7, 2006
Mark Bourne
DVDJournal.com
Director Joe Johnston has crafted a feel good film that doesn’t pander to cheap emotions.
April 9, 2005 | Rating: B+
Robin Clifford
Reeling Reviews
October Sky is a movie you want to believe in.
January 29, 2005 | Rating: A-
Philip Martin
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette…
Plot
In a 1950’s mining town called Coalwood, Homer Hickam is a kid with only one future in sight, to work in the local coal mine like his father. However in October 1957, everything changes when the first artificial satellite, Sputnik goes into orbit. With that event, Homer becomes inspired to learn how to build rockets. With his friends and the local nerd, Homer sets to do just that by trial and a lot of error. Unfortunately, most of the town and especially Homer’s father thinks that they are wasting their time. Only one teacher in the high school understands their efforts and lets them know that they could become contenders in the national science fair with college scholarships being the prize. Now the gang must learn to perfect their craft and overcome the many problems facing them as they shoot for the stars.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Jake Gyllenhaal delivers a memorable performance as NASA engineer Homer Hickam in October Sky.
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