IMDb > October Sky (1999)
October Sky
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October Sky (1999) More at IMDbPro »

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October Sky (1999) -- The true story of Homer Hickam, a coal miner's son who was inspired by the first Sputnik launch to take up rocketry against his father's wishes.
October Sky (1999) -- CineMagia.ro - Trailer (Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
7.7/10   28,390 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 9% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers (WGA):
Homer H. Hickam Jr. (book)
Lewis Colick (screenplay)
Contact:
View company contact information for October Sky on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
19 February 1999 (USA) more
Genre:
Tagline:
Sometimes one dream is enough to light up the whole sky. more
Plot:
The true story of Homer Hickam, a coal miner's son who was inspired by the first Sputnik launch to take up rocketry against his father's wishes. full summary | full synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
3 wins & 11 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(32 articles)
New Stills For The Wolfman Remake
 (From Screen Rant. 21 October 2009, 6:34 PM, PDT)

Laura Dern Joins Cast of Little Fockers
 (From ReelzChannel. 20 October 2009, 1:32 AM, PDT)

User Comments:
Nostalgic, Inspirational and Worthwhile more (305 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Additional Details

Also Known As:
Rocket Boys (USA) (working title)
more
MPAA:
Rated PG for language, brief teen sensuality and alcohol use, and for some thematic elements.
Runtime:
108 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Chris Ellis, who plays Principal Turner, also played Deke Slayton in Apollo 13 (1995) and appeared in the mini-series _"From the Earth to the Moon" (1998) (mini)_. more
Goofs:
Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): When Homer's dad introduces the football recruiter, he refers to him as from the University of West Virginia. That is incorrect, the school is West Virginia University. more
Quotes:
Homer: [to his dad] Sure Dr. Von Braun is a great scientist, but he isn't my hero. more
Movie Connections:
Featured in My Big Break (2009) more
Soundtrack:
Speedo more

FAQ

What is the significance of the title "October Sky"?
What are the differences between the book and the movie?
What exactly is Hodgkin's disease?
more
26 out of 30 people found the following comment useful.
Nostalgic, Inspirational and Worthwhile, 4 June 2005
10/10
Author: MARKETEX1969 from United States

I was watching this when my wife called to inquire from the other room as to my choice of fare. My comment? "I am watching my Life!"

Though younger, but only by 5 years or so, than the "Rocket Boys" I remember the absolute urgency with which Sputnick was greeted by our administrators of education and how the whole Science Fair thing gained momentum and took me and others into the competitive whirlwind. My own tornado landed me in my own State's Science Fair, in Physics by '62, though our group was less successful in gaining the support of, for example, firefighters we approached for guidance and counsel until after a tragic event, our city went so far as to allow us to tour the Nike missile site on Chicago's lakeshore.

This movie brought it all back for me and I will bet that it brought it all back for a bunch of us "UberNerds" of the late '50s and early 60's.

We are in a similar science brain drainage period now and really need this movie as a country. See It!

Was the above comment useful to you?
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