The Astronaut Farmer

20062006
PGPG
1h 44min

Billy Bob Thornton in The Astronaut Farmer (2006)

Home Video Trailer from Warner Bros. Pictures

Play trailer0:32

Adventure Drama Sci-Fi

A NASA astronaut, forced to retire years earlier so he could save his family farm, has never given up his dream of space travel and looks to build his own rocket, despite the government's th... Read allA NASA astronaut, forced to retire years earlier so he could save his family farm, has never given up his dream of space travel and looks to build his own rocket, despite the government's threats to stop him.A NASA astronaut, forced to retire years earlier so he could save his family farm, has never given up his dream of space travel and looks to build his own rocket, despite the government's threats to stop him.

See production, box office & company info

See production, box office & company info

Sal Lopez in The Astronaut Farmer (2006)

Billy Bob Thornton in The Astronaut Farmer (2006)

Billy Bob Thornton, Logan Polish, and Jasper Polish in The Astronaut Farmer (2006)

Virginia Madsen and Max Thieriot in The Astronaut Farmer (2006)

Billy Bob Thornton and Kathleen Arc in The Astronaut Farmer (2006)

Billy Bob Thornton and Kathleen Arc in The Astronaut Farmer (2006)

Virginia Madsen and Bruce Dern in The Astronaut Farmer (2006)

Billy Bob Thornton and Logan Polish in The Astronaut Farmer (2006)

Virginia Madsen in The Astronaut Farmer (2006)

Billy Bob Thornton and Bruce Dern in The Astronaut Farmer (2006)

Billy Bob Thornton in The Astronaut Farmer (2006)

Billy Bob Thornton in The Astronaut Farmer (2006)

See production, box office, & company info

Texan Charles Farmer left the Air Force as a young man to save the family ranch when his dad died. Like most American ranchers, he owes his bank. Unlike most, he's an astrophysicist with a rocket in his barn - one he's built and wants to take into space. It's his dream. The FBI puts him under surveillance when he tries to buy rocket fuel; the FAA stalls him when he files a flight plan - it's post-9/11, after all. His wife is angry when she finds out their bank is initiating foreclosure. Charlie fears failure and decides, precipitously, to launch. Are twenty-first century American dreams just a sign of insanity? Are those who believe in dreamers only fools? —<jhailey@hotmail.com>

surname in title altered version of studio logo fbi federal bureau of investigation rocket bank 155 more

Taglines
- If we don't have our dreams, we have nothing.
Genres
Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
- Rated PG for thematic material, peril and language
Parents guide

Trivia
When Farmer is about to launch, Shepard says: "Cleared for launch at zero hour nine a.m.," an homage to the Elton John song "Rocket Man."

Goofs
Farmer is able to communicate with his ground controller, Sheppard, throughout the flight, except when his radio system is not operational due to a malfunction. In fact, radio transmissions are only possible if the antenna of the transmitter has a "line of sight" to the receiver. Farmer could not speak with his ground controller when he was on the other side of the Earth. NASA uses a series of antennas located around the world to receive and relay radio signals to Houston, the home of NASA Mission Comtrol at the Johnson Space Center.

Quotes
Charles Farmer: You see, when I was a kid, they used to tell me that I could be anything I wanted to be. No matter what. And maybe I am insane, I don't know, but I still believe that.

Crazy credits
During the credits, an interview on The Tonight Show is shown between Farmer and Jay Leno. Pictures play during the credits as well.

Connections
Featured in Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: Norbit/Factory Girl/The Astronaut Farmer/Because I Said So/The Situation (2007)

Soundtracks
The Imperial March
Written and Performed by John Williams (as John T. Williams)
Courtesy of Lucasfilm Ltd.

Top review

8/10

Follow the dream!

When you have had Halle Berry (Monster's Ball) and been married to Angelina Jolie, one would think there are no more mountains to climb. But, Charles Farmer (Billy Bob Thornton) had a dream to go into space. The fact that life gave him lemons didn't stop that dream. The fact that the FAA (J.K. Simmons) and the FBI tried to stop him did not stop that dream.

He had a wife (Virginia Madsen) that supported that dream and a family behind him and he realized the dream.

So what if the premise is crazy. Aren't all big dreams a little crazy. I bet people thought Barack Obama crazy when he set out to achieve his dream. If he has half the determination of Charles Farmer, he may just make it.

For all the dreamers out there, and for me, this is just about the most feel-good movie I have ever seen. And, isn't that why we watch movies? That and the chance to see Halle Berry and Angelina Jolie naked.

helpful•9

7

lastliberal
Feb 25, 2008

Release date
- February 23, 2007 (United States)
Country of origin
- United States
Official site
- Warner Bros. Pictures (United States)
Languages
- English
- Spanish
Also known as
- Le fermier astronaute
Filming locations
- White Sands, New Mexico, USA
Production companies
See more company credits at IMDbPro

Budget
- $13,000,000 (estimated)
Gross US & Canada
- $11,003,643
Opening weekend US & Canada
- $4,454,319
- Feb 25, 2007
Gross worldwide
- $11,130,889

See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

Runtime
- 1h 44min
Color
- Color
Sound mix
Aspect ratio
- 2.39 : 1

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