October Sky
Sometimes one dream is enough to light up the whole sky.
1999 | 108m | English
Popularity: 5 (history)
| Director: | Joe Johnston |
|---|---|
| Writer: | Homer H. Hickam Jr., Lewis Colick |
| Staring: |
| 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. When Homer sees the Soviet satellite streak overhead, he becomes inspired to learn how to build rockets. With the help of 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 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. | |
| Release Date: | Feb 19, 1999 |
|---|---|
| Director: | Joe Johnston |
| Writer: | Homer H. Hickam Jr., Lewis Colick |
| Genres: | Family, Drama |
| Keywords | based on novel or book, parent child relationship, small town, satellite, biography, rocket, west virginia, mining accident, teacher, coal mine, 1950s, sputnik, rocketry |
| Production Companies | Universal Pictures |
| Box Office |
Revenue: $34,698,685
Budget: $25,000,000 |
| Updates |
Updated: Aug 10, 2025 Entered: Apr 13, 2024 |
| Name | Job |
|---|---|
| Julie D'Antoni | Production Office Assistant |
| Homer H. Hickam Jr. | Book |
| Fred Murphy | Director of Photography |
| Barry Robison | Production Design |
| Tony Fanning | Art Direction |
| Betsy Cox | Costume Design |
| Julie Callihan | Makeup Artist |
| Leigh Ann Yandle | Makeup Artist |
| Lynn Barber | Makeup Supervisor |
| Zane Weiner | Unit Production Manager |
| Betsy Magruder | First Assistant Director |
| Jonathan McGarry | Second Assistant Director |
| William G. Davis | Set Designer |
| Alan Hook | Set Designer |
| Mary H. Ellis | Production Sound Mixer |
| Joe Digaetano | Special Effects Supervisor |
| Gloria Belz | Key Makeup Artist |
| Bill 'Splat' Johnson | Special Effects Makeup Artist |
| Susan Mills | Key Hair Stylist |
| Beka Wilson | Hairstylist |
| Michealle Vanderpool | Hairstylist |
| Jim Mitchell | Visual Effects Supervisor |
| Mark S. Miller | Visual Effects Producer |
| Howell Gibbens | Supervising Sound Editor |
| Elizabeth Kenton | Supervising ADR Editor |
| Joe E. Rand | Music Editor |
| Terry Arthur | Rigging Grip |
| John Fagan | Stunts |
| Jeff Galpin | Stunts |
| Cliff Cudney | Stunt Coordinator |
| David Brian Martin | Stunt Double |
| Robert Vazquez | Stunts |
| Brenda K. Wachel | Script Supervisor |
| Joe Johnston | Director |
| Lewis Colick | Screenplay |
| Mark Isham | Original Music Composer |
| Robert Dalva | Editor |
| Chris L. Spellman | Set Decoration |
| Mike Smith | Stunts |
| Andrew Menzies | Assistant Art Director |
| Tom Carlson | Music Editor |
| Russell Towery | Stunts |
| Nancy Foy | Casting |
| Name | Title |
|---|---|
| Peter Cramer | Executive Producer |
| Marc Sternberg | Executive Producer |
| Charles Gordon | Producer |
| Larry Franco | Producer |
| Organization | Category | Person |
|---|
Popularity History
| Year | Month | Avg | Max | Min |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 4 | 24 | 39 | 14 |
| 2024 | 5 | 27 | 43 | 14 |
| 2024 | 6 | 23 | 37 | 14 |
| 2024 | 7 | 23 | 35 | 13 |
| 2024 | 8 | 19 | 32 | 13 |
| 2024 | 9 | 19 | 35 | 12 |
| 2024 | 10 | 20 | 43 | 13 |
| 2024 | 11 | 17 | 26 | 12 |
| 2024 | 12 | 18 | 25 | 11 |
| 2025 | 1 | 19 | 35 | 12 |
| 2025 | 2 | 14 | 29 | 3 |
| 2025 | 3 | 7 | 23 | 1 |
| 2025 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| 2025 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| 2025 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 2 |
| 2025 | 7 | 3 | 5 | 2 |
| 2025 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| 2025 | 9 | 4 | 6 | 3 |
| 2025 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
Trending Position
| Year | Month | High | Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 9 | 840 | 861 |
| Year | Month | High | Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 6 | 276 | 614 |
<em>'October Sky'</em> got me in the feels. I tend to (unintentionally) be a bit of a hardnose when it comes to fiction (even if a biopic) making an impact, but it does occasionally happen and this is one of those times. Weirdly too, because it is cheesy/cliché/whatever, but it worked tremendously f ... or me. I felt my heartstrings tug a fair number of times throughout, culminating with those lovely final few scenes; I was actually welling up, would you believe? Any longer and tears may have been shed <i>*shudder*</i>. I've basically only seen one movie this last month - what has the break done to me?! Humour aside, I did love this though. I've said it before, but to be honest if you give me what I consider to be great cast performances then I'm practically sold on the film upon that coming to fruition. Jake Gyllenhaal is terrific (this still doesn't surpass <em>'Source Code'</em>, mind) as lead. Chris Cooper is ace, as are Laura Dern and Natalie Canerday. Chris Owen (Sherminator!), Chad Lindberg (Jesse!) and William Lee Scott (eh... well, Roy Lee as of now!) are good supports to Gyllenhaal as well. Even the likes of Elya Baskin and Randy Stripling add needed small bits. The music is good too, especially towards the end; early on it kinda goes with what I said about the flick being a tad cheesy and/or cliché. I would describe the movie as that to be frank, but that is more endearing than anything else. I'm fine with those things if it works, which it pleasantly does here. Joe Johnston really went back-to-back with this and <em>'Jumanji'</em>. Impressive!