October Sky (PG)

Inspiring tale for older tweens and up.

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Common Sense rates it
5
Seen the movie? Review it
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Movie details
  • Studio: Universal Pictures
  • Directed By: Joe Johnston
  • Release Date: 02/21/1999
  • Genre: Drama
  • MPAA Rating: PG

Parents need to know

Parents need to know that a drunken stepfather beats up one of Homer's friends in one scene (and is stopped by John) and that there are some very mild sexual references.

Families can talk about how Homer, not a great student and not especially strong in math, became so inspired by an idea that he begins to think in new ways. Using math and science to solve problems made it real to him, and the work involved was -- like the eight- mile walk to his experimental launch site -- unquestionably worth it. They should also talk about why it was hard for John to support Homer's ambitions, why his mother saw it differently, whether Homer made the right choice in going to work in the mine -- and in leaving it, how kids at school treat the "nerds" and why, how people are evaluated differently in school than they are once they get out, and how life in 1999 is different from the world of 1957.

Message

Social Behavior:

None

Consumerism:

Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:

Some drinking, minor character is an alcoholic

Violence

Boy beat by stepfather

Sex

Very mild

Language

Strong for a PG

Common Sense says

What's the story?

Reviewed by Nell Minow

OCTOBER SKY is set in 1957, when the Soviet Union launched Sputnik, the first man-made orbiting satellite. Thanks to their teacher Miss Riley (Laura Dern), Homer Hickam (Jake Gyllenhaal) and his high school friends peer up into the clear sky over their tiny West Virginia coal mining town to see its tiny spark drift across the stars. Homer dreams of being a rocket scientist. His father, John (Chris Cooper), the mine supervisor, does not understand Homer's longing for a wider horizons. But others do. Miss Riley roots for "the unlucky ones." Homer's mother who covers the kitchen wall with a mural of the seascape she longs to see. Homer's friends are glad to be a part of something new and important, and the community is proud to have a hero.

Is it any good?

5
This true story of a boy from a small town who dreams of becoming a rocket scientist is one the best films of the past year and one of the best family movies ever made. We know from the beginning where the story is going, just as we knew with Rocky. The triumph of the underdog is one of literature's most enduring themes. As long as it is done well, audiences are happy to go along. It is never done better than it is here. The script, the production design, and the acting are all superb.

Gyllenhaal's expressive eyes show his simultaneous longing for the stars and for his father's approval. Cooper makes a role that could have been a one-dimensional tyrant multi-layered and complex, even sympathetic. Plot twists that might seem heavy-handed or melodramatic work because we know they really happened, and because these characters make us believe. We care so deeply about them that when we see real home movie footage of the real-life Homer's experiments we feel as though they are a part of our family.

Parents and kids say

All Reviews

There are 10 reviews.

5


Posted on 01/28/08 by Tsion Adult contributor

Inspiring Family Film for All! A Must-See!

OCTOBER SKY is the best. Here we have pin-point acting, marvelous directing, and an inspiring story about tolerance and following your dreams. It's beautiful. After teen Homer Hickam sees Sputnik race across the sky, he is determined to build rockets. One would think that's okay, but it's hard for Homer. He lives in Coalwood, a small, no-name town that relies on its coal mine for everything. To sum it up: No coal mine, no Coalwood. Homer's efforts are discouraged constantly by his miner father and his school principal, but are encouraged by schoolteacher Miss Riley and his mother. So Homer and his buddies hike a few miles, build a launch pad, and let the rockets fly. (SPOILER) Their brilliant work leads to victory at the nationwide science fair. Cursing is strong for a PG rating, but not as frequent as BACK TO THE FUTURE. "b**ch", "a*s", "da*n", and "s**t" are used many times. There is really no sex outside of teenage boys planning to wrap their arms around pretty girls, and the only violence is when a boy is briefly and non-graphically beat by his step-father. The beating is halted by Homer's dad. Really, OCTOBER SKY is the best. It's all you can hope for from movies. The acting is perfect, especially Laura Dern, who is an on-screen gem as Miss Riley. Watch it with your whole family and enjoy. This movie is a perfect example of what attracted us to movies in the first place. Highly reccommended.
5


Posted on 07/10/07 by punkypanda12 Kid contributor, age 12

Best Movie I Ever Saw

I loved this movie, my 6th grade science teacher showed it to me just this year. We were doing a rocket unit was why, and I thought it was phenomenal.
4

Posted on 05/02/07 by Anonymous Adult contributor

3


Posted on 03/16/07 by bubbo Kid contributor, age 14

Meh...

Am I the only one who didn't really like this movie? Well, I thought it was decent, wholesome family entertainment, but had a feeling of 'been there done that' to it. It's just another inspirational 'true story' kind of film, that's been done countless times before. But the main problem with 'October Sky' was the ending, which I found to be overly sentimental and rather corny, and caused some unintentional laughs from me. Overall, I thought this was an okay movie-mildly entertaining, and has a good cast, but far too sentimental, and the whole thing is more unexciting than inspiring.
4

Posted on 01/02/07 by Anonymous Adult contributor

5


Posted on 07/30/06 by DreamCatcher68 Kid contributor, age 16

A definate must-see.

This is an inspiring movie that will move you and your children. It sends a powerful and good message about following your dreams. There is very little sexual content and some language, but nothing that should stop you from watching it...I highly reccomend it to everyone! Great for 11+
5


Posted on 06/09/06 by WayTooDramatic Kid contributor, age 14

A great movie

This is an excellent movie, which is very inspiring. However, there are a few sexual references, and Homer and his girlfriend are shown in a steamed-up car. There is also some strong language for a PG.
4

Posted on 11/06/05 by Anonymous Adult contributor

4


Posted on 03/07/05 by fritzsky Adult contributor
5


Posted on 02/15/05 by hurricane10 Kid contributor, age 10

See all 10 reviews >

Adult Reviews

There are 5 reviews.

5


Posted on 01/28/08 by Tsion Adult contributor

Inspiring Family Film for All! A Must-See!

OCTOBER SKY is the best. Here we have pin-point acting, marvelous directing, and an inspiring story about tolerance and following your dreams. It's beautiful. After teen Homer Hickam sees Sputnik race across the sky, he is determined to build rockets. One would think that's okay, but it's hard for Homer. He lives in Coalwood, a small, no-name town that relies on its coal mine for everything. To sum it up: No coal mine, no Coalwood. Homer's efforts are discouraged constantly by his miner father and his school principal, but are encouraged by schoolteacher Miss Riley and his mother. So Homer and his buddies hike a few miles, build a launch pad, and let the rockets fly. (SPOILER) Their brilliant work leads to victory at the nationwide science fair. Cursing is strong for a PG rating, but not as frequent as BACK TO THE FUTURE. "b**ch", "a*s", "da*n", and "s**t" are used many times. There is really no sex outside of teenage boys planning to wrap their arms around pretty girls, and the only violence is when a boy is briefly and non-graphically beat by his step-father. The beating is halted by Homer's dad. Really, OCTOBER SKY is the best. It's all you can hope for from movies. The acting is perfect, especially Laura Dern, who is an on-screen gem as Miss Riley. Watch it with your whole family and enjoy. This movie is a perfect example of what attracted us to movies in the first place. Highly reccommended.
4

Posted on 05/02/07 by Anonymous Adult contributor

4

Posted on 01/02/07 by Anonymous Adult contributor

4

Posted on 11/06/05 by Anonymous Adult contributor

4


Posted on 03/07/05 by fritzsky Adult contributor

Kids Reviews

There are 5 reviews.

5


Posted on 07/10/07 by punkypanda12 Kid contributor, age 12

Best Movie I Ever Saw

I loved this movie, my 6th grade science teacher showed it to me just this year. We were doing a rocket unit was why, and I thought it was phenomenal.
3


Posted on 03/16/07 by bubbo Kid contributor, age 14

Meh...

Am I the only one who didn't really like this movie? Well, I thought it was decent, wholesome family entertainment, but had a feeling of 'been there done that' to it. It's just another inspirational 'true story' kind of film, that's been done countless times before. But the main problem with 'October Sky' was the ending, which I found to be overly sentimental and rather corny, and caused some unintentional laughs from me. Overall, I thought this was an okay movie-mildly entertaining, and has a good cast, but far too sentimental, and the whole thing is more unexciting than inspiring.
5


Posted on 07/30/06 by DreamCatcher68 Kid contributor, age 16

A definate must-see.

This is an inspiring movie that will move you and your children. It sends a powerful and good message about following your dreams. There is very little sexual content and some language, but nothing that should stop you from watching it...I highly reccomend it to everyone! Great for 11+
5


Posted on 06/09/06 by WayTooDramatic Kid contributor, age 14

A great movie

This is an excellent movie, which is very inspiring. However, there are a few sexual references, and Homer and his girlfriend are shown in a steamed-up car. There is also some strong language for a PG.
5


Posted on 02/15/05 by hurricane10 Kid contributor, age 10
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