Good Night Oppy
By Monique Jones,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Inspiring docu about Mars rovers has teamwork, curiosity.
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Good Night Oppy
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What's the Story?
GOOD NIGHT OPPY is a heartwarming documentary about Spirit and Opportunity, the two rovers who were sent to the Red Planet by NASA in 2004. Initially expected to explore for 90 days, Opportunity managed to survive for 15 years, helping NASA learn more than it ever thought possible about the planet's past, including its former state as a planet with water.
Is It Any Good?
This is a fun, insightful documentary about how the Mars rovers helped NASA learn major revelations about the Red Planet, including its watery past. Good Night Oppy will likely inspire space fans and STEM lovers of all ages, but it's especially important for younger viewers to watch. The film features several prominent mission team members, including women and people of color. Seeing them included may go far in helping young girls and children of color feel welcome in a space that has, in the past, seemed unwelcoming to non-male, non-White individuals.
The film also provides a way to examine empathy through the relationship the engineers establish with both Spirit and Opportunity. As the engineers' lives progress and change -- including growing their families and facing aging, sickness, and mortality -- they view those experiences through their relationship with their aging robots, who also experience their own versions of aging and sickness. At times, the film can feel a wee bit too saccharine, but overall, Good Night Oppy is a great documentary to watch with the whole family.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Good Night Oppy promotes STEM. What is STEM? How do the teams behind the rovers use STEM to make their dream a reality?
Why was curiosity important for the mission to be a success? How do the team members use curiosity to solve problems?
Why was teamwork important for the mission? How do team members use teamwork when problems arise?
Why do you think the team began to empathize with Spirit and Opportunity?
How is NASA using the images and information the rovers gathered about Mars? How can they use this information to inform us about Earth?
Movie Details
- In theaters: November 4, 2022
- On DVD or streaming: November 23, 2022
- Cast: Angela Bassett
- Director: Ryan White
- Inclusion Information: Female actors, Black actors
- Studio: Amazon Studios
- Genre: Documentary
- Topics: STEM , Great Boy Role Models , Great Girl Role Models , Science and Nature , Space and Aliens
- Character Strengths: Curiosity , Empathy , Gratitude , Teamwork
- Run time: 105 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG
- MPAA explanation: some mild language
- Award: Common Sense Selection
- Last updated: August 17, 2023
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