John Hickam (Chris Cooper) is a West Virginia coal miner who loves his job and expects his sons, Jim (Scott Miles) and Homer (Jake Gyllenhaal), to follow in his footsteps. However, Homer is inspired by the first Sputnik launch to take up rocketry against his father's wishes.
26 June 1969, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
1 April 1952, Passaic, New Jersey, USA
9 March 1962, Russellville, Arkansas, USA
10 February 1967, Saint John's Health Center, Santa Monica, Los Angeles County, California, USA
25 September 1980, Michigan, USA
April 22, 1977 in Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
8 April 1952, San Antonio, Texas, USA
16 December 1914, Brooklyn, New York, USA
19 December 1980, Los Angeles, California, USA
23 September 1956, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
1956, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA
August 29, 2015
...compulsively watchable...
January 01, 2000
This movie has deep values.
January 01, 2000
Believable, subtle, and consistently intelligent!
January 26, 2006
The TV movie subject matter is infused with genuine feeling for the value of learning as a passport to freedom, and an authentic regard for the honest graft of working men.
January 01, 2000
A must-see for every student, parent and teacher in the country!
April 07, 2006
...plays like a TV movie made for everyone who subscribes to Reader's Digest. Still, its manipulations are sincere rather than cynical...
April 09, 2005
Director Joe Johnston has crafted a feel good film that doesn't pander to cheap emotions.
December 26, 2010
Inspiring tale for older tweens and up.
February 24, 2011
uplifting family film with great values
January 29, 2005
October Sky is a movie you want to believe in.
January 01, 2000
It is a film that treats its teen-aged hero and his pals as distinctive, sentient human beings.
January 01, 2000
A professionally crafted family film that reserves all its challenging moments for its characters, letting the audience bask comfortably in the approach of a predetermined warm and fuzzy ending.
