Billy Bob Thornton, Bruce Dern, Bruce Willis

An astronaut is forced to leave NASA to save his family farm, but he continues to dream of space travel and sets out to build a rocket inside his barn. Though his neighbors consider him an oddity, the...( read more  read more... ) media considers him a story, and the government considers him a threat, nothing can deter him from his dream to break through the atmosphere and orbit the earth.

Flixster Users

52% liked it

34,255 ratings

Critics

58% liked it

132 critics

PG, 1 hr. 44 min.

Directed by: Michael Polish

Release Date: December 31, 2006

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DVD Release Date: July 10, 2007

Stats: 9,853 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (9,853)


  • January 26, 2009
    It's a nice feel good movie here,a great sunday afternoon flick we some nice performances from the cast.worth checking out if your feeling down.
  • January 6, 2009
    This film would have benefited from a competent technical adviser.
  • August 17, 2008
    "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."


    Great film, inspiring. A family holding together, believing together and not giving up no matter what everyone el...( read more)se says and what goes wrong.
  • May 22, 2008
    I think he was a terrible father to waste all of the family's money on that rocket. They almost lost their home! Also, I think it was a terribly unbelievable story.
  • May 1, 2008
    "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."

    The Astronaut Farmer is an amazing and inspiring movie that should leave you satisfied at the end. It is a story a...( read more)bout keeping your dreams and never giving up, it has a strong message and a great cast to support it. It's movies like this that should be seen by more people, it certainly kept me watching intently throughout the whole movie, just waiting for Charlie Farmer to accomplish his dream.

    Billy Bob Thornton is Charlie Farmer in this movie, a man with a dream to go into space and orbit the earth. But he doesn't want to go up the normal way, instead he spends his time building his own rocket in his barn. He's not an average guy either, he has great engineering skills so that keeps it more realistic. We find out that he was going to go into space through NASA, but pulled out because his Dad was sick. Ever since he has had a dream to go up into space and look down on the earth, it's his dream that he never gives up. But things get more complicated, his family's money is scarce and the bank threatens to take his property, and even worse, the FBI start investigating. It's one of those movies that you just want him to get up there in space and accomplish his dream.

    This is something you'd expect from Billy Bob when he's not making those insanely funny comedy movies, he's great in roles like this. Apart from just few scenes, to me the whole cast were amazing. As Charlie's supportive family, his wife is played by Virginia Madsen. She wasn't half bad, but I really liked Max Thieriot in his role in this movie as Charlie's son Shepard. Bruce Willis also had a role in this movie, I would have liked to have seen more of him but it was great to see him in this film. Just because it is something different to what he normally does, and he had a great character personality too..

    This is satisfying and fun to watch, as well as being inspirational this is a pleasure to see, I recommend this to anyone who likes these types of films, you won't be disappointed.
  • November 6, 2009
    I usually avoid Billy Bob Thornton when he's trying to be honorable because, I know, deep-down-inside, he's not. But I will eventually get around to watching this one.
  • October 27, 2009
    Continues to relate to the realities of life and the struggles of identity that we wage. Also, some great lines regarding faith and spirituality throughout life
  • October 23, 2009
    A farmer dreams of traveling into space and builds a rocket. Mostly through trial and error, support of his loved ones, he makes his dream come true.
  • September 17, 2009
    This is a great movie.Billy Bob Thornton once again delivers yet another performance that deserves an Oscar.I highly recommend that everyone who likes Billy Bob Thornton should most definately watch this movie.
  • September 15, 2009
    With a painfully slow pace, a lead character (Billy Bob Thornton as, seriously, Charlie Farmer) who is firmly in the wrong, unbelievable plot progressions that go from contrived to just damn lazy and ho-hum performances, The Astronaut Farmer is a supposed feel good drama that bri...( read more)ngs a feeling of dread.

Critic Reviews


February 23, 2007
Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times

A mysterious little movie about a man following his dream, The Astronaut Farmer seems to be a visitor from some alternative universe, a place where logic and reason and recognizable human behavior hav... full review

February 23, 2007
Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer

Filled with lovely images (the opening credit sequence, of Charlie in his spacesuit, riding the range on horseback, is a beaut) and nice character turns, The Astronaut Farmer nonetheless veers too clo... full review

February 23, 2007
Colin Covert, The Minneapolis Star Tribune

Thornton's serene certainty that he can touch the stars all on his own has an irresistible pull. Even as the sensible part of you is hoping he won't be a dadgum fool and endanger his life, the visiona... full review

February 23, 2007
Amy Biancolli, Houston Chronicle

Look, there's Bruce Willis, an old astronaut buddy from Farmer's aeronautics-training days! No, Mission Control, this isn't Armageddon. Ben Affleck is nowhere in sight... full review

February 23, 2007
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail

You keep waiting for the other shoe to drop: When will the irony start? The twist is there isn't one. The Astronaut Farmer starts out looking like a parody of wholesome inspirational fare and then get... full review

February 23, 2007
Pete Hammond, Maxim

Houston, we've got a bomb! full review

February 23, 2007
A.O. Scott, The New York Times

With another actor in the title role (Kevin Costner, say, just off the top of my head) the mawkishness would be unbearable, but Mr. Thornton can be relied upon for understated dignity accompanied by a...

February 22, 2007
Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal

This movie is some muddled imagineering. It's a glib fantasy that soars beyond the misinformation belt into the vacuous realm of misinspiration. full review

February 22, 2007
Claudia Puig, USA Today

This is neither a satire nor an allegory. It's an infuriating and formulaic attempt at inspirational drama that panders so appallingly to an American audience hungry for uplifting tales of derring-do ... full review

View more The Astronaut Farmer reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments


  • BrittyWitty
    July 7, 2007
    I so want to see this
    its got Billy Bob Thorton in it but i know this isnt a comedy movie but there has to be a little if he is in it.
    and max theiriot is in it so thats another reason I want to see it =P~
  • 1NOnlyNikkiD
    April 8, 2007
    I thought the movie was good because it inspires people to pursure they're dreams because no matter what people say they are never impossible or out of reach it just takes heart
  • o1babygirl
    February 23, 2007
    i haven't seen this movie yet but to me it sounds like it will be good!
  • jyothki911
    February 20, 2007
    hi!!!!!!!


    it was good!!!!!!!!

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The Astronaut Farmer Trivia


  • Who portrayed Charles Farmer in the film The Astronaut Farmer ?  Answer »
  • What film has this quote: Will Beacon: " Mr Farmer how do we know we aren't constructing a WMD " Charles Farmer:"Sir, if I was building a mass destruction you wouldn't be able to find it ?  Answer »
  • What is the name of the rocket in The Astronaut Farmer.  Answer »
  • Who starred in the following films -Catch that Kid -The Pacifier -The Astronaut Farmer -Nancy Drew  Answer »

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