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The Astronaut Farmer

  • 2006
  • PG
  • 1h 44m
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
23K
YOUR RATING
Billy Bob Thornton in The Astronaut Farmer (2006)
Home Video Trailer from Warner Bros. Pictures
Play trailer0:32
20 Videos
62 Photos
AdventureDramaSci-Fi

A NASA astronaut, forced to retire years earlier so he could save his family farm, has never given up his dream of space travel and looks to build his own rocket, despite the government's th... Read allA NASA astronaut, forced to retire years earlier so he could save his family farm, has never given up his dream of space travel and looks to build his own rocket, despite the government's threats to stop him.A NASA astronaut, forced to retire years earlier so he could save his family farm, has never given up his dream of space travel and looks to build his own rocket, despite the government's threats to stop him.

  • Director
    • Michael Polish
  • Writers
    • Mark Polish
    • Michael Polish
  • Stars
    • Billy Bob Thornton
    • Virginia Madsen
    • Bruce Dern
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    6.3/10
    23K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Michael Polish
    • Writers
      • Mark Polish
      • Michael Polish
    • Stars
      • Billy Bob Thornton
      • Virginia Madsen
      • Bruce Dern
    • 147User reviews
    • 98Critic reviews
    • 55Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos20

    The Astronaut Farmer
    Trailer 0:32
    Watch The Astronaut Farmer
    The Astronaut Farmer
    Trailer 0:27
    Watch The Astronaut Farmer
    The Astronaut Farmer
    Clip 1:02
    Watch The Astronaut Farmer
    The Astronaut Farmer
    Clip 1:03
    Watch The Astronaut Farmer
    The Astronaut Farmer
    Clip 1:05
    Watch The Astronaut Farmer
    The Astronaut Farmer Scene: I'm Here For Throwing A Brick
    Clip 1:08
    Watch The Astronaut Farmer Scene: I'm Here For Throwing A Brick
    The Astronaut Farmer Scene: It's Illegal To Buy That Much High Grade Fuel
    Clip 1:05
    Watch The Astronaut Farmer Scene: It's Illegal To Buy That Much High Grade Fuel
    The Astronaut Farmer Scene: You're A Fabulous Father
    Clip 1:07
    Watch The Astronaut Farmer Scene: You're A Fabulous Father
    The Astronaut Farmer Scene: You're My Crew
    Clip 1:15
    Watch The Astronaut Farmer Scene: You're My Crew
    The Astronaut Farmer Scene: We're In Space
    Clip 2:10
    Watch The Astronaut Farmer Scene: We're In Space
    The Astronaut Farmer Scene: She Tells Everyone That Her Daddy The Astronaut
    Clip 0:44
    Watch The Astronaut Farmer Scene: She Tells Everyone That Her Daddy The Astronaut
    The Astronaut Farmer Scene: If We Don't Have Our Dreams, We Have Nothing
    Clip 0:33
    Watch The Astronaut Farmer Scene: If We Don't Have Our Dreams, We Have Nothing

    Photos62

    Sal Lopez in The Astronaut Farmer (2006)
    Billy Bob Thornton in The Astronaut Farmer (2006)
    Billy Bob Thornton, Logan Polish, and Jasper Polish in The Astronaut Farmer (2006)
    Virginia Madsen and Max Thieriot in The Astronaut Farmer (2006)
    Billy Bob Thornton and Kathleen Arc in The Astronaut Farmer (2006)
    Billy Bob Thornton and Kathleen Arc in The Astronaut Farmer (2006)
    Virginia Madsen and Bruce Dern in The Astronaut Farmer (2006)
    Billy Bob Thornton and Logan Polish in The Astronaut Farmer (2006)
    Virginia Madsen in The Astronaut Farmer (2006)
    Billy Bob Thornton and Bruce Dern in The Astronaut Farmer (2006)
    Billy Bob Thornton in The Astronaut Farmer (2006)
    Billy Bob Thornton in The Astronaut Farmer (2006)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Billy Bob Thornton
    Billy Bob Thornton
    • Charles Farmer
    Virginia Madsen
    Virginia Madsen
    • Audrey 'Audie' Farmer
    Bruce Dern
    Bruce Dern
    • Hal
    Max Thieriot
    Max Thieriot
    • Shepard Farmer
    Jasper Polish
    Jasper Polish
    • Stanley Farmer
    Logan Polish
    Logan Polish
    • Sunshine Farmer
    Mark Polish
    Mark Polish
    • FBI Agent Mathis
    Jon Gries
    Jon Gries
    • FBI Agent Killbourne
    Tim Blake Nelson
    Tim Blake Nelson
    • Kevin Munchak
    Sal Lopez
    Sal Lopez
    • Pepe Garcia
    J.K. Simmons
    J.K. Simmons
    • Jacobson
    Kiersten Warren
    Kiersten Warren
    • Phyllis
    Rick Overton
    Rick Overton
    • Arnold 'Arnie' Millard
    Richard Edson
    Richard Edson
    • Chopper Miller
    Elise Eberle
    Elise Eberle
    • Madison Roberts
    Julie White
    Julie White
    • Beth Goode
    Graham Beckel
    Graham Beckel
    • Frank
    Marshall Bell
    Marshall Bell
    • Judge Miller
    • Director
      • Michael Polish
    • Writers
      • Mark Polish
      • Michael Polish
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      When Farmer is about to launch, Shepard says: "Cleared for launch at zero hour nine a.m.," an homage to the Elton John song "Rocket Man."
    • Goofs
      Farmer is able to communicate with his ground controller, Sheppard, throughout the flight, except when his radio system is not operational due to a malfunction. In fact, radio transmissions are only possible if the antenna of the transmitter has a "line of sight" to the receiver. Farmer could not speak with his ground controller when he was on the other side of the Earth. NASA uses a series of antennas located around the world to receive and relay radio signals to Houston, the home of NASA Mission Comtrol at the Johnson Space Center.
    • Quotes

      Charles Farmer: You see, 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.

    • Crazy credits
      During the credits, an interview on The Tonight Show is shown between Farmer and Jay Leno. Pictures play during the credits as well.
    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Norbit/Factory Girl/The Astronaut Farmer/Because I Said So/The Situation (2007)
    • Soundtracks
      Luckenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love)
      Written by Bobby Emmons and Chips Moman

      Performed by Waylon Jennings

      Courtesy of The RCA Label Group RLG/Nashville

      By arrangement with Sony BMG Music Entertainment

    User reviews147

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    9/10
    It's not a comedy, I swear, but somehow it still works.
    When I first heard there was a movie in which my buddy Billy Bob builds a rocket in his barn, I thought for sure it must be a comedy or some sort of spoof or slapstick. Then I saw the trailer, which portrayed the film as serious drama. Given this background, I must say, I had my doubts when I went to an advanced screening in Salt Lake City last night. I need not have worried. The movie was in fact serious (with some great laughs on the aside) and yet it still worked.

    Admittedly, the follow-your-dreams-no-matter-what genre has been around since the dawn of time, but Astronaut Farmer manages to stand out nonetheless. The timeless truths are all the more poignant set against the backdrop of such an impossible dream. The problems Charlie Farmer confronts are in many ways similar to problems we all face. Themes of love, sacrifice, and faith make this movie easy to relate to. It is a metaphor of being true to yourself and following your dreams, not just another sappy you-can-do-anything-you-set-your-mind-to knockoff. I recommend it to anyone who has ever wanted something out of life that seemed out of reach or that others scoffed at.
    helpful•91
    37
    • recinutah
    • Jan 30, 2007

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 23, 2007 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Warner Bros. Pictures (United States)
    • Languages
      • English
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
      • Астронавт Фермер
    • Filming locations
      • White Sands, New Mexico, USA(opening credits)
    • Production companies
      • Warner Bros.
      • Spring Creek Pictures
      • Polish Brothers Construction
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $13,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $11,003,643
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $4,454,319
      • Feb 25, 2007
    • Gross worldwide
      • $11,130,889
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 44 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • DTS
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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