The Astronaut Farmer

2006

The Astronaut Farmer

Critics Consensus

The Astronaut Farmer is a charming, inspirational drama that successfully avoids modern cinematic cliches while appealing to the optimistic dreamer in all of us.

58%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 136

49%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 283,582
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Movie Info

Dismissed from NASA's space program, former astronaut-in-training Charles Farmer pursues his lifelong dream by building his own rocket. On the eve of his launch, he must battle foreclosure on his ranch, a small-town community of disbelievers, the FAA and FBI agents who want to shut him down in the name of Homeland Security--but he remains determined to reach his goal and instill in his children the courage to pursue their own dreams, no matter the odds.

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Cast

Billy Bob Thornton
as Charles Farmer
Virginia Madsen
as Audrey Farmer
Max Thieriot
as Shepard Farmer
Bruce Dern
as Hal
Tim Blake Nelson
as Kevin Munchak
Jasper Polish
as Stanley Farmer
Logan Polish
as Sunshine Farmer
Jon Gries
as FBI Agent Killbourne
Mark Polish
as FBI Agent Mathis
Sal Lopez
as Pepe Garcia
J.K. Simmons
as Director Jacobson
Kiersten Warren
as Phyllis
Rick Overton
as Arnold Milan
Richard Barela
Richard Edson
as Deputy Chopper Miller
Elise Eberle
as Madison Roberts
Jay Leno
as Himself
Julie White
as Beth Goode
Graham Beckel
as Frank
Marshall Bell
as Judge Miller
Kathleen Arc
as Mrs. Harder
Lois Geary
as Mrs. Graham
Dianne Anderson Mathis
as Reporter No. 1
William Lawrence Allen
as Reporter No. 2
Gregory Chase
as NASA Committee Member
Forrest Fyre
as State Senator
Janelle Sperow
as State Congresswoman
Robert E. Fleischer
as Will Beacon
Kathy Lamkin
as Jodie
Charlie Brown
as Phil
Richard Holcomb
as Reporter #4
Gary Houston
as Dr. Livingston
Adam Taylor Gordon
as FBI Agent #1
Bruce Willis
as Col. Doug Masterson
David House
as FBI Agent #2
John Lawrence Page
as FBI Agent #3
Mark Mathis
as ABC News Reporter
Matthew Kimbrough
as Henry Malone
Richard McClarkin
as Karl
Brian McCallister
as Student
George McKelvey
as Doug
Steve Cormier
as Appraiser
Scarlett McAlister
as Local New Reporter
Deborah Martinez
as Reporter #3
Benjamin Petry
as Child #1
Cheyenne Serano
as Child #2
Robyn Reede
as Secretary
Olive Gallagher
as Morning Show Host
Kevin Wiggins
as Rocket Expert
Joan Findley
as Reporter
Mary Sue Evans
as NASA Expert
Ida Darvish
as Italian Anchorwoman
Eugene Nomura
as Japanese Anchorman
Vikrum Shah
as Hindu Anchorman
Yvans Jourdain
as French Anchorman
Jennifer Chu
as Chinese Anchorwoman
Dallas Raines
as National Anchorman
John Burke
as Reporter
Roy Costley
as Astro "Nut" Local
Esodie Geiger
as CNN News Reporter
J.D. Garfield
as Sky Copter Reporter
J. Michael "Yak" Oliva
as Balloon Game Carnie
Richard Gunn
as Square Dance Caller
Marc Miles
as Rocket Ride Operator
Jenny Gabrielle
as Vanessa
Hannah Wiggins
as Child #3
David Marcilla
as Child #4
Joey Solis
as Squarer Dance Caller #2
Mark DeLisle
as Mission Control #1
Robert Michael Lee
as MP #1
David Sullivan
as Young Man
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News & Interviews for The Astronaut Farmer

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Critic Reviews for The Astronaut Farmer

All Critics (136) | Top Critics (35) | Fresh (79) | Rotten (57)

  • Fueled by a decidedly American formula of can-do crazy, The Astronaut Farmer feels, for all its libertarianism, a little lost in space.

    Mar 3, 2007 | Rating: 3/6 | Full Review…

    Joshua Rothkopf

    Time Out
    Top Critic

  • Too odd for a studio movie, too cornpone for the independent scene, The Astronaut Farmer

    Feb 24, 2007 | Rating: B-

    Scott Tobias

    AV Club
    Top Critic

  • You either roll with the hokum or you don't. If you do, the essential message of realizing your dreams flies as well as Jimmy Stewart's angel wings. If you don't, reality is as close as the nearest window.

    Feb 23, 2007 | Rating: 2.5/4

    Peter Howell

    Toronto Star
    Top Critic

  • 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 have little reign.

    Feb 23, 2007 | Rating: 2/4 | Full Review…

    Moira MacDonald

    Seattle Times
    Top Critic

  • The Astronaut Farmer's goofy quality makes it totally endearing. It's also super entertaining. Critics are fond of referring to movies as a 'great ride.' With this one, the words couldn't be more apt.

    Feb 23, 2007 | Rating: 3.5/4 | Full Review…

    Ruthe Stein

    San Francisco Chronicle
    Top Critic

  • 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 close to cliche.

    Feb 23, 2007 | Rating: 2.5/4

    Steven Rea

    Philadelphia Inquirer
    Top Critic
View All Critic Reviews (136)

Audience Reviews for The Astronaut Farmer

  • Mar 01, 2013
    The first ten minutes were the most tedious I've spend in ages. Is Billy Bob Thornton betting on his appeal to carry a movie, because I think that currency has been devalued. Anyway, the story is bogus: who even OWNS a family farm anymore? They're just feeders into Big Food. And why now? He's been at this rocket building task for ten years. Too unbelievable to be real and not charming enough to be good fantasy.
    Bathsheba M Super Reviewer
  • Feb 16, 2013
    A Texas rancher named Charles Farmer creates a sensation with his fantastical dream of launching a homemade rocket into space in The Astronaut Farmer. Featuring a strong cast that includes Billy Bob Thornton, Virginia Madsen, Tim Blake Nelson, and Bruce Willis, the film has some great performances. And the story is quite well written, especially in its ability to keep the focus on the Farmer family. However, there are some weaknesses in the plot and the film loses some momentum toward the end. Wonderfully uplifting, The Astronaut Farmer is an inspired story about following dreams.
    Dann M Super Reviewer
  • Jan 27, 2011
    The Astronaut Farmer is the fictional story of a former NASA astronaut who builds his own rocket to travel in space. The film follows the same feel good formula that many other films have taken, and the results are somewhat mixed. The film is average and can almost be seen as recycled ideas from previous films dealing with achieving the impossible. Obviously the character building his rocket will have obstacles to overcome and there'll be a period where he'll just want to give up, but he's encouraged to continue. The feds get involved because they believe that Charles Farmer is building a WMD in his barn. He faces the feds, skeptical neighbors, but he'll prove them wrong. Astronaut Farmer is typical of the feel good film. The film is good to watch, but it doesn't do anything new or original with the script. The Astronaut Farmer is a good film to watch with your family. Unfortunately the film is flawed and at times the film feels a bit stupid in it's dialogue delivery. Some parts made me cringe. The Astronaut Farmer is an average feel good film with decent acting, and average plot. However it's clear that the script suffers, and the full potential of this picture is strained and has yet to realized. Good, but not great. The thing with this film is that they were plenty of opportunities to craft something pretty good, but the filmmakers decided to recycle old ideas, and at times the film feels rushed. Still decent entertainment.
    Alex r Super Reviewer
  • Oct 21, 2010
    I really didn't want to see this. For reasons unknown, a relative of mine wanted to which, I can't remember if he just wanted to see this, or specifically he really had interest. I just remember arguing against this and feeling the pain of billy bob robbing my wallet.
    Thom M Super Reviewer
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