Apollo 13
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Metascore
77 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 22 Critics What's this?

User Score
8.3 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 68 Ratings

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0 out of 10
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  • Starring: Bill Paxton, Ed Harris, Gary Sinise, Kevin Bacon, Tom Hanks
  • Summary: Stranded 205,000 miles from Earth in a crippled spacecraft, astronauts Jim Lovell (Hanks), Fred Haise (Paxton) and Jack Swigert (Bacon) fight a desperate battle to survive. Meanwhile, at Mission Control, astronaut Ken Mattingle (Sinise), flight director Gene Kranz (Harris) and a heroic ground crew race against time -- and the odds -- to bring them home. [Universal]… Expand

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 22
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 22
  3. Negative: 0 out of 22
  1. Chicago Sun-Times
    Reviewed by: Roger Ebert
    100
    Ron Howard's film of this mission is directed with a single-mindedness and attention to detail that makes it riveting.
  2. Chicago Tribune
    Reviewed by: Michael Wilmington
    100
    It's a nail-biter and knuckle whitener of the first rank: a super real life techno thriller that reduces the fantasies of Tom Clancy and his clones to ground zero.
    All this critic's reviews
  3. The New Yorker
    Reviewed by: Terrence Rafferty
    80
    The film, despite its raggedness, is stirring. In the end, this failed mission seems like the most impressive achievement of the entire space program: a triumph not of planning but of inspired improvisation.
  4. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: Kenneth Turan
    60
    Self-conscious about its heroism with portrayals that lean toward the glib and the professionally uplifting, the film milks our sympathies too readily to be emotionally convincing.

See all 22 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 17
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 17
  3. Negative: 0 out of 17
  1. Nazgulero
    10
    I did not like the movie one bit. First of all, most of the time it is just too obvious that this is a movie, the set looks way too artificial. Fake. Then, all the acting is too forced. Forced cool, forced dramatic, forced heavy, it is just too easy to see that these are actors acting. It is just never convincing. If every look, every word, and every movement wants to forcefully convey significance, everything becomes just too much. That is what happened with this movie. Together with the ever dramatic soundtrack, it becomes unbearable to watch. In addition, how close is this to the truth, that two of the crew members so obviously do not trust the third crew member ?
    In all, there is no drama because every second is dramatic. No change in pace, no change in intensity. One you want to walk out of after 10 minutes.Quite a shame with that incredible cast.    … Expand
  2. OscarPicks2010
    9
    Based on a very dramatic event that got the globe coming together at the time praying that the astronauts would be okay, Apollo 13's realistic story and strong performances made it not-better-but-as-good-as the real event. Apollo 13 was supposed to be the third shuttle to land on the moon but an oxygen tank exploded and the astronauts found themselves in a real situation. Going through hell to get back to Earth, the guys finally made it and the world was happy. An interesting story but very simple. Thanks to writers William Broyles Jr. and Al Reinert, the story became a complex challenge of life or death situation. Also helped by strong performances particularly from Ed Harris and Kathleen Quinlan, Apollo 13 became an instant classic when it came out in 1994.… Expand
  3. Ravens1294
    8
    A good film with many talented actors that performed all well with one another. The movie was a little slow to start and at times, it got pretty boring.… Expand
  4. grandpajoe6191
    7
    Ron Howard's "Apollo 13" may be boring as hell with some cheesy moments, but the realistic direction and the powerful lead by Tom Hanks makes this space movie a movie you must watch.… Expand

See all 17 User Reviews

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