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Space Cowboys
Warner Bros.


5.6

based on 36 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

based on 11 votes
Read user comments
Rate this movie

FILM:

MPAA RATING: PG-13 for some language

Starring Clint Eastwood, Tommy Lee Jones, James Garner, Donald Sutherland, and James Cromwell

In the 1950's, one of the first satellites was launched. Today, it is malfunctioning and threatening the Earth, and the original astronaut (Eastwood) is asked to go and do repairs. He wants three old air force buddies to go with him into space for the last time and fix it.

GENRE(S):	Suspense/Thriller
WRITTEN BY:	Ken Kaufman Howard Klausner
DIRECTED BY:	Clint Eastwood
RELEASE DATE:	DVD: April 17, 2001 Video: April 17, 2001 Theatrical: August 4, 2000
RUNNING TIME:	130 minutes, Color
ORIGIN:	USA

Received a 2001 Oscar nomination for Sound Editing.

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100

San Francisco Chronicle Bob Graham

Best movie of the summer.

The New York Times Dana Stevens

One of the best entertainments this season has yet offered.

Time Richard Corliss

It blends tension and emotion, computer wizardry and dramatic skill in a vigorous climax--and the most impressive, haunting final shot of the movie year.

New York Post Lou Lumenick

Expertly directed, acted and written crowd-pleaser.

Chicago Tribune Michael Wilmington

Ends up working like a charm.

Philadelphia Inquirer Steven Rea

An amiable mix of "Grumpy Old Men" comedy and "Apollo 13" can-we-fix-this-jalopy-before-we-die? Drama.

Village Voice J. Hoberman

An entertainingly raffish action-comedy.

Los Angeles Times Kenneth Turan

This is a mostly genial film that gets as much mileage as it can out of the undeniable charisma of its stars.

Dallas Observer Andy Klein

Eastwood provides more than an hour of easygoing fun, followed by 45 minutes of action and suspense.

Slate David Edelstein

It proves that male action stars can triumph not only over space but, more important, over time.

Chicago Reader Jonathan Rosenbaum

The special effects are beautifully handled and the reflections on death attractively peaceful.

Newsweek David Ansen

The movie itself, like these guys, is defiantly old school -- confident, relaxed, professional.

Variety Todd McCarthy

Good escapist entertainment, and the effect is ingratiating.

Variety Dennis Harvey

Good escapist entertainment, and the effect is ingratiating.

LA Weekly John Patterson

It's a rare pleasure to see these senior citizens given so much screen time, droopy butts and all.

Baltimore Sun Ann Hornaday

Arrives as a balm to seared adult psyches that have endured all manner of assaults at the multiplex this season.

Seattle Post-Intelligencer Sean Axmaker

I guess there's something grizzled old codgers like Clint can teach those young hotshots after all.

Christian Science Monitor David Sterritt

The story takes a while to get started, but the acting is lively, the special effects are snazzy.

San Francisco Examiner Wesley Morris

From both sides of the camera, Eastwood works the crowd better than he has in years.

Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert

The stuff in outer space is unexpected, the surprise waiting out there is genuine, and meanwhile, there's an abundance of charm and screen presence from the four veteran actors.

USA Today Mike Clark

Preposterous to the extreme.

New York Daily News Jami Bernard

The joy of Space Cowboys is in spending quality time with some favorite old actors who obviously enjoy working together.

Mr. Showbiz Larry Terenzi

He's (Eastwood) made a mature film that bests nearly all of the summer's highly touted blockbusters for pure escapism.

Film.com Peter Brunette

The filmmaker has given us two films for the price of one. Unfortunately, the second film, a gripping thriller which occupies the last 45 minutes of Space Cowboys, is much better and more involving than the first film.

Rolling Stone Peter Travers

The plot is too implausible to rank with "Unforgiven," but, oh, what a fun ride.

Austin Chronicle Marjorie Baumgarten

A lighthearted action adventure starring four of the most likable guys on the planet.

Entertainment Weekly Lisa Schwarzbaum

Poorly engineered: lurchingly paced, the dramatic conflicts duct taped together.

Portland Oregonian Kim Morgan

An affable, entertaining and poignant experience of the sort not normally afforded by space movies.

TNT RoughCut J. Rentilly

An enormously satisfying corndog of a movie.

Miami Herald Rene Rodriguez

Enjoyably preposterous, old-guys-are-cool-too plot.

Charlotte Observer Lawrence Toppman

The part that caters to older fans is funny and satisfying, if unbelievable. The part that plays to action-movie devotees is muddled, unsatisfying and unbelievable. Luckily, the first part is about two-thirds of the movie.

Boston Globe Jay Carr

Space Cowboys does achieve liftoff.

Film.com Sean Means

I really wish a younger man than Clint Eastwood had directed it.

Salon.com Andrew O'Hehir

Although his (Eastwood's) intentions are good, he simply isn't capable of the wry, wistful blend of humor and sadness this story desperately needs.

TV Guide Maitland McDonagh

If only this amiable shaggy dog story...didn't degenerate into an implausible, second-rate thriller after takeoff.

Washington Post Rita Kempley

An implausible action adventure with the most geriatric payload since a community of retirees lifted off in "Cocoon."

The average user rating for this movie is 5.6 (out of 10) based on 11 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

[Anonymous] gave it an8:
Humorously portrays these old veterans of the movie industry as heroes, proving one again to the young how it's all done. Surprisingly, these old-timers still have a thing or two to show us yet.

Steve H. gave it a4:
Four old actors are brought together to fill out a plot that should have been destroyed many years before. If you get teary and nostalgic when drunk, this is the film for you. Otherwise avoid it.

Pat C. gave it a 5:
I like the actors, and in this outing their interaction was generally stimulating. Overall though, the movie was just a little too dumbed down.

Phillip P. gave it a 10:
Despite what other say, I think that this movie was filled with suspense - the nervous Russian general, the overwhelming first view of the nuclear missiles, and the scene where Frank [Tommy Lee Jones] ...(final scene spoiler deleted)...

Yoon C. gave it a 7:
Routine Eastwood vehicle is enjoyable enough. It's easy to forgive, what with old-timers giving their best and having some fun. Most pleasant of all is its laidback pacing and classic storytelling with enough breathing space for modicum of character and plot development; contrast that to most recent action films which zoom forward nonstop like a roller coaster. Honorable but none too memorable either.

David C. gave it a 4:
Some humor, just seemed too "hollywood" though. It was a cookie cutter movie that didn't provide any new provacative storyline. Donald Sutherland was stellar though.

Josie P. gave it a 7:
Mildly entertaining, good-hearted, and not too bogged down with technology.

Space Cowboys Warner Bros.

Space Cowboys
Warner Bros.