In Coalwood, West Virginia, all the boys grow up to be coal miners and Homer Hickam has no reason to think he'll be any different. Too small to earn a football scholarship, Homer has no way out of his predetermined life -- until the soviet satellite Sputnik flies over the October sky and changes everything. It's 1957 and Homer's world just got a lot bigger. Though his father is mine superintendent and has no greater wish than to see his sons follow in his footsteps, Homer embarks on a mission to build and launch his own homemade rockets with the help of his loyal band of friends. Though their frequent mistakes nearly get them shut down, their successes inspire the whole town to believe that miracles can happen even in Coalwood, and there's nothing wrong with shooting for the stars.
Cast Names Brian Keith; Shawn Lindsay; Jake Gyllenhaal; Chris Cooper; Laura Dern; Chris Owen; William Lee Scott; Chad Lindberg; Natalie Canerday; Scott Miles; Randy Stripling; Chris Ellis; Elya Baskin; Courtney Cole-Fendley; David Dwyer; Terry Loughlin; Kailie Hollister; David Copeland; Don Henderson Baker; Tom Kagy; Donald Thorne; Justin Whitsett; Larry Rue; Neva Howell; Terry Nienhuis; Brady Coleman; Rick Forrester; Terrence Gibney; Doug Swander; Keeli Hale Kimbro;
Box Office USD 32,481,825
Release Date 1999-02-19
Genres Biography; Drama; Family;
MPAA Rating [?] Rated PG for language, brief teen sensuality and alcohol use, and
for some thematic elements.