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The Astronaut's Wife

  • 1999
  • R
  • 1h 49m
IMDb RATING
5.4/10
59K
YOUR RATING
Johnny Depp and Charlize Theron in The Astronaut's Wife (1999)
Theatrical Trailer from New Line Cinema
Play trailer2:15
1 Video
99+ Photos
Space Sci-FiDramaSci-FiThriller

An astronaut acts strangely after a space mission.An astronaut acts strangely after a space mission.An astronaut acts strangely after a space mission.

  • Director
    • Rand Ravich
  • Writer
    • Rand Ravich
  • Stars
    • Charlize Theron
    • Johnny Depp
    • Joe Morton
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.4/10
    59K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Rand Ravich
    • Writer
      • Rand Ravich
    • Stars
      • Charlize Theron
      • Johnny Depp
      • Joe Morton
    • 287User reviews
    • 63Critic reviews
    • 38Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination total

    Videos1

    The Astronaut's Wife
    Trailer 2:15
    The Astronaut's Wife

    Photos122

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    + 116
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    Top Cast43

    Edit
    Charlize Theron
    Charlize Theron
    • Jillian Armacost
    Johnny Depp
    Johnny Depp
    • Commander Spencer Armacost
    Joe Morton
    Joe Morton
    • Sherman Reese, NASA Representative
    Clea DuVall
    Clea DuVall
    • Nan
    Donna Murphy
    Donna Murphy
    • Natalie Streck
    Nick Cassavetes
    Nick Cassavetes
    • Capt. Alex Streck
    Samantha Eggar
    Samantha Eggar
    • Dr. Patraba
    Gary Grubbs
    Gary Grubbs
    • NASA Director
    Blair Brown
    Blair Brown
    • Shelly McLaren
    Tom Noonan
    Tom Noonan
    • Jackson McLaren
    Tom O'Brien
    Tom O'Brien
    • Allen Dodge
    Lucy Lin
    • Shelly Carter
    Michael Crider
    Michael Crider
    • Pat Elliott
    Jacob Stein
    • Calvin, 2nd Grade Student
    Timothy Wicker
    • Wide Eyed Kid #1
    Sarah Dampf
    Sarah Dampf
    • Paula, 2nd Grade Student
    Charles Lanyer
    • Spencer's Doctor
    Gary Carlos Cervantes
    Gary Carlos Cervantes
    • Doctor
    • (as Carlos Cervantes)
    • Director
      • Rand Ravich
    • Writer
      • Rand Ravich
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews287

    5.458.7K
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    Featured reviews

    johnnywagner-09971

    Lack of pacing and direction make this a missed opportunity

    The Astronaut's wife is a bad film- no two ways about it. The plot is basically Rosemary's baby in a science fiction template. Johnny Depp and Charlize Theron play a married couple about to have a baby when Depp, an astronaut is assigned a space mission. Something happens out there and although he returns in one shape something is amiss. The film is slow paced and doesn't really go anywhere, from what I remember. This is a film that should be considered only if nothing else interests you in the science fiction catalogue.
    7perfectbond

    Payoff could've been better

    Up to about ninety percent through the film, The Astronaut's seems to be on course to being something special. Leads Depp and Theron are very convincing in their roles and they are backed by a very competent supporting cast led by the always reliable Joe Morton (T2, Speed, Bounce, Paycheck, Smallville). The special effects and cinematography are well done and the pacing and building of suspense entice the viewer to unravel the mystery along with the protagonist. Unfortunately the revelation doesn't quite live up to the buildup leaving the viewer more than a little dissatisfied. Despite the letdown I still recommend this movie on the strength of the performances and on the fact that is a rare hybrid of the science fiction and thriller genres. 7/10.
    5Bernie4444

    No depth but fun for kibitzing

    An astronaut has some sort of weird experience in space. He comes back acting funny. Does anyone notice? Not until he goes off the deep end. How will it all end?

    Just because this is one-dimensional and predictable does not mean you can not still say "stay in the car." And you do not think having twins is spooky? Rosemary's Baby never grew up to be a pilot. Yeah, and such common names as Spencer Armacost; whatever happened to Igor or Jeffery Dhalmer? They are put in a quiet space, so you have time to think about what happened (or did not happen) and you call it dull. Do you think that they would intentionally make a bad movie?

    Interestingly enough the actors, including Johnny Depp and Charlize Theron, for better or worse have made some memorable movies. So, it is interesting to speculate how they were lured into this particular film.

    If you can believe the premise of this film then the next film to watch is Shatner in Space (2021),
    7niflheimr-66-177082

    Good acting, entertaining story, better than expected

    Before watching this movie, I was slightly put off by the other reviews.. I thought it was perhaps one of those movies that you can either love or hate but no one fully understands it.. but no.. it isn't the most brilliant movie ever, but it's good! the story is a bit simple, but entertaining enough! Makes you tense like any thriller should, makes you wait what turns out. Some compare it to Rosemary's baby but from the space, although I think I know where this comparison comes from, I strongly disagree. And I need to add that Astronaut's Wife in my opinion is a far more entertaining movie to watch than Rosemary's baby. Overall pleasant way to spend your time.. Just don't expect a masterpiece and you will enjoy it.
    8mmr07

    Could have been a Classic Thriller

    I watched this movie yesterday, and I was hooked to its haunting story till the end. First I have to say the performances were excellent, Johnny Depp still surprises me with his variety of roles, I can't imagine he could have done the hilarious role of Captain Jack Sparrow after this scary role.

    His eyes were acting more than any part of his body and you could feel the slight change in his character through the stillness of his eyes. Charlize Theron gave a better performance than her Devil's advocate role although they had the same criteria, the disturbed wife. But her genuine agonizing performance distinguished her in this movie.

    I noticed the music was a major pillar in this movie, it was like another main character in this movie, the editing was great also especially the scene in the subway. The story was an original also, it had good turn ups and twists.

    The movie had all the right elements in general and it certainly doesn't deserve a 4.7 on the imdb. I think the voters were greatly disappointed after seeing all those good elements destroyed by the cheesy and typical ending that only producers could have had a part with, in order to make another sequel.

    The ending by all means was bad, it destroyed the originality of the story and the tension build up. I give it an 7.5 for all the good elements, it would reached a 9.0 if the ending was different.

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    Related interests

    Leonard Nimoy and William Shatner in Star Trek (1966)
    Space Sci-Fi
    Naomie Harris, Mahershala Ali, Janelle Monáe, André Holland, Herman Caheej McGloun, Edson Jean, Alex R. Hibbert, and Tanisha Cidel in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama
    James Earl Jones and David Prowse in Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
    Sci-Fi
    Cho Yeo-jeong in Parasite (2019)
    Thriller

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The movie that Jillian and Spencer watch together is Penny Serenade (1941), which also centers on a dramatic child rearing.
    • Goofs
      All NASA shuttle astronauts live and work in the vicinity of the Johnson Space Center in Houston, many of them in Clear Lake, a Houston suburb. Yet in the film, Jillian teaches school in Florida, where she and Armacost clearly live. Astronauts only go to Florida for launches.
    • Quotes

      Nan: Men are like parking spaces: all the good ones are taken, and the available ones are handicapped.

    • Alternate versions
      The Indian Censor Board made cuts for an 'A' (adults) certificate by deleting the word "motherfucker", muting the word "fucking" from the line "Jesus fucking Christ" and reducing 50% of the love-making scene especially reducing to a flash the thrusting movements on the bed (when shown continuously) (Length Retained: 37.00 ft).
    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Chill Factor/In Too Deep/Dudley Do-Right/The Astronaut's Wife/All the Little Animals (1999)
    • Soundtracks
      Poor Butterfly
      Written by Raymond Hubbell, John Golden

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    FAQ19

    • How long is The Astronaut's Wife?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 27, 1999 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • El engendro
    • Filming locations
      • March Air Reserve Base, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • New Line Cinema
      • Mad Chance
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $75,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $10,672,566
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $4,027,003
      • Aug 29, 1999
    • Gross worldwide
      • $19,598,588
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 49m(109 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • DTS
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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