Race to Space

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Race to Space

PG

2002

1h 44m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

71%

Tomatometer

7 Reviews

40%

Popcornmeter

100+ Ratings

As the space race heats up in the early 1960s, NASA scientist Dr. Wilhelm von Huber is having trouble relating to his son, Billy, following the death of his wife. But when von Huber is hired by Dr. Donni McGuinness to help train a chimp named Mac for a special mission, things change between father and son. Billy bonds with Mac as the chimp prepares for his space flight, and in the process, he and his dad begin to better understand each other.

Nancy Churnin

Dallas Morning News

03/21/2002

B

It could get a whole new generation of kids looking up at the stars and wondering, 'Why not?'

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Michael Rechtshaffen

The Hollywood Reporter

03/20/2002

... packs a fair amount of crowd-rousing potential.

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Barbara Shulgasser

Common Sense Media

04/17/2019

3/5

Boy trains chimp heading into space; peril and bullying.

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

08/29/2005

2/5

Scott Weinberg

Apollo Guide

10/17/2002

62/100

According to the cuddly sweet family flick Race to Space, the birth of the United States space program was important only in relation to a silly monkey and his 12-year-old pal.

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Ken Hanke

Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

08/26/2002

1/5

Wow! Monkeys in orbit! Laughable non-history lesson. James Woods has the worst German accent in history

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KB B

@Okbullard 04/12/2024

It's definitely geared for children but was okay.

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01/17/2011

Loved this movie. Great story, wonderful characters.

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03/23/2010

The story of America's first lifeform in space always feels contrived for entertainment purposes, but at the same time it's a well made feel good movie.

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01/11/2010

Not as bad as I assumed it would be.

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01/10/2010

Perhaps pleasing to indiscriminate parents and animal lovers, this turns into a laughable non-history lesson, which James Woods providing one of the worst German accents in the history of history.

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12/27/2009

More impressed by the fact that it wasn't overly cheesy and boring, than by the overall quality of the movie. Race to Space wan't horribly acted either and I was surprised that I liked it as much as I did. James Woods doesn't a terrific job as the disciplinarian German father and Alex D. Linz does quite well as the son. Must say it isn't a horrible for a family movie.

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Sean McNamara

Director

James Woods

Dr. Wilhelm Von Huber

Annabeth Gish

Dr. Donnie McGuiness

Alex D. Linz

Billy Von Huber

William Devane

Richard Thornhill

William Atherton

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Synopsis

As the space race heats up in the early 1960s, NASA scientist Dr. Wilhelm von Huber is having trouble relating to his son, Billy, following the death of his wife. But when von Huber is hired by Dr. Donni McGuinness to help train a chimp named Mac for a special mission, things change between father and son. Billy bonds with Mac as the chimp prepares for his space flight, and in the process, he and his dad begin to better understand each other.

Director: Sean McNamara
Producer: David Brookwell, Sean McNamara
Screenwriter: Eric Gardner, Steven H. Wilson
Distributor: Lionsgate Films
Production Co: Telepool, Brookwell McNamara
Rating: PG (Some Language|Peril)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 15, 2002, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 20, 2018
Runtime: 1h 44m
Sound Mix: Dolby Stereo, Dolby A, Dolby SR, Dolby Digital, Surround

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