Race to Space

PG

Released Mar 15, 2002

1 hr. 44 min.

Drama

List

71%

7 Reviews

Tomatometer

39%

100+ Ratings

Audience Score

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.

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KB B

It's definitely geared for children but was okay.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

04/12/24

Full Review

Frances H

Very much for children, nothing for adults here.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

08/26/15

Full Review

Audience Member

Loved this movie. Great story, wonderful characters.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/11/23

Full Review

Audience Member

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.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/06/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Not as bad as I assumed it would be.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/27/23

Full Review

Audience Member

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.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/25/23

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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

Stanton

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Nancy Churnin

Dallas Morning News

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

Rated: B

Mar 21, 2002

Full Review

Michael Rechtshaffen

Hollywood Reporter

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

Mar 20, 2002

Full Review

Barbara Shulgasser

Common Sense Media

Boy trains chimp heading into space; peril and bullying.

Rated: 3/5

Apr 17, 2019

Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 2/5

Aug 29, 2005

Full Review

Scott Weinberg

Apollo Guide

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.

Rated: 62/100

Oct 17, 2002

Full Review

Ken Hanke

Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

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

Rated: 1/5

Aug 26, 2002

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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
Executive Producer: Glenn Greene, Peter Lambert, Al Lapin Jr., Neil P. White
Screenwriter: Eric Gardner, Steven H. Wilson
Distributor: Lionsgate Films
Production Co: Brookwell McNamara, Telepool
Rating: PG (Some Language|Peril)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 15, 2002, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 20, 2018
Sound Mix: Dolby Stereo, Dolby A, Dolby SR, Dolby Digital, Surround