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The Right Stuff

The Right Stuff

Drama · History · 1983

At the dawn of the Space Race, seven test pilots set out to become the first American astronauts to enter space. However, the road to making history brings momentous challenges.

Movie details

The Right Stuff

“How the future began.”

1983 Drama · History 3h 13m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

7.4 / 10

Community rating

At the dawn of the Space Race, seven test pilots set out to become the first American astronauts to enter space. However, the road to making history brings momentous challenges.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over The Right Stuff?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Sully

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On 15 January 2009, the world witnessed the 'Miracle on the Hudson' when Captain 'Sully' Sullenberger glided his disabled plane onto the Hudson River, saving the lives of all 155 souls aboard. However, even as Sully was being heralded by the public and the media for his unprecedented feat of aviation skill, an investigation was unfolding that threatened to destroy his reputation and career.

Where it lives

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Philip Kaufman

Written by

Philip Kaufman

Sam Shepard

Sam Shepard

Chuck Yeager

Scott Glenn

Scott Glenn

Alan Shepard

Ed Harris

Ed Harris

John Glenn

Dennis Quaid

Dennis Quaid

Gordon Cooper

Fred Ward

Fred Ward

Gus Grissom

Barbara Hershey

Barbara Hershey

Glennis Yeager

Kim Stanley

Kim Stanley

Pancho Barnes

Court is in session

Put The Right Stuff on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Ambition earns the room.”

The film reaches for consequence and scale, accepting the risk of seriousness instead of shrinking from it.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Importance has entered the chat.”

The production keeps announcing its significance, as though awards-season posture were proof of insight.