In Coalwood, West Virginia in 1957, 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. Homer's world just got a lot bigger.

Universal Pictures presents October Sky, based on the triumphant true story of Homer Hickam, Jr., a high school student in rural West Virginia, who seemed destined to repeat his father's life in the coal mines until he turned his attention to the skies. At odds with his father, determined to better himself and inspired by the dawn of the space age, he embarks on a quixotic mission that changes his life forever.

Though his father is a mine superintendent and has no greater wish than to see his sons follow in his footsteps, Homer dreams of bigger things for himself-above the ground. With the help of three of his friends, he sets out to build and launch his own rocket. Despite frequent misfires that nearly get them shut down, their successes inspire the whole town to believe that even in Coalwood, there's nothing wrong with shooting for the stars.

Based on a true story.

MOVIE REVIEW

The true story of Homer Hickam is brought to life in the heartwarming coming-of-age tale "October Sky," starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Chris Cooper and Laura Dern. Now out on Special Edition, Universal Pictures has given all those who cannot go to Blockbuster or subscribe to Netflix a chance to "relive the magic."
Read our October Sky movie review »