Apollo 13 (film)
Updated: 12/11/2025, 3:03:02 PM Wikipedia source
Apollo 13 is a 1995 American docudrama film directed by Ron Howard and starring Tom Hanks, Kevin Bacon, Bill Paxton, Gary Sinise, Ed Harris and Kathleen Quinlan. The screenplay by William Broyles Jr. and Al Reinert dramatizes the aborted 1970 Apollo 13 lunar mission and is an adaptation of the 1994 book Lost Moon: The Perilous Voyage of Apollo 13, by astronaut Jim Lovell and Jeffrey Kluger. The film tells the story of astronauts Lovell, Jack Swigert, and Fred Haise aboard the ill-fated Apollo 13 for the United States' fifth crewed mission to the Moon, which was intended to be the third to land. En route, an on-board explosion deprives their spacecraft of much of its oxygen supply and electrical power, which forces NASA's flight controllers to abandon the Moon landing and improvise scientific and mechanical solutions to get the three astronauts to Earth safely. Howard went to great lengths to create a technically accurate movie, employing NASA's assistance in astronaut and flight-controller training for his cast and obtaining permission to film scenes aboard a reduced-gravity aircraft for realistic depiction of the weightlessness experienced by the astronauts in space. Released in theaters in the United States on June 30, 1995, Apollo 13 received critical acclaim and was nominated for nine Academy Awards, including Best Picture (winning for Best Film Editing and Best Sound). The film also won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture, as well as two British Academy Film Awards. In total, the film grossed over $355 million worldwide during its theatrical releases and becoming the third-highest-grossing film of 1995. It is listed in The New York Times Guide to the Best 1,000 Movies Ever Made (2004). In 2023, the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically significant."
Infobox
Directed by
Ron Howard
Screenplay by
William Broyles Jr. Al Reinert
Based on
Lost Moonby Jim LovellJeffrey Kluger
Produced by
Brian Grazer
Starring
Tom Hanks Kevin Bacon Bill Paxton Gary Sinise Ed Harris Kathleen Quinlan
Cinematography
Dean Cundey
Edited by
Daniel P. HanleyMike Hill
Music by
James Horner
Productioncompany
Imagine Entertainment
Distributed by
Universal Pictures
Release date
June 30, 1995 (1995-06-30) (United States)
Running time
140 minutes
Country
United States
Language
English
Budget
$52 million
Box office
$355.2 million
Tables
Apollo 13 box office revenue · Reception › Box office
North America
North America
Source
North America
Gross (US$)
$173,837,933
% Total
48.9%
All-time rank (unadjusted)
229
Foreign
Foreign
Source
Foreign
Gross (US$)
$181,400,000
% Total
51.1%
All-time rank (unadjusted)
N/A
Worldwide
Worldwide
Source
Worldwide
Gross (US$)
$355,237,933
% Total
100.0%
All-time rank (unadjusted)
282
| Source | Gross (US$) | % Total | All-time rank (unadjusted) |
| North America | $173,837,933 | 48.9% | 229 |
| Foreign | $181,400,000 | 51.1% | N/A |
| Worldwide | $355,237,933 | 100.0% | 282 |
· Accolades
1996
1996
Year
1996
Award
Academy Awards
Category
Best Picture
Recipient
Brian Grazer
Result
Nominated
Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Year
Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Award
Ed Harris
Category
Nominated
Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Year
Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Award
Kathleen Quinlan
Category
Nominated
Best Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published
Best Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published
Year
Best Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published
Award
William Broyles Jr. and Al Reinert
Category
Nominated
Best Art Direction
Best Art Direction
Year
Best Art Direction
Award
Art Direction: Michael Corenblith; Set Decoration: Merideth Boswell
Category
Nominated
Best Film Editing
Best Film Editing
Year
Best Film Editing
Award
Mike Hill and Daniel Hanley
Category
Won
Best Original Dramatic Score
Best Original Dramatic Score
Year
Best Original Dramatic Score
Award
James Horner
Category
Nominated
Best Sound
Best Sound
Year
Best Sound
Award
Rick Dior, Steve Pederson, Scott Millan and David MacMillan
Category
Won
Best Visual Effects
Best Visual Effects
Year
Best Visual Effects
Award
Robert Legato, Michael Kanfer, Leslie Ekker and Matt Sweeney
Category
Nominated
American Cinema Editors (Eddies)
American Cinema Editors (Eddies)
Year
American Cinema Editors (Eddies)
Award
Best Edited Feature Film
Category
Mike Hill, Daniel P. Hanley
Recipient
Nominated
American Society of Cinematographers
American Society of Cinematographers
Year
American Society of Cinematographers
Award
Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Theatrical Releases
Category
Dean Cundey
Recipient
Nominated
BAFTA Film Awards
BAFTA Film Awards
Year
BAFTA Film Awards
Award
Best Production Design
Category
Michael Corenblith
Recipient
Won
Outstanding Achievement in Special Visual Effects
Outstanding Achievement in Special Visual Effects
Year
Outstanding Achievement in Special Visual Effects
Award
Robert Legato, Michael Kanfer, Matt Sweeney, Leslie Ekker
Category
Won
Best Cinematography
Best Cinematography
Year
Best Cinematography
Award
Dean Cundey
Category
Nominated
Best Editing
Best Editing
Year
Best Editing
Award
Mike Hill, Daniel Hanley
Category
Nominated
Best Sound
Best Sound
Year
Best Sound
Award
David MacMillan, Rick Dior, Scott Millan, Steve Pederson
Category
Nominated
Casting Society of America (Artios)
Casting Society of America (Artios)
Year
Casting Society of America (Artios)
Award
Best Casting for Feature Film, Drama
Category
Jane Jenkins, Janet Hirshenson
Recipient
Nominated
Chicago Film Critics Association Awards
Chicago Film Critics Association Awards
Year
Chicago Film Critics Association Awards
Award
Best Cinematography
Category
Dean Cundey
Recipient
Nominated
Best Director
Best Director
Year
Best Director
Award
Ron Howard
Category
Nominated
Best Picture
Best Picture
Year
Best Picture
Award
Apollo 13
Category
Won
Best Original Score
Best Original Score
Year
Best Original Score
Award
James Horner
Category
Nominated
Best Supporting Actor
Best Supporting Actor
Year
Best Supporting Actor
Award
Ed Harris
Category
Nominated
Best Supporting Actress
Best Supporting Actress
Year
Best Supporting Actress
Award
Kathleen Quinlan
Category
Nominated
Directors Guild of America Awards
Directors Guild of America Awards
Year
Directors Guild of America Awards
Award
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures
Category
Ron Howard, Carl Clifford, Aldric La'Auli Porter, Jane Paul
Recipient
Won
Golden Globe Awards
Golden Globe Awards
Year
Golden Globe Awards
Award
Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture
Category
Ed Harris
Recipient
Nominated
Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture
Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture
Year
Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture
Award
Kathleen Quinlan
Category
Nominated
Best Director – Motion Picture
Best Director – Motion Picture
Year
Best Director – Motion Picture
Award
Ron Howard
Category
Nominated
Best Motion Picture – Drama
Best Motion Picture – Drama
Year
Best Motion Picture – Drama
Award
Apollo 13
Category
Nominated
Heartland Film Festival
Heartland Film Festival
Year
Heartland Film Festival
Award
Studio Crystal Heart Award
Category
Jeffrey Kluger
Recipient
Won
Hugo Awards
Hugo Awards
Year
Hugo Awards
Award
Best Dramatic Presentation
Category
Apollo 13
Recipient
Nominated
MTV Movie Awards
MTV Movie Awards
Year
MTV Movie Awards
Award
Best Male Performance
Category
Tom Hanks as Jim Lovell
Recipient
Nominated
Best Movie
Best Movie
Year
Best Movie
Award
Apollo 13
Category
Nominated
PGA Awards
PGA Awards
Year
PGA Awards
Award
Motion Picture Producer of the Year Award
Category
Brian Grazer, Todd Hallowell
Recipient
Won
Saturn Awards
Saturn Awards
Year
Saturn Awards
Award
Best Action / Adventure / Thriller Film
Category
Apollo 13
Recipient
Nominated
Screen Actors Guild Awards
Screen Actors Guild Awards
Year
Screen Actors Guild Awards
Award
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
Category
Ed Harris
Recipient
Won
Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
Year
Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
Award
Kevin Bacon, Tom Hanks, Ed Harris, Bill Paxton, Kathleen Quinlan, and Gary Sinise
Category
Won
Space Foundation's Douglas S. Morrow Public Outreach Award
Space Foundation's Douglas S. Morrow Public Outreach Award
Year
Space Foundation's Douglas S. Morrow Public Outreach Award
Award
Best Family Feature – Drama
Category
Apollo 13
Recipient
Won
Writers Guild of America Awards
Writers Guild of America Awards
Year
Writers Guild of America Awards
Award
Best Screenplay Adapted from Another Medium
Category
William Broyles Jr., Al Reinert
Recipient
Nominated
Young Artist Awards
Young Artist Awards
Year
Young Artist Awards
Award
Best Family Feature – Drama
Category
Apollo 13
Recipient
Nominated
2005
2005
Year
2005
Award
American Film Institute
Category
AFI's 100 Years... 100 Movie Quotes
Recipient
"Houston, we have a problem." (#50)
Result
Won
2006
2006
Year
2006
Award
American Film Institute
Category
AFI's 100 Years... 100 Cheers
Recipient
Apollo 13 (#12)
Result
Won
| Year | Award | Category | Recipient | Result | Ref. |
| 1996 | Academy Awards | Best Picture | Brian Grazer | Nominated | |
| Best Actor in a Supporting Role | Ed Harris | Nominated | |||
| Best Actress in a Supporting Role | Kathleen Quinlan | Nominated | |||
| Best Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published | William Broyles Jr. and Al Reinert | Nominated | |||
| Best Art Direction | Art Direction: Michael Corenblith; Set Decoration: Merideth Boswell | Nominated | |||
| Best Film Editing | Mike Hill and Daniel Hanley | Won | |||
| Best Original Dramatic Score | James Horner | Nominated | |||
| Best Sound | Rick Dior, Steve Pederson, Scott Millan and David MacMillan | Won | |||
| Best Visual Effects | Robert Legato, Michael Kanfer, Leslie Ekker and Matt Sweeney | Nominated | |||
| American Cinema Editors (Eddies) | Best Edited Feature Film | Mike Hill, Daniel P. Hanley | Nominated | ||
| American Society of Cinematographers | Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Theatrical Releases | Dean Cundey | Nominated | ||
| BAFTA Film Awards | Best Production Design | Michael Corenblith | Won | ||
| Outstanding Achievement in Special Visual Effects | Robert Legato, Michael Kanfer, Matt Sweeney, Leslie Ekker | Won | |||
| Best Cinematography | Dean Cundey | Nominated | |||
| Best Editing | Mike Hill, Daniel Hanley | Nominated | |||
| Best Sound | David MacMillan, Rick Dior, Scott Millan, Steve Pederson | Nominated | |||
| Casting Society of America (Artios) | Best Casting for Feature Film, Drama | Jane Jenkins, Janet Hirshenson | Nominated | ||
| Chicago Film Critics Association Awards | Best Cinematography | Dean Cundey | Nominated | ||
| Best Director | Ron Howard | Nominated | |||
| Best Picture | Apollo 13 | Won | |||
| Best Original Score | James Horner | Nominated | |||
| Best Supporting Actor | Ed Harris | Nominated | |||
| Best Supporting Actress | Kathleen Quinlan | Nominated | |||
| Directors Guild of America Awards | Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures | Ron Howard, Carl Clifford, Aldric La'Auli Porter, Jane Paul | Won | ||
| Golden Globe Awards | Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture | Ed Harris | Nominated | ||
| Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture | Kathleen Quinlan | Nominated | |||
| Best Director – Motion Picture | Ron Howard | Nominated | |||
| Best Motion Picture – Drama | Apollo 13 | Nominated | |||
| Heartland Film Festival | Studio Crystal Heart Award | Jeffrey Kluger | Won | ||
| Hugo Awards | Best Dramatic Presentation | Apollo 13 | Nominated | ||
| MTV Movie Awards | Best Male Performance | Tom Hanks as Jim Lovell | Nominated | ||
| Best Movie | Apollo 13 | Nominated | |||
| PGA Awards | Motion Picture Producer of the Year Award | Brian Grazer, Todd Hallowell | Won | ||
| Saturn Awards | Best Action / Adventure / Thriller Film | Apollo 13 | Nominated | ||
| Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role | Ed Harris | Won | ||
| Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture | Kevin Bacon, Tom Hanks, Ed Harris, Bill Paxton, Kathleen Quinlan, and Gary Sinise | Won | |||
| Space Foundation's Douglas S. Morrow Public Outreach Award | Best Family Feature – Drama | Apollo 13 | Won | ||
| Writers Guild of America Awards | Best Screenplay Adapted from Another Medium | William Broyles Jr., Al Reinert | Nominated | ||
| Young Artist Awards | Best Family Feature – Drama | Apollo 13 | Nominated | ||
| 2005 | American Film Institute | AFI's 100 Years... 100 Movie Quotes | "Houston, we have a problem." (#50) | Won | |
| 2006 | American Film Institute | AFI's 100 Years... 100 Cheers | Apollo 13 (#12) | Won |
References
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