First Man (film)
In early 2003, actor-director Clint Eastwood and production people at the Warner Bros. studio bought the film rights to James R. Hansen's First Man: The Life of Neil A. Armstrong. Eastwood had previously directed as well as starred in the 2000 space-themed picture Space Cowboys, though he stated that he would likely not appear on camera in First Man. Universal and DreamWorks ultimately took up the First Man project in the mid-2010s. Damien Chazelle, who had received critical acclaim for his work on 2014's Whiplash, signed on to the film's production that year, and hired Josh Singer to rewrite an existing script. Gosling, who starred in Chazelle's 2016 film La La Land, joined as well to portray Armstrong in November 2015, and Hansen was hired to co-produce the film because of his role as the book's author. Wyck Godfrey and Marty Bowen also produced the film through Temple Hill Entertainment, with pre-production starting in March 2017. Actor Jon Bernthal was originally attached to the project and was cast as David Scott, but had to depart the production when his daughter suffered a serious illness.
In 1961, NASA test pilot Neil Armstrong is flying the X-15 rocket-powered spaceplane when it unexpectedly bounces off the atmosphere when Armstrong attempts his initial descent. Although he manages to land the plane in the Mojave Desert, his colleagues express concern that his recent record of mishaps is due to distraction. His 2-year-old daughter, Karen, is undergoing treatment for a brain tumor. Desperate to save her, Neil keeps a detailed log of her symptoms and researches possible treatments, but she dies soon afterward. Grief-stricken and suspecting he has been grounded, Armstrong applies for Project Gemini and is accepted to NASA Astronaut Group 2. With his wife Janet, and their son Rick, Neil moves to Houston alongside other astronaut families. He befriends Elliot See, another civilian test pilot, and Ed White. As Armstrong begins training, Deke Slayton impresses upon the new astronauts the importance of the Gemini program, as the Soviet Union had reached every milestone in the Space Race ahead of the United States. Neil and Janet have a second son, Mark.
Principal photography began in Atlanta, Georgia, in November 2017. Chazelle and cinematographer Linus Sandgren chose to shoot the film in four different formats: Super 16mm, 35mm Techniscope & Super 35 3-perf, and IMAX 70mm film for the Moon sequence. The 16mm format was used in most of the scenes that occur inside the spacecraft and 35mm film was used for the scenes that take place in the Armstrong house and around the NASA facility. First Man was shot without the use of green screen. Instead, LED displays of up to 10 meters were used. These projected images that would simulate views of the Earth, space and lunar surface as seen from inside (or just outside) aircraft and spacecraft depicted in the film. Next to the screens, several simulators of spacecraft were built. These were programmed to move synchronized with the images on the curved LED screens that could be seen through the windows. Chazelle chose this technique to help the actors to feel like the astronauts; instead of seeing a green screen, they saw the outside environment recreated with visual effects. Miniatures were used for several exterior shots of the spacecraft.
In 1965, after the Soviets complete the first extravehicular activity (EVA), Armstrong is informed that he will command Gemini 8, with David Scott as the pilot. Prior to the mission, See and Charles Bassett are killed in a T-38 crash, deepening Armstrong's grief at the string of recent losses. Armstrong and Scott successfully launch on Gemini 8 and dock with the Agena target vehicle, but soon afterward, a malfunction causes the spacecraft to roll at an increasingly dangerous rate. After nearly blacking out, Armstrong activates the RCS thrusters and safely aborts the mission. He initially faces criticism, but NASA determines the crew is not at fault and the mission is rated a success. Later, White reveals that he has been selected for the Apollo 1 mission, along with Gus Grissom and Roger Chaffee. During a launch rehearsal test on the 27th of January 1967, a fire kills White and the Apollo 1 crew; Armstrong learns the news while representing NASA at the White House. The next year, after Armstrong ejects from the Lunar Landing Research Vehicle in an accident that nearly kills him, Slayton informs Armstrong that he has been selected to command Apollo 11, which will likely attempt the first lunar landing.
First Man grossed $44.9 million in the United States and Canada, and $60.7 million in other territories, for a total worldwide gross of $105.6 million, against a production budget of $59 million. In the United States and Canada, First Man was released alongside Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween and Bad Times at the El Royale, and was projected to gross $18, 25 million from 3,640 theaters in its opening weekend. The film made $5.8 million on its first day, including $1.1 million from Thursday night previews at 2,850 theaters. It went on to debut to $16 million, finishing third at the box office behind holdovers Venom and A Star Is Born. Anthony D'Alessandro of Deadline Hollywood stated that the under-performance was less a matter of any controversy involving the American flag and more to do with the 141 minute runtime and the film's focus on drama, although Forbes speculated the backlash played a factor. Michael Cieply, also of Deadline, acknowledged that the flag controversy drew Internet criticism and that it could have hurt the film's performance at the box office. The film fell 47% in its second weekend, grossing $8.6 million and finishing fifth, and then made $4.9 million in its third week, finishing seventh.
On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of based on reviews, with an average rating of . The website's critical consensus reads, First Man uses a personal focus to fuel a look back at a pivotal moment in human history , and takes audiences on a soaring dramatic journey along the way. On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 84 out of 100, based on 56 critics, indicating universal acclaim. Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of B+ on an A+ to F scale, while PostTrak reported filmgoers gave it a 79% positive score. Owen Gleiberman of Variety called the film so revelatory in its realism, so gritty in its physicality, that it becomes a drama of thrillingly hellbent danger and obsession. Writing for IndieWire, Michael Nordine awarded the film a B+, describing it as A powerful experience that will inspire renewed awe of what Armstrong and his ilk did. Nordine praised the opening flight sequence, Gosling's performance and Chazelle's direction. Peter Howell of the Toronto Star praised the Moon landing sequence, writing: When the Eagle finally lands on the moon in First Man, the picture truly soars.
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Common questions
Who directed the 2018 film First Man?
Damien Chazelle directed the 2018 film First Man. He signed on to the production in the mid-2010s after Universal and DreamWorks took up the project.
When did principal photography begin for First Man?
Principal photography began in Atlanta, Georgia, in November 2017. The production used four different formats including Super 16mm and IMAX 70mm without green screens.
What happened during the Gemini 8 mission in First Man?
During the Gemini 8 mission in 1965, a malfunction caused the spacecraft to roll at an increasingly dangerous rate before Armstrong safely aborted the mission. NASA determined the crew was not at fault and rated the mission a success.
How much money did First Man make worldwide?
First Man grossed $44.9 million in the United States and Canada and $60.7 million in other territories for a total worldwide gross of $105.6 million. This figure came against a production budget of $59 million.
Which actors played Neil Armstrong and David Scott in First Man?
Ryan Gosling portrayed Neil Armstrong while Jon Bernthal was originally cast as David Scott but departed due to his daughter's illness. Gosling joined the film in November 2015 after starring in Chazelle's La La Land.