The Astronaut's Wife

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The Astronaut's Wife

R,

1999,

1h 49m,

Sci-Fi/

Drama/

Mystery & Thriller

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Watchlist

14%

58 Reviews

Tomatometer

33%

50,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

14%

Tomatometer

58 Reviews

33%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

When astronaut Spencer Armacost (Johnny Depp) returns to Earth after a mission that nearly cost him his life, he decides to take a desk job in order to see his beautiful wife, Jillian (Charlize Theron), more often. Gradually, Jillian notices that Spencer's personality seems to have changed, but her concerns fade when she discovers that she's pregnant. As Jillian grows closer to becoming a mother, her suspicions about Spencer return. Why does it seem as if he's a different person?

Critics Consensus

Despite the best efforts of its talented leads, The Astronaut's Wife moves at a snail's pace and fails to generate enough intrigue to keep viewers engaged.

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Janet Maslin

New York Times

Jan 1, 2000

2.5/5

The Astronaut's Wife is ridiculously derivative.

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Andy Seiler

USA Today

Jan 1, 2000

2/4

Houston, we have a problem. It's called The Astronaut's Wife.

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Jonathan Foreman

New York Post

Jan 1, 2000

2/4

Both leads look terrific.

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Chuck Klosterman

Akron Beacon Journal

Oct 26, 2023

2/4

A strikingly unremarkable picture that starts with an unoriginal idea and ends with a cheap conclusion designed to prompt a sequel (although it's unlikely this movie will be successful enough to warrant one).

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Mary K Feeney

Hartford Courant

Jan 2, 2018

"The Astronaut's Wife,'' heavy on melodrama and skimpy on substance, is light years too long to engage audiences. And Depp, a talented actor with some great films to his credit, seems lost in space in this unfortunate vehicle.

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Rob Gonsalves

Rob's Movie Vault

Jul 23, 2007

F

A high-toned grind.

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Harry S

Oct 8, 2018

The Astronaut's wife is a bad film- no two ways about it. The plot is basically Rosemary's baby in a science fiction template. Johnny Depp and Charlize Theron play a married couple about to have a baby when Depp, an astronaut is assigned a space mission. Something happens out there and although he returns in one shape something is amiss. The film is slow paced and doesn't really go anywhere, from what I remember. This is a film that should be considered only if nothing else interests you in the science fiction catalogue.

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Han S

Jul 30, 2018

I've always enjoyed 'The Astronauts Wife', and have come back to it multiple times over the years. Sure, I can agree that its pacing is a slow build, but just like Rosemary's Baby, I found the pay-off and snails pace progression to fit the story they where trying to tell. It's not a cinematic masterpiece, but there is enough here to keep me reflecting on my experience with a positive light. Charlize is great and an early Depp does a great normal man, something that has become a rarity in his career. Fans of thrillers with a human, yet sci-fi edge, check out 'The Astronaut's Wife" you might just be surprised.

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Harry W

Jun 28, 2018

The Astronaut's wife is a strange film to review. It isn't a great film- heck, I don't remember much of it, but it isn't bad either. The plot is basically Rosemary's baby in a science fiction template. Johnny Depp and Charlize Theron play a married couple about to have a baby when Depp, an astronaut is assigned a space mission. Something happens out there and although he returns in one shape something is amiss. The film is slow paced and doesn't really go anywhere, from what I remember. This is a film that should be considered only if nothing else interests you in the science fiction catalogue.

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Poe P

Mar 3, 2018

I'm 25 Mins In to this and I'm on RottenTomatoes because I can tell this will be a flop

Hagrid R

Jan 7, 2018

A rare misfire from JD. This film just doesn't happen...shame as it had a decent cast but it feels like an X-Files episode...a bad one.

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Theodore G

Dec 5, 2017

Suprise ending totally creepy

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Rand Ravich

Director

Johnny Depp

Commander Spencer Armacost

Charlize Theron

Jillian Armacost

Joe Morton

Sherman Reese

Clea Duvall

Nan

Donna Murphy

Natalie Streck

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Synopsis

When astronaut Spencer Armacost (Johnny Depp) returns to Earth after a mission that nearly cost him his life, he decides to take a desk job in order to see his beautiful wife, Jillian (Charlize Theron), more often. Gradually, Jillian notices that Spencer's personality seems to have changed, but her concerns fade when she discovers that she's pregnant. As Jillian grows closer to becoming a mother, her suspicions about Spencer return. Why does it seem as if he's a different person?

Director: Rand Ravich
Producer: Andrew Lazar
Screenwriter: Rand Ravich
Distributor: New Line Home Video [us], New Line Cinema
Production Co: New Line Cinema, Mad Chance
Rating: R
Genre: Sci-Fi, Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 27, 1999, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 1, 2011
Box Office (Gross USA): $10.7M
Runtime: 1h 49m
Sound Mix: Surround

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