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First Man

Movie, 2018, The Space Race, Set in 1961–1969

First Man is #16 of 18 in release order and #2 of 18 in chronological order in the Space Movies.

The story

A look at the life of the astronaut, Neil Armstrong, and the legendary space mission that led him to become the first man to walk on the Moon on July 20, 1969.

First Man recap

In 1961, test pilot Neil Armstrong bounces an X-15 off the atmosphere and loses his young daughter Karen to a brain tumour. He joins NASA's Gemini program and moves with his wife Janet and their sons to Houston. Close friends die: Elliot See in a jet crash, and later Ed White, Gus Grissom and Roger Chaffee in the Apollo 1 fire. Armstrong commands Gemini 8, achieving the first docking in space before a thruster jams and he brings the spinning capsule under control. He ejects from the lunar landing trainer seconds before it crashes. He is named commander of Apollo 11. On the night before launch, Janet makes him sit down and tell their sons he may not come back.

First Man ending explained

Apollo 11 launches, and Armstrong steers the Eagle past a boulder field and lands with fuel almost gone. He takes the first step onto the Moon, and alone at a crater, drops Karen's bracelet into it. Back on Earth, in quarantine, he and Janet face each other through glass and touch hands.

Post-credits scenes

No. There is no post-credits scene.

Where to watch First Man

First Man isn't on a US streaming service right now. You can rent or buy it on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google Play.

Ratings

IMDb 7.3/10, Rotten Tomatoes 87%

Where it fits

Cast

Directed by Damien Chazelle.