Astronauts.

The finest cinema archetype. This month: one small step for actors, one giant leap for moviekind…

Jim Lovell

Apollo 13 (1995)

Dreams of going to the moon. Has a “problem”. Tells Houstan. Crash lands in sea. This space adventure is a timeless film, depicting America’s third manned moon landing, but it doesn’t quite go to plan. An onboard explosion leaves the team fighting for survival.

Gerrett Breedlove

Terms Of Endearment (1983)

Uncouth bachelor. Courts Shirley MacLaine. Drives across beach with reckless abandon. Hard-to-please Aurora searches for love in this comedy-drama.

James Bond

Moonraker (1979)

Destroys missile piloting shuttle. Attempts “re-entry” with Holly Goodhead. Hides gut in jumpsuit. Here James Bond discovers a plot to commit global genocide.

Kathryn 

Spacecamp (1986)

Young attandeeds of a space camp get more than they bargained for when they find themselves in space for real, as their shuttle accidentally blasts off into orbit.

Dave Bowman

2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

Battles talking computer. Confronts big old monolith. Reborn as star child. A visual odyssey this film is, and it’s just an all-round masterpiece. Humanity finds an object buried in the lunar surface, which sets off a spell-binding quest.

John Walker 

Capricorn One (1978)

Involved in Mars space flight hoax. Goes on the run. But not for killing his wife. This movie is based on the real-life “moon hoax” conspiracy theory.

Spurgeon Tanner

Deep Impact (1998)

Lands on meteor to implant nukes. Quotes Moby Dick. Dies noble death. Unless you can destroy a comet before it reaches Earth, only those allowed into shelter will survive. This movie will leave you a little misty-eyed at certain points.

John Glenn

The Right Stuff (1968)

Crash lands on unknown planet. Discovers gorilla civilisation. Signs on for untold sequels. This is three hours of gripping space adventure that’ll keep you on the edge of your seat throughout!

Lee Stegler 

Countdown (1967)

Ambitious young civilian. Trained by Robert Duvall. Survives a myriad of ropey special effects. It’s the story of the behind the scenes Politics as America and Russia raced to the moon in the 1960s.