October Sky is a 1999 movie based on the book Rocket Boys by Homer Hickam. The book was later re-released with the name October Sky in order to capitalize on interest in the movie. Interestingly, "October Sky" is an anagram of "Rocket Boys," although whether this is intentional or not is unclear.

The book is based on Hickam's real childhood; however Lewis Colick, who was responsible for adapting the story to the screen, took creative license in his final draft.

The story deals with four friends struggling to find their place in the world while being smothered by the overwhelming presence of the coal mine in their town of Coalwood, West Virginia. Another major theme is Homer's ongoing desire for his father's approval.

The film stars Jake Gyllenhaal, Chris Cooper, Laura Dern, Chris Owen, William Lee Scott, Chad Lindberg, and Natalie Canerday. Noted photographer O. Winston Link has a cameo as a railroad engineer.

Set in the state of West Virginia, the film was actually shot at Petros, Oliver Springs, Oak Ridge, Harriman, and Knoxville, Tennessee. The coal mine used in the film was an actual coal mine located in Petros which had long since closed. The steam locomotive (Southern Railway 4501) used in the film was a loan from the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum.

The film is complemented with a musical score by Mark Isham.

This movie is rated PG for language, brief teen sensuality and alcohol use, and for some thematic elements.

Brief Description

In the movie Homer, John, Elise, Miss Riley and the Rocket Boys all have a complex relationship with each other. If it wasn't for one of the characters the outcome of the Rocket Boys lives would have been much different and probably not for the better. For example, if it wasn't for Miss Riley getting the rocket boys to enter the science fair, they would have never won and gone on to get scholarships for College, or if it wasn't for John, being ignorant and un-supportive, Homer would have never been as determined as ever to win the science fair and John wouldn't have been able to remake the nozzle for Homer when it got stolen.

In the Film, Homer is a teenager who doesn't want to accept the fact that he will end up working in the mine, his teacher, Miss Riley, encouraged him to do what ever he wants and when he sees Sputnik going across the sky, he decides to make rockets and fire them off to see how high he can go. Miss Riley then got Homer to enter into the School Science Fair in the hope of him winning the State Science Fair and getting a scholarship to go to College. John was less than supportive of this idea, wanting Homer to follow in his footsteps and take over working in the mine, but this only made Homer more determined than ever to get a Scholarship, And in the end he managed to archive his dream and get a job working at Cape Canaveral.

John Hickam is Homers father, and is the director of the mine, organizing the movement of machinery etc, he is very good at his work and proud of it, he may not be the best of fathers or friends, he is a capable boss and very protective of his workers “A dozen more men would have died today Homer, If it hadn't been for your Father”. And when Homer comes up with the idea of Rocketry, John is not happy, preferring Homer to follow his footsteps and take over work in the mine when he retires, he is very ignorant and almost abusive about the idea of Homer getting into College with Rockets “Looks like Homer wants to be a rocket scientist John....””He doesn't have a clue what he wants to be”. But when 'push came to shove', John came through for Homer, at the State Science Fair, a jealous competitor stole Homers' display and rocket nozzle, and John organized a replacement to be made for him before the judging occurred.

Elise Hickam is Johns' wife and Homers' mother, she is supportive of the rocketry idea of Homers' and frowns upon John for his views although she agrees with them. She loves John dearly but can get sick of his decisions “Your father always has to be the big hero. I swear to god if he dies, I won't shed a tear.” She is a supportive wife however and convinced John to come to terms with the Strikers and help Homer, When she and John were married they had a Honeymoon at Myrtle Beach and she loved it there and she painted a big Mural on the Kitchen wall, which compared to all the blank, dark grey surroundings of Coal-wood stands out and she seems to use it as a symbol of hope.