Hidden Figures (2016)

Meet the women you don't know, behind the mission you do.

2016-12-10 · Drama, History · 127 min

★ 8.1 (10813 votes)

Directed by Theodore Melfi

Overview

The untold story of Katherine G. Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson – brilliant African-American women working at NASA and serving as the brains behind one of the greatest operations in history – the launch of astronaut John Glenn into orbit. The visionary trio crossed all gender and race lines to inspire generations to dream big.

Cast

Taraji P. Henson Katherine G. Johnson
Octavia Spencer Dorothy Vaughan
Janelle Monáe Mary Jackson
Kevin Costner Al Harrison
Kirsten Dunst Vivian Mitchell
Jim Parsons Paul Stafford
Mahershala Ali Jim Johnson
Glen Powell John Glenn
Ariana Neal Joylette Johnson
Saniyya Sidney Constance Johnson
Zani Jones Mbayise Kathy Johnson
Donna Biscoe Joylette Coleman
Olek Krupa Karl Zielinski
Aldis Hodge Levi Jackson
Kimberly Quinn Ruth
Frank Hoyt Taylor Judge
Lidya Jewett Young Katherine
Karan Kendrick Younger Joylette
Jaiden Kaine Joshua Coleman
Kurt Krause Sam Turner

Crew

Director: Theodore Melfi
Director of Photography: Mandy Walker
Editor: Peter Teschner
Original Music Composer: Hans Zimmer
Original Music Composer: Benjamin Wallfisch
Original Music Composer: Pharrell Williams
Producer: Donna Gigliotti
Producer: Jenno Topping
Producer: Peter Chernin
Producer: Pharrell Williams
Producer: Theodore Melfi
Screenplay: Allison Schroeder
Screenplay: Theodore Melfi

Details

Budget: $25,000,000
Revenue: $235,957,472
Homepage: http://www.hiddenfigures.com
IMDb: tt4846340
TMDB: 381284

Keywords

1960s
african american history
biography
discrimination
historical fiction
mathematics
nasa
racial segregation
racism
scientist
sexism
space program
space race

Videos

Reviews

Horseface · ★ 1 · 2026-04-29

More racist and misandrist garbage from the Neo-Nazis in Hollywood. A completely fabricated lie about alleged "true events." Don't support these racist pieces of filth and their divisive and facist agenda.

CinemaSerf · ★ 7 · 2023-12-31

This is quite a compelling story of three ladies who played a crucial part in the NASA operation that ultimately put John Glen into space. All three were mathematicians drafted in to provide their skills but unlike so many of their colleagues, they were subject to prejudices surrounding their race and their gender. The women adopted the best solution to combat this bigotry, though - they decided there are more ways than one to skin a cat and so let their astonishing talents do their talking for them. Luckily, Katherine Johnson (Taraji P. Henson) had a boss in Al Harrison (Kevin Costner) who was essentially a practical and politically motivated man who cared far less about segregation and much more about beating the Soviets into space. His attitude, that swiftly builds into a considerable degree of respect, enabled her to step up and demonstrate she was every bit as good, if not better, than those white men around her - all rather uniformly dressed in white shirts and ties. Across the corridor, the equally adept Dorothy Vaughan (Octavia Spencer) was fighting her own battle for recognition as the supervisor of a crack team that was charged with installing, programming and validating the workings of a brand new IBM computer. Finally, the triumvirate was made up by Mary Jackson (Janelle Monáe) whose skills were going to be crucial if the heat shield on the module charged with getting the astronaut (Glen Powell) back to Earth safely was going to work properly. Director Theodore Melfi manages to delicately marry these three threads together keeping the story interesting and investing us not just in the struggles of these women but also in the excitement of the practical science unfolding before us. Henson and Spencer are convincingly understated with their performances and though Monáe is less prominent, the three characterisations still resonate well and informatively. I knew nothing of those people before I watched this - I'm glad I did.

Gimly · ★ 5 · 2019-08-25

Do not at all think that by my feelings I attempt to diminish the achievements of those who made _Hidden Figures_ nor the real women around which the story revolves, this simply just wasn't for me. _Final rating:★★½ - Not quite for me, but I definitely get the appeal._

Reno · ★ 8 · 2017-09-16

**The other side story of the historic event!** This film did not just represented the black people, but the women as well. Today we talk about discrimination against women, though this film is an example that it all had started way long ago, yet the struggle has not ended. Anyway, this is a biopic, a biopic of three women and their struggle not just being a black, but being women. When the nation was eager to send its first man to the space, there was some trouble within the team who are behind it to work together as one. Lots of inspiring events reveal how the history was made and the working culture was changed forever inside the NASA. The film was nominated for the Oscars in the three slots, but did not win any. That's fine, because I would prefer those real women to be recognised over what this film had achieved. All the three actresses were good. Their roles were unique from one another. Really a wonder film about three real persons in one film. Something rare in films to highlight their achievements equally. The personal life, as well as their professional was well briefed. The others like Kevin and Dunst in small part were also good. Directed by just a one film old filmmaker. He did good. The screenplay was adapted from the book of the same name. Deserved all the awards and praises it had received. After seeing how it had ended, a sequel could be possible. Mission Moon. I hope they would consider it! Seems a nice idea! _8/10_

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