This 2016 film tells the story of the unsung heroes behind John Glenn’s journey into space. It stars Taraji P. Henson as Katherine Johnson, as well as Octavia Spencer, and Janelle Monáe. The three women worked as mathematicians for NASA and were responsible for creating the codes that set the whole mission into play in 1962. The mathematician fought racism and sexism while at the same time working on the calculations necessary for the initial space shuttle launches in the 1950s and ’60s. An entire building was named after Katherine Johnson at NASA’s Langley Research Center.
The film grossed nearly $170 million and was the highest-grossing film included in the Best Picture nominees at the 89th Academy Awards, where it was up for three total awards, which also included a nomination for Best Supporting Actress for Spencer’s work in the production.
The Farewell (2019)
This 2019 dramedy (comedy-drama) follows a Chinese American family (based on writer/director Lulu Wang’s experiences,) who work hard to get together one last time with their grandmother when they learn that she has little time left on earth, due to a case of terminal lung cancer. Actress Awkwafina channels the true experiences of the director Wang and her journey to China to bid farewell to her dying grandmother. Fun fact. Wang's grandmother is still alive.
The film had a budget of $3 million and managed to earn more than $22 million back at the box office. It holds a whopping 98% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, one of the highest on the list so far. Awkwafina won a Golden Globe for Best Actress for her work as Lulu in the film.
Apollo 13 (1995)
This 1995 film stars Tom Hanks as one of the astronauts on the ill-fated Apollo 13 mission to the moon. The film tells the tale of the 1970 lunar mission, headed up by astronaut Jim Lovell, (Hanks). Although it seems the mission will end in disaster, the men make it home safely, but not before dealing with chaos in space.
It grossed more than $355 million in the box office and has a 96% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. It one a number of awards including two Oscars for Best Sound and Best Film Editing, and it was nominated for seven more.
Out of Africa (1985)
Meryl Streep stars as Karen Blixen and this three-hour-long 1985 romantic drama. But although it may be super long hit 17 Academy Awards including best director for Sydney Pollack. Blixen, a wealthy unmarried woman is taken advantage of by her new husband who goes behind her back and spends her money on a coffee plantation.
Street meets up with a handsome hunter, Denys, played by Robert Redford and starts up a steamy affair. Unfortunately, Denys doesn’t turn out to be quite the person Blixen’s hoping for, either, so, though it’s categorized as a romance, it isn’t necessarily one that has a happy ending.
Capote (2005)
Truman Capote was an American playwright and novelist responsible for creating a number of literary classics. Perhaps one of his most famous pieces is the 1958 novella, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, which would become the basis of the legendary film starring Audrey Hepburn. Capote's early writing extended the Southern Gothic genre. His works such as "In Cold Blood" and "Breakfast at Tiffany "have been hugely influential in American literature.
Capote follows the writer, played by Philip Seymour Hoffman, through his work on another piece, Cold Blood. The film was released in 2005 on Capote’s birthday and won a number of awards and nominations. Hoffman won over a dozen awards for his performance in the film alone, including the Oscar for Best Actor.