Year: 1995
Runtime: 140 min
Language: English
Director: Ron Howard
During the Apollo 13 mission, an oxygen tank explodes, crippling the spacecraft and leaving astronauts Jim Lovell, Jack Swigert, and Fred Haise struggling to survive 205,000 miles from Earth. With limited resources and facing extreme conditions, the crew and the dedicated team at Mission Control must work together, using their skills and ingenuity, in a tense and heart-stopping race against time to bring them home safely.
Warning: spoilers below!
Haven’t seen Apollo 13 yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!
Get a spoiler-free look at Apollo 13 (1995) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.
In the heat of the 1970s space race, NASA’s Apollo program looms large over a nation hungry for triumph. Launch pads hum with precise engineering, and the sleek command modules glide toward the void, embodying humanity’s daring ambition. The film settles into this high‑tech, high‑stakes environment, where every breath is measured and the line between wonder and peril is razor‑thin, creating a tone that balances awe‑inspiring optimism with a relentless undercurrent of tension.
At the heart of the story is Jim Lovell, a veteran astronaut whose calm confidence masks a deep personal longing to etch his name among the stars. He is joined by the quick‑witted Jack Swigert, a newcomer eager to prove himself, and the steady, resourceful Fred Haise, whose quiet determination steadies the crew. Together they form a tightly knit trio whose camaraderie is forged through rigorous training and shared dreams of lunar achievement. Back on Earth, Gene Kranz heads Mission Control, a steady hand whose leadership style blends disciplined rigor with an almost paternal concern for the men soaring above him.
The narrative builds around the moment the Apollo 13 crew embarks on their journey, only to be thrust into an unexpected crisis that threatens their very survival far from home. As systems falter and supplies dwindle, the astronauts must rely on each other’s strengths while Mission Control scrambles to devise inventive solutions with limited resources. The film captures the claustrophobic reality of a spacecraft hurtling through the void, juxtaposed with the bustling, tension‑charged atmosphere of the control rooms below.
Against this backdrop of ingenuity and resolve, the story teases a race against time where hope, skill, and the unbreakable human spirit become the crew’s only lifelines. The audience is left wondering whether the combined will of the astronauts and the ground team can turn a looming disaster into a testament to perseverance.
Last Updated: August 10, 2025 at 13:32
Don't stop at just watching — explore Apollo 13 in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Apollo 13 is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.
Read a complete plot summary of Apollo 13, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.
Track the full timeline of Apollo 13 with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.
Discover movies like Apollo 13 that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.
Apollo 13 (1995) Scene-by-Scene Movie Timeline
Apollo 13 (1995) Movie Characters, Themes & Settings
Apollo 13 (1995) Spoiler-Free Summary & Key Flow
Movies Like Apollo 13 – Similar Titles You’ll Enjoy
Apollo 11 (2019) Spoiler-Packed Plot Recap
Mission to Mars (2000) Complete Plot Breakdown
Marooned (1969) Complete Plot Breakdown
Ad Astra (2019) Complete Plot Breakdown
Mission Control: The Unsung Heroes of Apollo (2017) Complete Plot Breakdown
Apollo 10½: A Space Age Childhood (2022) Complete Plot Breakdown
Armageddon (1998) Detailed Story Recap
Apollo 18 (2011) Film Overview & Timeline
Interstellar (2014) Film Overview & Timeline
The Martian (2015) Story Summary & Characters
Escape from the Planet of the Apes (1971) Detailed Story Recap
Life (2015) Full Movie Breakdown
Capricorn One (1978) Ending Explained & Film Insights
Astronaut (2019) Movie Recap & Themes
Operation Avalanche (2016) Spoiler-Packed Plot Recap