Hidden Figures, the biographical drama celebrating three brilliant African-American women at NASA, airs on Film4 tonight at 6.30pm. The film has been praised by viewers as 'marvellously entertaining' and 'one of the best films ever'.
An Untold Story of NASA's Hidden Geniuses
Directed by Theodore Melfi and co-written with Allison Schroeder, the film stars Taraji P Henson, Octavia Spencer, and Janelle Monáe as Katherine Goble Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson — three mathematicians whose work was pivotal to one of NASA's most remarkable space missions. The supporting cast includes Kevin Costner, Kirsten Dunst, Jim Parsons, Mahershala Ali, Aldis Hodge, and Glen Powell.
Loosely adapted from Margot Lee Shetterly's 2016 book of the same name, the film recounts the real-life stories of these women, who were long overlooked in historical accounts. The official synopsis describes them as 'the brains behind one of the greatest operations in history, the launch of astronaut John Glenn into orbit'.
Critical and Commercial Triumph
Hidden Figures earned $236 million worldwide against a $25 million production budget. It received three Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay, with Octavia Spencer also nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the Oscars, Golden Globes, and SAG Awards. The film holds a 93% approval rating from critics and audiences on Rotten Tomatoes.
One critic called it 'a feel good, inspirational and entertaining film with winning performances across the board and an incredibly valuable history lesson'. Another wrote: 'Boy or girl, man or woman, black or white, any audience member who has ever marveled at the Space Age of our national history will find much to love in Hidden Figures.'
Viewer Praise and Lasting Appeal
Fans have been equally enthusiastic. One IMDB user wrote: 'Hidden Figures is a marvellously entertaining film... Don't let Hidden Figures be a hidden treasure. See it soon! It's out of this world. A+'. Another said: 'I loved it so much, I purchased it. And I've watched it at least a half dozen times already.'
Hidden Figures airs tonight on Film4 at 6.30pm.
