The Reluctant Astronaut (1967): cast, story & where to watch
1967 · Film · ★ 6
Released in 1967, The Reluctant Astronaut is a comedy, family and science fiction film directed by Edward Montagne, running about 101 minutes. “He's an Astro-Knott Turned Astronaut in the Maddest Mix Up in Space History!!” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. Don Knotts is Roy Fleming, a small town kiddie-ride operator who is deathly afraid of heights. After learning that his father has signed him up for the space program, Roy reluctantly heads for Houston, only to find out upon arriving that his job is a janitor, not an astronaut. Anxious to live up to the expectations of his domineering father, Roy manages to keep up a facade of being an astronaut to his family and friends. When NASA decides to launch a lay person into space to prove the worthiness of a new automated spacecraft, Roy gets the chance to confront his fears.
Who’s in it. The Reluctant Astronaut stars Don Knotts as Roy Fleming, Leslie Nielsen as Major Fred Gifford, Joan Freeman as Ellie Jackson and Jesse White as Donelli, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.0/10, The Reluctant Astronaut has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. In US you can rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Reluctant Astronaut page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Reluctant Astronaut tend to enjoy Forrest Gump, Parasite, Life Is Beautiful and Fight Club.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Reluctant Astronaut (1967)?
- In US, The Reluctant Astronaut is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is The Reluctant Astronaut worth watching?
- The Reluctant Astronaut holds an audience score of 6.0 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy comedy, family and science fiction. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in The Reluctant Astronaut?
- The Reluctant Astronaut stars Don Knotts, Leslie Nielsen, Joan Freeman, Jesse White and Jeanette Nolan.
- When was The Reluctant Astronaut released?
- The Reluctant Astronaut was released in 1967, with a runtime of about 101 minutes.