Apollo 13 (1995)

Putting a man on the lunar surface in 1969's Apollo 11 mission was one of the greatest accomplishments of American ingenuity and perseverance, and the world paused in wonder. Two moon shots later, however, the public’s apathy was palpable. A routine moon flight failed to excite a TV audience that had thrilled to Tiny Tim being wed on The Tonight Show. Ratings for coverage of the space journey only spiked once its commander announced, "Houston, we have a problem." More than 200,000 miles from home, three astronauts floated in their tin-can contraption, apparently doomed to drift further and further into the heavens. The manmade miracles that eventually brought the Apollo 13 (1995) crew back to earth alive and safe are among the greatest accomplishments of American ingenuity and perseverance. After all the drama and suspense of director Ron Howard’s masterful retelling, take a moment to pause and wonder.