Ron Howard's Apollo 13 Returning to IMAX Theaters for 30th Anniversary: How to Watch
Apollo 13 on IMAX is go for launch.
Apollo 13, director Ron Howard's Oscar-winning dramatization of NASA's ill-fated mission to send astronauts Jim Lovell (Tom Hanks), Jack Swigert (Kevin Bacon), and Fred Haise (Bill Paxton) to the Moon, is returning to theaters next month in honor of its 30th anniversary this year. The nationwide re-release, courtesy of Universal Pictures, will be presented exclusively in IMAX between September 19-25.
"Apollo 13 is a testament to human resilience, ingenuity, and teamwork in the face of impossible odds,” Howard said in a statement. “As we celebrate the film’s 30th anniversary, I’m reminded of how relevant those themes remain today. This re-release is not only a celebration of that incredible mission and the people behind it, but also a proud milestone for all of us at Imagine [Howard's production company]. It was a defining moment in our journey as storytellers and we're thrilled that Universal and IMAX have made it possible to share it with a new generation.”
“Apollo 13 is a towering accomplishment in filmmaking and storytelling,” added Jim Orr, President of Domestic Theatrical Distribution for Universal Pictures. “It’s a film that continues to inspire audiences with its portrayal of human resilience and problem-solving under unimaginable circumstances. We’re thrilled to bring it back to theaters in IMAX, where its full emotional impact and visual scope can be experienced like never before."
In addition to Hanks, Bacon, and Paxton, the movie also features the talents of Ed Harris as flight director Gene Kranz; Gary Sinise as astronaut Ken Mattingly; and Kathleen Quinlan as Lovell's wife, Marilyn.
How to watch Apollo 13 in theaters in honor of 30th anniversary
Apollo 13 returns to theaters Friday, September 19 and will run on IMAX screens through Thursday, September 25. Tickets are not yet on sale, but when they are, you'll be able to find them on Fandango at this link.
The film, which has grossed over $355 million to date, received widespread critical acclaim and was nominated for a total of nine Academy Awards, including Best Picture. It ended up winning two Oscars for Best Sound and Best Editing.
"We were aiming for the highest degree of fidelity we could muster and our methods of research were guided by the resources we could locate and the individual environments we were trying to replicate," production designer Michael Corenblith, who gained a nod for Best Art Direction, told SYFY WIRE in 2023.
He later added: "I feel that our underlying affection for and connection to the period transcends mere nostalgia and depicts the era and the technology both faithfully, and lovingly. The authenticity of 1970 that we created 24 years after the fact remains a supportive canvas for this story more than 25 years later."
Apollo 13 is now available to rent and/or purchase from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment.
