SpaceCamp

This article is about the film. For other uses, see Space Camp (disambiguation).
SpaceCamp
Theatrical release poster
Directed byHarry Winer
Screenplay by
  • Clifford Green
  • Casey T. Mitchell
Story by
  • Patrick Bailey
  • Larry B. Williams
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyWilliam A. Fraker
Edited by
  • Tim Board
  • John W. Wheeler
Music byJohn Williams
Production
company
Distributed by20th Century Fox
Release date
  • June 6, 1986 (1986-06-06) (United States)
Running time
107 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$18 million[1] or $25 million[2]
Box office$9,697,739 (USA)[3]

SpaceCamp is a 1986 American science fiction adventure film inspired by the U.S. Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama. Directed by Harry Winer, story by Patrick Bailey and Larry B. Williams, screenplay by Clifford Green (as W. W. Wicket) and Casey T. Mitchell, the film stars Kate Capshaw, Kelly Preston, Larry B. Scott, Lea Thompson, Tate Donovan and Leaf Phoenix.

SpaceCamp received mixed reviews and is famous for being a "marketing nightmare," as it was released less than five months after the Space Shuttle Challenger accident of January 28, 1986 (although filming was completed before the disaster occurred).[4] At the time of release, some thought the movie was trying to capitalize on the shuttle tragedy and should never have been released. However, those associated with SpaceCamp disagreed and added they had taken extra care to avoid any appearance of exploiting a national tragedy.[5]

The film performed poorly at the box office, grossing less than $10 million in the US. The script was later adapted into a novel, which did include references to the Challenger explosion and some of the kids' decisions to attend Space Camp in the wake of said tragedy.[6]

  1. ^ Aubrey Solomon, Twentieth Century Fox: A Corporate and Financial History, Scarecrow Press, 1989 p260
  2. ^ "Blockbuster Lull No Problem at Box Office". Chicago Tribune. 1986-07-30. Retrieved 2010-11-02.
  3. ^ "SpaceCamp". IMDb. 6 June 1986.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference AVClub was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Willistein, Paul (6 June 1986). "WHEN HOLLYWOOD FICTION BECOMES REAL-LIFE FACT MAKERS OF 'SPACECAMP' GRAPPLE WITH CHALLENGER TRAGEDY". The Morning Call.
  6. ^ Hiller, B. B; Hiller, Neil W; Wicket, W. W; Mitchell, Casey T; Bailey, Patrick; Williams, Larry B (1986). SpaceCamp: a novelization for young readers. New York: Scholastic. ISBN 0590403842.