This ’90s Family Drama Made Jake Gyllenhaal a Star (And It’s Finally Back on a Major Streaming Service)

Jake Gyllenhaal is one of the most adaptable and skilled actors currently working in Hollywood. He has brought unforgettable characters to life across various film genres such as Spider-Man: Far from Home, Brokeback Mountain, Nightcrawler, and Wildlife, amassing several awards and high praise. His acting career began with a minor role in City Slickers in 1991, and he appeared in numerous films throughout the ’90s. However, it was his role in a 1999 biographical drama that catapulted him to international fame, and now you can stream this film on a major platform.

The movie titled “October Sky,” directed by Joe Johnston and adapted from Homer Hickam’s 1998 memoir, began streaming on Peacock on September 1st. Prior to its debut on NBCUniversal’s streamer, the film was only available for rent or purchase. In the movie, Jake Gyllenhaal plays Homer, a son of a West Virginia coal miner who is encouraged to carry on his father’s work. However, Homer harbors different aspirations. Inspired by space and the 1957 launch of the Soviet satellite Sputnik, he teams up with friends and a supportive teacher to build rockets. Chris Cooper, Chris Owen, and Laura Dern are also part of the cast.

Why You Should Watch October Sky

A truly captivating movie set in 1950s America, October Sky offers a genuine depiction of the era, making it an uplifting and heartfelt film suitable for all ages. The movie’s success can largely be attributed to Gyllenhaal’s performance, which skillfully demonstrated Homer’s enthusiasm, curiosity, and determination. This role not only highlighted Gyllenhaal’s potential as a leading actor in Hollywood but also marked the beginning of his career. The strength of Gyllenhaal’s performance was further enhanced by exceptional acting from the rest of the cast, particularly the compelling portrayal of their father-son relationship between Gyllenhaal and Cooper.

Among all of Jake Gyllenhaal’s films, October Sky stands out as one of his most cherished and impactful, garnering high praise from both critics and audiences on Rotten Tomatoes. This movie received a rare “Certified Fresh” accolade on Rotten Tomatoes with an impressive 90% approval rating among critics. It also boasts an equally remarkable 88% audience approval rating, placing it as Gyllenhaal’s fourth-highest rated film in terms of audience consensus. October Sky generated over $34 million at the global box office and was a moderate commercial success. The movie also won several awards, including the Critics’ Choice Movie Award for Best Family Film in 2000.

Other Movies Now On Peacock

The collection of shows and movies on Peacock’s streaming platform is continually updating, adding new releases each month. Just like any other month, September 2025 is no exception, as a wave of fresh films have recently become available for streaming on the NBCUniversal service, joining titles such as October Sky.

As a movie enthusiast, I’ve got a list of some films that I’ve enjoyed: “21 Jump Street” and its sequel “22 Jump Street”, “3:10 To Yuma”, the classic “Almost Famous”, the zany “Billy Madison”, Hitchcock’s thriller “The Birds”, the teen drama “The Breakfast Club”, the comedy-drama “Coming to America”, the romance-drama “Definitely, Maybe”, Quentin Tarantino’s western “Django Unchained” and his other work “The Hateful Eight”, the comedies “Miss Congeniality” and its sequel “Miss Congeniality 2 Armed And Fabulous”, the chilling “Psycho”, the crime drama “Reservoir Dogs”, the action-adventure “Robin Hood”, the suspenseful “Sicario”, M. Night Shyamalan’s mystery “The Sixth Sense”, and the historical drama “United 93”.

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2025-09-02 22:40