Ryan Gosling is fresh off one of the biggest successes of his career. ‘Project Hail Mary‘ became a massive box-office and critical hit following its theatrical release in March 2026. It earned over $682 million worldwide, establishing itself as the highest-grossing original sci-fi film of the decade.
The film’s success has also reminded audiences that Gosling’s return to space wasn’t his first. Eight years back, he teamed up with director Damien Chazelle for ‘First Man,’ a drama centered on Neil Armstrong and the Apollo 11 mission. Despite strong reviews, awards buzz, and one of the most celebrated achievements in American history at its center, the film struggled commercially and became one of the most controversial releases of 2018.
The Film Took A Different Approach To Neil Armstrong
Rather than presenting a traditional account of the Apollo program, ‘First Man’ focused on Armstrong as a person. The film explored the emotional toll of the space race, the risks faced by astronauts, and the grief Armstrong carried after the death of his young daughter.
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Chazelle chose a more intimate and restrained approach than many viewers expected from a movie about the first Moon landing. Critics largely embraced that vision, praising the film’s technical achievements and its tense depiction of early spaceflight.
The spacecraft felt fragile, the missions felt dangerous, and the audience experienced the journey from Armstrong’s perspective rather than through a broader historical lens. For a while, it looked like ‘First Man’ was following a familiar awards-season blueprint.
It had a respected director, a major star, strong festival reviews, and a subject that seemed tailor-made for Academy recognition. But then the conversation around the movie changed because of one creative decision.
The Flag Scene Sparked A Political Firestorm
Although the American flag appears several times during the Moon landing sequence, the film does not specifically show Neil Armstrong planting it into the lunar surface. Once that detail emerged from early festival screenings, criticism quickly followed.
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Some commentators and politicians accused the filmmakers of downplaying one of America’s greatest accomplishments. Calls for boycotts appeared online, and the debate soon overshadowed discussions about the film itself.
Chazelle defended the decision by explaining that the movie was never intended to be a broad retelling of the Apollo 11 mission. Instead, he wanted the climax to focus on Armstrong’s personal experience during those moments on the Moon.
That perspective shaped another key scene. Rather than centering the emotional payoff on a patriotic image, the film highlights Armstrong privately honoring his late daughter while standing on the lunar surface. Additionally, Gosling also found himself pulled into the debate.
During a press conference, the Canadian actor described the Moon landing as an achievement that “transcended countries and borders.” The comment backfired as critic thought Gosling used it to reinforce claims that the movie minimized the American significance of the mission.
A Strong Film That Struggled At The Box Office
Whether the controversy alone doomed ‘First Man’ is hard to tell, but it certainly didn’t help. The film opened below expectations and finished its theatrical run with roughly $105 million worldwide against a production budget reported at around $70 million, making it a disappointment by studio standards.
The backlash also arrived at the worst possible time. Awards campaigns often depend on positive momentum, and much of the discussion surrounding ‘First Man’ shifted away from its filmmaking and toward the political debate surrounding the flag sequence.
The movie still received several Oscar nominations and won the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects, but it fell short in many of the major categories that once seemed within reach. Years later, ‘First Man’ has developed a stronger reputation among movie fans than it enjoyed during its original release.
Many now view it as one of Chazelle’s most accomplished films and one of Gosling’s strongest performances. Its legacy serves as a reminder that even a well-reviewed film with major talent behind it can find itself fighting a battle far removed from what actually appears on screen.
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