Sally

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2:17

Sally

2025

1h 43m

Documentary

Biography

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Popcornmeter

88%

Tomatometer

32 Reviews

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

Sally explores the life and legacy of astronaut Dr. Sally Ride, who became the first American woman to blast off into space and forever changed the course of science, exploration, and women's empowerment. But as she flew into orbit, Ride faced the challenges of institutional critics and the prejudice of an American public who were skeptical that a woman could do the job of an astronaut. Undeterred, Ride dove headfirst into that struggle, propelled by a determination few could match. Featuring never-before-seen archival footage, Sally also chronicles the 27-year romance with life partner Tam O'Shaughnessy, which was kept secret from the public until the day of Ride's death.

Critics Consensus

Sally fuses polished documentary technique with sharp humor and pointed social critique to craft a moving, culturally incisive portrait of a trailblazing astronaut.

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Jeannette Catsoulis

New York Times

Jun 18

What’s lacking is style, not substance, as the movie bustles with diverting details.

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Bob Strauss

San Francisco Chronicle

Jun 17

4/4

Cristina Costantini gets some sly laughs, edged with appropriate anger, out of the sexist mindsets Ride deftly steered her career through in the 1970s and ’80s.

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Sherin Nicole

RogerEbert.com

Jun 16

3/4

What makes the documentary so fascinating is its refusal to reduce Ride to a single narrative.

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Olivia Popp

Purple Hour

Nov 18

Most successfully, Sally doesn’t shy away from the intertwinement of Ride’s scientific life with her personal one, even if the former was so aggressively in the public eye, and the latter was the polar opposite.

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Marie Asner

Phantom Tollbooth

Jul 23

4/5

In this documentary, partly narrated by Tam O’Shaughnessy, the life of Sally Ride is open to the public.

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Karina Adelgaard

Womentainment

Jul 17

4/5

Sally Ride was brilliant, fierce, remarkable and has left a huge mark on the world. With this documentary, it has expanded to encompass even more elements of who she was.

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Tina T

@TinaTurner Jul 25

What a beautiful documentary. I laughed, cried, felt awe and inspiration 💗 Thank you so much for sharing this amazing story!

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Gareth D

@HiGarethDavies Jul 15

Not the most dramatic or stylish documentary, but well told and an interesting story about a complex over-achiever. Part NASA documentary and part love story.

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Michael W

@mawilps Jul 5

This space documentary about Sally Ride, the first woman to go into space was ok. Even though she achieved so much in her career, her personal life was sad and depressing. If you haven't seen this documentary yet, don't waste your time. It's not worth it.

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Kalissa H

@kali_416 Jun 29

Even though the ending was sad, it was a very inspirational and interesting documentary.

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Megan K

@Bubbles5662 Jun 26

Inspiring for female aviators everywhere!

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Jen R

@RT94586565 Jun 21

An important story to tell and an interesting and inspiring documentary. At one point Tam mentioned that she and Sally talked about getting married and she must have meant under state or local law — same sex marriage was not legalized across the US until the Obergefell decision in 2015, more than two years after Sally’s death.

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Cristina Costantini

Director

Sally Ride

Self

Tam O'Shaughnessy

Self

Dan Cogan

Producer

Lauren Cioffi

Producer

Liz Garbus

Executive Producer

Sally: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

Sally explores the life and legacy of astronaut Dr. Sally Ride, who became the first American woman to blast off into space and forever changed the course of science, exploration, and women's empowerment. But as she flew into orbit, Ride faced the challenges of institutional critics and the prejudice of an American public who were skeptical that a woman could do the job of an astronaut. Undeterred, Ride dove headfirst into that struggle, propelled by a determination few could match. Featuring never-before-seen archival footage, Sally also chronicles the 27-year romance with life partner Tam O'Shaughnessy, which was kept secret from the public until the day of Ride's death.

Director: Cristina Costantini
Producer: Dan Cogan, Lauren Cioffi
Distributor: National Geographic
Production Co: Story Syndicate, National Geographic Documentary Films, Muck Media
Genre: Documentary, Biography
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 17, 2025
Runtime: 1h 43m

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