Let’s be honest. When you first heard that Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum were starring in a movie about the moon landing being faked, you probably thought one of two things. Either "this is going to be a total disaster" or "man, I hope they have good chemistry."
Hollywood doesn't really make movies like Fly Me to the Moon anymore. At least, not with a $100 million price tag. It’s a weird, sparkling hybrid of a high-stakes Cold War thriller and a classic screwball rom-com. It shouldn't work. But somehow, mostly because of the two people on the poster, it kinda does.
Now that we’re sitting in 2026, looking back at the 2024 release, the movie has taken on a second life. It didn't set the box office on fire—it actually struggled quite a bit in theaters—but it has become a massive sleeper hit on streaming. If you’ve spent any time on Apple TV+ recently, you've seen it hovering in the top ten.
The Chemistry Experiment
Working together wasn't always the plan. Originally, Chris Evans was supposed to be the lead opposite Scarlett. When scheduling conflicts (the classic Hollywood excuse) got in the way, Channing Tatum stepped in.
It changed the whole vibe.
Scarlett Johansson plays Kelly Jones, a shark-like marketing executive with a past that’s... let’s just say, "flexible." Channing Tatum is Cole Davis, a straight-laced NASA launch director who is haunted by the Apollo 1 tragedy. He’s all buzzcuts and sincerity; she’s all mid-century modern outfits and lies for the greater good.
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The movie lives or dies on their banter. In the press tour, they joked about how they basically just made fun of each other the whole time. You can see that on screen. There’s this one scene involving a black cat and a soundstage that feels like something out of a 1940s Cary Grant movie.
Why the $100 Million Budget Raised Eyebrows
$100,000,000.
That is a lot of money for a movie that isn't about superheroes or blue aliens. Apple Original Films put up the cash, and for a while, industry insiders were skeptical. When the movie only cleared about $42 million worldwide at the box office, the "flop" headlines started flying.
But here’s the thing people get wrong about "flops" in the 2020s.
Success isn't just a weekend number anymore. For Scarlett and Channing, this was about creating "prestige comfort food." Scarlett also produced the film through her company, These Pictures. She’s been very vocal about the fact that she wants to make original scripts—not just sequels—and she knew that getting a movie like this made required big-name star power.
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The budget went into the incredible 1960s production design and, of course, the salaries for two of the biggest stars on the planet. Critics were split—Rotten Tomatoes had it at 65%—but the audience score sat much higher at 90%. People liked it. They just liked it more from their couches than in a theater.
What Actually Happened with the Moon Landing Plot?
A lot of people went into Fly Me to the Moon thinking it was a conspiracy theory movie. It’s actually the opposite.
The movie plays with the real-world conspiracy theory that Stanley Kubrick faked the Apollo 11 footage. In the film, the government hires Scarlett's character to film a "back-up" version of the landing just in case the real one fails.
It’s a smart way to address the skepticism of the era. The real Apollo 11 mission was a miracle of engineering, but in 1969, NASA’s public image was actually pretty shaky. People were protesting the cost while the Vietnam War was raging. The movie captures that tension perfectly.
Where Are They Now? (The 2026 Update)
Since their big collaboration, both stars have moved on to massive separate wins.
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Scarlett Johansson is currently the highest-grossing Hollywood actor of all time. As of mid-2025, her lifetime career box office gross hit a staggering $14.8 billion. A huge chunk of that came from the massive success of Jurassic World: Rebirth, which proved she doesn't need a Marvel suit to move tickets. She’s also busy with her directorial debut, Eleanor the Great, showing she’s more interested in the chair behind the camera these days.
Channing Tatum has had a wild ride too. Between his engagement to Zoë Kravitz and finally getting to play Gambit in Deadpool & Wolverine, he’s been everywhere. He’s also pivoted into more intense roles, like the crime comedy Roofman with Kirsten Dunst, which he’s been getting some of the best reviews of his career for.
Why You Should Care
If you missed the Scarlett and Channing era when it first hit theaters, you’re missing out on a rare moment where Hollywood tried to be charming without a cape.
Fly Me to the Moon is basically a love letter to a time when we believed in big things. It’s also a reminder that some actors just have "it." Even when the plot gets a little convoluted in the third act, you’re still watching two professionals who know exactly how to hold a frame.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans:
- Watch the "Faked" Scenes Closely: If you’re a film nerd, look at how director Greg Berlanti recreated the grainy 1960s television look. It’s a masterclass in lighting.
- Check out the Apple TV+ "Making Of" Featurettes: There’s some great footage of Scarlett and Channing breaking character during their most intense arguments.
- Track the Box Office Trends: Keep an eye on Scarlett’s upcoming projects. Her shift into producing (like with Fly Me to the Moon) is a blueprint for how female stars are taking control of their own narratives in a post-franchise world.
- Revisit the History: If the movie piqued your interest in the Space Race, look up the real marketing campaigns NASA ran in the 60s. They were just as wild as the movie depicts.