The story of 16 Sunrises: A French astronaut in orbit
16 Sunrises follows Thomas Pesquet, a French astronaut, through his first mission to space in 2016. The film isn't a typical mission-control chronicle—it's an intimate, visual journey into what it means to leave Earth behind. Over six months aboard the International Space Station, Pesquet experiences something remarkable: sixteen sunrises and sunsets every single day, a phenomenon that gives the documentary its haunting title. Director Pierre-Emmanuel Le Goff positions the viewer not as a spectator of space achievement, but as a companion to Pesquet's solitude, wonder, and the quiet moments between the headlines. What unfolds is less about the mechanics of spaceflight and more about the human experience of being suspended above the planet—the existential weight of it all.
Behind the making of 16 Sunrises and its international cast
Pierre-Emmanuel Le Goff directed this French production with an artistic sensibility that sets it apart from standard space documentaries. Rather than relying on NASA footage or official channels, Le Goff crafted an intimate portrait by embedding Pesquet's own perspective—his video diaries, his observations, his vulnerability. The cast, if you can call it that, centers on Pesquet alongside fellow ISS astronauts Peggy Whitson and Oleg Novitsky, who share the cramped quarters and extraordinary circumstances of orbital life. Whitson, one of the most experienced astronauts in history, brings gravitas to scenes of routine maintenance and unexpected challenges. Novitsky, a Soyuz commander, grounds the film in the practical realities of Russian-American cooperation in space. The film premiered at international festivals in 2018, gaining recognition for its unconventional approach to the space-documentary genre—treating weightlessness not as spectacle but as a condition that transforms how humans think and feel. Movie OTT tracks where documentaries like this one stream across platforms, making it easier to find substantive international cinema.
What makes 16 Sunrises stand out from typical space documentaries
Honestly, what's striking about 16 Sunrises is how it resists the triumphalism that often dominates space films. There's no swelling orchestral score, no montage of rockets launching. Instead, Le Goff lets silence do the work—the silence of space, the silence of solitude, the silence of a man watching Earth rotate below him. The documentary captures Pesquet looking out a window, and that simple act becomes profound. There's a scene early on where he describes the experience of microgravity, and you can hear the wonder in his voice mixed with something else: homesickness, maybe, or the weight of understanding how small human concerns become when you're 250 miles up. The film doesn't shy away from the mundane either—exercise routines, food preparation, the irritation of a malfunctioning toilet—because these are the textures of space life that most documentaries gloss over. What emerges is a portrait of someone grappling with contradiction: the privilege of the view and the loneliness of having it. The IMDb rating of 4.9 out of 10 suggests the film polarizes viewers—some find its slow pace meditative, others find it too introspective for a space story. That tension itself is honest. Movie OTT's editorial team recognizes that documentaries don't need universal appeal to merit attention; they need authenticity, and 16 Sunrises has it in abundance.
Where to stream 16 Sunrises online
You can currently watch 16 Sunrises on Prime Video, where it's available as part of the platform's documentary offerings. The 118-minute runtime makes it a solid evening commitment—not a quick watch, but the kind of film that benefits from settling in without distractions. If you're browsing for space content or international documentaries, the Where to Watch widget at the top of this page will show you real-time availability across streaming services. Since documentaries can shift between platforms, checking that widget ensures you won't waste time searching. Movie OTT keeps those listings current, so you'll always know where to find what you're looking for.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Is 16 Sunrises based on a true story?
Yes—it's a documentary following French astronaut Thomas Pesquet's actual 2016 mission to the International Space Station. Every moment in the film comes from real footage and Pesquet's own observations during his six months in orbit.
Q: Who directed 16 Sunrises?
Pierre-Emmanuel Le Goff directed the film. He took an artistic, intimate approach rather than a traditional NASA-style documentary style, focusing on Pesquet's personal experience and perspective.
Q: How long is 16 Sunrises?
The documentary runs 118 minutes, giving viewers a substantial and immersive look at Pesquet's mission without feeling rushed.
Q: What does the title "16 Sunrises" refer to?
Astronauts on the International Space Station orbit Earth every 90 minutes, meaning they experience sixteen sunrises and sunsets each day—a phenomenon that becomes central to the film's meditation on space and isolation.
Q: Where can I watch 16 Sunrises?
The film is currently available on Prime Video. Check the Where to Watch widget on this page for the latest streaming availability.
Final thoughts on 16 Sunrises
16 Sunrises won't appeal to everyone—and that's fine. It's a contemplative, sometimes slow film about the interior experience of space travel, not a thrilling chronicle of achievement. But if you're drawn to documentaries that ask what it means to be human, to be alone, to see your world from an impossible distance, this one's worth your time. It's rare to find a space film that trusts its audience to sit with wonder without explanation.