View source for Gravity (2013 film)

{{Short description|Science fiction thriller by Alfonso Cuarón}}
{{Good article}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox film
| name           = Gravity
| image          = Gravity Poster.jpg
| alt            = A closeup of an astronaut with the planet earth in its reflection. Text on the top left reads "Don't Let Go". Cast members followed by title, credits, and its release date appear on the bottom.
| caption        = Theatrical release poster
| director       = [[Alfonso Cuarón]]
| producer       = {{unbulleted list|Alfonso Cuarón|[[David Heyman]]}}
| writer         = {{unbulleted list|Alfonso Cuarón|[[Jonás Cuarón]]}}
| starring       = {{unbulleted list|[[Sandra Bullock]]|[[George Clooney]]}}
| music          = [[Steven Price (composer)|Steven Price]]
| cinematography = [[Emmanuel Lubezki]]
| editing        = {{unbulleted list|Alfonso Cuarón|[[Mark Sanger]]}}
| studio         = {{unbulleted list|[[Heyday Films]]|[[Esperanto Filmoj]]}}
| distributor    = [[Warner Bros. Pictures]]
| released       = {{film date|2013|08|28|[[70th Venice International Film Festival|Venice]]|2013|10|04|United States|2013|11|07|United Kingdom}}
<!--From Template:Infobox film: "The BBFC website is a reliable source – the running time is given to the second*, so round it to the minute." The theatrical runtime is stated 90:54 and thus the entry below should remain "91 minutes" and nothing else.*) The BBFC nowadays lists "Approx running minutes" and thus there is even less reason to not write "91 minutes". Thank you. -->| runtime        = 91 minutes<!--DO NOT CHANGE - SEE ABOVE--><ref>{{Cite web |date=August 23, 2013 |title=Gravity (12A) |url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/gravity-film-0 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200720104657/https://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/gravity-film-0 |archive-date=July 20, 2020 |access-date=August 23, 2013 |website=[[British Board of Film Classification]]}}</ref>
| country        = {{unbulleted list|United Kingdom|United States<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gravity (2013) |url=http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/524365c749530 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230411081313/https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/524365c749530 |archive-date=April 11, 2023 |access-date=November 28, 2014 |website=[[BFI]]}}</ref>}}
| language       = English
| budget         = $80–130 million<ref name="GRAVITY" /><ref>{{Cite magazine |title=2013 Feature Film Production Report |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/sites/default/files/custom/Embeds/2013%20Feature%20Study%20Corrected%20no%20Watermark%5B2%5D.pdf |url-status=dead |magazine=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180421215304/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/sites/default/files/custom/Embeds/2013%20Feature%20Study%20Corrected%20no%20Watermark%5B2%5D.pdf |archive-date=April 21, 2018 |access-date=March 28, 2018}}</ref>
| gross          = $723.2 million<ref name="boxofficemojo">{{Cite web |title=Gravity (2013) |url=https://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=gravity.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190809153913/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=gravity.htm |archive-date=August 9, 2019 |access-date=May 9, 2014 |website=[[Box Office Mojo]]}}</ref>
}}

<!-- Genre according to references cited -->
<!-- Don't add that the film is "British-American" in the opening sentence (we cover the different national interests later in the lead section) -->
'''''Gravity''''' is a 2013 [[science fiction film|science fiction]] [[thriller film]] directed by [[Alfonso Cuarón]], who also co-wrote, co-edited, and produced the film. It stars [[Sandra Bullock]] and [[George Clooney]] as American [[astronaut]]s who attempt to return to [[Earth]] after the destruction of their [[Space Shuttle]] in orbit.

Cuarón wrote the screenplay with his son [[Jonás Cuarón|Jonás]] and attempted to develop the film at [[Universal Pictures]]. Later, the distribution rights were acquired by [[Warner Bros. Pictures]]. [[David Heyman]], who previously worked with Cuarón on ''[[Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (film)|Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban]]'' (2004), produced the film with him. ''Gravity'' was produced entirely in the United Kingdom, where British [[visual effects]] company [[Framestore]] spent more than three years creating most of the film's visual effects, which involve over 80 of its 91 minutes.

''Gravity'' opened the [[70th Venice International Film Festival]] on August 28, 2013, and had its North American premiere three days later at the [[Telluride Film Festival]]. Upon its release, ''Gravity'' was met with widespread critical acclaim, with high praise for its direction, visuals, cinematography, acting, and score. Considered one of the best films of 2013, it appeared on numerous critics' year-end lists, and was selected by the [[American Film Institute]] in their annual ''Movies of the Year'' list.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hammond |first=Pete |date=December 9, 2013 |title=AFI Awards 2013: Top 10 Films List Is Good News For Major Studios |url=https://deadline.com/2013/12/afi-awards-2013-film-winners-full-list-649223/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140720051347/http://www.deadline.com/2013/12/afi-awards-2013-film-winners-full-list/ |archive-date=July 20, 2014 |access-date=December 16, 2017 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]}}</ref> The film became the [[2013 in film#Highest-grossing films|eighth-highest-grossing film of the year]] with a worldwide gross of over $723 million, against a production budget of around $100 million.

''Gravity'' received a leading 10 nominations at the [[86th Academy Awards]], including [[Academy Award for Best Picture|Best Picture]] and [[Academy Award for Best Actress|Best Actress]] (for Bullock), and won a leading 7 awards, including [[Academy Award for Best Director|Best Director]] (for Cuarón). At the [[67th British Academy Film Awards]], the film received a leading 11 nominations, including [[BAFTA Award for Best Film|Best Film]] and [[BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role|Best Actress in a Leading Role]] (for Bullock), and won a leading 6 awards, including [[BAFTA Award for Best British Film|Outstanding British Film]] and [[BAFTA Award for Best Direction|Best Director]] (for Cuarón). It also received 4 nominations at the [[71st Golden Globe Awards]], including [[Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Drama|Best Motion Picture – Drama]] and [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama|Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama]] (for Bullock), with Cuarón winning [[Golden Globe Award for Best Director|Best Director]].

At the [[19th Critics' Choice Awards]], the film received 10 nominations, including [[Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Picture|Best Picture]] and [[Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Actress|Best Actress]] (for Bullock), and won a leading 7 awards, including [[Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Sci-Fi/Horror Movie|Best Sci-Fi/Horror Movie]], [[Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Director|Best Director]] (for Cuarón) and [[Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Actress in an Action Movie|Best Actress in an Action Movie]] (for Bullock). Bullock also received a nomination for the [[Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role]], while the film won the 2013 [[Ray Bradbury Award]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 25, 2014 |title=2013 Nebula Nominees Announced |url=http://www.sfwa.org/2014/02/2013-nebula-nominees-announced/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140301075716/http://www.sfwa.org/2014/02/2013-nebula-nominees-announced/ |archive-date=March 1, 2014 |access-date=January 3, 2016 |website=[[Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America]]}}</ref> and the 2014 [[Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation]]. Since its release, it has been cited as among the [[List of films considered the best|best films]] of the 2010s and the 21st century.{{efn|Attributed to multiple references:<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-12-10 |title=The best films of the 2010s: the 50 movies of the decade |url=https://www.timeout.com/film/the-best-films-of-the-2010s |access-date=2023-10-18 |website=Time Out Worldwide |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=The 100 best movies of the decade, ranked |url=https://www.insider.com/best-films-of-the-decade-2010-2019-11 |access-date=2023-10-18 |website=Insider |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Pantoja |first=Kevin |date=2021-08-28 |title=The 10 Best Movies Of The 2010s, According To Screen Rant |url=https://screenrant.com/screen-rant-best-movies-reviewed-2010s/ |access-date=2023-10-18 |website=ScreenRant |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Potier |first=Laura |date=2019-12-31 |title=100 decade-defining films of the 2010s |url=http://outtakemag.co.uk/features/2019/12/31/2010s-decade-100-best-films/ |access-date=2023-10-18 |website=Outtake Magazine |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-02-06 |title=The 100 best films of the 21st century (so far) |url=https://www.timeout.com/film/the-100-best-movies-of-the-21st-century-so-far |access-date=2023-10-18 |website=Time Out Worldwide |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Bradshaw |first1=Peter |last2=Clarke |first2=Cath |last3=Pulver |first3=Andrew |last4=Shoard |first4=Catherine |date=2019-09-13 |title=The 100 best films of the 21st century |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2019/sep/13/100-best-films-movies-of-the-21st-century |access-date=2023-10-18 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://parade.com/1258802/samuelmurrian/best-sci-fi-movies/|title=We Ranked the 101 Best Science Fiction Movies of All Time, From 'Metropolis' to 'Dune'|first=Samuel R.|last=Murrian|date=January 3, 2024|website=Parade}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-lists/best-sci-fi-movies-1234893930/gravity-2013-2-1234931163/|title=The 150 Greatest Science Fiction Movies of All Time |last=Grow |first=Kory |at=No. 44 "''Gravity'' (2013)" |date=January 1, 2024 | magazine=Rolling Stone }}</ref>}}

==Plot==
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The [[Space Shuttle]] ''Explorer'', commanded by veteran astronaut Matthew "Matt" Kowalski, is in Earth orbit to service the [[Hubble Space Telescope]] (HST). Dr. Ryan Stone is aboard on her first space mission, to perform a set of hardware upgrades on the Hubble. During a [[Extravehicular activity|spacewalk]], [[Christopher C. Kraft Jr. Mission Control Center|Mission Control]] in [[Houston]] warns ''Explorer''{{'}}s crew about a rapidly expanding cloud of [[space debris]] accidentally caused by the Russians having shot down a presumed defunct spy satellite (see [[Kessler syndrome]]) and orders the crew to return to Earth immediately. Communication with Mission Control is lost shortly after as more communication satellites are disabled by debris.

Debris strikes the ''Explorer'' and Hubble, tearing Stone from the shuttle and leaving her tumbling through space. Kowalski, using a [[Manned Maneuvering Unit]] (MMU), rescues Stone and they return to the Explorer, discovering that the Shuttle has suffered catastrophic damage and the rest of the crew are dead. Stone and Kowalski decide to use the MMU to reach the [[International Space Station]] (ISS), which is in orbit about {{convert|900|mi||-1|abbr=on|order=flip}} away, Kowalski estimating that they have 90 minutes before the debris field completes an orbit and threatens them again.

On their way to the ISS, the two discuss Stone's home life and her daughter, who died young in an accident. As they approach the station, they see that the ISS's crew has evacuated using one of its two [[Soyuz TMA|Soyuz]] spacecraft, the remaining Soyuz spacecraft exhibiting damage with its parachute having been deployed in space rendering it unable to return to Earth. Kowalski suggests using it to travel to the nearby [[Tiangong-1|Tiangong]] space station,{{refn|name=Distinction|group=N|This Tiangong Space Station discussed here is [[Tiangong-1]].}} {{convert|100|km|-1|abbr=on}} away, in order to board the [[Shenzhou (spacecraft)|Shenzhou]] spacecraft to return safely to Earth. Out of air and fuel, the two try to grab onto the ISS; the duo's tether snags on one of the station's solar panels. Stone's leg gets entangled in the Soyuz's parachute cords and she grabs a strap on Kowalski's suit, but it soon becomes clear that the cords will not support them both. Despite Stone's protests, Kowalski detaches himself from the tether to save her from drifting away with him. Stone is pulled back towards the ISS, while Kowalski floats away.

Stone enters the space station via the [[airlock]] of the ''[[Pirs (ISS module)|Pirs]]'' module. She cannot re-establish communication with Kowalski or Earth, and concludes that she is now the sole survivor. Inside the station, a fire breaks out, forcing her to rush to the Soyuz. As she maneuvers the Soyuz away from the ISS, the tangled parachute tethers snag, preventing the spacecraft from leaving; Stone performs a spacewalk to cut the cables, succeeding just as the debris field returns, destroying the station. Stone angles the Soyuz towards Tiangong, but soon discovers that the Soyuz's engine has no fuel.

After an attempt at radio communication with an [[Inuit]] on Earth, Stone resigns herself to her fate and shuts off the cabin's oxygen supply to commit suicide. As she begins to lose [[consciousness]], she experiences a hallucination of Kowalski entering the capsule and telling her to rig the Soyuz's [[Retrorocket|soft landing rockets]] to propel the capsule towards Tiangong. Stone regains the will to go on, restoring the spacecraft's oxygen flow and rigging the landing rockets to propel the capsule towards Tiangong.

Unable to dock with Tiangong, Stone ejects herself from the Soyuz and uses a fire extinguisher as a makeshift thruster to travel to the rapidly deorbiting Tiangong. Stone manages to enter Tiangong{{'}}s Shenzhou capsule just as the station enters the upper atmosphere, undocking the capsule just in time.

The Shenzhou capsule [[atmospheric entry|re-enters the atmosphere]] successfully, despite damage during its descent, and lands in a lake. Radio communication from Houston informs Stone that she has been tracked on radar and that rescue crews are on their way. Stone opens the hatch but is unable to exit due to water rushing in. She takes a deep breath and holds it until the capsule sinks, allowing her to swim through the hatch. She sheds her [[Sokol space suit]] that is weighing her down, and crawls onto the beach before standing up triumphantly and walking away.

== Cast ==
{{multiple image
| direction = horizontal
| width1    = 130
| width2    = 151
| footer    = [[Sandra Bullock]] in 2013 (left) and [[George Clooney]] in 2016
| image1    = Sandra Bullock (9189702847).jpg
| alt1      = Sandra Bullock
| image2    = George Clooney 2016.jpg
| alt2      = George Clooney
}}
* [[Sandra Bullock]] as Dr. Ryan Stone,<ref name="VeniceFilmReview" /> a medical engineer and mission specialist from [[Lake Zurich, Illinois]], who is on her first space mission.<ref name="sandra" /> According to Cuarón, Stone is "a character who lives in her own bubble", and in the film "she's trapped in her space suit."<ref name="Wired" /> Bullock's role was extremely demanding and daunting. She called the experience "lonely" and said there was "frustrating, painful isolation" on set, but in the best way,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Zeitchik |first=Steven |date=September 9, 2013 |title=TIFF 2013: Sandra Bullock calls making 'Gravity' 'lonely' |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |url=https://articles.latimes.com/2013/sep/09/entertainment/la-et-mn-tiff-2013-sandra-bullock-gravity-cuaron-20130909 |url-status=dead |access-date=September 18, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160918164813/http://articles.latimes.com/2013/sep/09/entertainment/la-et-mn-tiff-2013-sandra-bullock-gravity-cuaron-20130909 |archive-date=September 18, 2016}}</ref> and described her working day on the shoot as a "morose headspace".<ref name="TG" /> She was cast in 2010, just a few months after finalizing her divorce from [[Jesse James (customizer)|Jesse James]].<ref name="DailyBeast">{{Cite web |last=Stern |first=Marlow |date=October 8, 2013 |title=Alfonso Cuaron Explains the Darwinian Ending of 'Gravity' |url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/10/08/alfonso-cuaron-explains-the-darwinian-ending-of-gravity.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20131217003322/http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/10/08/alfonso-cuaron-explains-the-darwinian-ending-of-gravity.html |archive-date=December 17, 2013 |access-date=September 18, 2016 |website=[[The Daily Beast]]}}</ref> ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'' estimated that Bullock would earn at least $70 million based on theatrical returns alone for the film.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Galloway |first=Stephen |date=February 26, 2016 |title=Sandra Bullock to Make $70 Million (At Least) for 'Gravity' |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/gravity-sandra-bullock-make-70-683561 |magazine=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |access-date=September 18, 2016}}</ref>
* [[George Clooney]] as Lieutenant Matthew "Matt" Kowalski,<ref name="VeniceFilmReview" /> the commander of the team. Kowalski is a veteran astronaut planning to retire after the ''Explorer'' expedition. He enjoys telling stories about himself and joking with his team, and is determined to protect the lives of his fellow astronauts.<ref name="clooney" />
* [[Ed Harris]] (voice) as Mission Control in Houston, Texas.<ref name="VeniceFilmReview" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Pearlman |first=Robert Z. |date=October 4, 2013 |title='Gravity' Hidden History: Five Space 'Easter Eggs' in Astronaut Movie Out Now |url=http://www.space.com/23087-gravity-movie-space-history-secrets.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141219113419/http://www.space.com/23087-gravity-movie-space-history-secrets.html |archive-date=December 19, 2014 |access-date=December 3, 2014 |website=space.com}}</ref>
* Orto Ignatiussen (voice) as Aningaaq,<ref name="VeniceFilmReview" /> a [[Greenlandic Inuit|Greenlandic Inuk]] fisherman who intercepts one of Stone's transmissions. Aningaaq also appears in an eponymous short, written and directed by ''Gravity'' co-writer [[Jonás Cuarón]], which depicts the conversation between him and Stone from his perspective.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Abramovitch |first=Seth |date=November 20, 2013 |title='Gravity' Spinoff: Watch the Other Side of Sandra Bullock's Distress Call |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/gravity-spinoff-watch-side-sandra-657919 |magazine=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |access-date=December 3, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=November 21, 2013 |title=Aningaaq |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zcYkuIzzy8 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160513094752/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zcYkuIzzy8 |archive-date=May 13, 2016 |access-date=August 19, 2014 |website=YouTube}}</ref>
* [[Phaldut Sharma]] (voice) as Shariff Dasari,<ref name="VeniceFilmReview" /> the flight engineer on board the ''Explorer''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vikaas |first=Kishwer |date=October 18, 2013 |title=Q&A with 'Gravity"s Other Star: UK Actor Phaldut Sharma |url=http://theaerogram.com/qa-gravitys-phaldut-sharma/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140704045205/http://theaerogram.com/qa-gravitys-phaldut-sharma/ |archive-date=July 4, 2014 |access-date=December 3, 2014 |website=The Aerogram.com}}</ref>
* Amy Warren (voice) as the captain of ''Explorer''.<ref name="VeniceFilmReview">{{Cite magazine |last=Chang |first=Justin |date=August 28, 2013 |title=Venice Film Review: 'Gravity' |url=https://variety.com/2013/film/reviews/gravity-review-venice-film-festival-1200589689/ |magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |access-date=December 3, 2014}}</ref>
* Basher Savage (voice) as the captain of the [[International Space Station]].<ref name="VeniceFilmReview" />

== Themes ==
Although ''Gravity'' is often considered to be a science fiction film,<ref name="Reelviews-20131003">{{Cite web |last=Berardinelli |first=James |author-link=James Berardinelli |date=October 3, 2013 |title=Gravity – A Movie Review |url=http://www.reelviews.net/php_review_template.php?identifier=2670 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190821200829/http://www.reelviews.net/php_review_template.php%3Fidentifier%3D2670 |archive-date=August 21, 2019 |access-date=October 7, 2013 |website=[[ReelViews]]}}</ref> Cuarón told the [[BBC]] that he does not consider it such, rather seeing it as "a drama of a woman in space".<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 28, 2014 |title=Oscars: Gravity 'not sci-fi', says Alfonso Cuaron |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-26381335 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230410121316/https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-26381335 |archive-date=April 10, 2023 |access-date=November 23, 2014 |publisher=BBC News}}</ref> According to him, the main theme of the film was "adversity"<ref name="TG" /> and he uses the debris as a metaphor for this.<ref name="Wired" />

Despite being set in space, the film uses motifs from shipwreck and wilderness survival stories about psychological change and resilience in the aftermath of a catastrophe.<ref name="Seitz">{{Cite web |last=Zoller Seitz |first=Matt |date=October 4, 2013 |title=Review: Gravity |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/gravity-2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230408030912/https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/gravity-2013 |archive-date=April 8, 2023 |access-date=May 22, 2014 |website=RogerEbert.com}}</ref><ref name="Rodriguez" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Hornaday |first=Ann |date=October 3, 2013 |title='Gravity' works as both thrilling sci-fi spectacle and brilliant high art |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/goingoutguide/movies/gravity-works-as-both-thrilling-sci-fi-spectacle-and-brilliant-high-art/2013/10/02/cffa11bc-2a03-11e3-97a3-ff2758228523_story.html |url-status=live |access-date=August 29, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221109004931/https://www.washingtonpost.com/goingoutguide/movies/gravity-works-as-both-thrilling-sci-fi-spectacle-and-brilliant-high-art/2013/10/02/cffa11bc-2a03-11e3-97a3-ff2758228523_story.html |archive-date=November 9, 2022}}</ref><ref name="Scott">{{Cite news |last=Scott |first=A.O. |date=October 3, 2013 |title=Between Earth and Heaven |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://movies.nytimes.com/2013/10/04/movies/gravity-stars-sandra-bullock-and-george-clooney.html |url-status=live |access-date=November 20, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004023526/http://movies.nytimes.com/2013/10/04/movies/gravity-stars-sandra-bullock-and-george-clooney.html |archive-date=October 4, 2013}}</ref> Cuarón uses the Stone character to illustrate clarity of mind, persistence, training, and improvisation in the face of isolation and the consequences of a relentless [[Murphy's law]].<ref name="Reelviews-20131003" /> The film incorporates spiritual or existential themes, in the facts of Stone's daughter's accidental and meaningless death, and in the necessity of summoning the will to survive in the face of overwhelming odds, without future certainties, and with the impossibility of rescue from personal dissolution without finding this willpower.<ref name="Rodriguez">{{Cite news |last=Rodriguez |first=Rene |date=October 3, 2013 |title=Gravity |work=[[The Miami Herald]] |url=http://www.miami.com/039gravity039-pg-13-article |url-status=live |access-date=October 6, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131015094325/http://www.miami.com/039gravity039-pg-13-article |archive-date=October 15, 2013}}</ref> Calamities occur but only the surviving astronauts see them.<ref>{{Cite news |last=LaSalle |first=Mick |date=October 4, 2013 |title="Gravity" review: powerful images – and drama |work=[[San Francisco Chronicle]] |url=http://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/Gravity-review-powerful-images-and-drama-4866080.php |url-status=live |access-date=October 6, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230529024717/https://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/Gravity-review-powerful-images-and-drama-4866080.php |archive-date=May 29, 2023}}</ref>

The impact of scenes is heightened by alternating between objective and subjective perspectives, the warm face of the Earth and the depths of dark space, the chaos and unpredictability of the debris field, and silence in the vacuum of space with the background score giving the desired effect.<ref name="Scott" /><ref name="McCarthy">{{Cite magazine |last=McCarthy |first=Todd |date=August 28, 2013 |title=Gravity: Venice Review |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movie/gravity/review/615139 |magazine=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]}}</ref> The film uses very long, uninterrupted shots throughout to draw the audience into the action, but contrasts these with claustrophobic shots within space suits and capsules.<ref name="Rodriguez" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Turan |first=Kenneth |date=October 3, 2013 |title=Review: "Gravity" has powerful pull thanks to Sandra Bullock, 3-D |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-gravity-movie-review-20131004,0,4375763.story |url-status=live |access-date=April 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140329030527/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-gravity-movie-review-20131004,0,4375763.story |archive-date=March 29, 2014}}</ref>

Human [[evolution]] and the resilience of life may also be seen as key themes of ''Gravity''.<ref name="DailyBeast" /><ref name="Seitz" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Woerner |first=Meredith |date=October 8, 2013 |title=Gravity's ending holds a deeper meaning, says Alfonso Cuaron |url=http://io9.com/gravitys-ending-holds-a-deeper-meaning-says-alfonso-c-1442690788 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151115141845/http://io9.com/gravitys-ending-holds-a-deeper-meaning-says-alfonso-c-1442690788 |archive-date=November 15, 2015 |access-date=December 17, 2013 |website=[[io9]]}}</ref><ref name="giantfreakinrobot.com">{{Cite web |last=Obias |first=Rudie |date=October 9, 2013 |title=Alfonso Cuarón Talks Gravity's Visual Metaphors, And George Clooney Clarifies His Writing Credit |url=http://www.giantfreakinrobot.com/scifi/alfonso-cuarn-talks-gravitys-visual-metaphors-george-clooney-clarifies-writing-credit.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230409193329/https://www.giantfreakinrobot.com/scifi/alfonso-cuarn-talks-gravitys-visual-metaphors-george-clooney-clarifies-writing-credit.html |archive-date=April 9, 2023 |access-date=May 22, 2014 |website=Giant Freakin Robot}}</ref> The film opens with the exploration of space{{mdash}}the vanguard of human civilization{{mdash}}and ends with an [[allegory]] of the dawn of mankind when Ryan Stone fights her way out of the water after the crash-landing, passing a frog, grabs the soil, and slowly regains her capacity to stand upright and walk. Director Cuarón said, "She's in these murky waters almost like an [[amniotic fluid]] or a [[primordial sea|primordial soup]], in which you see [[amphibians]] swimming. She crawls out of the water, not unlike early creatures in evolution. And then she goes on all fours. And after going on all fours she's a bit curved until she is completely erect. It was the evolution of life in one, quick shot".<ref name="giantfreakinrobot.com" /> Earlier imagery depicting the formation of life includes a scene after Stone enters the space station airlock, and rests in an [[embryo]]nic position, surrounded by a rope strongly resembling an [[umbilical cord]]. The film also suggests themes of humanity's ubiquitous strategy of [[existential]] resilience; that, across cultures, individuals must postulate meaning, beyond material existence, wherever none can be perceived.

Some commentators have noted possible religious themes in the film.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Weiss |first=Jeffrey |date=October 8, 2013 |title='Gravity' film Philosophizes About Existence for the 'Nones' |work=The Huffington Post |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/08/gravity-film-philosophy_n_4059899.html |url-status=live |access-date=November 23, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161226155934/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/08/gravity-film-philosophy_n_4059899.html |archive-date=December 26, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=O'Neil |first=Tyler |date=October 9, 2013 |title=Christian Reviewers Call New Film 'Gravity' an Allegory for God, Jesus |work=[[The Christian Post]] |url=http://www.christianpost.com/news/christian-reviewers-call-new-film-gravity-an-allegory-for-god-jesus-106290/ |url-status=live |access-date=November 23, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230410234234/https://www.christianpost.com/news/christian-reviewers-call-new-film-gravity-an-allegory-for-god-jesus-106290/ |archive-date=April 10, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Barron |first=Robert |author-link=Robert Barron (bishop) |date=October 8, 2013 |title=Gravity: A Commentary |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lv80VpPb--Y |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230409193947/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lv80VpPb--Y |archive-date=April 9, 2023 |access-date=November 23, 2013 |website=YouTube}}</ref><ref name="barron">{{Cite web |last=Barron |first=Robert |date=October 17, 2013 |title=Gravity opens the door to the reality of God |url=http://www.catholicregister.org/arts/item/17074-gravity-opens-the-door-to-the-reality-of-god |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141104201719/http://www.catholicregister.org/arts/item/17074-gravity-opens-the-door-to-the-reality-of-god |archive-date=November 4, 2014 |access-date=November 23, 2013 |website=The Catholic Register}}</ref> For instance, [[Robert Barron]] in ''[[The Catholic Register]]'' summarizes the tension between ''Gravity''{{'}}s technology and religious symbolism. He said, "The technology which this film legitimately celebrates&nbsp;... can't save us, and it can't provide the means by which we establish real contact with each other. The [[Ganges]] in the sun, the [[Saint Christopher]] icon, the statue of [[Budai]], and above all, a visit from a denizen of [[heaven]], signal that there is a dimension of reality that lies beyond what technology can master or access&nbsp;...&nbsp;the reality of [[God]]".<ref name="barron" />

== Production ==

=== Development ===
As a child, [[Alfonso Cuarón]] had an affinity for space programs, dreamed of becoming an astronaut, and would watch live [[Moon landings]] on television.<ref name="TG">{{Cite news |last=Rose |first=Steve |date=February 6, 2014 |title=Sandra Bullock: the pain of Gravity |work=[[The Guardian]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/feb/06/sandra-bullock-pain-gravity-oscars-george-clooney-2014 |url-status=live |access-date=September 18, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230416202253/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/feb/06/sandra-bullock-pain-gravity-oscars-george-clooney-2014 |archive-date=April 16, 2023}}</ref> He was seven years old when [[Apollo 11]] landed on the Moon in 1969 and was profoundly influenced by [[Neil Armstrong]]. At that time, his grandmother bought a new television in order to be able to see the Moon landing.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Appelo |first=Tim |date=February 18, 2014 |title=Alfonso Cuaron on How Angelina Jolie and Robert Downey Jr. Almost Starred in 'Gravity' |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/alfonso-cuaron-how-angelina-jolie-681003 |magazine=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |access-date=September 18, 2016}}</ref> He watched space films, such as ''[[A Trip to the Moon]]'' (1902), and was further drawn to films featuring the technology of space exploration and trying to honor the [[laws of physics]], such as ''[[Marooned (1969 film)|Marooned]]'' (1969) and ''[[Woman in the Moon]]'' (1929).<ref name="Wired" />

In 2008, funding ran out on a project entitled ''A Boy and His Shoe'' written by Cuarón and his son Jonás. They wrote a first draft of what would become ''Gravity'' in three weeks. After they finished the screenplay, Cuarón attempted to develop his project at [[Universal Pictures]], where it stayed in [[development hell]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 7, 2013 |title=Why 'Gravity' Could be the World's Biggest Avant-Garde Movie |url=https://variety.com/2013/film/columns/why-gravity-could-be-the-worlds-biggest-avant-garde-movie-1200702228/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211025190913/https://variety.com/2013/film/columns/why-gravity-could-be-the-worlds-biggest-avant-garde-movie-1200702228/ |archive-date=October 25, 2021 |access-date=October 25, 2021}}</ref> When co-chairmen [[Marc Shmuger]] and [[David Linde]] were ousted from Universal in 2009, Cuarón asked for the project to be released, and then Warner Bros Pictures chief Jeff Robinov stepped in. After the rights to the project were sold, it began development at Warner Bros. Three years later, when the movie was still unfinished, Robinov was let go.<ref name="sandra" /><ref name="nervous">{{Cite web |date=January 10, 2014 |title=Nervous Studios, Bad Testing, Unproven Effects: The Making of 'Gravity' |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/making-sandra-bullocks-gravity-nervous-668622/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211025190913/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/making-sandra-bullocks-gravity-nervous-668622/ |archive-date=October 25, 2021 |access-date=October 25, 2021 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=October 25, 2013 |title=Is Jeff Robinov Headed to Sony Pictures? |url=https://deadline.com/2013/10/is-jeff-robinov-headed-to-sony-pictures-620403/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211025190913/https://deadline.com/2013/10/is-jeff-robinov-headed-to-sony-pictures-620403/ |archive-date=October 25, 2021 |access-date=October 25, 2021}}</ref>

In 2014, author [[Tess Gerritsen]] filed a lawsuit against Warner Bros. for breach of contract, alleging that the film ''Gravity'' is an adaptation of her 1999 novel of the same name.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gardner |first=Eriq |date=April 30, 2014 |title=Tess Gerritsen Sues Warner Bros. Over 'Gravity' |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/tess-gerritsen-sues-warner-bros-700218 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210208220134/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/tess-gerritsen-sues-warner-bros-700218 |archive-date=February 8, 2021 |access-date=February 4, 2021 |website=The Hollywood Reporter}}</ref> The suit was dismissed twice in 2015.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Beaumont-Thomas |first=Ben |date=February 2, 2015 |title=Judge downs Gravity lawsuit from bestselling author Tess Gerritsen |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/feb/02/gravity-lawsuit-author-tess-gerritsen-warner-bros |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201119150252/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/feb/02/gravity-lawsuit-author-tess-gerritsen-warner-bros |archive-date=November 19, 2020 |access-date=February 4, 2021 |website=The Guardian}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=June 15, 2015 |title=Tess Gerritsen Fails Again in 'Gravity' Lawsuit Against Warner Bros. |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/tess-gerritsen-fails-again-gravity-802423 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108093324/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/tess-gerritsen-fails-again-gravity-802423 |archive-date=November 8, 2020 |access-date=February 7, 2021 |website=The Hollywood Reporter}}</ref>

===Writing===
Cuarón co-wrote the [[screenplay]] with his son [[Jonás Cuarón|Jonás]].<ref name="Wired">{{Cite magazine |last=Roaper |first=Caitlyn |date=October 1, 2013 |title=Why Gravity Director Alfonso Cuarón Will Never Make a Space Movie Again |url=https://www.wired.com/2013/10/center_of_gravity/ |magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]] |access-date=September 18, 2016}}</ref> However, Cuarón never intended to make a space film. Before conceiving the story, he started out with a theme: adversity. He would discuss with Jonás survival scenarios in hostile, isolated locations, such as the desert (Jonás wrote a desert film, ''[[Desierto]]'', which was released in 2015).<ref name="TG" /> Finally, he decided to take it to an extreme place where there was nothing: "I had this image of an astronaut spinning into space away from human communication. The [[metaphor]] was already so obvious."<ref name="TG" /> [[Scott Frank]] did an uncredited rewrite of the screenplay.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2024/01/01/how-a-script-doctor-found-his-own-voice |title=How a Script Doctor Found His Own Voice |last=Keefe |first=Patrick Radden |date=25 December 2023 |website=newyorker.com |publisher= |access-date=27 October 2024 |quote=}}</ref>

===Casting===
[[File:Warner Brothers studio tour (13084977233).jpg|thumb|upright|Costumes worn by Sandra Bullock (left) and George Clooney (right) and designed by [[Jany Temime]]]]

For the female role, Cuarón was in search of a lead that could "carry" the film in a manner akin to [[Tom Hanks]]'s character in ''[[Cast Away]]'', being the only person onscreen for a large part of the movie, and he began looking at a wide range of actors for the role.<ref name="sandra" /> In 2010, [[Angelina Jolie]], who had rejected a sequel to ''[[Wanted (2008 film)|Wanted]]'' (2008), was in contact with Warner Bros. to star in the film.<ref name="sandra">{{Cite magazine |last=Kroll |first=Justin |date=October 6, 2010 |title=Sandra Bullock in talks for 'Gravity' |url=https://variety.com/2010/film/news/sandra-bullock-in-talks-for-gravity-1118025288/ |magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |access-date=April 27, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Brodesser-Akner |first=Claude |date=February 25, 2010 |title=Angelina Jolie Says No to 'Wanted 2', Killing the Sequel |url=https://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2010/02/angelina_jolie_wanted_2_out.html |magazine=[[Vulture.com|Vulture]] |publisher=New York Media |access-date=April 27, 2013}}</ref> Scheduling conflicts involving Jolie's Bosnian war film ''[[In the Land of Blood and Honey]]'' (2011), and a possible sequel to ''[[Salt (2010 film)|Salt]]'' (2010) led Jolie to end her involvement with ''Gravity'', leaving Warner Bros. with doubts that the film would get made.<ref name="sandra" /> The studio approached her for a second time to reconsider her former decision, but Jolie again declined.<ref name="Casting1">{{Cite web |last=Fleming |first=Mike Jr. |date=September 1, 2010 |title=Angelina Jolie Pass Puts 'Gravity' In Shaky Orbit For Warner Bros |url=https://deadline.com/2010/09/angelina-jolie-pass-puts-gravity-in-shaky-orbit-for-warner-bros-64414/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202034355/http://deadline.com/2010/09/angelina-jolie-pass-puts-gravity-in-shaky-orbit-for-warner-bros-64414/ |archive-date=February 2, 2017 |access-date=September 18, 2016 |website=Deadline Hollywood}}</ref>

In mid-2010, [[Marion Cotillard]] screen-tested for the part but instead went on to accept a role in another sci-fi film, ''[[Inception (2010 film)|Inception]]'' and the comedy–drama ''[[Little White Lies (2010 film)|Little White Lies]]''.<ref name="NYP">{{Cite news |last=Ridley |first=Jane |date=October 8, 2013 |title=5 actresses who almost starred in 'Gravity' |work=[[New York Post]] |url=https://nypost.com/2013/10/08/5-actresses-who-almost-starred-in-gravity/ |url-status=live |access-date=September 18, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160905131057/http://nypost.com/2013/10/08/5-actresses-who-almost-starred-in-gravity/ |archive-date=September 5, 2016}}</ref> Scheduling conflicts with the television series ''[[Gossip Girl]]'' in [[Manhattan]] and the film ''[[The Town (2010 film)|The Town]]'' in Boston prevented actress [[Blake Lively]] from getting the part.<ref name="NYP" /> In September 2010, Cuarón received approval from Warner Bros. to offer the role without a [[screen test]] to [[Natalie Portman]], who was praised for her performance in ''[[Black Swan (film)|Black Swan]]'' (2010) at that time.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fernandez |first=Jay A. |date=September 8, 2010 |title=Natalie Portman offered lead in 3D survival story |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-portman-idUSTRE6865H420100908 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160201095128/http://www.reuters.com/article/us-portman-idUSTRE6865H420100908 |archive-date=February 1, 2016 |access-date=April 27, 2013 |website=[[Thomson Reuters]]}}</ref> Portman rejected the project because of scheduling conflicts. Other stars considered to some degree included [[Naomi Watts]], [[Carey Mulligan]], [[Scarlett Johansson]], [[Sienna Miller]], [[Abbie Cornish]], [[Rebecca Hall]], and [[Olivia Wilde]].<ref name="Casting1" /> Warner Bros. then approached Sandra Bullock for the role, and she was cast in October 2010.<ref name="sandra" />

In March 2010, [[Robert Downey Jr.]] had entered discussions to be cast in the male lead role, but he left the project that November to star in ''How to Talk to Girls''{{mdash}}a project in development with [[Shawn Levy]] attached to direct.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rosenberg |first=Adam |date=April 27, 2013 |title=Robert Downey Jr. In Talks To Star In 'Children of Men' Director Alfonso Cuaron's 'Gravity' |url=http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2010/03/15/robert-downey-jr-gravity-alfonso-cuaron/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131009045326/http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2010/03/15/robert-downey-jr-gravity-alfonso-cuaron |archive-date=October 9, 2013 |website=MTV |publisher=[[Viacom Media Networks]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Kit |first=Borys |date=November 17, 2010 |title=Robert Downey Jr. Eyeing 'How to Talk to Girls' |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-robertdowney/robert-downey-jr-eyeing-how-to-talk-to-girls-idUSTRE6AH0P420101118 |magazine=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |access-date=March 18, 2020 |agency=Reuters}}</ref> In December, with Bullock signed for the co-lead role, George Clooney replaced Downey.<ref name="clooney">{{Cite magazine |last=McNary |first=Dave |date=December 16, 2010 |title=Clooney to replace Downey Jr. in 'Gravity' |url=https://variety.com/2010/film/news/clooney-to-replace-downey-jr-in-gravity-1118029180/ |magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |access-date=April 27, 2013}}</ref>

=== Filming ===
[[File:Lake Powell03.jpg|thumb|The landing scene was filmed at [[Lake Powell]], Arizona.]]
Made on a production budget of {{nowrap|$100 million}}, ''Gravity'' was shot digitally using [[Arri Alexa]] Classic cameras equipped with wide Arri Master Prime lenses. Most of the film is computer generated.<ref name="framestore2">{{Cite web |date=October 2013 |title=Gravity |url=https://www.framestore.com/work/gravity?language=en |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211026182546/https://www.framestore.com/work/gravity?language=en |archive-date=October 26, 2021 |access-date=October 26, 2021}}</ref> In the majority of shots the only elements captured with a camera are the faces.<ref name="framestore2" />  The final scene, which takes place on Earth, was shot on an [[Arriflex 765|Arri 765]] camera using [[65 mm film]] to provide the sequence with a visual contrast to the rest of the film.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=November 2013 |title=Emmanuel Lubezki, ASC, AMC and his collaborators detail their work on Gravity, a technically ambitious drama set in outer space |url=http://www.theasc.com/ac_magazine/November2013/Gravity/page2.php |url-status=dead |magazine=[[American Cinematographer]] |publisher=[[American Society of Cinematographers]] |volume=94 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140102192303/http://www.theasc.com/ac_magazine/November2013/Gravity/page2.php |archive-date=January 2, 2014 |access-date=January 1, 2014 |number=11}}</ref> [[Computer graphics|CGI]] elements were shot at [[Pinewood Studios|Pinewood]] and [[Shepperton Studios]] in the United Kingdom.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gravity: Pinewood filming locations |url=http://www.pinewoodgroup.com/production/gravity |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005012702/http://www.pinewoodgroup.com/production/gravity |archive-date=October 5, 2013 |access-date=October 6, 2013 |website=[[Pinewood Studios]]}}</ref> The landing scene was filmed at [[Lake Powell]], Arizona{{mdash}}where the astronauts' landing scene in ''[[Planet of the Apes (1968 film)|Planet of the Apes]]'' (1968) was also filmed.<ref>{{Cite web |title=What Is The Mind Blowing Connection Between 'Gravity' And 'Planet Of The Apes'? |url=http://badassdigest.com/2013/10/14/what-is-the-mind-blowing-connection-between-gravity-and-planet-of-the-apes/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202224808/http://badassdigest.com/2013/10/14/what-is-the-mind-blowing-connection-between-gravity-and-planet-of-the-apes/ |archive-date=December 2, 2013 |access-date=November 26, 2013 |website=Badass Digest}}</ref>

Principal photography began in London, on May 9, 2011.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dang |first=Simon |date=April 17, 2011 |title=The Playlist: Producer David Heyman Says Alfonso Cuarón's 3D Sci-Fi Epic 'Gravity' Will Shoot This May |url=http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/archives/producer_mark_heyman_says_alfonso_cuarons_gravity_will_shoot_this_may/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111026122503/http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/archives/producer_mark_heyman_says_alfonso_cuarons_gravity_will_shoot_this_may |archive-date=October 26, 2011 |access-date=April 27, 2013 |website=[[IndieWire]]}}</ref> The film contains 156 shots, with an average length of 45 seconds{{mdash}}fewer and longer shots than in most films of its length.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Raup |first=Jordan |date=April 11, 2012 |title=Alfonso Cuaron's 2-Hour 'Gravity' Revealed; 17-Minute Opening Take Confirmed |url=http://thefilmstage.com/news/average-shot-length-in-alfonso-cuarons-2-hour-gravity-revealed-17-minute-opening-take-confirmed/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130630041936/http://thefilmstage.com/news/average-shot-length-in-alfonso-cuarons-2-hour-gravity-revealed-17-minute-opening-take-confirmed/ |archive-date=June 30, 2013 |access-date=November 18, 2013 |website=The Film Stage}}</ref> Although the first [[Trailer (promotion)|trailer]] had audible explosions and other sounds, these scenes are silent in the finished film. Cuarón said, "They put in explosions [in the trailer]. As we know, there is no sound in space. In the film, we don't do that."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Child |first=Ben |date=July 22, 2013 |title=Comic-Con 2013: five things we learned |work=[[The Guardian]] |location=London |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/jul/22/comic-con-2013-five-things-we-learned |url-status=live |access-date=July 22, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140324231900/http://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/jul/22/comic-con-2013-five-things-we-learned |archive-date=March 24, 2014}}</ref> The soundtrack in the film's space scenes consists of the musical score and sounds astronauts would hear in their suits or in the space vehicles.<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 12, 2013 |title=Observations on film art |url=http://www.davidbordwell.net/blog/2013/11/12/gravity-part-2-thinking-inside-the-box/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141008051315/http://www.davidbordwell.net/blog/2013/11/12/gravity-part-2-thinking-inside-the-box/ |archive-date=October 8, 2014 |access-date=November 28, 2014 |website=davidbordwell.net}}</ref>

For most of Bullock's shots, she was placed inside a large mechanical rig with thousands of LED bulbs to simulate outer space.<ref name="Alfonzoreturns" /> Getting into the "lightbox" rig took a significant amount of time, and so Bullock stayed in it for up to 10 hours a day, communicating through a headset.<ref name="Alfonzoreturns" /> Costume Designer [[Jany Temime]] said the spacesuits were fictitious – "no space suit opens up at the front – but we had to do that in order for her to get out. So I had to redesign it and readapt all the functions of the suit for front opening."<ref name="frontopening">{{Cite web |date=October 25, 2015 |title=Spectre and Gravity costume designer Jany Temime in conversation |url=http://filmdoctor.co.uk/2015/10/25/spectre-costume-designer-jany-temime-in-conversation/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125165015/http://filmdoctor.co.uk/2015/10/25/spectre-costume-designer-jany-temime-in-conversation/ |archive-date=January 25, 2021 |access-date=January 1, 2014 |website=Film Doctor}}</ref> Cuarón said his biggest challenge was to make the set feel as inviting and non-claustrophobic as possible, including having a large celebration each day when Bullock arrived.<ref name="Alfonzoreturns" /> Shooting long scenes in a simulated [[Weightlessness|zero-g environment]] was a challenge, and so they used [[computer-generated imagery]] for the spacewalk scenes and automotive robots to move Bullock's character for interior space station scenes.<ref name="Alfonzoreturns">{{Cite magazine |last1=Cohen |first1=David S. |last2=McNary |first2=David |date=September 3, 2013 |title=Alfonso Cuaron Returns to the Bigscreen After Seven Years With 'Gravity' |url=https://variety.com/2013/film/news/alfonso-cuaron-returns-to-the-bigscreen-after-seven-years-with-gravity-1200596518/ |magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |access-date=October 6, 2013}}</ref> Shots and blocking had to be planned well in advance for the robots to be programmed, which caused the production period to last for four and a half years.<ref name="Alfonzoreturns" /> Cuarón had initially assumed it would take about a year to complete the film after completing the script.<ref name="TG" /> The lightbox was named one of 2013's best inventions by ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine,<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=November 13, 2013 |title=Gravity's Lightbox: The 25 Best Inventions of the Year |url=https://techland.time.com/2013/11/14/the-25-best-inventions-of-the-year-2013/slide/gravitys-lightbox/ |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]}}</ref> and is suggested as a breakthrough in entertainment technology comparable to the motion-capture technology of ''[[Avatar (2009 film)|Avatar]]'' (2009), the battle-scene software of ''[[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|Lord of the Rings]]'' (2001–2003), and the "[[bullet time]]" effect of ''[[The Matrix]]'' (1999).<ref>''Entertainment Science: Data Analytics and Practical Theory for Movies, Games, Books, and Music''. p 138 By Thorsten Hennig-Thurau, Mark B. Houston, Springer Verlag, 2018. {{ISBN|978-3-319-89292-4}}</ref>

Warner Bros started screening the movie to test audiences well before it was finished, with crude animation instead of finished special effects. Initial feedback asked for monsters or aliens. Cuarón refused. It was only at the 2012 Comic-Con, where the opening sequence was successfully showcased, the studio was finally convinced the project could succeed.<ref name="nervous" />

===Cinematography===
[[File:ISS-42 Earth from the ISS.jpg|thumb|The uninterrupted 13-minute opening scene started with a clear view of brightly lit [[Earth]] similar to this NASA picture. The sequence took many months to design and years to shoot.]]
Cuarón wanted to do [[long takes]], in part because the producers wanted to film it like an [[IMAX]]-style [[Discovery Channel]] documentary.<ref name="Wired" /> However, the long takes are deceptive as 'invisible cuts' were utilised to stitch shots together during editing.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Travers |first=Ben |date=May 14, 2014 |title=How'd They Do That? 10 Secrets of 'Gravity' Exposed at AMPAS Event Honoring the Film's Tech Wizards |url=https://www.indiewire.com/features/general/howd-they-do-that-10-secrets-of-gravity-exposed-at-ampas-event-honoring-the-films-tech-wizards-26741/ |access-date=25 June 2024 |website=Indie Wire}}</ref> As with his previous films, [[Emmanuel Lubezki]] did not use prior footage as the starting point of his work on ''Gravity''. Instead, he carried out a search of images from [[NASA]] and [[Roscosmos State Corporation|Roscosmos]]. He and his team put together a large collection of photographs and picked what was best for the film.<ref name="Time" /> Lubezki said that they based the visuals on descriptions from astronauts, with some artistic license in depicting how the stars looked during the daytime in space. He wanted to incorporate the stars as much as possible to feel as deep as possible and avoid plain darkness and [[two dimensional]] feeling.<ref name="Time">{{Cite magazine |last=Moakley |first=Paul |date=February 28, 2014 |title=Behind the Moving Image: The Cinematography of Gravity |url=https://time.com/3807510/behind-the-moving-image-the-cinematography-of-gravity/ |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |access-date=September 18, 2016}}</ref>

The 13-minute opening scene was challenging for the team to shoot. Cuarón asked Lubezki to start the film with a brightly lit Earth, adding shadows and dusk as the threat grows stronger. The light was constantly changing from one frame to the other with the actors spinning around the shuttle, the shuttle itself spinning, and the Earth spinning as well as orbiting around the Sun all simultaneously. It took many months to design it and years to shoot it.<ref name="Time" /> When the team designed the sequence, Lubezki had in mind one of his favorite cinematographers, [[Vittorio Storaro]], and how he utilized lighting in his films.<ref name="THR1">{{Cite magazine |last=Giardina |first=Carolyn |date=February 14, 2014 |title='Gravity' Cinematographer Reveals How He Got Those Astonishing Shots |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/behind-screen/gravity-cinematographer-emmanuel-lubezki-reveals-680310 |magazine=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |access-date=September 18, 2016}}</ref>

===Visual effects===
[[File:Framestore offices London March 2014.jpg|thumb|[[Framestore]] office exterior in London, March 2014, after ''Gravity'' [[BAFTA Award|BAFTA]] wins]]
Visual effects were supervised by [[Tim Webber]] at the British VFX company [[Framestore]], which was responsible for creating most of the film's visual effects{{mdash}}except for 17 shots. Framestore was also heavily involved in the art direction and, along with The Third Floor, the [[previsualization]]. Tim Webber stated that 80 percent of the film consisted of CGI{{mdash}}compared to James Cameron's ''[[Avatar (2009 film)|Avatar]]'' (2009), which was 60 percent CGI.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gravity |url=http://www.framestore.com/work/coming-soon-gravity |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141104225008/http://www.framestore.com/work/coming-soon-gravity |archive-date=November 4, 2014 |access-date=October 22, 2013 |website=Framestore}}</ref> To simulate the authenticity and reflection of unfiltered light in space, a manually controlled lighting system consisting of 1.8 million individually controlled LED lights was built.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Trianni |first=Francesca |date=October 7, 2013 |title=Tech Breakthroughs in Film: From House of Wax to Gravity |url=https://entertainment.time.com/2013/10/07/tech-breakthroughs-in-film-from-house-of-wax-to-gravity/ |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |access-date=November 14, 2014}}</ref> The 3D imagery was designed and supervised by Chris Parks. The majority of the 3D was created by [[Stereoscopy|stereo rendering]] the CGI at Framestore. The remaining footage was [[2D to 3D conversion|converted into 3D]] in post-production{{mdash}}principally at Prime Focus, London, with additional conversion work by Framestore.

== Music ==
{{Main|Gravity: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack}}
[[Steven Price (composer)|Steven Price]] composed the [[Film score|incidental music]] for ''Gravity''. In early September 2013, a 23-minute preview of the soundtrack was released online.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 5, 2013 |title='Gravity' Soundtrack Preview Highlights 23 Minutes of Steven Price's Nerve-Rattling Score |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/05/gravity-soundtrack_n_3874193.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131007135954/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/05/gravity-soundtrack_n_3874193.html |archive-date=October 7, 2013 |access-date=September 8, 2013 |website=Huffington Post}}</ref> A soundtrack album was released digitally on September 17, 2013, and in physical formats on October 1, 2013, by [[WaterTower Music]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 28, 2013 |title='Gravity' Soundtrack Details |url=http://filmmusicreporter.com/2013/08/28/gravity-soundtrack-details/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130901065536/http://filmmusicreporter.com/2013/08/28/gravity-soundtrack-details/ |archive-date=September 1, 2013 |access-date=September 12, 2013 |website=Film Music Reporter}}</ref> Songs featured in the film include:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gravity (2013) – Song Credits |url=http://www.soundtrack.net/movie/gravity-2013/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130923063545/http://www.soundtrack.net/movie/gravity-2013/ |archive-date=September 23, 2013 |access-date=October 7, 2013 |website=[[Soundtrack.net]]}}</ref>
* "Angels Are Hard to Find" by [[Hank Williams Jr.]]
* "[[Mera Joota Hai Japani]]" by [[Shailendra (lyricist)|Shailendra]] and [[Shankar Jaikishan]]
* "Sinigit Meerannguaq" by Juaaka Lyberth
* "Destination Anywhere" by Chris Benstead and Robin Baynton
* "922 Anthem" by Djay Adx and Gaurav Dayal<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gravity (2013) – Soundtracks |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1454468/soundtrack |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180918132610/https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1454468/soundtrack |archive-date=September 18, 2018 |access-date=July 1, 2018 |website=IMDb.com}}</ref>
* "Ready" by Charles Scott (featuring Chelsea Williams)
In most of the film's official trailers, ''[[Spiegel im Spiegel]]'', written by Estonian composer [[Arvo Pärt]] in 1978, was used.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wickman |first=Forrest |date=May 9, 2013 |title=Trailer Critic: Alfonso Cuarón's Gravity |url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2013/05/09/gravity_full_trailer_has_alfonso_cuar_n_made_a_sci_fi_gamechanger_video.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140311145412/http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2013/05/09/gravity_full_trailer_has_alfonso_cuar_n_made_a_sci_fi_gamechanger_video.html |archive-date=March 11, 2014 |access-date=May 12, 2013 |website=Slate}}</ref>

== Release ==
[[File:SDCC13 - Gravity panel (9345233475).jpg|thumb|David Heyman, Sandra Bullock, and Alfonso Cuarón at the 2013 [[San Diego Comic-Con]] promoting ''Gravity'']]
''Gravity'' had its world premiere at the [[70th Venice International Film Festival]] on August 28, 2013, and had its North American premiere three days later at the [[Telluride Film Festival]].<ref name="Venice">{{Cite news |date=July 3, 2013 |title=George Clooney and Sandra Bullock to open Venice film festival |publisher=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-23158374 |url-status=live |access-date=June 21, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307182632/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-23158374 |archive-date=March 7, 2016}}</ref> It was released in the US on October 4, 2013, and in the UK on November 1, 2013.<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 25, 2010 |title=UPDATE: Warner Bros. and IMAX Sign Up to 20 Picture Deal! |url=https://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=65561 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111101153057/http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=65561 |archive-date=November 1, 2011 |access-date=August 17, 2011 |website=ComingSoon.net |publisher=[[CraveOnline]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Gravity sets UK release date |url=http://www.screendaily.com/news/gravity-sets-uk-release-date/5059338.article |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140904072354/http://www.screendaily.com/news/gravity-sets-uk-release-date/5059338.article |archive-date=September 4, 2014 |access-date=November 14, 2014 |website=ScreenDaily}}</ref> The film's US release coincided with the beginning of [[World Space Week]], which was observed from October 4 to 10. The film was originally scheduled to be released in the US on November 21, 2012, before being rescheduled for a 2013 release to allow the completion of extensive post-production work.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Vary |first=Adam |date=May 14, 2012 |title=Sandra Bullock, George Clooney sci-fi drama 'Gravity' moved to 2013 |url=http://insidemovies.ew.com/2012/05/14/sandra-bullock-gravity-2013/ |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |access-date=May 15, 2012}}</ref>

=== Home media ===
''Gravity'' was released on digital download on February 11, 2014, and was released on [[DVD]], [[Blu-ray]] and [[Blu-ray 3D]] on February 25, 2014, in the United States and on March 3, 2014, in the United Kingdom.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brew |first=Simon |date=January 21, 2014 |title=Gravity DVD and Blu-ray release date confirmed |url=https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/gravity/28945/gravity-dvd-and-blu-ray-release-date-confirmed |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222152736/http://www.denofgeek.com/movies/gravity/28945/gravity-dvd-and-blu-ray-release-date-confirmed |archive-date=February 22, 2014 |access-date=February 17, 2014 |website=Den of Geek}}</ref> {{as of|2014|March|16|df=US}}, ''Gravity'' has sold 908,756 DVDs along with 957,355 Blu-ray discs for $16,465,600 and $22,183,843, respectively, for a total of $38,649,443.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gravity |url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Gravity#tab=video-sales |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141106024934/http://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Gravity#tab=video-sales |archive-date=November 6, 2014 |access-date=November 14, 2014 |website=The Numbers}}</ref> ''Gravity'' was also offered for free in HD on Google Play and Nexus devices from late October 2014 to early November 2014.

A "special edition" Blu-ray was released on March 31, 2015. The release includes a "Silent Space Version" of the film which omits the score composed by Steven Price.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Franich |first=Darren |date=November 11, 2014 |title='Gravity' is getting a scientifically accurate 'Silent Space Version' |url=https://www.ew.com/article/2014/11/11/gravity-silent-space |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]}}</ref>

== Reception ==

=== Box office ===
''Gravity'' emerged as one of the most successful sci-fi films of all time, and the biggest box office hit of both [[Sandra Bullock]] and [[George Clooney]]'s careers.<ref name="V500">{{Cite magazine |last=Oldham |first=Stuart |date=November 16, 2013 |title='Gravity' Rises to $500 Million at Worldwide Box Office |url=https://variety.com/2013/film/news/gravity-rises-to-500-million-at-worldwide-box-office-1200842131/ |magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |access-date=August 29, 2016}}</ref> It became the highest-grossing feature film in October history, surpassing the animated ''[[Puss in Boots (2011 film)|Puss in Boots]]''<ref name="400M">{{Cite magazine |last=McClintock |first=Pamela |date=November 3, 2013 |title=Box Office Milestone: 'Gravity' Rockets Past $400 Million Mark Worldwide |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/box-office-milestone-gravity-rockets-652789 |magazine=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |access-date=August 29, 2016}}</ref> and holding the record until 2019's ''[[Joker (2019 film)|Joker]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Top October Movies at the Domestic Box Office |url=https://www.the-numbers.com/box-office-records/domestic/all-movies/cumulative/released-in-october |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211025192616/https://www.the-numbers.com/box-office-records/domestic/all-movies/cumulative/released-in-october |archive-date=October 25, 2021 |access-date=October 25, 2021}}</ref> Bullock's previous highest-grossing film was ''[[Speed (1994 film)|Speed]]'' ($350.2 million) while Clooney's benchmark was ''[[Ocean's Eleven]]'' ($450.6 million).<ref name="V500" />

Preliminary reports predicted the film would open with around $40 million in the US and Canada.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Stewart |first=Andrew |date=October 4, 2013 |title=Box Office: 'Gravity' Tracking for a $40 Mil-Plus Bow With Record 3D Sales |url=https://variety.com/2013/film/news/box-office-gravity-tracking-for-a-40-mil-plus-bow-with-record-3d-sales-1200692372/ |magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |access-date=October 6, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Smith |first=Grady |date=October 3, 2013 |title=Box office preview: 'Gravity' headed for a stellar debut |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |publisher=CNN |url=http://insidemovies.ew.com/2013/10/03/box-office-preview-gravity/ |url-status=live |access-date=October 6, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141104220459/http://insidemovies.ew.com/2013/10/03/box-office-preview-gravity/ |archive-date=November 4, 2014}}</ref> The film earned $1.4 million from its Thursday night showings,<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=McClintock |first=Pamela |date=October 4, 2013 |title=Box Office: 'Gravity' Takes Flight With $1.4 Million Thursday Night |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/box-office-gravity-takes-flight-643374 |magazine=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |access-date=October 6, 2013}}</ref> and reached $17.5 million on Friday.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Mendelson |first=Scott |date=October 5, 2013 |title=Friday Box Office: 'Gravity' Earns $17.5m, Rockets Towards $50m |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/scottmendelson/2013/10/05/friday-box-office-gravity-earns-17m-rockets-towards-50m/ |magazine=[[Forbes]] |access-date=October 6, 2013}}</ref> ''Gravity'' topped the box office and broke the record held by ''[[Paranormal Activity 3]]'' (2011) as the highest-earning October and autumn openings, grossing $55.8 million from 3,575 theaters.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Subers |first=Ray |date=October 7, 2013 |title=Weekend Report: Houston, 'Gravity' Does Not Have a Problem |url=https://boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=3738&p=.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131007161525/http://boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=3738&p=.htm |archive-date=October 7, 2013 |access-date=October 7, 2013 |website=Box Office Mojo}}</ref> The film also surpassed ''[[Batman & Robin (film)|Batman & Robin]]'' (1997) for having Clooney's highest opening weekend and ''[[The Heat (film)|The Heat]]'' for having Bullock's highest opening weekend respectively.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Knegt |first=Peter |date=October 7, 2013 |title={{'}}''Gravity''{{'}} Finally Takes George Clooney's Opening Weekend Record Away From {{'}}''Batman & Robin'',' But Can It Top {{'}}''Oceans''{{'}} For His Best Overall? |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2013/10/gravity-finally-takes-george-clooneys-opening-weekend-record-away-from-batman-robin-but-can-it-top-oceans-for-his-best-overall-34201/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220126171338/https://www.indiewire.com/2013/10/gravity-finally-takes-george-clooneys-opening-weekend-record-away-from-batman-robin-but-can-it-top-oceans-for-his-best-overall-34201/ |archive-date=January 26, 2022 |access-date=November 2, 2022 |website=[[IndieWire]]}}</ref> 80 percent of the film's opening weekend gross came from its 3D showings, which grossed $44.2 million from 3,150 theaters. $11.2 million—20 percent of the receipts—came from IMAX 3D showings, the highest percentage for a film opening of more than $50 million.<ref name="MSN">{{Cite web |last=Cunninghham |first=Todd |date=October 6, 2013 |title='Gravity' soars to record-breaking box-office blast-off |url=http://movies.msn.com/movies/article.aspx?news=831933 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131006191146/http://movies.msn.com/movies/article.aspx?news=831933 |archive-date=October 6, 2013 |access-date=October 6, 2013 |website=[[MSN Entertainment]]}}</ref> The film stayed at number one at the box office during its second and third weekends.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Subers |first=Ray |date=October 13, 2013 |title=Weekend Report: 'Gravity' Holds, 'Captain' Floats, 'Machete' Bombs |url=https://boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=3740&p=.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140122055447/http://boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=3740&p=.htm |archive-date=January 22, 2014 |access-date=January 17, 2014 |website=Box Office Mojo}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Subers |first=Ray |date=October 20, 2013 |title=Weekend Report: 'Gravity' Wins Again, 'Carrie' Leads Weak Newcomers |url=https://boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=3742&p=.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140122055436/http://boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=3742&p=.htm |archive-date=January 22, 2014 |access-date=January 17, 2014 |website=Box Office Mojo}}</ref> IMAX alone generated $34.7 million from 323 theaters, a record for IMAX opening in October.<ref name="GRAVITY">{{Cite web |last=Finke |first=Nikki |date=October 6, 2013 |title=Bullock-Clooney-Cuaron's $55M 'Gravity' Domestic Weekend Soars To October Record And Big $27.4M Internationally; 'Runner Runner' Flops $7.8M |url=https://deadline.com/2013/10/gravity-opens-to-1-4m-in-thursfri-late-shows-603276/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150722045732/http://deadline.com/2013/10/gravity-opens-to-1-4m-in-thursfri-late-shows-603276/ |archive-date=July 22, 2015 |access-date=July 18, 2015 |website=Deadline Hollywood |publisher=([[Penske Media Corporation]])}}</ref>

''Gravity'' earned $27.4 million in its opening weekend overseas from 27 countries with $2.8 million from roughly 4,763 screens. Warner Bros. said the 3D showing "exceeded all expectations" and generated 70 percent of the opening grosses.<ref name="GRAVITY" /> In China, its second largest market, the film opened on November 19, 2013, and faced competition with ''[[The Hunger Games: Catching Fire]]'' which opened on November 21, 2013. At the end of the weekend ''Gravity'' emerged victorious, generating $35.76 million in six days.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Coonan |first=Clifford |date=November 26, 2013 |title=China Box Office: 'Gravity' Soars Past 'Catching Fire' |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/china-box-office-gravity-soars-660054 |magazine=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |publisher=([[Prometheus Global Media]]) |access-date=July 19, 2015}}</ref> It opened at number one in the United Kingdom, taking {{GBP|6.23 million}} over the first weekend of release,<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 16, 2014 |title=Space thriller Gravity takes £6.23 million at UK box office on opening weekend |work=[[Evening Standard]] |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/space-thriller-gravity-takes-623-million-at-uk-box-office-on-opening-weekend-8932293.html |url-status=live |access-date=April 4, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180525062432/https://www.standard.co.uk/news/space-thriller-gravity-takes-623-million-at-uk-box-office-on-opening-weekend-8932293.html |archive-date=May 25, 2018}}</ref> and remained there for the second week.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sandwell |first=Ian |date=November 18, 2013 |title=Gravity stays top of UK Box office |url=http://www.screendaily.com/box-office/gravity-stays-top-of-uk-box-office/5063747.article |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131122124609/http://www.screendaily.com/box-office/gravity-stays-top-of-uk-box-office/5063747.article |archive-date=November 22, 2013 |access-date=November 19, 2013 |website=Screen Daily}}</ref> The film's high notable openings were in Russia and the [[Commonwealth of Independent States|CIS]] ($8.1 million), Germany ($3.8 million), Australia ($3.2 million), Italy ($2.6 million) and Spain ($2.3 million).<ref name="GRAVITY" /> The film's largest markets outside North America were China ($71.2 million),<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bai Shi (Beijing Review) |date=February 9, 2014 |title=Hollywood Takes a Hit |url=http://english.entgroup.cn/news_detail.aspx?id=2194 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222204921/http://english.entgroup.cn/news_detail.aspx?id=2194 |archive-date=February 22, 2014 |access-date=February 10, 2014 |website=english.entgroup.cn |publisher=EntGroup Inc.}}</ref> the United Kingdom ($47 million) and France ($38.2 million).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gravity – Foreign By Country |url=https://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=intl&id=gravity.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140205113408/http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=intl&id=gravity.htm |archive-date=February 5, 2014 |access-date=February 14, 2014 |website=[[Box Office Mojo]]}}</ref> By February 17, 2014, the film had grossed $700 million worldwide.<ref>{{Cite tweet |number=435536257611870208 |user=boxofficemojo |title='Gravity' has now earned over $700 million worldwide. |date=February 17, 2014}}</ref> ''Gravity'' grossed $274,092,705 in North America and $449,100,000 in other countries, making a worldwide gross of $723,192,705{{mdash}}making it the [[List of highest-grossing films|eighth-highest-grossing film of 2013]].<ref name="boxofficemojo" /> Calculating in all expenses, ''[[Deadline Hollywood]]'' estimated that the film made a profit of $209.2 million.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fleming |first=Mike Jr. |date=March 21, 2014 |title=2013 Most Valuable Blockbuster Tournament Tip-Off – #1 'Iron Man 3' Vs. #16 'The Conjuring'; #8 'Gravity' Vs. #9 'Man Of Steel' |url=https://deadline.com/2014/03/iron-man-3-gravity-man-of-steel-profit-most-profitable-movies-2013-701662/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150321003433/http://deadline.com/2014/03/iron-man-3-gravity-man-of-steel-profit-most-profitable-movies-2013-701662/ |archive-date=March 21, 2015 |access-date=March 22, 2015 |website=Deadline Hollywood}}</ref>

According to the tracking site Excipio, ''Gravity'' was one of the most copyright-infringed films of 2014 with over 29.3 million downloads via [[torrent site]]s.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Spangler |first=Todd |date=December 28, 2014 |title=Top 20 Most Pirated Movies of 2014 Led by 'Wolf of Wall Street,' 'Frozen,' 'Gravity' |url=https://variety.com/2014/digital/news/top-20-most-pirated-movies-of-2014-led-by-wolf-of-wall-street-frozen-gravity-1201388403/ |magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |access-date=February 21, 2015}}</ref>

=== Critical response ===
{{quote box| align=right| width=30%| border=1px| quote=Cuarón shows things that cannot be but, miraculously, are, in the fearful, beautiful reality of the space world above our world. If the film past is dead, ''Gravity'' shows us the glory of cinema's future. It thrills on so many levels. And because Cuarón is a movie visionary of the highest order, you truly can't beat the view.| source= —[[Richard Corliss]] of ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]''<ref name="Corliss" /> }}
On [[review aggregator]] [[Rotten Tomatoes]], the film has an approval rating of 96% based on 364 reviews, with an average rating of 9.0/10. The website's critical consensus states: "Alfonso Cuarón's ''Gravity'' is an eerie, tense sci-fi thriller that's masterfully directed and visually stunning."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gravity (2013) |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/gravity_2013/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140328005659/http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/gravity_2013/ |archive-date=March 28, 2014 |access-date=August 19, 2021 |website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |publisher=[[Fandango Media]]}}</ref> On [[Metacritic]], which assigns a normalized rating out based on reviews, the film has a weighted average score of 96 out of 100, based on 49 critics, indicating "universal acclaim", and making it the second-highest scoring widely released film of its year.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gravity Reviews |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/gravity |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130905001921/http://www.metacritic.com/movie/gravity |archive-date=September 5, 2013 |access-date=September 19, 2013 |website=[[Metacritic]] |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]]}}</ref> In [[CinemaScore]] polls conducted during the opening weekend, cinema audiences gave ''Gravity'' an average grade of "A−" on an A+ to F scale.<ref name="MSN" /> CinemaScore later issued an apology for the grade, saying they should have limited the poll to 3D showings instead of both 2D and 3D screenings (''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'' said it was "playing like an A+ film").<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=McClintock |first=Pamela |date=October 18, 2013 |title=CinemaScore in Retreat as Studios Turn to PostTrak |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/cinemascore-retreat-as-studios-turn-648341 |magazine=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |access-date=March 12, 2017}}</ref>

[[Matt Zoller Seitz]], writing on [[RogerEbert.com]], gave the film four out of four stars, calling it "a huge and technically dazzling film and that the film's panoramas of astronauts tumbling against starfields and floating through space station interiors are at once informative and lovely".<ref name="Seitz" /> Justin Chang, writing for ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'', said that the film "restores a sense of wonder, terror and possibility to the big screen that should inspire awe among critics and audiences worldwide".<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Frater |first=Patrick |date=August 14, 2013 |title='Gravity' Review: Alfonso Cuaron's White-Knuckle Space Odyssey |url=https://variety.com/2013/film/reviews/gravity-review-venice-film-festival-1200589689/ |magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |access-date=August 28, 2013}}</ref> [[Richard Corliss]] of ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' praised Cuarón for playing "daringly and dexterously with point-of-view: at one moment you're inside Ryan's helmet as she surveys the bleak silence, then in a subtle shift you're outside to gauge her reaction. The 3-D effects, added in post-production, provide their own extraterrestrial startle: a hailstorm of debris hurtles at you, as do a space traveler's thoughts at the realization of being truly alone in the universe."<ref name="Corliss">{{Cite magazine |date=August 28, 2013 |title=Gravity at the Venice Film Festival: Dread and Awe in Space |url=https://entertainment.time.com/2013/08/28/gravity-at-the-venice-film-festival-dread-and-awe-in-space/ |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |access-date=October 2, 2013}}</ref>

[[Peter Bradshaw]] of ''[[The Guardian]]'' gave the film five out of five stars, writing "a brilliant and inspired movie-cyclorama&nbsp;... a glorious imaginary creation that engulfs you utterly."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bradshaw |first=Peter |date=November 7, 2013 |title=Gravity Review |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/nov/07/gravity-review |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141203105428/http://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/nov/07/gravity-review |archive-date=December 3, 2014 |access-date=February 17, 2015 |website=The Guardian |publisher=Guardian News and Media Limited}}</ref> [[Robbie Collin]] of ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' also awarded the film five out of five stars.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Collin |first=Robbie |date=November 7, 2013 |title=Gravity, review: 'heartachingly tender' |work=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/filmreviews/10271540/Gravity-review-heartachingly-tender.html |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=February 17, 2015 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/filmreviews/10271540/Gravity-review-heartachingly-tender.html |archive-date=January 11, 2022}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

[[Peter Travers]] of ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' gave the film four out of four stars, stating that the film was "more than a movie. It's some kind of miracle."<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Travers |first=Peter |title=Gravity |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/reviews/gravity-20131003 |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |access-date=November 20, 2013}}</ref> [[A. O. Scott]], writing for ''[[The New York Times]]'', highlighted the use of 3-D which he said, "surpasses even what James Cameron accomplished in the flight sequences of ''Avatar''". Scott also said that the film "in a little more than 90 minutes rewrites the rules of cinema as we have known them".<ref name="Scott" /> [[Quentin Tarantino]] said it was one of his top ten films of 2013.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 5, 2013 |title=Quentin Tarantino's Top 10 Films of 2013 – So Far |url=http://www.tarantino.info/2013/10/05/quentin-tarantinos-top-10-films-2013-far/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131008032614/http://www.tarantino.info/2013/10/05/quentin-tarantinos-top-10-films-2013-far/ |archive-date=October 8, 2013 |access-date=October 7, 2013 |website=The Quentin Tarantino Archives}}</ref> ''[[Empire (film magazine)|Empire]]'', ''Time'' and ''[[Total Film]]'' ranked the film as the best of 2013.<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 3, 2013 |title=The 50 Best Films of 2013 |url=https://www.empireonline.com/features/films-of-the-year-2013/p14/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131211205434/http://www.empireonline.com/features/films-of-the-year-2013/p14/ |archive-date=December 11, 2013 |access-date=December 4, 2013 |magazine=[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |date=December 4, 2013 |title=Top 10 Best Movies |url=https://entertainment.time.com/2013/12/04/arts-and-entertainment/slide/top-10-best-movies/ |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=December 11, 2013 |title=Best movies of 2013 |url=http://www.totalfilm.com/features/best-movies-of-2013/gravity |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131214045723/http://www.totalfilm.com/features/best-movies-of-2013/gravity |archive-date=December 14, 2013 |website=[[Total Film]]}}</ref>

Critics have compared ''Gravity'' with other notable films set in space. Lindsey Weber of [[Vulture.com]] said the choice of [[Ed Harris]] for the voice of Mission Control is a reference to ''[[Apollo 13 (film)|Apollo 13]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Weber |first=Lindsey |date=October 6, 2013 |title=Did You Catch Gravity's Apollo 13 Shout-out? |url=https://www.vulture.com/2013/10/did-you-catch-apollo-13-shout-out.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131008023845/http://www.vulture.com/2013/10/did-you-catch-apollo-13-shout-out.html |archive-date=October 8, 2013 |access-date=October 7, 2013 |website=Vulture}}</ref> [[Todd McCarthy]] of ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'' suggests the way "a weightless Stone goes floating about in nothing but her underwear" references ''[[Alien (film)|Alien]]'' (1979).<ref name="McCarthy" /> Other critics made connections with ''[[2001: A Space Odyssey (film)|2001: A Space Odyssey]]'' (1968).<ref>{{Cite news |last=Morgenstern |first=Joe |date=October 3, 2013 |title="Gravity" Exerts Cosmic Pull |work=The Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702304176904579111881467162864 |url-status=live |access-date=August 3, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161024220736/http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702304176904579111881467162864 |archive-date=October 24, 2016}}</ref> [[James Cameron]] praised the film and stated, "I think it's the best space photography ever done, I think it's the best space film ever done, and it's the movie I've been hungry to see for an awful long time".<ref name="Alfonzoreturns" /> Empire Online, [[AskMen]] and ''[[The Huffington Post]]'' also considered ''Gravity'' to be one of the best space films ever made.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The 301 Greatest Films of All Time |url=https://www.empireonline.com/301/301.asp |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140701110424/http://www.empireonline.com/301/301.asp |archive-date=July 1, 2014 |access-date=June 20, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Butler |first=Tom |title=Gravity Review The Best Space Movie Ever? |url=http://uk.askmen.com/entertainment/movie/gravity-review.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230815221456/https://www.askmen.com/entertainment/movie/gravity-review.html |archive-date=August 15, 2023 |access-date=June 20, 2014 |website=Askmen.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Kim |first=Jonathan |date=October 4, 2013 |title=ReThink Review: Gravity – The Best Space Movie Since 2001 |work=Huffington Post |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/jonathan-kim/rethink-review-emgravitye_b_4041698.html |url-status=live |access-date=June 20, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230815221453/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/rethink-review-emgravitye_b_4041698 |archive-date=August 15, 2023}}</ref> While ''The Huffington Post's'' Lauren Duca later included ''Gravity'' on the site's list of "8 Movies from the Last 15 Years That Are Super Overrated",<ref>{{Cite news |date=June 12, 2014 |title=8 Movies From The Last 15 Years That Are Super Overrated |work=Huffington Post |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/06/12/overrated-movies_n_5481916.html |url-status=live |access-date=October 4, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170225102940/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/06/12/overrated-movies_n_5481916.html |archive-date=February 25, 2017}}</ref> another of the site's film critics, Christopher Rosen, placed it at the top of his list of Best Movies of 2013.<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 20, 2013 |title=One More List of 2013's Best Movies |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/29-best-movies-of-2013_b_4476103 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211025194533/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/29-best-movies-of-2013_b_4476103 |archive-date=October 25, 2021 |access-date=October 25, 2021}}</ref> ''Gravity'' was included on the top ten lists of 93 critics and topped the list of 22 of them.<ref>[http://www.metacritic.com/feature/film-critic-top-10-lists-best-movies-of-2013 Jason Dietz, "2013 Film Critic Top Ten Lists"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150401114250/http://www.metacritic.com/feature/film-critic-top-10-lists-best-movies-of-2013 |date=April 1, 2015 }}, Metacritic, December 8, 2013.</ref>

=== Accolades ===
{{anchor|Awards}}
{{main|List of accolades received by Gravity (2013 film)}}
''Gravity'' received a leading 10 nominations at the [[86th Academy Awards]] (with ''[[American Hustle]]''), including [[Academy Award for Best Picture|Best Picture]], [[Academy Award for Best Actress|Best Actress]] for Bullock, and [[Academy Award for Best Production Design|Best Production Design]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 16, 2014 |title=2014 Oscar Nominees |work=[[AMPAS]] |url=http://www.oscars.org/awards/academyawards/86/nominees.html |url-status=live |access-date=January 16, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140724130953/http://www.oscars.org/awards/academyawards/86/nominees.html |archive-date=July 24, 2014}}</ref> The film won a leading seven [[Academy Award]]s: for [[Academy Award for Best Director|Best Director]], [[Academy Award for Best Cinematography|Best Cinematography]], [[Academy Award for Best Visual Effects|Best Visual Effects]], [[Academy Award for Best Film Editing|Best Film Editing]], [[Academy Award for Best Original Score|Best Original Score]], [[Academy Award for Best Sound Editing|Best Sound Editing]], and [[Academy Award for Best Sound Mixing|Best Sound Mixing]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Oscar Winners 2014 Complete List |url=http://oscar.go.com/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140909025935/http://oscar.go.com/ |archive-date=September 9, 2014 |access-date=March 3, 2014 |website=Oscar.go.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=March 3, 2014 |title=Oscar Winners 2014 List |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |location=London |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/oscars/10669168/Oscars-winners-2014-the-full-list.html |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=March 3, 2014 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/oscars/10669168/Oscars-winners-2014-the-full-list.html |archive-date=January 11, 2022}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=March 3, 2014 |title=Gravity dominates, but 12 Years a Slave wins best film |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/mar/03/oscars-2014-gravity-win-12-years-a-slave |url-status=live |access-date=March 4, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180307053549/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/mar/03/oscars-2014-gravity-win-12-years-a-slave |archive-date=March 7, 2018}}</ref> Its seven wins makes it the most Oscar-awarded film of the [[2010s in film|2010s decade]], and is second only to ''[[Cabaret (1972 film)|Cabaret]]'' (1972) in receiving the most Academy Awards in the ceremony despite not winning Best Picture.

Cuarón won the [[Golden Globe Award for Best Director - Motion Picture|Golden Globe Award for Best Director]], and the film was also nominated for [[Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Drama|Best Motion Picture – Drama]], [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama|Best Actress – Drama]] for Bullock and [[Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score|Best Original Score]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 12, 2013 |title=Golden Globe Awards 2014: Nominees Announced For 71st Annual Golden Globes |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/12/golden-globe-awards-2014_n_4428720.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212151413/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/12/golden-globe-awards-2014_n_4428720.html |archive-date=December 12, 2013 |access-date=December 12, 2013 |website=The Huffington Post}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Leopold |first=Todd |date=January 13, 2014 |title='12 Years,' 'Hustle' win film Globes |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2014/01/12/showbiz/2014-golden-globes/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220065857/http://edition.cnn.com/2014/01/12/showbiz/2014-golden-globes/ |archive-date=December 20, 2016 |access-date=March 4, 2014 |publisher=CNN}}</ref>

''Gravity'' received a leading 11 nominations at the [[67th British Academy Film Awards]], including [[BAFTA Award for Best Film|Best Film]], [[BAFTA Award for Best Original Screenplay|Best Original Screenplay]], and [[BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role|Best Actress in a Leading Role]]. Cuarón was the most-nominated person at the awards; he was nominated for five awards, including his nominations as producer for Best Film awards and editor.<ref name="BAFTA">{{Cite web |title=2013 Nominations |url=http://static.bafta.org/files/film-1314-nominations-master-list-2141.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140108103356/http://static.bafta.org/files/film-1314-nominations-master-list-2141.pdf |archive-date=January 8, 2014 |access-date=January 8, 2014 |website=BAFTA}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=January 8, 2014 |title=Bafta Film Awards 2014: Full list of nominees |publisher=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-25648930 |url-status=live |access-date=January 8, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140523181707/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-25648930 |archive-date=May 23, 2014}}</ref> Despite not winning Best Film, ''Gravity'' won a leading 6 awards, including [[BAFTA Award for Best British Film|Outstanding British Film]], [[BAFTA Award for Best Direction|Best Director]], [[BAFTA Award for Best Film Music|Best Original Music]], [[BAFTA Award for Best Cinematography|Best Cinematography]], [[BAFTA Award for Best Sound|Best Sound]], and [[BAFTA Award for Best Special Visual Effects|Best Visual Effects]].<ref name="BAFTAwin">{{Cite web |date=February 16, 2014 |title=BAFTA Awards: '12 Years A Slave' Wins Best Film But 'Gravity' Carries Most Weight With Six Total Nods; Chiwetel Ejiofor & Cate Blanchett Take Actor Wins; 'American Hustle' Scores 3 Including For Jennifer Lawrence |url=https://deadline.com/2014/02/bafta-award-winners-2014-bafta-movie-awards-683658/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140716231355/http://www.deadline.com/2014/02/bafta-award-winners-2014-bafta-movie-awards/ |archive-date=July 16, 2014 |access-date=February 16, 2014 |website=BAFTA}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=February 16, 2014 |title=Gravity wins outstanding British film |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/feb/16/baftas-2014-gravity-outstanding-british-film |url-status=live |access-date=March 4, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190407203709/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/feb/16/baftas-2014-gravity-outstanding-british-film |archive-date=April 7, 2019}}</ref>

''Gravity'' also won the 2014 [[Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 17, 2014 |title=2014 Hugo Award Winners |url=http://www.thehugoawards.org/2014/08/2014-hugo-award-winners/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819083711/http://www.thehugoawards.org/2014/08/2014-hugo-award-winners/ |archive-date=August 19, 2014 |access-date=August 17, 2014 |website=The Hugo Awards}}</ref>

== Scientific accuracy ==
<!--BEFORE ADDING A NEW ENTRY PLEASE MAKE SURE IT IS RELIABLY SOURCED AND NOTABLE -->
Cuarón has stated that ''Gravity'' is not always scientifically accurate and that some liberties were needed to sustain the story.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pearlman |first=Robert Z. |date=October 3, 2013 |title='Gravity' Reality Check: Alfonso Cuarón, Sandra Bullock Talk Fact vs. Fiction |url=http://www.space.com/23062-gravity-movie-science-fiction-fact.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131207014906/http://www.space.com/23062-gravity-movie-science-fiction-fact.html |archive-date=December 7, 2013 |access-date=October 4, 2013 |website=Space.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=France |first=Lisa Respers |date=October 8, 2013 |title=5 things that couldn't happen in 'Gravity' |publisher=CNN |url=http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/07/showbiz/movies/gravity-scientists/ |url-status=live |access-date=November 25, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202221748/http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/07/showbiz/movies/gravity-scientists/ |archive-date=December 2, 2013}}</ref> Despite this, the film has been praised for the realism of its premises and its overall adherence to physical principles, although several inaccuracies and exaggerations were still noted.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 28, 2013 |title=What's behind the science of 'Gravity'? |url=http://edition.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/bestoftv/2013/09/28/exp-science-behind-gravity.cnn.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002082133/http://edition.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/bestoftv/2013/09/28/exp-science-behind-gravity.cnn.html |archive-date=October 2, 2013 |access-date=October 2, 2013 |publisher=CNN}}</ref><ref name="UCLA">{{Cite web |last=Margot |first=Jean-Luc |date=September 28, 2013 |title=How realistic is 'Gravity'? |url=http://www2.ess.ucla.edu/~jlm/epo/gravity.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131008045315/http://www2.ess.ucla.edu/~jlm/epo/gravity.html |archive-date=October 8, 2013 |access-date=October 8, 2013 |website=UCLA}}</ref><ref name="ScottParazynski">{{Cite web |last=Watkins |first=Gwynne |date=October 8, 2013 |title=An Astronaut Fact-checks Gravity |url=https://www.vulture.com/2013/10/astronaut-fact-checks-gravity.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131010225923/http://www.vulture.com/2013/10/astronaut-fact-checks-gravity.html |archive-date=October 10, 2013 |access-date=October 12, 2013 |website=Vulture}}</ref> According to NASA Astronaut [[Michael J. Massimino]], who took part in Hubble Space Telescope Servicing Missions [[STS-109]] and [[STS-125]], "nothing was out of place, nothing was missing. There was a one-of-a-kind wirecutter we used on one of my spacewalks and sure enough they had that wirecutter in the movie."<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=October 3, 2013 |title=Gravity: Ripped from the Headlines? |url=http://www.spacesafetymagazine.com/2013/10/04/gravity-ripped-headlines/ |magazine=Space Safety |access-date=October 3, 2013}}</ref>

Astronaut [[Buzz Aldrin]] called the visual effects "remarkable" and he hoped that the film would stimulate the public to find an interest in space again, after decades of diminishing investments into advancements in the field:<ref name="Aldrin" /> {{cquote|I was so extravagantly impressed by the portrayal of the reality of zero gravity. Going through the space station was done just the way that I've seen people do it in reality. The spinning is going to happen{{emdash}}maybe not quite that vigorous{{emdash}}but certainly we've been fortunate that people haven't been in those situations yet. I think it reminds us that there really are hazards in the space business, especially in activities outside the spacecraft.<ref name="Aldrin">{{Cite magazine |date=October 3, 2013 |title='Gravity' Review by Astronaut Buzz Aldrin |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/gravity-review-by-astronaut-buzz-639883 |magazine=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |access-date=October 7, 2013}}</ref>}} Former NASA astronaut [[Garrett Reisman]] said: {{cquote|The pace and story was definitely engaging and I think it was the best use of the 3-D IMAX medium to date. Rather than using the medium as a gimmick, ''Gravity'' uses it to depict a real environment that is completely alien to most people. But the question that most people want me to answer is, how realistic was it? The very fact that the question is being asked so earnestly is a testament to the verisimilitude of the movie. When a bad science fiction movie comes out, no one bothers to ask me if it reminded me of the real thing.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Reisman |first=Garrett |title=What Does A Real Astronaut Think Of 'Gravity'? |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/quora/2013/10/17/what-does-a-real-astronaut-think-of-gravity/ |magazine=[[Forbes]] |access-date=October 20, 2013}}</ref>}}

{{See also|Portrayal of women scientists in film}}
Former astronaut [[Chris Hadfield]] was critical of ''Gravity''{{'}}s portrayal of astronauts, particularly its depiction of Bullock's character, saying "When she's faced with a problem, she's panicking and has no idea what to do. George Clooney is driving around like some sort of space cowboy and he's the only one who has any idea what's going on. I think it set back a little girl's vision of what a woman astronaut can be (to) an entire generation."<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Chris |first=Jeffrey |date=March 26, 2020 |title=NASA Astronaut Looks Back at 'Gravity': It's Harmful for Girls Who Want to Go to Space |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2020/03/nasa-astronaut-gravity-review-1202220444/ |magazine=[[IndieWire]]}}</ref> In contrast, Vanessa Reich-Shackelford from Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science and Technology while considering the character of Dr. Ryan Stone wrote: "I came to realize that writers Alfonso (also director) and Jonás Cuarón had created one of the most positive representation of a woman in [[STEM]] on screen so far."<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 4, 2017 |title=Depictions of Women in STEM: Dr. Ryan Stone – Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science and Technology |url=https://www.sfu.ca/wwest/WWEST_blog/depictions-of-women-in-stem--dr--ryan-stone.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220203074557/https://www.sfu.ca/wwest/WWEST_blog/depictions-of-women-in-stem--dr--ryan-stone.html |archive-date=February 3, 2022 |access-date=March 1, 2022 |publisher=[[Simon Fraser University]]}}</ref>

=== Technical observations ===
[[File:Comparison ISS HST orbits globe centered in Cape Verde.svg|thumb|A diagram showing the orbits of the International Space Station and Hubble Space Telescope]]
Astrophysicist [[Neil deGrasse Tyson]], astronomer and skeptic [[Phil Plait]], and veteran NASA astronaut and spacewalker [[Scott E. Parazynski]] have offered comments about some of the most "glaring" inaccuracies.<ref name="ScottParazynski" /><ref name="Tyson">{{Cite web |last=Watercutter |first=Angela |date=October 7, 2013 |title=Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson Fact-Checks Gravity on Twitter |url=https://www.wired.com/underwire/2013/10/neil-degrasse-tyson-gravity/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131007192135/http://www.wired.com/underwire/2013/10/neil-degrasse-tyson-gravity/ |archive-date=October 7, 2013 |access-date=October 8, 2013 |website=[[Wired (website)|Wired]]}}</ref><ref name="BadAstronomy">{{Cite web |last=Plait |first=Phil |date=October 4, 2013 |title=Bad Astronomy Movie Review: Gravity |url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/bad_astronomy/2013/10/04/ba_movie_review_gravity.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131222190608/http://www.slate.com/blogs/bad_astronomy/2013/10/04/ba_movie_review_gravity.html |archive-date=December 22, 2013 |access-date=October 24, 2013 |website=Slate}}</ref> ''[[The Dissolve]]'' characterized these complaints as "absurd", problems "only an astrophysicist would find".<ref>{{Cite web |title=One Year Later: Gravity |url=http://thedissolve.com/features/one-year-later/799-one-year-later-gravity/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141111181240/http://thedissolve.com/features/one-year-later/799-one-year-later-gravity/ |archive-date=November 11, 2014 |access-date=November 14, 2014 |website=The Dissolve}}</ref>

In the movie, an impact in one orbital plane is shown to affect characters present at a different orbital plane. Also, these characters are depicted as being able to travel to a third orbital plane relatively easily. In reality, the debris field created by a destroyed communications satellite would likely not impact the Hubble Space Telescope which is where the shuttle ''Explorer'' is at the beginning of the film. Likewise, the significant differences between orbital parameters of the Hubble Space Telescope and the International Space Station would have made it impossible to travel between the two spacecraft (which is what the movie has the heroes do using only Kowalski's MMU) without precise preparation, planning, calculation, the appropriate technology, and a large quantity of fuel at the time.{{efn|The Hubble Space Telescope previously had an altitude of about {{convert|559|km|mi}} and an [[orbital inclination]] of 28.5 degrees. As of the release of the film, the International Space Station had an altitude of around {{convert|420|km|mi}} and an orbital inclination of 51.65 degrees. Communications satellites are in much higher orbits than either.}}<ref name="UCLA" /><ref name="ScottParazynski" /><ref name="BadAstronomy" /><ref>{{cite book |last= Bennett|first= Jeffrey|author-link= |date= 2017|title= Life in the universe|url= |location= United States|publisher= Pearson|pages= 40|isbn= 978-0-13-408908-9}}</ref>

Further examples of differences from reality include:
* Several observers (including Plait and Tyson) said that in the scene in which Kowalski unclips his tether and floats away to his death to save Stone from being pulled away from the ISS, Stone would simply need to tug the tether gently to pull Kowalski toward her. According to the film's science adviser Kevin Grazier and NASA engineer Robert Frost, however, the pair are still decelerating with Stone's leg caught in the parachute cords from the Soyuz. The cords stretch as they absorb her kinetic energy. Kowalski thinks that the cords are not strong enough to absorb his kinetic energy as well as hers, and that he must release the tether to give Stone a chance of stopping before the cords fail and doom both of them.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Dewey |first=Caitlin |date=October 21, 2013 |title=Here's what 'Gravity' gets right and wrong about space |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/10/21/heres-what-gravity-gets-right-and-wrong-about-space/ |url-status=live |access-date=August 29, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150726040928/http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/10/21/heres-what-gravity-gets-right-and-wrong-about-space/ |archive-date=July 26, 2015}}</ref>
* By the time [[Tiangong-1]] was launched in 2011, the [[Space Shuttle]] had been [[Space Shuttle retirement|retired from service]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cooper |first=Quentin |date=October 28, 2013 |title=Why Gravity is junk science |url=http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20131027-why-gravity-is-junk-science |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160316095009/http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20131027-why-gravity-is-junk-science |archive-date=March 16, 2016 |access-date=March 4, 2016 |website=BBC Future}}</ref>
* Stone is shown not wearing [[Liquid Cooling and Ventilation Garment|liquid-cooled ventilation garments]] or even socks, which are always worn under the EVA suit to protect against extreme temperatures in space. Neither was she shown wearing [[Maximum Absorbency Garment|space diapers]].<ref name="ScottParazynski" /> Unlike real space suits, Stone can open her suit in the front, by herself.<ref name="frontopening" />
* Stone's tears first roll down her face in micro-gravity, and are later seen floating off her face. After being pushed from her eye by her eyelid, the [[surface tension]] is not sufficient for the tears to continue adhering to her jawline.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hadfield |first=Chris |date=April 11, 2013 |title=How Astronauts Cry in Space (Video) |url=http://www.space.com/20597-how-astronauts-cry-space-video.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130904202642/http://www.space.com/20597-how-astronauts-cry-space-video.html |archive-date=September 4, 2013 |access-date=October 22, 2013 |website=Space.com}}</ref> However, the film correctly portrays the spherical nature of drops of liquid in a micro-gravity environment.<ref name="UCLA" />
* Kowalski's use of the MMU as his personal jet pack zipping around the spacewalking scene was criticized by ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]''{{'}}s Jeffery Kluger as being unrealistic. NASA's spacewalks are strictly choreographed in advance.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Kluger |first=Jeffrey |date=October 1, 2013 |title='Gravity' Fact Check: What the Season's Big Movie Gets Wrong |url=https://science.time.com/2013/10/01/what-gravity-gets-right-and-wrong-about-space/ |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]}}</ref>

Despite the inaccuracies in ''Gravity'', Tyson, Plait and Parazynski all said they enjoyed watching the film.<ref name="ScottParazynski" /><ref name="Tyson" /><ref name="BadAstronomy" /> Astronaut [[Cady Coleman]] advised Sandra Bullock on the film.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 27, 2013 |title=NASA Astronaut Helped Actors Prepare for "Gravity" |url=https://www.universetoday.com/105070/nasa-astronaut-helped-actors-prepare-for-gravity/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126034234/https://www.universetoday.com/105070/nasa-astronaut-helped-actors-prepare-for-gravity/ |archive-date=January 26, 2021 |access-date=November 29, 2020 |website=Universe Today |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Notes ==
{{reflist|group=N}}
{{notelist}}

== See also ==
* [[Kessler syndrome]]
* [[List of films featuring space stations]]
* [[Survival film]]
* [[2013 in film]]
* [[List of American films of 2013]]
* [[List of British films of 2013]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{Wikiquote|Gravity (film)}}
* {{Official website|http://www.gravitymovie.com}}
* {{IMDb title|1454468|Gravity}}
* {{AllMovie title|523235|Gravity}}
* {{Rotten Tomatoes|gravity_2013}}
* {{Metacritic film}}
* {{mojo title|gravity}}

{{Alfonso Cuarón}}
{{Navboxes
|title = [[List of accolades received by Gravity (2013 film)|Awards for ''Gravity'']]
|list =
{{AACTA International Award for Best Film}}
{{Academy Award Best Sound Editing}}
{{Academy Award Best Visual Effects}}
{{BAFTA Award for Best Special Visual Effects}}
{{BAFTA Best British Film}}
{{Blue Ribbon Award for Best Foreign Film}}
{{Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Sci-Fi/Horror Movie}}
{{Dublin Film Critics Circle Award for Best Film}}
{{Empire Award for Best Film}}
{{Golden Eagle Award for Best Foreign Language Film}}
{{Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form}}
{{Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Film}}
{{Nebula Award for Best Script/Bradbury Award}}
{{Producers Guild of America Award for Best Theatrical Motion Picture}}
{{Saturn Award for Best Science Fiction Film}}
}}

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