15 Iconic Apollo 13 Movie Quotes: The Real Story Behind "Houston, We Have A Problem" And "Failure Is Not An Option"

Few films capture the intense drama and sheer ingenuity of a real-life crisis better than Ron Howard's 1995 masterpiece, Apollo 13. More than just a cinematic retelling of the 'successful failure' of NASA's 1970 mission, the movie etched several powerful, motivational, and often misquoted lines into the global cultural lexicon. This deep dive, updated for December 12, 2025, explores the true origins, the Hollywood adaptations, and the enduring power of the quotes that turned a near-disaster into a triumph of the human spirit.

The film's dialogue, penned by screenwriters William Broyles Jr. and Al Reinert, masterfully blended the technical jargon of Mission Control with the raw, human emotion of astronauts stranded 200,000 miles from Earth. Understanding the difference between the movie's dramatization and the actual mission transcripts is key to appreciating the film's genius and the historical reality of the Apollo 13 mission.

The Real-Life and On-Screen Heroes: A Cast and Crew Biography

The enduring power of the Apollo 13 quotes is intrinsically linked to the legendary figures who spoke them, both the real-life astronauts and flight directors, and the Hollywood legends who portrayed them. Their commitment to authenticity gave the dialogue its weight and lasting impact.

• 7 Shocking Things Jessica Capshaw Revealed About Growing Up With Steven Spielberg As Her Stepfather 892ho

• Jim Lovell (Astronaut) / Tom Hanks (Actor): Lovell, the Commander of the Apollo 13 mission, was a veteran astronaut who had flown on Gemini 7, Gemini 12, and Apollo 8. His calm demeanor during the crisis was pivotal. Tom Hanks, a two-time Oscar winner, brought an accessible, everyman gravitas to the role, making Lovell's quiet leadership the film's emotional core.
• Fred Haise (Astronaut) / Bill Paxton (Actor): Haise was the Lunar Module Pilot, on his first space flight. He was instrumental in conserving power and managing the Lunar Module, Aquarius. Bill Paxton captured Haise's determination and the physical toll the crisis took on the crew.
• Jack Swigert (Astronaut) / Kevin Bacon (Actor): Swigert was the Command Module Pilot, a late replacement for the grounded Ken Mattingly. His quick thinking was vital in the immediate aftermath of the explosion. Kevin Bacon portrayed Swigert’s initial anxiety and his eventual integration into the crew’s survival efforts.
• Gene Kranz (Flight Director) / Ed Harris (Actor): Kranz was the legendary Flight Director of the White Team in Mission Control. Known for his "Kranz Dictum" and his iconic white vest, he embodied the spirit of problem-solving. Ed Harris's Oscar-nominated performance cemented Kranz's image as the unflappable leader who refused to accept defeat.
• Ken Mattingly (Astronaut) / Gary Sinise (Actor): Mattingly was the original Command Module Pilot, grounded due to exposure to the measles. His work on the power-up procedures for the Command Module, Odyssey, was critical to the crew's safe return. Gary Sinise played the role of the excluded-yet-essential hero with quiet intensity.
• Ron Howard (Director): The film's director, Ron Howard, focused on meticulous detail and a documentary-like approach, ensuring the technical dialogue felt authentic while maintaining a thrilling pace. His direction is what elevated the quotes from simple lines to cultural touchstones.

The Quotes That Defined a Crisis: Movie vs. Reality

The most famous lines from Apollo 13 are a perfect example of how Hollywood often refines history for dramatic effect. While the spirit of the quotes remains true to the mission, the exact wording and context were often altered by the screenwriters.

1. “Houston, we have a problem.” (The Misquoted Icon)

This is arguably the most recognizable line in cinema history, instantly associated with a sudden, catastrophic shift in circumstances.

• The Movie Quote: "Houston, we have a problem." (Spoken by Tom Hanks as Jim Lovell, and earlier by Kevin Bacon as Jack Swigert).
• The Real Quote: "Ah, Houston, we’ve had a problem." (Spoken first by Jack Swigert, followed by Jim Lovell saying, "Houston, we’ve had a problem here.")
• The Context: The slight change, from "we’ve had" to "we have," shifts the line from reporting a past event (the oxygen tank explosion) to an immediate, ongoing crisis. The movie used the more popular, slightly misquoted version that had already entered public consciousness.

2. “Failure is not an option.” (The Hollywood Creation)

This quote, delivered with steely resolve by Ed Harris as Gene Kranz, has become a corporate and motivational rallying cry. Yet, its origin is purely cinematic.

• The Surprise Vegas Wedding And Shared Grief 5 Shocking Details Of John Schneider And Dee Dee Sorvinos Whirlwind Romance Ohirf

• The Movie Quote: "We've never lost an American in space, we're sure as hell not going to lose one on my watch! Failure is not an option!"
• The Real Context: Gene Kranz never spoke this exact line during the Apollo 13 crisis. The screenwriters created the quote based on Kranz's post-mission leadership philosophy, which he later titled his memoir, Failure Is Not an Option: Mission Control From Mercury to Apollo 13 and Beyond. The quote perfectly encapsulates the Mission Control team’s relentless, problem-solving ethos, even if it wasn't spoken in the moment.

3. “I don't know what you call that, but we have got a problem.” (The First Sign of Trouble)

This is the actual first indication of a major issue. It's a less dramatic line, but a more accurate reflection of the initial confusion and technical nature of the emergency.

• The Movie Quote: "I don't know what you call that, but we have got a problem." (Spoken by Swigert after noticing the low voltage reading and the subsequent master alarm).
• The Real Context: This quote is very close to the actual mission transcript, capturing the initial, almost understated way the severity of the situation—the impending loss of the Command Module (Odyssey) and the need to use the Lunar Module (Aquarius) as a lifeboat—was reported.

Beyond the Crisis: Quotes on Leadership, Hope, and the Human Spirit

Not all memorable lines from Apollo 13 were about the immediate crisis. Many of the film's most powerful moments came from reflections on the nature of exploration, teamwork, and the sheer audacity of the space program. These quotes provide the film's topical authority on leadership and perseverance.

4. “We just decided to go.”

This quote, spoken by Jim Lovell early in the film, sets the philosophical tone for the entire story—that space travel is not a miracle, but a deliberate act of will and engineering.

• Shania Twains Bold Statement Why The Star Chose Nude Photoshoots At 57 Qf9cg

• The Quote: "From now on we live in a world where man walked on the moon. It's not a miracle. We just decided to go."
• The Impact: This line summarizes the entire NASA philosophy: that seemingly impossible feats are achievable through human endeavor, planning, and collective brilliance. It grounds the space race in human choice rather than divine intervention.

5. “Gentlemen, it's been a privilege flying with you.”

Spoken by Jim Lovell as the crew prepares for the dangerous re-entry into Earth's atmosphere, this line is a quiet acceptance of their fate and a profound expression of camaraderie.

• The Quote: "Gentlemen, it's been a privilege flying with you."
• The Impact: This simple statement highlights the deep bond between the three astronauts—Lovell, Haise, and Swigert—who faced the ultimate danger together. It is a moment of raw, human vulnerability before the final, high-stakes gamble.

6. “Square peg in a round hole.”

This line is a perfect piece of technical dialogue that became a metaphor for the entire mission. It refers to the challenge of adapting the square lithium hydroxide canisters from the Command Module to fit the round openings in the Lunar Module to scrub the deadly CO2 scrubbers.

• The Quote: "We gotta find a way to make this fit into the hole for this. Using only this." (Paraphrased from the scene where EECOM White and the ground crew are tasked with the impossible engineering solution).
• The Impact: The phrase "square peg in a round hole" is now synonymous with the Apollo 13 crisis, symbolizing the need for radical, on-the-fly innovation under extreme pressure—a hallmark of the collective effort by the astronauts and the ground crew at NASA Johnson Space Center.

The Lasting Cultural Impact of Apollo 13's Dialogue

The dialogue from Apollo 13 has transcended the film itself, becoming part of the modern lexicon. The film’s success hinged on its ability to turn technical problems into human drama, a feat achieved by grounding the crisis in relatable, powerful language.

The cinematic misquotes, like "Houston, we have a problem," demonstrate the power of dramatic simplification. While historians prefer the accuracy of "we’ve had," the punchier "we have" immediately communicates the urgency of the moment to a mass audience. This artistic license is what made the film a blockbuster and ensured the line’s immortality.

Furthermore, the focus on figures like Ken Mattingly, who had to work remotely to save his colleagues, and the entire team in Mission Control, highlighted the concept of collective genius. Quotes about teamwork, like Kranz's call to "work the problem," cemented the film's status as a masterclass in leadership and crisis management.

The movie’s dialogue continues to inspire business leaders, engineers, and everyday people. The Apollo 13 movie quotes are more than just lines from a script; they are a concise, powerful summary of the American spirit of ingenuity, resilience, and the refusal to accept defeat, ensuring the legacy of the 1970 mission will be remembered for generations to come.