Scarlett Johansson, conspiracy theories… Why you must (re)watch Fly Me To The Moon

By The Editorial Team, 

and Violaine Schütz.

Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum shoot for the Moon in Fly Me To the Moon

It was one of the most successful romcoms of 2024. And it’s coming to Apple TV on December 10th, 2025. The charming, retro, chic and funny feature Fly Me To the Moon, directed by Greg Berlanti (Love, Simon), takes us back to the 1960s, in the midst of the Cold War.

As scientific research progresses at a rapid pace, the United States throws itself into the space race to become the first country to land on the Moon, thus rivaling the Soviet Union. Amid this tense political backdrop, new figures begin to emerge… Kelly Jones, a clever, chatty, resourceful, and enigmatic New York advertising executive, is played by Scarlett Johansson. The actress has never looked more like Marilyn Monroe in terms of style and makeup.

Give NASA a better image

The star is tasked with restoring NASA’s tarnished reputation following a failed mission and lifting the spirits of an America disheartened by the Vietnam War. And who better than this vibrant, pin-up-like actress to make the Moon sexy again?

But she soon clashes with the cold demeanor of Cole Davis, a brooding, former military pilot turned NASA director, still haunted by the loss of his colleagues during the Apollo 11 mission. That character is played by the brillant Channing Tatum.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lW7enw6mFxs

Fly Me To the Moon, a romcom set against the backdrop of a conspiracy theory

Fly Me To the Moon has all the classic ingredients of a good American romcom… Two irresistible leads, who seem like total opposites at first sight, plot twists, endearing supporting characters – here, Scarlett Johansson’s feminist BFF and NASA’s shy team members. The love-hate relationship and the back-and-forth power play won’t surprise seasoned fans of that genre.

What makes it stand out, nevertheless, is the context in which this charming, sentimental narrative takes place. The viewer goes behind-the-scenes of NASA during the Apollo 11 Moon landing in 1969. Drawing on a well-known conspiracy theory – Stanley Kubrick allegedly filmed the footage of the first steps on the Moon – the film imagines that the White House secretly commissions a team, led by Scarlett Johansson’s character, to shoot a fake Moon landing, just in case the mission fails.

A touch reminiscent of Mad Men

The film also wins viewers over with its 1960s-inspired costumes, reminiscent of Mad Men, its upbeat soundtrack, and astonishingly realistic NASA sets. But above all, it’s the sizzling on-screen chemistry between Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum that steals the show.

Two irresistible and endearing sex symbols, who playfully use their appeal. Hands down, one of the most exciting cinematic couples in recent years.

Fly Me To the Moon (2024) by Greg Berlanti, available on Apple TV on December 10th, 2025.