Roving Mars

Roving Mars is a documentary that follows the NASA mission to send two advanced robotic vehicles, Spirit and Opportunity, to the surface of Mars. After landing in the summer of 2003, these rovers conducted geological research and captured high-definition images of the red planet. The film uses a combination of real rover footage and computer-generated imagery to show landscapes previously unseen by humans. While the mission was originally intended to last 90 days, the rovers continued their exploration for over four years.

The film was directed by George Butler, who also served as the narrator and a producer. This project followed his earlier work on Pumping Iron. The production was a collaboration between Walt Disney Pictures, NASA, White Mountain Films, and The Kennedy/Marshall Company. The cast includes appearances by Paul Newman and Steve Squyres, among other contributors.

Released in 2006, the 40-minute production earned 10 million USD at the worldwide box office. It has received a positive reception from viewers, maintaining a 7.2 rating on IMDb from 1,200 votes and a 7.2 rating on TMDB from 36 votes. Film critics gave the documentary a slightly lower score of 6.9 based on 37 reviews.