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Hidden Figures - Screenplay
122 pages, ebook
Published January 1, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
February 17, 2017
The biggest difference between the true story of Hidden Figures, the book, and the screenplay is the introduction of white characters. Every character in the screenplay that is white is a complete fabrication not present in the book. There's also some really strange racial elements included in the screenplay that just aren't in the book. For example, the scene in which Dorothy steals a book from the library in made up, as is the frustration over segregation from Mary's husband. I also find it incredibly annoying that in the screenplay, there's is a constant theme of Katherine Johnson running half a mile back and forth to the colored bathroom, when in real life, she simply used the whites only bathroom. That truth comes off as more brazen and makes Johnson into a far more awesome character than the screenplay does, but making her salvation come at the hands of a white man just feels wrong.
Co-screenwriter Theodore Melfi has stated that in this story, you need white characters, and the book teaches that no, you absolutely don't, especially in this story. While not as overt as something like The Help or The Blind Side, it's terrible that this film needs to have white saviors, even if the women at the film's center do plenty on their own. It's just an awful choice that hurts more than helps in hindsight.
So why three stars? Melfi and his co-writer Allison Schroeder make this story fun to read. The book isn't that exciting, but the way these characters interact and weave together into each other's lives is far superior than the book's telling. The book gets more into the individual, whereas the screenplay turns them into a united group, working their way up the ladder. It's makes for a more captivating story, even if there isn't as much detail into who these characters are.
I almost wish the book's writer Margot Lee Shetterly had helped with the screenplay. Schroeder and Melfi do a fine job combining these stories, but it feels like it needs a guiding voice that won't turn this story into something it's not.
Co-screenwriter Theodore Melfi has stated that in this story, you need white characters, and the book teaches that no, you absolutely don't, especially in this story. While not as overt as something like The Help or The Blind Side, it's terrible that this film needs to have white saviors, even if the women at the film's center do plenty on their own. It's just an awful choice that hurts more than helps in hindsight.
So why three stars? Melfi and his co-writer Allison Schroeder make this story fun to read. The book isn't that exciting, but the way these characters interact and weave together into each other's lives is far superior than the book's telling. The book gets more into the individual, whereas the screenplay turns them into a united group, working their way up the ladder. It's makes for a more captivating story, even if there isn't as much detail into who these characters are.
I almost wish the book's writer Margot Lee Shetterly had helped with the screenplay. Schroeder and Melfi do a fine job combining these stories, but it feels like it needs a guiding voice that won't turn this story into something it's not.
March 20, 2017
Very disappointing book. I wanted to learn more about the women and hear stories of their lives - this could have been a great book, instead it reads like a history text book , I struggled through a little at a time hoping that it got better but it never did....
February 20, 2017
I wanted a story with dialogue and character development. I got a history lesson. I had a hard time finishing this book.
February 16, 2017
I don't know I how I even made it to chapter 9. A terribly boring boring book. I was expecting like a real story with characters not a timeline of impersonal events.
February 6, 2025
Content was good, but with so many details, facts and science it is very dense. Liked it, but not a quick & fun read. Very insiteful, eye opening, empowering and encouraging
February 24, 2017
This is the HOT nonfiction book of the moment, so I gave it a try.
What a bad execution! I really wanted to love this book! I wanted to give it 5 stars but I can't. I wanted to hear more of the woman! I wanted to hear stories from working in NASA, but instead I got a history lesson on segregation. This is a book about the history of segregation in the US and less about the amazing woman that worked at NASA! Such a disappointment!
I thought it was starting off slow, and waited for the story of these woman but, it never came. I have not seen the movie, but plan to. Just by watching the trailers, and the great reviews it's gotten, it looks like this is one of those rare occurrences where to movies IS better than the book.
What a bad execution! I really wanted to love this book! I wanted to give it 5 stars but I can't. I wanted to hear more of the woman! I wanted to hear stories from working in NASA, but instead I got a history lesson on segregation. This is a book about the history of segregation in the US and less about the amazing woman that worked at NASA! Such a disappointment!
I thought it was starting off slow, and waited for the story of these woman but, it never came. I have not seen the movie, but plan to. Just by watching the trailers, and the great reviews it's gotten, it looks like this is one of those rare occurrences where to movies IS better than the book.
February 21, 2017
Great info, terrible storytelling. It reads more like a list of historical details and chronology of events. No character development. If I hadn't cared about the characters from the movie, I don't think I could have made it through.
April 26, 2021
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wfrD... (promo/trailer video)
Hidden Figures is a movie by 20th Century Fox (2017) which is a biographical drama about African American female engineers who worked at NASA to aid the U.S. in the Space Race.
This movie is a wonderful media source to include in the concept of Experience because it depicts the real story of very influential and amazing Black women who impacted our country’s ability to send men to the moon. The stories of Katherine Johnson, Mary Jackson, and Dorothy Vaughan, the women who worked as engineers for NASA during segregation, are most likely unfamiliar to most people in this country. What most people don’t know is that their contributions to NASA are a large reason why John Glenn was able to make it to the moon in 1969. This story adds to the overarching history of the United States at a very exciting time in its history. In addition to this, the movie illustrates how difficult it was for these three Black women to have their voices heard in the workplace. Even though their work was invaluable to NASA, they had to work in segregated quarters, answer to prejudiced bosses, walk a half-mile to reach the nearest bathroom for “colored” people, and earn respect by those around them. Their story is powerful, inspiring, and important.
This source is good for middle school students because they will be starting to think of possibilities for their futures. The people who are represented by the characters in the movie demonstrate values such as perseverance, integrity, courage, and pride. Students can view this movie and gain hope about their futures and any aspirations they have, no matter how ambitious or out-of-reach they think they are. This movie can be especially influential for minorities, women, and members of the LGBTQ+ communities as it shows marginalized people working in a field that they are almost completely absent in and/or prevented from.
A perfect writing strategy to use with this movie is “What Are Your Dreams?” In this strategy, students write about their ambitions and future job goals in four steps. First, they identify a dream they have, explain it, and write why it is important to them. Second, they consider what they need to do to make the dream come true. Third, they figure out what help they need to make it happen and where they can find the help. Lastly, they write their closing thoughts and reflections. If students don’t know where to start, most middle school guidance programs ask all 8th graders to complete some sort of career survey which will tell them which fields they seem to be gravitating towards.
Hidden Figures is a movie by 20th Century Fox (2017) which is a biographical drama about African American female engineers who worked at NASA to aid the U.S. in the Space Race.
This movie is a wonderful media source to include in the concept of Experience because it depicts the real story of very influential and amazing Black women who impacted our country’s ability to send men to the moon. The stories of Katherine Johnson, Mary Jackson, and Dorothy Vaughan, the women who worked as engineers for NASA during segregation, are most likely unfamiliar to most people in this country. What most people don’t know is that their contributions to NASA are a large reason why John Glenn was able to make it to the moon in 1969. This story adds to the overarching history of the United States at a very exciting time in its history. In addition to this, the movie illustrates how difficult it was for these three Black women to have their voices heard in the workplace. Even though their work was invaluable to NASA, they had to work in segregated quarters, answer to prejudiced bosses, walk a half-mile to reach the nearest bathroom for “colored” people, and earn respect by those around them. Their story is powerful, inspiring, and important.
This source is good for middle school students because they will be starting to think of possibilities for their futures. The people who are represented by the characters in the movie demonstrate values such as perseverance, integrity, courage, and pride. Students can view this movie and gain hope about their futures and any aspirations they have, no matter how ambitious or out-of-reach they think they are. This movie can be especially influential for minorities, women, and members of the LGBTQ+ communities as it shows marginalized people working in a field that they are almost completely absent in and/or prevented from.
A perfect writing strategy to use with this movie is “What Are Your Dreams?” In this strategy, students write about their ambitions and future job goals in four steps. First, they identify a dream they have, explain it, and write why it is important to them. Second, they consider what they need to do to make the dream come true. Third, they figure out what help they need to make it happen and where they can find the help. Lastly, they write their closing thoughts and reflections. If students don’t know where to start, most middle school guidance programs ask all 8th graders to complete some sort of career survey which will tell them which fields they seem to be gravitating towards.
January 5, 2023
Very interesting but at times tedious reading.
February 25, 2020
In celebration of Katherine Johnson’s life, I read the screenplay, “Hidden Figures” written by Theodore Melfi and Allison Schroeder today. Had seen the movie a couple years ago, but had not read the book from where the screenplay was adapted.
I felt the script was straightforward and accentuated key points and humor from what I had remembered about the movie. I also felt the dialogue had a lot of great subtext which effectively carried the storyline.
Reading the script was a great refresher of an impactful film. Hope to also read the book highlighting these remarkable women.
I felt the script was straightforward and accentuated key points and humor from what I had remembered about the movie. I also felt the dialogue had a lot of great subtext which effectively carried the storyline.
Reading the script was a great refresher of an impactful film. Hope to also read the book highlighting these remarkable women.
October 7, 2025
I think this book is absolutely amazing because it takes us back into black history and tells you the struggle and challenges that they needed to face like racism publicly and in the work environment and even though they are a different color you can accomplish great things our main focus Mary W. Jackson was the first African American female engineer at NASA went through many hardships in the work place they would give her weird looks often even though she was one of the most intelligent there there was a big problem with the bathroom she was getting called out and they noticed that she was gone for almost an hour then they got mad at her but it was no her falt she had to explain that she had to walk over to her old building to use the bath room because there was not a bathroom for her when the manager herd this they found him with a big hammer next to the women's bathroom because he is whit this makes no sens he started hitting the bathroom sign that said white women restroom this made a big change and now she cold go to the normal restroom and it was amazing and this made a big difference on how people vewd black people she finished high school at age 16 then started to work as a human Calculator and moved up the rank where even though she was a different skin color John Glenn an Astronaut accepted her and would not go into space without her Calculations because computers were making a big difference in NASA but he wanted to make sure that the numbers were right even though the computer said something and when she said the numbers were right he became the first American man to orbit the earth there were complications but he made it home safe but during this Mary's friend Katherine Johnson, went to college and was so surprised that she didn't half to sit in the back and was one of the first black women to go to college this was also a gigantic brake though for black people and now Katherine opend a door for more people like her when Mary was finish with her work she was sent back to here original post and was now a married women feeling accomplished over all this book is amazing and I totally recommend it thank you!!
April 19, 2025
This is the book important from a women's empowerment point of view as the state of Virginia is suffering from difference in color and white people and color doesn't have few rights 3 women rise from such an environment to do something extraordinary that changes point of View for the color Community in the state.
Before John Glenn orbited the earth or Neil Armstrong walked on the moon, a group of dedicated female mathematicians known as “human computers” used pencils, slide rules, and added machines to calculate the numbers that would launch rockets, and astronauts, into space. This audiobook brings to life the stories of Dorothy Vaughan became the first color supervisor of IBM machine ,Mary Jackson is the first color engineer to graduate from white school and make history, Katherine Johnson a mathematician who actually read between numbers and help John glenn and team land safely, and Christine Darden, is an American mathematician, data analyst and aeronautical engineer who devoted much of her 40-year career in aerodynamics at NASA to research supersonic flight and sonic booms four African-American women who lived through the Civil Rights era, the Space Race, the Cold War, and the movement for gender equality, and whose work forever changed the face of NASA and the country.
The show life is not fair to them but they bend the rules in their favour by sheer hardwork, dedication and love for the country and respect for the community and family they make it worth it. With over 4 decades of there life they helped NASA various operations and show the world a women can do better if equal opportunity is given without difference of Caste, creed, color and justice
Before John Glenn orbited the earth or Neil Armstrong walked on the moon, a group of dedicated female mathematicians known as “human computers” used pencils, slide rules, and added machines to calculate the numbers that would launch rockets, and astronauts, into space. This audiobook brings to life the stories of Dorothy Vaughan became the first color supervisor of IBM machine ,Mary Jackson is the first color engineer to graduate from white school and make history, Katherine Johnson a mathematician who actually read between numbers and help John glenn and team land safely, and Christine Darden, is an American mathematician, data analyst and aeronautical engineer who devoted much of her 40-year career in aerodynamics at NASA to research supersonic flight and sonic booms four African-American women who lived through the Civil Rights era, the Space Race, the Cold War, and the movement for gender equality, and whose work forever changed the face of NASA and the country.
The show life is not fair to them but they bend the rules in their favour by sheer hardwork, dedication and love for the country and respect for the community and family they make it worth it. With over 4 decades of there life they helped NASA various operations and show the world a women can do better if equal opportunity is given without difference of Caste, creed, color and justice
December 27, 2024
I found Hidden Figures to be a very interesting story about three black women who were important to NASA during the space launch in the 1960's. It is a true story about Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson, and Dorothy Vaughan. They not only experienced racism but also sexism. They were underestimated about their abilities but in the end they proved to have made very important contributions that helped America win the Space Race.
Mary Jackson became NASA's first African American female engineer. Katherine Johnson helped Astronaut John Glenn through her brilliant math calculations that were crucial for sending him into orbit. Dorothy Vaughan helped the NASA program introduce computers by teaching herself and her staff programming language.
These women fought against racism and sexism against all odds because they believed in themselves and in justice and equality. They knew they were just as good if not better than their counterparts. They had to work twice as hard to get their opportunities. Their resilience and perseverance allowed them to shine despite being "Hidden Figures" working in NASA. They proved that opportunities should be given to both women and people of color because their contributions could make a huge impact on the world.
December 2, 2025
When I was reading Hidden Figures,I didn't expect the story to hit me the way it did,but it honestly shocked me. The book follows these colored women at NASA, Katherine Johnson,Dorothy Vaughan,and Mary Jackson,and the crazy part is how much they did while barely getting credit for their work. While I was reading, I kept thinking "Dang,nobody ever taught us any of this,"and it made the whole space-race history feel different,like there was this whole hidden side I never knew about.What really stood out to me was how hard they had to work just to get some basic respect,even though they were doing math that shaped the entire program, and I found myself getting mad at how people treated them but also a sense of inspiration by how they kept pushing through anyway. If I'm being honest,some of the history parts dragged a little too long for me, but at the same time they helped me understand why their achievements were such a great deal. My main takeaway, the thing that I am asserting,is that Hidden Figures is not just about space or math,it is about people who changed history even when the world tried to keep them invisible, and reading it made me realize how important it is to tell stories like this instead of letting them stay hidden forever.
November 2, 2021
The book “Hidden Figures” by Margot Lee Shetterly tells the story of three brilliant Africain American who worked as human computers to solve problems for engineers and others at NASA. Katherine Johnson, Dorthey Vaughan and Mary Jackson serve as the brains behind one of the greatest operations in history. The author Margot Lee Shetterly utilizes racism, sexism and the drive to achieve something powerful, into a conveying story that informs and inspires her readers on these topics. Something that worked was how Margot Lee was able to switch points of view while also changing perspective without making it confuse her readers. I personally loved this book for many reasons. One of those reasons being how the author was able to capture not one, but all three women's stories. She was able to write this book in its true form. I would recommend this book to any race who wants to learn about how black females were treated. I would also interest this book to anyone who wants to get more insight into the space race. Overall, I would change nothing about this book. The book “Hidden Figures” was a memorable book that I enjoyed learning and reading about.
dnf-skimmed
December 6, 2025Stopped 62% in, this was incredibly boring. A ton of information dumping recounting historical events of woman and their contributions that were mostly unnoticed within NASA and getting to space. I believe the entire moon landing was a hoax so this entire story seemed a little pointless to me. If I wanted to learn more about history there are more entertaining media sources available. I was assuming this would be a similar telling as was portrayed in the movie adaptation which was naive of me and subsequently led to my ultimate disappointment. I impulsively stated this without even reading the summary or anything else about this so do not have any rating to give as I didn’t really give this story a chance.
October 7, 2023
Hidden Figures is a wonderful book and I am so glad to have read for a second time. I normally dislike to read books in class but I always enjoy reading this book. I love all the characters and the storyline is absolutely beautiful. I enjoyed watching the movie too especially most of the book events correlate with the story line! Unfortunately, this book is also being banned due to exposing discrimination in the workplace. I really do not appreciate that it is being censored because the story is crucial to understanding the past and this all still does happen in the workplace!!
January 18, 2024
I really wanted to give this 4 stars but like other reviews had said the started out dry and read more like a history book. I love the stories that are brought to light & I'm still baffled at long these stories were unknown. I'm glad these women are getting credit for their contributions but wish they was more on their time at time at Langley. Maybe watching the movie first did the book a disservice. 🤷🏽♀️ Overall, I'm glad I read and would recommend it to others but I would inform them on how slow the beginning it. Last half flowed better and was more enjoyable.
July 25, 2024
I listened to this book. I would rate it between 3 and 4.
I really appreciated the information and american history that it offered.
I knew it was based on a true story, but didn't realize it was basically the story and not fictional at all.
I can imagine the movie would be very enjoyable!
As was shared in the epilogue, there was even more information and history to share. Wow. It felt like she didn't cut out enough.
Overall for me, it was important to read this, interesting and educational, but long and laborious.
I really appreciated the information and american history that it offered.
I knew it was based on a true story, but didn't realize it was basically the story and not fictional at all.
I can imagine the movie would be very enjoyable!
As was shared in the epilogue, there was even more information and history to share. Wow. It felt like she didn't cut out enough.
Overall for me, it was important to read this, interesting and educational, but long and laborious.
December 22, 2017
I wish I was articulate enough to pinpoint exactly what this screenplay was lacking, but I thought it was just okay. It felt somewhat dry, predictable, and surfacey.
I also never read the book or saw the movie — maybe either is better than this.
Also the version I read (via the writers guild/studio) had a bunch of typos, which is inexcusable. I proofread my private diary entries more carefully than this apparently was.
I also never read the book or saw the movie — maybe either is better than this.
Also the version I read (via the writers guild/studio) had a bunch of typos, which is inexcusable. I proofread my private diary entries more carefully than this apparently was.
December 28, 2024
This book was so boring it physically hurt to read it. I could barely make it 20 pages in and I would have dropped it if it wasn’t for school. It was filled to the brim with historical context and spares no detail. If that is something you like then read it immediately but I hate books like that. It was 20+ pages of introduction to the main characters and background information about them. Oh my god it was actual torture and I would have rather jumped off a cliff than read it.
August 8, 2023
While fascinating to learn about about the integration of the Hampton Roads area of Virginia during the 1940's along with the advent of NASA, the writing was aimed at the more engineering minded which made it hard for me to get into this one. Along with the movie coming out a few years ago, I was expecting more novelization than non-fiction.
If non-fiction about the above is your thing, I do recommend a read! It just wasn't for me.
If non-fiction about the above is your thing, I do recommend a read! It just wasn't for me.
January 2, 2026
I really wanted to like this because it’s a great story, I just did not love the execution. I went into this thinking it’d read like a movie screenplay and ended up getting a science history textbook with some personal anecdotes sprinkled in. Not my jam but definitely a story everyone should know about.
September 19, 2022
This book is an important story. My daughters and I have seen the movie and we visit Langley and Hampton VA often. The book is well researched, but sadly it is written more like a term paper instead of the fantastic story that it is.
May 19, 2023
This was a powerful book. Hidden Figures help my understanding of racism and discrimination, and how America has changed to this day. This also showed obstacles woman face in early life and how things were unfair.
June 13, 2023
An amazing story about amazing women. Too bad we learn about them too late in history. So many women get left out of our history, especially black women. They were so smart and played a huge, huge role in the space industry that we never learn about in school. Shame on our education system!
July 14, 2025
Other book that I saw the movie before reading the book. Both the movie and book was great. Loved reading this book and how women especially women of color where treated at some work places back then. This book should give girls the power to reach for the sky.
January 26, 2022
This book was really good. It might help to understand if you watch the movie first! Good book!
January 27, 2022
A well written book giving black mathematical females credit they deserve in their contributions to the space race.
November 2, 2022
I really enjoyed this book. I wish I would have read it after I watched the movie because so many parts got left out! Overall a very good read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews