Despite earning a plethora of so-bad-it’s-good reviews, the master of disaster Roland Emmerich saw his newest doomsday scenario in Moonfall collapse at the box office. However, just because the film currently registers as the biggest theatrical flop of 2022, it doesn’t mean the film is devoid of strong, well-written, and performed characters.
Indeed, aside from the three terrific leads Jocinda (Halle Berry), Brian (Patrick Wilson), and KC (John Bradley), the film has a slew of solid supporting characters, most of whom work together to thwart a ludicrous conspiracy involving a fabricated moon and a deadly extraterrestrial swarm.
Jocinda Fowler
As the main protagonist, Jocinda “Jo” Fowler (Berry) juggles more personal and professional responsibility than anyone else in Emmerich’s expensive box office bomb. As NASA’s Deputy Director, the fearless leader makes big, bold decisions that directly lead to the success of her perilous mission. In addition to having the future of humanity on her shoulders during the mission, it’s Jo’s heartfelt humanity that really shines through.
Whether ordering the EMP launch, helping herself and her former disgraced partner Brian with finding redemption on the job, or showing great concern for her son Jimmy and ex-husband Doug (Eke Ikwuakor) back on Earth, Jo is the heart and soul of the movie.
Brian Harper
Brian Harper has the greatest redemption arc of any Moonfall character. After badly botching a mission a decade prior, Brian was demoted from a promising astronaut to a tour guide at the Griffith Observatory. However, when given a shot to atone for his past sins, Brian steps up and excels mightily.
Harper is the one who makes the crucial discovery that the moon is indeed an artificial megastructure built by technologically-advanced ancestors as a means of increasing the human population.
KC Houseman
Marked by his conspiratorial curiosity, KC Houseman is the most complex character in the space travel movie. He’s a blogger who harbors outlandish theories that draw sideways glances from nearly everyone who’ll listen, yet proves to be correct by the end of the story. Without KC’s key contributions of ascertaining that the moon is fake and spotting the impending impact with Earth, there would be no sacrificial rescue mission to speak of.
What’s more, KC’s silly sense of humor and tender relationship with his mother Elaine (Kathleen Fee), who has Alzheimer’s and lives in a nursing home, give him a well-rounded and memorable personality.
Holdenfield
Largely meant to relay a vital piece of exposition that proves the government’s grand conspiracy, Holdenfield (Donald Sutherland) scares the bejeezus out of the team when he recounts his experience in the Apollo 11 mission. The former NASA employee uncovered secrets held on the dark side of the moon years prior, including the creation of a deadly program called ZX7.
Without Holden disseminating the important data, the mission would not succeed as well as it ultimately does. He may seem like a crackpot at first but without Holden’s contribution, Jo never would have guided the EMP.
Fuzz Aldrin
Another unforgettably amusing character in Moonfall includes Fuzz Aldrin, KC’s cute cat whose accidental urination on a document helps solve a key plot problem. Seriously. As one of the coolest cats in live-action movies, KC’s feline friend even has its own TikTok fan page.
Not only does Fuzz Aldrin pee on a map at the most opportune moment, which catches the attention of KC in the nick of time, but Fuzz is given one of the most glorious and heroic close-ups after helping to save the day. The rare dose of self-reflexive humor indicates that even Emmerich knows how silly the plot of the movie is.
Doug Davidson
As a powerful Four-Star General, Chief of Staff, and Deputy Director of the U.S. Air Force, Doug Davidson plays a major role in ensuring NASA’s mission is successful. He also happens to be Jo’s ex-husband who is torn between keeping her safe and doing what’s best for the human race.
With the fate of their young son Jimmy to think about as well, Doug is put in an unenviable position of making decisions with massive ramifications. In the end, Doug opts to disobey orders to carry out a nuclear strike and protect Jo instead, proving how much he still loves his family above all else.
Gabriella Auclair
Of the many strong-willed, self-reliant, and empowered women in Moonfall, Sgt. Gabriella Auclair (Maxim Roy) certainly makes her presence felt. The gallant military leader shows tremendous gumption when tasked with rescuing Brian and KC, spearheading the mission with laser focus.
While she doesn’t have a ton of screen time as a supporting character, Gabriella makes the most of her contribution by ensuring that Brian and KC not only survive but remain healthy enough to complete the larger task at hand.
Brenda Lopez
Emotionally speaking, Brenda Lopez (Carolina Bartczak) arguably bears the biggest brunt of any character in the movie. Torn between her loyalties to her ex-husband Brian and her new husband Tom (Michael Pena), Brenda is left in a helpless position in Colorado, where she does her best to keep her rebellious teenage son Sonny (Charlie Plummer) safe.
By the time Sonny arrives with Jimmy and nanny Michelle, Brenda is forced to protect them as chaotic fires rain down from the sky, ultimately claiming a family member’s life. The profound loss and heartache Brenda feels are some of the most emotionally resonant moments in the movie.
Sonny Harper
At first blush, Sonny Harper appears to be a typical selfish, rule-breaking teenager with a devil-may-care attitude. He gets caught speeding on the highway, which lands him in legal and domestic trouble. Over time, however, Sonny proves to be a kind and compassionate character who goes out of his way to protect Jimmy and Michelle.
Sonny leads the sojourn to Colorado to seek refuge in General Davidson’s bunker, vowing to keep Jimmy and Michelle safe along the way. When arriving at his mom’s house, Sonny shows further compassion by lending emotional support following Tom’s tragic fate. Sonny begins as an estranged son but ends as a heroic and loving family member.
Michelle
As the only Asian character of note, Michelle (Kelly Yu) is a Chinese foreign exchange student who is hired to take care of Jo and Doug’s young son, Jimmy. Aside from protecting Jimmy at all costs as one of the most memorable movie babysitters, Michelle represents international collaboration in the face of existential danger. In terms of the foreign relations between the U.S. and China, Michelle ought to be the model of diplomacy.
Plot-wise, Michelle really makes her presence known when trekking to Colorado along with Harper and Jimmy, pressed into duty as a bodyguard of sorts when a deluge of cataclysmic debris hits Earth upon the moon’s arrival.
