nˌɑːt æz pˈɑːpjʊlɚɹ æz hɪz fˈɜːst fˈɪlm vˈɛntʃɚz, ðɪ ɪŋkɹˈɛdɪbəl mˈɪstɚ. lˈɪmpɪt nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɪksti fˈoːɹ ænd ðə ɡˈoʊst ænd mˈɪstɚ. tʃˈɪkɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɪksti sˈɪks, dˈuː tʊ ɪts kənˈɛkʃən tə ðɪ ɐpˈɑːloʊ pɹˈoʊɡɹæm, ðə ɹᵻlˈʌktənt ˈæstɹənˌɔːt stˈɪl wʌzɐ pˈɑːpjʊlɚ tʃˈɪldɹənz fˈɪlm ænd wʌz fɹˈiːkwəntli ʃˈoʊn ˌɔn wˈiːkɛnd ˌæftɚnˈuːnz.
Not as popular as his first film ventures, The Incredible Mr. Limpet (1964) and The Ghost and Mr. Chicken (1966), due to its connection to the Apollo program, The Reluctant Astronaut still was a popular children's film and was frequently shown on weekend afternoons.