In 'First Man,' the biopic of moon-landing legend Neil Armstrong, composer Justin Hurwitz used a Theremin to represent Armstrong’s internal grief. While the Theremin is usually associated with sci-fi aliens, Hurwitz used it for its melancholic, human-like voice. This choice was also a tribute to the real Neil Armstrong, who was a fan of Theremin music and even took a Theremin recording with him on the Apollo 11 mission. By using the instrument for human emotion rather than 'space noises,' the score subverted a cinematic trope. This showed how an instrument can connect the private life of a movie legend with their public achievements, creating a deeply moving and historically grounded cinematic experience.