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The Rocketeer

PG Released Jun 21, 1991 1h 49m Fantasy TRAILER for List
67% Tomatometer 66 Reviews 65% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
Cliff Secord (Bill Campbell) is a cocky stunt pilot in love with a beautiful actress, Jenny Blake (Jennifer Connelly). When he discovers a jet pack hidden in a biplane, Cliff straps on the rocket, dons a flashy helmet and becomes the high-flying hero known as The Rocketeer. But when Nazis want to use the rocket as a weapon, Cliff must use his alter ego to both protect Jenny from an evil actor (Timothy Dalton) and save the day in this period adventure based on the comic books by Dave Stevens.
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The Rocketeer

The Rocketeer

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Critics Consensus

An action-packed, if anachronistic, look back at pulp matinee serials, The Rocketeer may ring hollow with viewers expecting more than simple fun and gee-whiz special effects.

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Critics Reviews

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Duane Byrge Hollywood Reporter Undeniably, Rocketeer's overall trajectory is pleasing and winning, but it lacks the quirky charms and personal idiosyncracies that endeared other big-effects films to tot and sophisticate alike. Jun 21, 2018 Full Review Jason Bailey Flavorwire In the quarter-century since its release, as the superhero blockbuster has become a cornerstone of mainstream moviemaking, it's become clear that 'The Rocketeer' is a model of the form - breathless, energetic, and endlessly entertaining. Jun 24, 2016 Full Review Nick Schager Lessons of Darkness Almost never takes thrilling flight. Rated: C Jun 1, 2011 Full Review Rene Jordan El Nuevo Herald (Miami) It has grace, style, and dynamism inhealthy quantities. [Full review in Spanish] Dec 30, 2022 Full Review Nick Rogers Midwest Film Journal Occasionally vrooms as if powered by voluminous vials of jet fuel and will send art-deco aficionados' eyes a-poppin' like Tex Avery's Wolf. But for anyone raised on "Raiders," its sum total is a mostly phantom memory of aesthetic, mood and momentum. Rated: 3.5/5 Jul 16, 2021 Full Review David Nusair Reel Film Reviews ...briskly-paced and unabashedly old-fashioned... Rated: 3/4 Dec 11, 2020 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member Story was interesting enough to be entertaining even though at times it could be cliche. The action certainly entertaining. I give it a 8/10. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 09/17/24 Full Review Audience Member There are a lot of small issues that I can point out in this film (how does he control the jetpack and where he flies, what keeps the fire from the rocket setting his legs on fire, the general corniness of the movie, cheap special effects, etc.). Despite those nitpicks though, I enjoyed myself for much of the movie and they don't matter as much in the grand scheme of the entertainment! Timothy Dalton played an interesting post-James Bond bad guy role and Jennifer Connelly is absolutely gorgeous as always! The humor was pretty good in the film too (particularly when the gangster and the FBI agent glance at each other during the shootout and then just go on shooting the Germans together, small moments like that). Some of the action wasn't bad either! It was a decently entertaining movie for the time it came out and Joe Johnston is known for making feel-good movies like this! Rated 3 out of 5 stars 08/25/24 Full Review Joseph C One of my favorite parts of this movie is the beloved villain Neville Sinclair played by timothy dalton. He's more powerful than cliff secord and jenny blake. The rocketeer is just some average poster boy who hangs around his best friend peeve and his girlfriend Jenny Blake. The thing about this movie is that this is the first time i ever seen where Disney did not bring any cartoonish elements into the picture which makes it sort of one of a kind. The rocketeer is one of those rare movies you don't want to miss Rated 4 out of 5 stars 06/20/24 Full Review Eye C So cheesy, I didn't like how they talk. It's a children movie after all. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/25/24 Full Review Alec B A very specific kind of throwback, feels like it should be slightly better but again it isn't like the reference points are masterpieces. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 12/13/23 Full Review Danny L Doesn't really get much better than this when a movie leaves you wanting MORE. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 12/10/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The Rocketeer

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Cast & Crew

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Movie Info

Synopsis Cliff Secord (Bill Campbell) is a cocky stunt pilot in love with a beautiful actress, Jenny Blake (Jennifer Connelly). When he discovers a jet pack hidden in a biplane, Cliff straps on the rocket, dons a flashy helmet and becomes the high-flying hero known as The Rocketeer. But when Nazis want to use the rocket as a weapon, Cliff must use his alter ego to both protect Jenny from an evil actor (Timothy Dalton) and save the day in this period adventure based on the comic books by Dave Stevens.
Director
Joe Johnston
Producer
Charles Gordon, Lawrence Gordon, Lloyd Levin
Screenwriter
Danny Bilson, Paul De Meo, William Dear
Distributor
Walt Disney Pictures, Buena Vista Pictures
Production Co
Touchstone Pictures, Gordon Company, Walt Disney Pictures
Rating
PG
Genre
Fantasy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 21, 1991, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Jun 14, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$46.5M
Runtime
1h 49m
Sound Mix
Surround
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