Thunderball

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Thunderball

PG

1965

2h 10m

Action

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

85%

Tomatometer

54 Reviews

73%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

Led by one-eyed evil mastermind Emilio Largo (Adolfo Celi), the terrorist group SPECTRE hijacks two warheads from a NATO plane and threatens widespread nuclear destruction to extort 100 million pounds. The dashing Agent 007, James Bond (Sean Connery), is sent to recover the warheads from the heart of Largo's lair in the Bahamas, facing underwater attacks from sharks and men alike. He must also convince the enchanting Domino (Claudine Auger), Largo's mistress, to become a key ally.

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Critics Consensus

Lavishly rendered set pieces and Sean Connery's enduring charm make Thunderball a big, fun adventure, even if it doesn't quite measure up to the series' previous heights.

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TIME Magazine

If Thunderball's gimmickry seems to overreach at times, Actor Connery gains assurance from film to film, by now delivers all his soppiest Jimcracks martini-dry.

Oct 13, 2008

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Dave Kehr

Chicago Reader

Slightly bloated Bond, with too much technology for my taste and a climactic slaughter that's a little too mindless to be much fun.

May 6, 2008

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Variety Staff

Variety

There's visible evidence that the reported $5.5 million budget was no mere publicity figure; it's posh all the way.

May 6, 2008

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Pauline Kael

McCall's

Thunderball is, at least, itself: the male fantasy mixture as before -- but perhaps a little lighter, less sadistic than Goldfinger, without the spectacular sequences but constantly in entertaining motion.

Sep 20, 2023

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Carson Timar

ButteredPopcorn

Sadly though past the editing, in no way is Thunderball a notable outing for James Bond.

Rated: C-

Aug 28, 2022

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

The most overrated movie in the franchise. Of course, it's not without its merits.

Rated: 2.5/4

Sep 25, 2021

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Rachael H

Loved it - the longest underwater fight of any film. Jet back pack and great chases - what could be better!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/26/22

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Ray C

Although definitely a step down when compared to the previous entries, Tunderball still manages to deliver plenty of exciting Bond moments. It benefits from its beautiful scenery and exotic locations but I think is held back by slow pacing.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

11/28/25

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Lanfranco C

After so many years it is really an evergreen!

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

11/01/25

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Oliver J

Critics Consensus: “Thunderball” delivers all the elements of a classic Bond adventure—exotic locales, daring stunts, and Sean Connery’s effortless charm—but its bloated pacing and underwater excess make it a spectacle that occasionally sinks under its own weight. Review: Coming off the near-perfection of Goldfinger, Thunderball feels both ambitious and overindulgent. The film takes Bond to the Bahamas for a mission involving stolen nuclear warheads and the villainous SPECTRE operative Emilio Largo. Connery is as magnetic as ever, exuding effortless confidence in every scene, but the story stretches thin across a two-hour-plus runtime. Director Terence Young returns to helm the action, and while the underwater sequences are impressive for their time, they dominate the film to the point of fatigue. The slower pacing saps tension from what should be a high-stakes thriller. Still, the movie offers memorable moments—jetpacks, harpoon fights, and a lush sense of tropical espionage that showcases 1960s Bond at its most glamorous. Verdict: Visually stunning but uneven, Thunderball is a lavish entry that proves sometimes bigger isn’t always better. It’s a solid Bond outing, but one that floats rather than soars.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

10/28/25

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Joshua H

Yeah this was just a solid action movie. I did however think the jetpack was a bit much & to have the final battle essentially be underwater didn't really work for me, felt a bit slow. Otherwise just another solid addition to the franchise & Sean Connery is still really good in the role.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

10/22/25

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O g

The sexiest Bond girls by a country mile but sadly dull

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

10/27/25

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Terence Young

Director

Sean Connery

James Bond

Claudine Auger

Domino

Adolfo Celi

Emilio Largo

Luciana Paluzzi

Fiona Volpe

Rik Van Nutter

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Synopsis

Led by one-eyed evil mastermind Emilio Largo (Adolfo Celi), the terrorist group SPECTRE hijacks two warheads from a NATO plane and threatens widespread nuclear destruction to extort 100 million pounds. The dashing Agent 007, James Bond (Sean Connery), is sent to recover the warheads from the heart of Largo's lair in the Bahamas, facing underwater attacks from sharks and men alike. He must also convince the enchanting Domino (Claudine Auger), Largo's mistress, to become a key ally.

Director: Terence Young
Producer: Kevin McClory
Screenwriter: Ian Fleming, Kevin McClory, Jack Whittingham, Ian Fleming, Richard Maibaum, John Hopkins
Distributor: United Artists
Production Co: Danjaq Productions, EON Productions
Rating: PG
Genre: Action
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 29, 1965, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 1, 2016
Runtime: 2h 10m
Sound Mix: Mono
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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