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Thunderball

Play trailer Poster for Thunderball PG 1965 2h 10m Action Play Trailer Watchlist
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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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Thunderball

Thunderball

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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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Critics Reviews

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TIME Magazine 10/13/2008
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. Go to Full Review
Dave Kehr Chicago Reader 05/06/2008
Slightly bloated Bond, with too much technology for my taste and a climactic slaughter that's a little too mindless to be much fun. Go to Full Review
Variety Staff Variety 05/06/2008
There's visible evidence that the reported $5.5 million budget was no mere publicity figure; it's posh all the way. Go to Full Review
Pauline Kael McCall's 09/20/2023
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. Go to Full Review
Carson Timar ButteredPopcorn 08/28/2022
C-
Sadly though past the editing, in no way is Thunderball a notable outing for James Bond. Go to Full Review
Matt Brunson Film Frenzy 09/25/2021
2.5/4
The most overrated movie in the franchise. Of course, it's not without its merits. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Rachael H 08/26/2022 Loved it - the longest underwater fight of any film. Jet back pack and great chases - what could be better! See more Yaaron R @KompetenterMedi 2d Thunderball demonstrates how little suspense invulnerable heroes generate. Thunderball fails primarily because of its weak writing. The dialogue seems empty, and the treatment of women continues to be poor, intrusive and disturbing. Despite rapid cuts, the action remains lacklustre, as Bond is portrayed as so invulnerable that all tension is lost. SPECTRE once again seems implausible because its villains act without clear motivation and constantly betray their own people. The plot remains flat and the characters interchangeable. The grand finale underwater is creative and convincingly executed, but it does not raise the film to a good level; rather, it remains a rare ray of hope in an otherwise disappointing Bond adventure. See more Ray C Nov 28 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. See more Lanfranco C @Lanfrancobz Nov 1 After so many years it is really an evergreen! See more Oliver J Oct 28 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. See more Joshua H Oct 22 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. See more Read all reviews
Thunderball

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Movie Info

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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