Overview
A gripping tale of espionage and military strategy during World War II, where every second counts.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- tense
- heroic
- suspenseful
- classic war movie night
- history-focused viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly found it an engrossing and technically ambitious wartime espionage melodrama whose suspense and production scale outweighed an uneven, sometimes loose storyline.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Allied agents infiltrate the Nazi rocket program and attempt to destroy its V1 and V2 production capabilities.
The film foregrounds rockets, secret factories, aviation, and large-scale 70mm presentation.
The story draws on the real V-weapons campaign and references German test pilot Hannah Reich while using fictional espionage drama.
Allied scientific and military knowledge is mobilized to counter Nazi rocket technology and prevent further attacks.
Films like Operation Crossbow, and why
The Guns of Navarone
shared World War II espionage, sabotage mission, and suspenseful military melodrama
Where Eagles Dare
shared wartime infiltration, covert operations, and large-scale adventure spectacle
The Train
shared World War II sabotage, undercover identity, and tense mission structure
Movie Details
- Director
- Michael Anderson
- Release Date
- 1965-04-01
- Runtime
- 115 min
- Rating
- 6.7 / 10 (125)
Cast
- Sophia Loren
- George Peppard
- Trevor Howard
- John Mills
- Richard Johnson
- Tom Courtenay
- Jeremy Kemp
- Anthony Quayle
- Lilli Palmer
- Paul Henreid
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Operation Crossbow about?
- An Allied sabotage operation races to penetrate Nazi rocket research and neutralize the V-weapons threatening wartime Britain.
- What is Operation Crossbow like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Operation Crossbow as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Operation Crossbow violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Operation Crossbow as moderate.
- What did critics think of Operation Crossbow?
- Critics broadly found it an engrossing and technically ambitious wartime espionage melodrama whose suspense and production scale outweighed an uneven, sometimes loose storyline.
- Which films are like Operation Crossbow?
- Films with a similar feel include The Guns of Navarone, Where Eagles Dare, and The Train.
- How long is Operation Crossbow?
- Operation Crossbow runs 115 minutes.
- Where can I watch Operation Crossbow?
- In United States, Operation Crossbow is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
