Overview
A thrilling race against time as a spy battles to save the world from nuclear disaster.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Moderate
- glamorous
- witty
- propulsive
- classic movie night
- action marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly regard Thunderball as an entertaining and technically impressive Bond spectacle, though its extended underwater sequences can slow the pace.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Bond moves through Nassau and other international locales while pursuing stolen nuclear warheads amid casino, resort, and yacht-world intrigue.
SPECTRE steals two warheads and threatens the world, making nuclear extortion the concrete stakes of Bond's assignment.
The two stolen nuclear warheads propel Bond's investigation, SPECTRE's demands, and the confrontation with Largo.
The plot centers on a sea-based confrontation involving Largo's vessel, coral reefs, diving, and underwater combat.
Films like Thunderball, and why
Goldfinger
shared espionage adventure, charismatic secret agent, international locations, and larger-than-life criminal organization
From Russia with Love
shared 1960s spy spectacle, stylish action, exotic travel, and high-stakes global threat
You Only Live Twice
shared underwater adventure, covert operations, glamorous settings, and colorful supervillainy
Movie Details
- Director
- Terence Young
- Release Date
- 1965-12-11
- Runtime
- 130 min
- Rating
- 6.7 / 10 (2733)
Cast
- Sean Connery
- Claudine Auger
- Adolfo Celi
- Luciana Paluzzi
- Rik Van Nutter
- Guy Doleman
- Molly Peters
- Martine Beswick
- Bernard Lee
- Desmond Llewelyn
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Plex
- 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 Thunderball about?
- James Bond races through the Bahamas to recover stolen nuclear warheads and dismantle SPECTRE's elegant maritime blackmail scheme.
- What is Thunderball like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Thunderball as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Thunderball violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Thunderball as moderate.
- What did critics think of Thunderball?
- Critics broadly regard Thunderball as an entertaining and technically impressive Bond spectacle, though its extended underwater sequences can slow the pace.
- Which films are like Thunderball?
- Films with a similar feel include Goldfinger, From Russia with Love, and You Only Live Twice.
- How long is Thunderball?
- Thunderball runs 130 minutes.
- Where can I watch Thunderball?
- In United States, Thunderball is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Plex.
