Moonraker
James Bond pursues a stolen space shuttle from Venice to orbit while confronting Hugo Drax's grandiose scheme for remaking humanity.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Simple
- Violence
- Moderate
- witty
- campy
- flamboyant
- action movie night
- classic blockbuster marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly regard Moonraker as entertaining and spectacular but uneven, with lavish production and Roger Moore's charm offset by a weak, over-the-top story.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Bond's investigation escalates from a hijacked space shuttle and terrestrial locations to a secret space station and space battle.
Hugo Drax's conspiracy involves mass murder and the creation of genetically selected human specimens.
The film combines Roger Moore's comic Bond performance with elaborate stunts, science-fiction technology, Venice and Rio de Janeiro locations, and outer-space action.
Jaws, played by Richard Kiel, returns as a metal-toothed adversary who repeatedly survives dangerous encounters.
Films like Moonraker, and why
The Spy Who Loved Me
Shares flamboyant espionage adventure, globe-spanning locations, comic-book villainy, and large-scale spectacle.
You Only Live Twice
Shares space-age gadgetry, playful spy action, exotic locations, and a heightened supervillain plot.
Star Wars
Shares 1970s science fiction spectacle, secret bases, space battles, and escapist adventure tone.
The Man with the Golden Gun
Shares extravagant international action, eccentric villains, gadget-driven set pieces, and humorous spy-movie sensibility.
Movie Details
- Director
- Lewis Gilbert
- Release Date
- 1979-06-26
- Runtime
- 126 min
- Rating
- 6.2 / 10 (2299)
Cast
- Roger Moore
- Lois Chiles
- Michael Lonsdale
- Richard Kiel
- Corinne Cléry
- Bernard Lee
- Geoffrey Keen
- Desmond Llewelyn
- Lois Maxwell
- Toshirô Suga
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand, Plex
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Moonraker about?
- James Bond pursues a stolen space shuttle from Venice to orbit while confronting Hugo Drax's grandiose scheme for remaking humanity.
- What is Moonraker like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Moonraker as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as simple.
- Is Moonraker violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Moonraker as moderate.
- What did critics think of Moonraker?
- Critics broadly regard Moonraker as entertaining and spectacular but uneven, with lavish production and Roger Moore's charm offset by a weak, over-the-top story.
- Which films are like Moonraker?
- Films with a similar feel include The Spy Who Loved Me, You Only Live Twice, Star Wars, and The Man with the Golden Gun.
- How long is Moonraker?
- Moonraker runs 126 minutes.
- Where can I watch Moonraker?
- In United States, Moonraker is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand, Plex.
