Capricorn One
Astronauts forced to fake humanity’s first Mars landing become fugitives when a tenacious journalist begins exposing the conspiracy behind the mission.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- cynical
- tense
- sardonic
- classic thriller night
- space movie marathon
What critics said
Critics generally found the conspiracy premise and action sequences entertaining but were divided by contrived plotting, uneven tone, and an underdeveloped screenplay.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
NASA executives stage a false Mars landing to protect the program from financial and political consequences.
Robert Caulfield investigates a government-backed cover-up while the astronauts are isolated and controlled.
The Mars mission is transformed into a staged broadcast designed to make viewers believe in an event that never occurred.
The escape plot culminates in extended helicopter and crop-duster pursuit action across the Texas landscape.
Films like Capricorn One, and why
The Parallax View
Shares a government conspiracy, institutional deception, and escalating pursuit of the truth.
The China Syndrome
Combines space-program intrigue with paranoia, media suspicion, and a high-concept cover-up.
The Truman Show
Features an engineered public deception and a protagonist uncovering a powerful institution's secret.
Marooned
Offers a grounded space conspiracy thriller centered on an allegedly impossible mission.
Movie Details
- Director
- Peter Hyams
- Release Date
- 1977-12-10
- Runtime
- 123 min
- Rating
- 6.8 / 10 (529)
Cast
- Elliott Gould
- James Brolin
- Brenda Vaccaro
- Sam Waterston
- O. J. Simpson
- Hal Holbrook
- Karen Black
- Telly Savalas
- David Huddleston
- David Doyle
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Shout! Factory Amazon Channel
- 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 Capricorn One about?
- Astronauts forced to fake humanity’s first Mars landing become fugitives when a tenacious journalist begins exposing the conspiracy behind the mission.
- What is Capricorn One like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Capricorn One as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Capricorn One violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Capricorn One as mild.
- What did critics think of Capricorn One?
- Critics generally found the conspiracy premise and action sequences entertaining but were divided by contrived plotting, uneven tone, and an underdeveloped screenplay.
- Which films are like Capricorn One?
- Films with a similar feel include The Parallax View, The China Syndrome, The Truman Show, and Marooned.
- How long is Capricorn One?
- Capricorn One runs 123 minutes.
- Where can I watch Capricorn One?
- In United States, Capricorn One streams on Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Shout! Factory Amazon Channel.
