Thunderball
United Artists | Release Date: December 22, 1965
6.8
USER SCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 84 Ratings
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Positive:
51
Mixed:
31
Negative:
2
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8
tontoOct 17, 2021
Thunderball is the fourth installment of the James Bond franchise starring Sean Connery as the titular character. It's a fun movie, with the plot being that the insidious SPECTRE organization headed by Number One, Ernst Stavro Blofeld,Thunderball is the fourth installment of the James Bond franchise starring Sean Connery as the titular character. It's a fun movie, with the plot being that the insidious SPECTRE organization headed by Number One, Ernst Stavro Blofeld, steals two NATO atomic bombs and holds the world for ransom of £100 million in diamonds under its threat to destroy an unspecified metropolis in either the United Kingdom or the United States (later revealed to be Miami). Bond searches for the bombs in the Bahamas, where he encounters Emilio Largo, the card-playing, eye patch-wearing SPECTRE Number Two. Backed by CIA agent Felix Leiter and Largo's mistress, Domino Derval, Bond's search culminates in an underwater battle with Largo's henchmen. The underwater fight scenes are exciting but a little too lengthy. There are some good action scenes, and Bond uses some classic gadgets like a jetpack. Number One or Ernst Stavro Blofeld's face is never shown, and he strokes a white Persian cat which is a trope parodied in mainstream culture. He wears a Mao suit and kills subordinates with a control switch that drops them from their chairs at the desk to a pit of fire. Emilio Largo, or Number Two, kills subordinates in a similar fashion, by feeding them to sharks. These are classic Bond tropes I enjoyed seeing in the movie.… Expand
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7
Compi24Jul 30, 2018
Its first half may be overencumbered with exposition, buildup, and the occasional head scratcher of a scene/moment/line/etc, but as soon as we arrive in the Bahamas, "Thunderball" immediately becomes a more fun and dramatically ironic spyIts first half may be overencumbered with exposition, buildup, and the occasional head scratcher of a scene/moment/line/etc, but as soon as we arrive in the Bahamas, "Thunderball" immediately becomes a more fun and dramatically ironic spy actioner filled with some of the more recognizable elements that we all know Bond films for. It still has nothing on "Dr. No" and "Goldfinger," but it's also nowhere near bad or even overrated.… Expand
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7
gracjanskiSep 11, 2021
The budget is clearly higher than in the previous movies. But the story is superficial, because the outdated actions scenes are dominating. The girls are beautiful as always and Bond is convincing.
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8
NBFCJan 9, 2018
I don’t know what it means to “strike like thunderball” but when it comes from the pipes of someone like Tom Jones…it sure sound badass!!

My personal favorite of the Connery flicks due to it’s gorgeous underwater sequences and Fiona isI don’t know what it means to “strike like thunderball” but when it comes from the pipes of someone like Tom Jones…it sure sound badass!!

My personal favorite of the Connery flicks due to it’s gorgeous underwater sequences and Fiona is probably my favorite villainous Bond girl. I also think this movie contains John Barry’s finest score for the series.

Even though the previous year’s Goldfinger set the standard for the “Bond formula”, this one and the sequel You Only Live Twice are the entries that are often the source of parody for the Austin Powers series.… Expand
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8
FilipeNetoFeb 17, 2018
Directed by Terence Young, produced by Kevin McClory, Harry Saltzman and Albert Broccoli and with a screenplay by Richard Maibaum and John Hopkins, this is the fourth film in the franchise 007. In this film, the franchise reaches the maturityDirected by Terence Young, produced by Kevin McClory, Harry Saltzman and Albert Broccoli and with a screenplay by Richard Maibaum and John Hopkins, this is the fourth film in the franchise 007. In this film, the franchise reaches the maturity after the consecration with "Goldfinger". The participation of McClory seems strange but, in fact, it's the result of a legal conflict, prior to the production.

In this film, the British secret agent is admitted to a nursing home when he finds out, by sheer luck, a conspiracy to rob a French jet with two nuclear bombs. Not having been able to prevent it, Bond is sent to the Bahamas in order to contact the sister of the late pilot of the missing plane and obtain more information. It turns out that the girl is also the lover of Emilio Largo, the responsible for the disappearance. Bond escapes all assassination attempts and find the missing plane, as well as the enemy's plans and his connection to the terrorist organization SPECTRE, the same that Bond had already been fighting since the previous films.

In this film, Sean Connery got a perfect interpretation of his James Bond. Rude, a little hard with the opposite sex but always seductive, he marked for decades the idea of the public on how Bond should be. In addition to the idyllic scenery of the Caribbean, the film brings us some curious machines, continuing a tradition which was closely associated to the 007 imaginary. It is the case of the jet-bag used in the opening scenes, the armored-boat used by the villain in the final chase or the respiratory device used by Bond in some of the underwater scenes that made this movie famous. However, in my opinion, one of the reasons why this movie has reached excellence is the relevance of its central subject, a subject that, at that time, was very present in society: the danger of a nuclear attack. We must have in mind that the missile crisis in Cuba happened a few years before the film was released and the whole society, both in the US and in Europe, lived under the imminent danger of a missile war.

James Bond and the characters M, Q and Monneypenny were embodied by the same actors from the previous films. To these artists joined Claudine Auger (in the role of bond-turned, Domino), Luciana Paluzzi (in the role of assassin Fiona Volpe) and Adolfo Celi (in the role of villain, Largo).… Expand
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8
RobwinzAug 2, 2020
Thunderball is a pretty good James Bond movie, it's got a great plot and it's about a certain SPECTRE agent who steals two atomic bombs from a plane.

So, James Bond (Sean Connery) is assigned on this mission to recover the warheads and forThunderball is a pretty good James Bond movie, it's got a great plot and it's about a certain SPECTRE agent who steals two atomic bombs from a plane.

So, James Bond (Sean Connery) is assigned on this mission to recover the warheads and for him to also put a stop to the evil plans from the criminal organisation.

Also, the acting throughout this movie is good and it mainly goes to James Bond (Sean Connery) he's honestly really good.

The action sequences throughout this movie can be quite hilarious at times and some of them can be quite clever and amazing.

There's some stupid moments throughout this movie, especially that jetpack scene, it's so weird but it's funny at the same time.

James Bond has got some cheesy jokes throughout this movie, which are honestly so bad that they're funny.

Finally, the shark scene is pretty good but you can sort of tell that they're behind some protective glass when James Bond puts his hand on the protective glass, I felt like that sort of ruined the scene from looking realistic.

Overall, Thunderball has got a pretty good plot, some really good acting, some hilarious but clever action sequences and some really cheesy jokes from James Bond.… Expand
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7
Gamepro3093Aug 19, 2020
If you fast forward the underwater segments it’s actually not bad. It has what you’d want in a Bond movie:beautiful women, stunning locations, great music, Sean Connery in his prime and cool gadgets. Emilio Largo is not a good villain. HeIf you fast forward the underwater segments it’s actually not bad. It has what you’d want in a Bond movie:beautiful women, stunning locations, great music, Sean Connery in his prime and cool gadgets. Emilio Largo is not a good villain. He lacks any menace and looks like a stout upper executive than a proper villain as played by Adolfo Celli. Otherwise a solid entry.… Expand
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7
SoapNuggetAug 18, 2021
Thunderball doesn't quite reach the heights of Goldfinger but is an extremely entertaining and good film
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7
MrPajamasFeb 17, 2021
Thunderball may not surpass the legendary Goldfinger, but it's not bad at all. On the contrary, he is good. Again an excellent villain with great locations, mostly underwater. Someone's location will fit even better, but I personally leanThunderball may not surpass the legendary Goldfinger, but it's not bad at all. On the contrary, he is good. Again an excellent villain with great locations, mostly underwater. Someone's location will fit even better, but I personally lean more towards Goldfinger. But the film is good, so I recommend it.… Expand
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7
511andahalfFeb 5, 2021
By no means a bad film, but it's a step down compared to the greatness of FRWL and Goldfinger. The theme song is definitely one of the best of the series, and Connery gives a great performance as always, but the cracks with boredom areBy no means a bad film, but it's a step down compared to the greatness of FRWL and Goldfinger. The theme song is definitely one of the best of the series, and Connery gives a great performance as always, but the cracks with boredom are starting to show a little at times. Largo and Domino are decent characters, I wish they got more characterization. The underwater scenes are what really kill this film, they're long, boring, and confusing to follow, had they been fixed, I think this would have been a better film.… Expand
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10
freerideartsMar 4, 2021
James Bond is awesome!James Bond is awesome!James Bond is awesome!James Bond is awesome!James Bond is awesome!
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7
HeroicAge616Oct 26, 2021
While a step down from Goldfinger, Thunderball's underwater antics are still a great 007 adventure.
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9
GDsReviewsJun 6, 2022
Fun absurdity is what describes Thunderball as a movie. The plot and climax is ridiculous, but still is fun to watch and enjoyable after all these years due to being the least sexist and racist of the Sean Connery Bond movies along with FromFun absurdity is what describes Thunderball as a movie. The plot and climax is ridiculous, but still is fun to watch and enjoyable after all these years due to being the least sexist and racist of the Sean Connery Bond movies along with From Russia With Love.… Expand
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