Thunderball (1965): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Where to Watch
Thunderball is a 1965 action thriller directed by Terence Young, starring Sean Connery and Claudine Auger. It is based on Thunderball by Ian Fleming. It runs 2 hours 10 minutes and earned $63.6 million worldwide. It won 1 Oscar, including Special Visual Effects. Critics gave it 64 on Metacritic. Stream it on Amazon Prime Video, or rent or buy it on Amazon Video and Apple TV Store.
- Released
- Runtime
- 2h 10m (130 min)
- Director
- Terence Young
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- United Artists
- Based on
- Thunderball by Ian Fleming
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Thunderball About?
The premise of Thunderball without spoilers, adapted from Thunderball by Ian Fleming. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
When SPECTRE agent Emilio Largo steals two nuclear warheads, he demands a massive ransom from NATO, threatening global disaster. Agent James Bond is assigned to track down Largo and recover the weapons in a dangerous mission to the Bahamas. He navigates a world of beautiful women, underwater combat, and a deadly game of cat and mouse, all while racing against time to prevent a catastrophic international crisis.
Thunderball Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- femme fatale
- underwater battle
- official james bond series
- 007
- james bond character
- underwater scene
- woman wears a swimsuit
- bikini
- fiery redhead
- girl wears a bikini
- swimsuit
- swimwear
+38 more Show fewer
- parachute
- nassau
- based on novel
- vodka martini
- miss moneypenny character
- ernst stavro blofeld character
- felix leiter character
- m character
- good versus evil
- evil woman
- jet aircraft
- aircraft
- avro vulcan
- villain
- military aircraft
- delta wing aircraft
- warplane
- forced sex
- forced kiss
- abused woman
- blofeld's cat
- woman in a bathtub
- man wears a tuxedo
- false identity
- beating
- diving
- party
- sex scene
- escape
- cage
- bomb
- gun
- chase
- sister
- shark
- rocket propelled grenade
- pursuit
- bond girl
Where to Watch Thunderball
Stream it on Amazon Prime Video, or rent or buy it from Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. US availability and prices from JustWatch.
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Thunderball Cast
Sean Connery leads the cast, with Claudine Auger. Directed by Terence Young.
- Director Terence Young
Thunderball Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Thunderball 64 on Metacritic.
-
Metacritic 64 Metascore
User score 6.8
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 67% User score
See on TMDB
Thunderball Plot Summary
What happens in Thunderball from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
In an audacious scheme, SPECTRE operative Emilio Largo (Adolfo Celi) conceives a grand plot to demand a staggering ransom from NATO, targeting a hefty sum of $280 million (or £100 million) by executing a daring heist of two atomic bombs. These weapons are taken from a Royal Air Force Avro Vulcan, a strategic jet bomber, during a critical training exercise. To ensure the success of his master plan, another SPECTRE agent, Count Lippe (Guy Doleman), recruits the cunning Angelo Palazzi (Paul Stassino) to orchestrate the theft. In a twisted maneuver, with the assistance of the mysterious Fiona Volpe (Luciana Paluzzi), they arrange for Angelo to undergo an elaborate surgical transformation to assume the identity of François Derval (Paul Stassino), a French Air Force pilot participating in the exercise.
Full summary
The whole story of Thunderball, scene by scene
Thunderball Box Office
Thunderball grossed $63.6 million worldwide. $63.6 million came from the US and Canada and $9,759 (0%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$63.6M
- US & Canada
- $63.6M
- International
- $9.8K
Thunderball Awards & Nominations
Thunderball won 1 Oscar, including Special Visual Effects. Its biggest night was the Oscars 1966, with 1 win from 1 nomination.
1 win2 nominations2 ceremonies
-
Oscars 1966 1 win · 1 nomination- Won Special Visual Effects
-
BAFTA 1966 1 nomination- Nominated Best Production Design, Colour
Thunderball Trailers & Videos
10 videos: 2 trailers and 8 clips.
- Trailer Thunderball (1965) Official Trailer - Sean Connery James Bond Movie HD
- Clip Jet Pack Scene
- Clip Underwater fight
- Clip DB5 vs motorbike
How Well Do You Know Thunderball?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What is the main objective of SPECTRE operative Emilio Largo?
Cars in Thunderball
32 cars on screen, including the 1963 Aston Martin DB5 and the 1957 Ford Fairlane 500 Skyliner.
-
1963 Aston Martin DB5 Important role -
1957 Ford Fairlane 500 Skyliner Important role -
1965 Ford Mustang Important role -
1957 Bedford A 3L ZG Minor role
Thunderball Also Known As
50 alternative titles, including “Åskbollen” and “James Bond - I ilden”.
- Also known as
-
- Åskbollen
- James Bond - I ilden
- Шаровая молния
- Τζέιμς Μποντ
- Πράκτωρ 007: Επιχείρηση Κεραυνός
- Джеймс Бонд. Агент 007: Кульова блискавка
- Джеймс Бонд: Кульова блискавка
- 007: Operación Trueno
- Pallosalama
- Operasjon Tordensky
- 4탄 007 썬더볼 작전
- Operatie Donder
+38 more Show fewer
- Кульова блискавка
- 007: Tűzgolyó
- James Bond: Tűzgolyó
- 007 썬더볼 작전
- 007 썬더볼작전
- James Bond - 04 - Feuerball
- James Bond - 04 - Operación Trueno
- 007系列：霹雳弹
- James Bond 007 - Feuerball
- Agente 007 - Thunderball - Operazione tuono
- Opération Tonnerre
- 007: Шаровая молния
- Yıldırım Harekatı
- James Bond: Agent 007 i ilden
- Tűzgolyó
- Operación Trueno
- 007: Pallosalama
- 007 - Operação Relâmpago
- Operacja Piorun
- כדור הרעם
- 007：霹雳弹
- 007／サンダーボール作戦
- Operațiunea Thunderball
- 007 Contra a Chantagem Atômica
- 007: Кульова блискавка
- 007: Операция Мълния
- Kamuolinis žaibas
- เจมส์ บอนด์ 007 ภาค 4: ธันเดอร์บอลล์ 007
- Zibenslode
- Operació Tro
- James Bond: Thunderball
- 鐵金剛勇戰魔鬼黨
- James Bond: Operacija grom
- 007：霹靂彈
- Điệp Viên 007: Quả Cầu Sấm Sét
- گلوله آتشین
- Agent 007: Keravälk, სფერული ელვა
- Operacija Grom
Seen Thunderball?
Movies Like Thunderball
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Octopussy, Goldfinger and Diamonds Are Forever.
Thunderball FAQ: Where to Watch, Cast & Box Office
Runtime, release date, director, cast, where to watch, box office, ratings and the book behind it of Thunderball, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Thunderball?
Thunderball runs 2 hours 10 minutes (130 minutes).
When was Thunderball released?
Thunderball was released on December 22, 1965.
Who directed Thunderball?
Thunderball was directed by Terence Young.
More films by Terence Young Who is in the cast of Thunderball?
Thunderball stars Sean Connery and Claudine Auger.
Where can I watch Thunderball?
In the US, Thunderball is streaming on Amazon Prime Video and available to rent or buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home (availability from JustWatch).
How much did Thunderball make at the box office?
Thunderball grossed $63.6 million worldwide ($63.6 million domestic, $9,759 international).
How is Thunderball rated?
Thunderball has 64 on Metacritic and 67% on TMDB.
Is Thunderball based on a book?
Yes. Thunderball is adapted from Thunderball by Ian Fleming.
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