Do you want to see ‘Thunderbirds’?

Thunderbirds (2004)

tomatometer

All Critics
Top Critics

Average Rating: 4.1/10
Reviews Counted: 100
Fresh: 20 | Rotten: 80

Live-action cartoon for kids.

Average Rating: 3.9/10
Critic Reviews: 29
Fresh: 5 | Rotten: 24

Live-action cartoon for kids.

audience

liked it
Average Rating: 2.7/5
User Ratings: 20,906

My Rating

Added to your Facebook Timeline. — undo

Movie Info

Directed by Jonathan Frakes and based on the '60s British television series of the same name, Thunderbirds chronicles the intergalactic exploits of the Tracy family. Set in 2010, the world looks toward the mysterious Tracy Island when mere international security is not enough; the remote South Pacific island not only houses former astronaut and lifelong entrepreneur Jeff Tracy (Bill Paxton) and his five sons, but also serves as headquarters for the top-secret International Rescue organization.

PG, 1 hr. 35 min.

Action & Adventure, Kids & Family, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Comedy

Directed By: Jonathan Frakes

Written By: William Osborne, Michael McCullers

In Theaters: Jul 24, 2004 Wide

On DVD: Jan 21, 2003

Box Office:$6.8M

Universal Pictures

There's enough special effects razzle-dazzle to distract the average ten-year-old, but the script by William Osborne and Michael McCullers is stilted and humorless -- a little camp might have helped.

May 18, 2008 Full Review Source: Chicago Reader

| Comment

Joshua Katzman

Chicago Reader

Top Critic

A new and rather breathtakingly misconceived attempt to revisit a vintage TV show that did not under any circumstances need to be revisited.

July 21, 2005 Full Review Source: Houston Chronicle

| Comment

Amy Biancolli

Houston Chronicle

Top Critic

This is like a C-movie version of Spy Kids. And I didn't even like Spy Kids.

August 2, 2004 Full Review Source: Ebert & Roeper

| Comment

Richard Roeper

Ebert & Roeper

Top Critic

Fun at times and tedious at others, it's an action-adventure fantasy aimed particularly at gadget-loving boys.

July 30, 2004 Full Review Source: USA Today

| Comment

Claudia Puig

USA Today

Top Critic

Not intended for people old enough to pine for the puppets. It's for people who don't remember the first cast of Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers.

July 30, 2004 Full Review Source: Toronto Star

| Comment

Geoff Pevere

Toronto Star

Top Critic

A fun afternoon for preteen moviegoers that has just enough charm, humor and game- for-anything actors to keep parents halfway interested as well.

July 30, 2004 Full Review Source: San Francisco Chronicle

| Comment

Peter Hartlaub

San Francisco Chronicle

Top Critic

Fans of the Spy Kids series will enjoy it.

December 29, 2010 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media

| Comment

Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

The plot abounds with holes, and the dialogue is often delivered in a bland, perfunctory manner.

November 2, 2006 Comment

Peter T. Chattaway

Christianity Today Source: Christianity Today

Ultra-campy marionettes come to blah life in director Jonathan Frakes' souped-up but poorly written adaptation of the cult English sci-fi kids' show.

September 1, 2006 Full Review Source: Hollywood.com

| Comment

Betsy Bozdech

Hollywood.com

What impenetrable, overwrought codswallop this one's turned out to be.

February 9, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out

| Comment

Derek Adams

Time Out

Kids of all sizes and genders are going to be disappointed.

December 6, 2005 Full Review Source: Film Threat

| Comment

Pete Vonder Haar

Film Threat

The acting is (pardon the pun) wooden.

July 25, 2005 Full Review Source: www.kcactive.com

| Comment

Uri Lessing

www.kcactive.com Source: www.kcactive.com

It really shouldn't be that much of a disappointment. But it is.

January 6, 2005 Full Review Source: Now Playing Magazine

| Comment

Tony Whitt

Now Playing Magazine Source: Now Playing Magazine

Here the problem is compounded by the fact that few members of the target audience (kids) are even aware of the original series.

November 19, 2004 Full Review Source: PopMatters

| Comment

Todd R. Ramlow

PopMatters

The script exploits what's probably the ultimate male child fantasy: proving to Daddy that son is worthy of hero-size respect.

November 2, 2004 Full Review Source: Las Vegas Mercury

| Comment

Anthony Del Valle

Las Vegas Mercury

A glossy, live action adventure yarn based on the 1960's British puppet TV series.

October 24, 2004 Comment

Steve Crum

Kansas City Kansan Source: Kansas City Kansan

More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Thunderbirds

View All

Thunderbirds could have been a good movie, all it needed was say something to do with the series or a good script without simplistic dialgoue.

November 6, 2011

Michael Miller

Super Reviewer

Yikes! I suppose it was only a matter of time before someone attempted a live version of The Thunderbirds, interesting that that someone would be Jonathan Frakes. Gerry Anderson has said many times that he originally wanted his series to be live action but with the many special effects it involved the budget would have

February 28, 2011

Anthony Lawrie

Super Reviewer

Thunderbirds Quotes

View All

No quotes approved yet for Thunderbirds. Logged in users can submit quotes.

Character	Quote
	Enter quote here...	Delete

DVD

Top Rentals

35%	The Hangover Part II
25%	Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Par...
81%	Kung Fu Panda 2
44%	Cowboys & Aliens
83%	Rise of the Planet of the Apes

More…

New On DVD This Week

25%	Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Par...
88%	Lady and the Tramp
69%	A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas
21%	Fireflies in the Garden
45%	The Rebound

More…

Movies Like Thunderbirds

Sky High

View All

Latest News for Thunderbirds

August 27, 2007:

Video Exclusive: Sophia Myles talks Hallam Foe with RT
We chat to the supremely lovely British actress about her latest role in David Mackenzie's new film.