Capricorn One

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3:09

Capricorn One

PG

1978

2h 4m

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

70%

Tomatometer

20 Reviews

59%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

Three astronauts (James Brolin, Sam Waterston, O.J. Simpson) are about to launch into space on the first mission to Mars. But when a mechanical failure surfaces that would kill the three men, NASA removes them from the Capricorn One capsule. To prevent a public outcry, NASA launches the capsule unmanned and requires the astronauts to film fake mission footage in a studio. However, the plan is compromised when an ambitious journalist (Elliott Gould) discovers the conspiracy.

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Critics Consensus

A string of questionable plot contrivances threaten to bury its story, but Capricorn One manages to unfurl an amusing, sharply cynical conspiracy yarn.

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Richard Freedman

Newark Star-Ledger

Jan 10, 2026

Implodes from its own vulgarity before it can even lift off from the gantry.

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Michael Clark

Epoch Times

Aug 17, 2023

2.5/5

You’ll know the exact moment when everything goes south with the arrival of Telly Savalas as a motor-mouth, insulting, fish-out-of-water, crop-dusting pilot. Once his character shows up, the movie takes on a farcical, almost borderline slapstick tone.

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

Sep 22, 2022

7/10

Although this could be something of a vindication for moon-landing deniers, the script is clever enough to shape itself as a thriller more than commentary on the monetary value of international deception (and rivalry) or local political machinations.

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Fernando Trueba

El Pais (Spain)

Jul 31, 2019

The movie attempts to please, but its flaws are excessive. [Full Review in Spanish]

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Don Shanahan

Every Movie Has a Lesson

Feb 14, 2019

4/5

A good conspiracy thriller needs to make its scenario and setup believable to be effective, and this film nails that.

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Robert Roten

Laramie Movie Scope

Dec 3, 2018

B

It is very entertaining in terms of its story and acting, mainly because it is not trying to convince anyone of a real life conspiracy. It is just a science fiction movie meant to entertain and amuse its audience.

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Kanaloa H

@Kanaloa Oct 15, 2026

This movie is even more relevant today than back in the 1970s when created. It’s 1970s quality technology but ahead of its time.

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David M

@DavidMcKimmie Jul 4, 2026

This movie could be made today, it’s so whip smart. Scratch that, the world got dumber. It’s too smart for today’s studios.

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Jay C.

@SgtComic Apr 27, 2026

It’s an awesome movie that doesn’t get the credit that it’s due because of the time that it came out and also, it didn’t get the credit that it’s due because of angry people who love the moon landing and thought that this was some kind of conspiracy theory linked to it. They never said anything about the moon landing being fake, it’s a movie about a fake Martian mission and the cover-up, but the two things are inexorably linked now and I think that’s why a lot of people shoot the movie down watch it for the cheesy 1978 thriller it is and you will have a great time

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Kellie H.

@RT94595996 Apr 21, 2026

A fun movie to watch in the 21st Century, where conspiracy theories run wild. Amazing cast holds up film, with obvious holes. The science is bad and the movie ends where it really should have started, but my husband and I truly enjoyed the film.

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Tony F

@Batmorph Dec 22, 2025

Don't know why this movie has such a low rating. I found it thoroughly entertaining from start to finish.

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Ian R

@RT23899272 Oct 24, 2025

Total crap. This movie has not improved with time. The cast was okay with the clear exception of Telly Savalas.

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Peter Hyams

Director

Elliott Gould

Robert Caulfield

James Brolin

Charles Brubaker

Hal Holbrook

Dr. James Kelloway

Brenda Vaccaro

Kay Brubaker

Sam Waterston

Peter Willis

Capricorn One: Official Clip - Revealing the Landing Studio

2:21

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Capricorn One: Official Clip - Avoiding Capture

2:28

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Capricorn One: Official Clip - Faked Mars Landing

2:58

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Capricorn One: Official Clip - I Don't Like You, Caulfield

2:55

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Capricorn One: Official Clip - Biplane Helicopter Chase

2:59

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Capricorn One: Official Clip - Launching Capricorn One

3:00

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Capricorn One: Official Clip - Threatening Their Familes

2:46

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Capricorn One: Official Clip - Hiring a Plane

1:55

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Capricorn One: Official Clip - Escaping From Captivity

2:58

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Capricorn One: Official Clip - How to Break Bad News

3:04

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Synopsis

Three astronauts (James Brolin, Sam Waterston, O.J. Simpson) are about to launch into space on the first mission to Mars. But when a mechanical failure surfaces that would kill the three men, NASA removes them from the Capricorn One capsule. To prevent a public outcry, NASA launches the capsule unmanned and requires the astronauts to film fake mission footage in a studio. However, the plan is compromised when an ambitious journalist (Elliott Gould) discovers the conspiracy.

Director: Peter Hyams
Producer: Paul N. Lazarus III
Screenwriter: Peter Hyams
Production Co: ITC Films, Associated General Films
Rating: PG
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 18, 2016
Runtime: 2h 4m

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