Capricorn One

Play trailer

3:09

Capricorn One

PG

1978

2h 4m

Mystery & Thriller

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

61%

Tomatometer

23 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.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Stream Now

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.

Read Critics Reviews

Time Out

06/24/2006

Pretty soon the project gets bogged down in innumerable difficulties, not helped by the awfulness of most of the dialogue.

Go to Full Review

Variety

02/13/2001

In general, it is a script of conveniences.

Go to Full Review

Richard Freedman

Newark Star-Ledger

Jan 10

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

Go to Full Review

Michael Clark

Epoch Times

08/17/2023

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.

Go to Full Review

Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

09/22/2022

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.

Go to Full Review

Fernando Trueba

El Pais (Spain)

07/31/2019

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

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Tony F

@Batmorph Dec 22

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

See more

Ian R

Oct 24

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

See more

Sebastian L

Sep 10

Capricorn peeks your interest initially but looses momentum while you're trying to figure out who the protagonist is. Caulfield is the one with the story and Gould does an excellent job considering the material, but he's introduced offhandedly and instead of getting to know him the movie wastes our time crawling around in the desert or at tables where people sit and talk calmly. Such a talented cast seem wasted on this production.

See more

Thomas W

Jun 17

Saw this movie on June 16, 1978. Married the girl I saw it with one year later. We watch it every June 16 and saw it today on our 46th anniversary. June 16, 2025. Gotta give it a five. If I did not have the personal connection I'd probably be around 3ish.

See more

Ads T

Apr 4

This film offers a very interesting premise but quickly becomes too silly to enjoy on a deeper level. Solid entertainment but disappointing sci-fi.

See more

Shawn R

@satiable 01/08/2025

It's scary to think that maybe they could pull this off.. good movie

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

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

Capricorn One: Official Clip - Avoiding Capture

2:28

Capricorn One: Official Clip - Faked Mars Landing

2:58

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

2:55

Capricorn One: Official Clip - Biplane Helicopter Chase

2:59

Capricorn One: Official Clip - Launching Capricorn One

3:00

Capricorn One: Official Clip - Threatening Their Familes

2:46

Capricorn One: Official Clip - Hiring a Plane

1:55

Capricorn One: Official Clip - Escaping From Captivity

2:58

Capricorn One: Official Clip - How to Break Bad News

3:04

View more videos

Rollercoaster

53%

49%

Rollercoaster

Watchlist

The Conversation

94%

89%

The Conversation

Watchlist

Telefon

44%

48%

Telefon

Watchlist

The Concorde: Airport '79

20%

13%

The Concorde: Airport '79

Watchlist

Juggernaut

83%

58%

Juggernaut

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Capricorn One: Trailer 1

3:09

View more videos

View more photos

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

Most Popular at Home Now