Thunderball is, at least, itself: the male fantasy mixture as before -- but perhaps a little lighter, less sadistic than Goldfinger, without the spectacular sequences but constantly in entertaining motion.

Full Review | Sep 20, 2023

Sadly though past the editing, in no way is Thunderball a notable outing for James Bond.

Full Review | Original Score: C- | Aug 28, 2022

The most overrated movie in the franchise. Of course, it's not without its merits.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4 | Sep 25, 2021

As one tends to say when movie franchise stretch well into the double-digits: this is one of the good ones.

Full Review | Original Score: 7/10 | Apr 23, 2021

Each new Bond movie gains a larger budget, but the potential doesn't equate to greater creativity or superior filmmaking.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/10 | Aug 27, 2020

Exaggerated fun

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/5 | Jul 16, 2020

The film moves at a leisurely pace, but it still exudes Classic Bond and features some of the finest spy work in the series to date.

Full Review | Jun 10, 2020

This features the ideal realisation of Blofeld - a disembodied voice with shutters obscuring his presence from the torso up. It's far more chilling than in later Bonds.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Oct 31, 2019

To Connery, who develops his character throughout the film with a frightening ease, demonstrating that the character fits him like a glove, adds the beauty of Luciana Paluzzi. [Full Review in Spanish]

Full Review | Sep 4, 2019

Not a classic like Goldfinger, but it's still fun. It'll be a long time until I watch it again, mind you. It doesn't have the rewatchable charm as some of the other Bond films

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Jan 27, 2019

In addition to the physical machines there is a lot of deus ex-machina involved too, but only a critic would carp about that. Just go to watch the most remarkable things.

Full Review | Dec 30, 2017

For all its flaws, it was classic Bond. And remains so.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Oct 27, 2015

Director Terence Young never quite solves the pacing problems posed by filming underwater, but John Stears's Oscar-winning special effects more than compensate.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Oct 27, 2015

Connery's last exceptional Bond as it gives 007 a competent villain, a thrilling adventure in an unusual setting, great Bond Babes and one of the series' all-time best scenes.

Full Review | Original Score: 8.5/10 | Oct 23, 2015

Terence Young's direction is nothing if not taut, whisking the narrative along with the speed and precision of a jet plane, defying one to express boredom.

Full Review | Oct 23, 2015

The fourth, most commercially successful Bond to date, is known for its pre-credits sequences, underwater battles, and escalating number of violent deaths.

Full Review | Original Score: B+ | Oct 29, 2012

The ambition is evident throughout, but the execution just doesn't have enough energy to sustain it. THUNDERBALL is very sluggish.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/4 | Oct 19, 2012

Turgidly paced and overly reliant on less-than-thrilling underwater sequences, it's the "Moonraker" of Sean Connery's run -a misstep defined by heyday technology that the producers thought would look cool in the era but feels hopelessly stale today.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Jun 30, 2012

A particularly energetic, jaunty Bond adventure, the kind that is just plain fun to watch, in a perfectly relaxed and undemanding register.

Full Review | Original Score: 7/10 | Jun 17, 2012

Even James Bond can miss his mark.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Jan 2, 2011