Thunderball (1965): cast, story & where to watch

1965 · Film · ★ 6.7

Thunderball poster

Released in 1965, Thunderball is an action, thriller and adventure film directed by Terence Young, running about 130 minutes. “Look up! Look down! Look out!” — that tagline sets the tone.

What it’s about. A criminal organization has obtained two nuclear bombs and are asking for a 100 million pound ransom in the form of diamonds in seven days or they will use the weapons. The secret service sends James Bond to the Bahamas to once again save the world.

Who’s in it. Thunderball stars Sean Connery as James Bond, Claudine Auger as Dominique 'Domino' Derval, Adolfo Celi as Emilio Largo and Luciana Paluzzi as Fiona Volpe, among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 6.7/10, Thunderball has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response. It went on to earn $141.2M at the box office.

Where to watch. In US you can rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Thunderball page.

If you liked it. Fans of Thunderball tend to enjoy The Dark Knight, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Inception and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.

Frequently asked

Where can I watch Thunderball (1965)?
In US, Thunderball is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
Is Thunderball worth watching?
Thunderball holds an audience score of 6.7 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy action, thriller and adventure. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
Who stars in Thunderball?
Thunderball stars Sean Connery, Claudine Auger, Adolfo Celi, Luciana Paluzzi and Rik Van Nutter.
When was Thunderball released?
Thunderball was released in 1965, with a runtime of about 130 minutes.