The fourth Connery outing in four straight years. The Bond movies wouldn't come out at this rate ever again. Terence Young completes his 'trilogy' starting with Dr. No and following up with From Russia. Because Guy Hamilton's Goldfinger gets praise as the best or at least top 3 in so many eyes, Thunderball was destined for some sort of a letdown. Eon does find their footing and formula by this time. We finally get a Connery gun barrel scene. Dr. No gets praise for being the original and has some of the elements, but Thunderball has the water lair, spy infiltration, and eventual showdown between lead characters and outside fighting (60 divers were used in the underwater climatic battle) that we would come to see so many times. "Oh Shit, let's just do what we always do. Highjack some nuclear weapons and hold the world hostage?" - Dr. Evil. There have been several attempts at sort of remaking this story, and for good reason. Even at it's worst Thunderball is an interesting plot and setting. Never Say Never and Spy Who Loved Me both try to remake good portions of Thunderball. Just having come back from the Nassau, Bahamas about a month ago I do remember one of our boat guides point out an area that supposedly was in the movie, so on this watch I was looking for it, but I came up empty without studying it too hard. Part of the issue I think is that the movie gets worse as it goes on. I think if it was a bit shorter it would be better regarded as the last act kind of takes a toll. Thunderball is not really out of character though at 2 hours and 10 minutes. Adolfo Celi's Largo has charisma and while he is someone to be feared, he was never as striking as Blofeld could be. Luciana Paluzzi auditioned for Domino and almost went to Raquel Welch, but instead went to Claudine Auger. We get to see a 00 meeting and a real jet-pak in the beginning. The most popular Bond, having increased popularity from Goldfinger. Was only the second highest grossing of 1966 behind Dr. Zhivago. Also the most expensive Bond at the time. No Shaken but Stirred Martini here instead it's a Dom Perignon 55 champagne.
| Movie | IMDB | Rot. Tom. | Rot. Tom. Aud. | 2012 Rank | 2024 Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11. Thunderball | 6.9 | 85% | 73% | 14 | 16 |
| 12. License to Kill | 6.7 | 80% | 61% | 15 | 8 |
| 13. You Only Live Twice | 6.8 | 74% | 69% | 19 | 17 |
| 14. For Your Eyes Only | 6.7 | 69% | 64% | 21 | 9 |
| 15. On Her Majesty's Secret Service | 6.7 | 81% | 64% | 24 | 15 |
| 16. Moonraker | 6.2 | 60% | 43% | 5 | 14 |
| 17. Live and Let Die | 6.7 | 67% | 64% | 16 | 20 |
| 18. Octopussy | 6.5 | 42% | 47% | 12 | 11 |
| 19. The Man with the Golden Gun | 6.7 | 42% | 55% | 7 | 26 |
| 20. Quantum of Solace | 6.5 | 64% | 58% | 18 | 23 |
| 21. The World Is Not Enough | 6.4 | 51% | 49% | 8 | 25 |
| 22. Never Say Never Again | 6.1 | 71% | 37% | 17 | 18 |
| 23. A View to Kill | 6.3 | 37% | 40% | 9 | 21 |
| 24. Tomorrow Never Dies | 6.5 | 57% | 53% | 20 | 22 |
| 25. Diamonds are Forever | 6.5 | 64% | 57% | 23 | 24 |
| 26. Die Another Day | 6.1 | 55% | 41% | 22 | 19 |
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