Capricorn One

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3:09

Capricorn One

PG

1978

2h 4m

Mystery & Thriller

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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.

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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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Time Out

Jun 24, 2006

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

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Variety

Feb 13, 2001

In general, it is a script of conveniences.

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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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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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Sebastian L

@RT53077800 Sep 10, 2025

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.

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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

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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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