Thunderball

Right now you can watch Thunderball in the UK on ITVX Premium — and it earns its twists rather than manufacturing them. It says what it needs to say in one sitting, no filler. A 7/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Watch Sean Connery work — the performance is a masterclass in restraint. Available now on ITVX Premium — press play and find out why people keep recommending it.

There is a reason Thunderball keeps coming up in conversation. The plotting in Thunderball is tight enough that the twists feel earned rather than assembled. 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. Credit to Sean Connery and Claudine Auger for grounding it — this is a cast that earns the twists. It was released in 1965. The plot mechanics of Thunderball never overwhelm the human cost underneath them. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

Viewers who think they have seen every crime drama tend to find Thunderball proves them wrong. It stands on its own even without an obvious comparison point. Best experienced as a single, sustained watch from start to finish. Watch Sean Connery work — it is a masterclass in the genre. Few crime dramas earn their twists this consistently.