Common Sense Media Review
By Alistair Lawrence
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Vintage Bond has violence, innuendo, sexism, and peril.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Moonraker
What's the Story?
In MOONRAKER, after a space shuttle is hijacked, James Bond (Roger Moore) is asked to investigate. When he discovers the theft is part of a plot by the evil Hugo Drax (Michael Lonsdale) to commit mass murder, 007 must do all he can to prevent a global catastrophe. Even if that means heading into space himself.
Is It Any Good?
One of the iconic Roger Moore-Bond movies, Moonraker has for years divided fans of the series. A commercial smash praised by many for its ambitious set pieces and playful tone, critics argue that this is the point where 007 slipped into self-parody. More than 40 years after its release, it's difficult not to see it as a bit of both. While boasting a strong cast and impeccable production design, there's also a feeling that the franchise is casting around for new ideas and not quite knowing where to turn next.
It took a Jason Bourne-inspired reboot in the 2000s for the Bond series to become a pop culture staple again. But if you can forgive Moonraker's heavily-dated portrayal of women and minorities, it succeeds in its goal of offering some well-intentioned escapism. Just don't look too hard for a plot or question why everyone's wearing yellow jumpsuits in space.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violence in Moonraker. How many characters die? What kind of impact do these deaths have? What does it mean for Bond to have a "license to kill"?
How are women portrayed in the movie? Was it unusual to see a movie like this where women feature mostly in supporting roles, having their appearances remarked on, and helping the male characters? Has this changed in recent years?
Bond is definitely a good guy, but his methods and behavior are questionable. Is he a role model? Does he seem "cool"? Is he someone to emulate? Why, or why not?
How are the non-White characters portrayed in the movie? Do you think they are stereotyped? Why do we have to be careful of racial stereotypes?
How did this Bond movie compare to others in the franchise? What are the main differences of this movie compared to more recent Bond movies like Skyfall and Spectre?
Movie Details
- In theaters : June 29, 1979
- On DVD or streaming : May 16, 2000
- Cast : Roger Moore , Lois Chiles , Michael Lonsdale
- Director : Lewis Gilbert
- Studio : United Artists
- Genre : Action/Adventure
- Topics : Adventures , Book Characters
- Run time : 126 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : February 3, 2026
Did we miss something on diversity?
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