Moonwalkers

Moonwalkers

Year: 2016

Runtime: 107 min

Language: English

Director: Antoine Bardou-Jacquet

Comedy

During the vibrant 1960s in London, a meticulous CIA agent finds himself partnered with a flamboyant music manager. Together, they devise a risky and unconventional plan: to stage a fake moon landing. Their chaotic mission leads them through a bizarre world where espionage and the entertainment industry collide, resulting in a series of humorous misunderstandings and unexpected adventures as they try to pull off the audacious scheme.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Moonwalkers (2016)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Moonwalkers (2016). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1960s

The film is set during the 1960s, a period marked by intense geopolitical tension due to the Cold War. The space race serves as a focal point of American pride and competition against the Soviet Union, culminating in the Apollo 11 Moon landing. This decade also features the rise of counterculture and the exploration of new art forms, as seen through the characters' experiences.

Location

England, Spain

The movie primarily takes place in England, where CIA agent Tom Kidman attempts to hire Stanley Kubrick to create a fake moon landing. England's vibrant culture during the late 1960s is depicted through the influence of art and counterculture. Spain serves as a final escape for the characters, providing a picturesque backdrop as they witness the Moon landing.

🇬🇧 England 🇪🇸 Spain

Last Updated: May 04, 2025 at 18:46

Main Characters – Moonwalkers (2016)

Meet the key characters of Moonwalkers (2016), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Tom Kidman (Ron Perlman)

Tom Kidman is a troubled CIA agent tasked with a covert mission to create a fake moon landing. Haunted by his past experiences in Vietnam, he struggles with PTSD and resorts to violence when provoked. His character evolves from a rigid operative to someone who questions the morality of his actions.

🕵️‍♂️ CIA Agent 🎭 Troubled Soul 🚀 Veteran

Jonny Thorpe (Rupert Grint)

Jonny Thorpe is a struggling band promoter who inadvertently gets caught up in the CIA's scheme. His naive and carefree demeanor masks his financial desperation, leading him to make reckless decisions. Throughout the film, Jonny's aspirations clash with the dire circumstances he finds himself in.

🎸 Promoter 💰 Reckless 🤷‍♂️ Naive

Leon (Robert Sheehan)

Leon is Jonny's stoner roommate, who becomes an unwitting participant in the fake moon landing project. His laid-back personality is evident in his casual approach to life, yet he grapples with anxiety when thrust into the spotlight. Leon's character adds comedic relief amidst the film's tensions.

😎 Stoner 🎬 Aspiring Actor 😂 Comedic

Ella (Stephen Campbell Moore)

Ella is a free-spirited hippie who forms a connection with Kidman, encouraging him to embrace a more peaceful approach to life. Her character symbolizes the counterculture movement, advocating for love and exploration over violence. Ella's influence becomes crucial during Kidman's tumultuous journey.

🌼 Free Spirit ❤️ Advocate for Peace 🌈 Hippie

Last Updated: May 04, 2025 at 18:46

Major Themes – Moonwalkers (2016)

Explore the central themes of Moonwalkers (2016), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🌌 Deception

The theme of deception runs throughout the film, emphasizing the lengths to which the CIA will go to secure an ideological victory. Kidman's mission to create a false narrative around the Moon landing challenges the notion of truth in media. The interplay between reality and performance art raises important questions about authenticity.

✌️ Counterculture

The film captures the spirit of the counterculture movement of the 1960s, showcasing characters who reject societal norms. The portrayal of drug use and communal living reflects the era's push against conformity. Kidman's journey also highlights personal liberation amidst chaos.

Last Updated: May 04, 2025 at 18:46

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Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Paranoid Conspiracy Comedies like Moonwalkers

Absurd missions and high-stakes deceptions collide with chaotic, dark humor.If you liked the chaotic energy and dark humor of Moonwalkers, explore more movies about faking history and government plots. These films share a similar vibe of tense, absurd missions carried out by incompetent characters, resulting in a uniquely paranoid and hilarious viewing experience.

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Narrative Summary

Stories in this thread typically involve a seemingly simple, audacious plan—like a fake landing or a heist—that spirals out of control due to incompetent participants and external pressures from criminals or authorities. The narrative is driven by a series of misunderstandings, close calls, and violent confrontations, all undercut by the fundamental absurdity of the situation.

Why These Movies?

These movies are grouped together because they share a core mix of tense, high-stakes conspiracy plots with a pervasive sense of absurdity and dark comedy. The pacing is fast, the tone is anxious and paranoid, and the characters are often in over their heads, creating a coherent experience of chaotic fun and genuine peril.

Movies with Chaotic Duos on Absurd Missions like Moonwalkers

Mismatched partners are forced together for a high-risk, ridiculous scheme.Fans of Moonwalkers will enjoy other films about mismatched partners thrown into crazy schemes. These stories capture the same dynamic of a stressed professional and a hapless hustler navigating a world of crime and espionage with fast pacing, dark comedy, and an ambiguous outcome.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern revolves around an unlikely duo—often a straight-laced authority figure and a freewheeling rogue—whose forced collaboration drives the plot. Their journey is linear but filled with obstacles stemming from their incompetence and mutual distrust, building towards a climax where success is achieved through sheer luck or accidental brilliance, leaving their future uncertain.

Why These Movies?

Movies in this thread are connected by their central character dynamic and the type of mission they undertake. They share a fast pace, a mix of tense and whimsical tones, and a moderate complexity from balancing personal conflict with the overarching chaotic plot, creating a specific and enjoyable subgenre of comedic thrillers.

Unlock the Full Story of Moonwalkers

Don't stop at just watching — explore Moonwalkers in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Moonwalkers is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Moonwalkers Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Moonwalkers, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Moonwalkers Summary

Moonwalkers Timeline

Track the full timeline of Moonwalkers with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Moonwalkers Timeline

Moonwalkers Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Moonwalkers that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

Moonwalkers Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Moonwalkers

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Moonwalkers: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

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