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Moonwalkers (2016) movie poster

Characters & Themes

Moonwalkers (2016) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
2016 · 107 min · English
JustWatch #10,442 10
Directed by
Antoine Bardou-Jacquet
Starring
Ron Perlman, Rupert Grint, Robert Sheehan, Stephen Campbell Moore

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.

On this page (8)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Characters explained (4)
  3. 3 Where & when it takes place
  4. 4 Themes & meaning (2)
  5. 5 Character & meaning questions
  6. 6 Movie threads
  7. 7 Movies like Moonwalkers
  8. 8 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Moonwalkers (2016)

Where can you watch Moonwalkers? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Amazon Prime Video, Fawesome and Hoopla: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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4 main characters · contains spoilers

Moonwalkers Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of Moonwalkers (2016), heroes and villains: what drives them, how they change over the course of the story and what each of them reveals about the film's bigger ideas.

  • 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

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Setting

Where and When Does Moonwalkers Take Place?

The setting of Moonwalkers (2016): the year and time period, the places and locations, and how they shape the characters, the mood and the tension of the story.

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

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2 major themes

Moonwalkers Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is Moonwalkers (2016) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message 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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Character & theme questions

Moonwalkers Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about Moonwalkers (2016): who the characters really are, their relationships, what the symbols mean, where it takes place and what the movie is really about. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Where does the movie take place?

The movie primarily takes place in England, specifically London, where CIA agent Tom Kidman attempts to hire Stanley Kubrick for the fake moon landing project. Spain serves as a final location where the characters witness the actual Apollo 11 Moon landing. The English setting captures the vibrant 1960s counterculture atmosphere, while Spain provides a picturesque escape as the story concludes.

  • london england
  • spain
  • setting
  • locations
Q2

What time period is the movie set in?

Moonwalkers is set during the 1960s, specifically in the late 1960s around the Apollo 11 Moon landing. This era was defined by Cold War tensions between the US and Soviet Union, with the space race serving as a major point of ideological competition. The 1960s setting also allows the film to explore the counterculture movement, art, and the spirit of rebellion that characterized that decade.

  • 1960s
  • time period
  • 1969
  • moon landing era
  • cold war
Q3

What are the main themes in the movie?

The two dominant themes are deception and counterculture. Deception runs throughout the film as the CIA commissions a fake moon landing to win the space race, raising questions about truth in media and the manipulation of reality. The counterculture theme showcases characters who reject societal norms through drug use, communal living, and a push against conformity, with Kidman's journey also representing personal liberation from his traumatic past.

  • deception
  • counterculture
  • themes
  • authenticity
  • brainwashing
Q4

Who is Tom Kidman and what motivates him?

Tom Kidman is a troubled CIA agent played by Ron Perlman, tasked with the covert mission of creating a fake moon landing. He is haunted by his past experiences in Vietnam and struggles with PTSD, often resorting to violence when provoked. His character undergoes an evolution from a rigid, unquestioning operative to someone who begins to question the morality of his actions and the nature of the mission he's assigned.

  • tom kidman
  • cia agent
  • ron perlman
  • protagonist
  • motivations
Q5

Who is Jonny Thorpe and what is his role?

Jonny Thorpe is a struggling band promoter played by Rupert Grint who becomes inadvertently entangled in the CIA's scheme. His naive and carefree personality masks financial desperation, leading him to make reckless decisions. Throughout the film, his aspirations as a music promoter clash with the dangerous circumstances he finds himself in, serving as an ordinary man caught in extraordinary events.

  • jonny thorpe
  • rupert grint
  • band promoter
  • music manager
Q6

Who is Leon and what does he add to the story?

Leon is Jonny's stoner roommate, played by Robert Sheehan, who becomes an unwitting participant in the fake moon landing project. His laid-back, casual approach to life provides comedic relief throughout the film. However, when thrust into dangerous situations, he experiences anxiety that contrasts with his normally relaxed demeanor, adding both humor and tension to the narrative.

  • leon
  • robert sheehan
  • stoner roommate
  • comedic character
Q7

Who is Ella and what does she represent?

Ella is a free-spirited hippie character played by Stephen Campbell Moore who forms a connection with Kidman. She symbolizes the counterculture movement, advocating for love, peace, and exploration over violence and conformity. Her influence encourages Kidman to embrace a more peaceful approach to life, representing the transformative power of the 1960s counterculture ideals on someone trapped in a world of espionage and deception.

  • ella
  • hippie
  • free spirit
  • counterculture character
Q8

How does the movie address the moon landing?

The film centers on a fictional CIA plot to stage a fake moon landing by hiring Stanley Kubrick to direct the footage. This premise serves as both a comedic setup and a commentary on media manipulation and truth. The film plays with the real-world conspiracy theories surrounding the moon landing while exploring themes of deception, performance, and the blurred lines between reality and fabrication.

  • moon landing
  • fake moon landing
  • stanley kubrick
  • conspiracy
  • space race
Q9

How does the film portray 1960s counterculture?

Moonwalkers depicts the 1960s counterculture through characters like Ella the hippie and Jonny's world of music and communal living. The film showcases the era's rejection of societal norms through drug use, experimental art, and alternative lifestyles. This backdrop provides a stark contrast to the rigid, violent world of the CIA, representing a time of social upheaval and personal exploration.

  • 1960s counterculture
  • hippie movement
  • 1960s era
  • social change
Q10

What does the movie say about truth and fiction?

The film explores the theme of reality versus performance art, questioning what constitutes truth in media and storytelling. Through the CIA's attempt to create false historical narrative, the movie raises important questions about authenticity in an age of manipulated information. The ambiguous ending reinforces this theme, leaving both characters and audience uncertain if they are watching reality or their own fabrication.

  • truth
  • reality
  • fiction
  • manipulation
  • media
  • authenticity

Movie threads

More Movies Like Moonwalkers, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Moonwalkers tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

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.

  • paranoid
  • absurd
  • tense
  • anxious
  • chaotic
  • darkly comedic
  • Tone: tense, darkly comedic, absurd
  • Pacing: fast, chaotic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: 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 they belong together: 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.

  • chaotic
  • mismatched
  • frantic
  • comedic
  • tense
  • unlikely duo
  • Tone: tense, whimsical, character-driven
  • Pacing: fast, frantic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: 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 they belong together: 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.

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Movies Like Moonwalkers

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Every angle

Moonwalkers (2016) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Moonwalkers in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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