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Never Say Never Again
1983 134 min United Kingdom, United States of America PG 12+
★6.6
Adventure, Action, Thriller
Director: Irvin Kershner
🎭 Based on
«Thunderball»
byIan Fleming
Trailers
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EN
EN
EN
Description
James Bond returns as the secret agent 007 to battle the evil organization SPECTRE. Bond must defeat Largo, who has stolen two atomic warheads for nuclear blackmail. But Bond has an ally in Largo's girlfriend, the willowy Domino, who falls for Bond and seeks revenge.
Budget:
$36M
US Gross:
$55.43M
Worldwide:
$160M
Starring
Sean Connery
Actor
Kim Basinger
Actor
Klaus Maria Brandauer
Actor
Awards
Golden Globe 1984
— Best Supporting Actress
Saturn Awards 1984
— Best Fantasy Film
Saturn Awards 1984
— Best Visual Effects
Key opinion
Never Say Never Again is widely viewed as a polarizing, unofficial entry that relies heavily on Sean Connery's star power to anchor a familiar but loosely constructed remake of Thunderball. While some appreciate its ironic tone and character-driven moments, critics frequently lament the absence of EON-produced hallmarks like the iconic theme music and established supporting cast charisma.
| Acting | Sean Connery remains the definitive Bond, providing a compelling portrayal of an older, weary agent that carries the film's watchability. | |
| Screenplay | The script and narrative structure are frequently criticized as a weak, clunky rehash of Thunderball that fails to capture the energy of the canonical series. | |
| Originality | The film omits hallmark franchise elements, including the classic gun-barrel opening and John Barry's iconic musical themes, which leaves it feeling disconnected from the Bond identity. | |
| Acting | Klaus Maria Brandauer's charismatic performance as the villain Largo is a standout, often cited as more compelling than the film's other supporting characters. | |
| Humor | The film's tone is divisive; some viewers enjoy the light, ironic, and satirical approach, while others find the humor forced and detrimental to the spy atmosphere. | |
| Runtime | The two-hour runtime is a point of contention, with some finding the contemplative pace and heavy dialogue exhausting compared to standard action-driven Bond entries. |