Never Say Never Again (1983)
60%RT Audience Score: 37%
Awards & Nominations: 1 win & 3 nominations
While the rehashed story feels rather uninspired and unnecessary, the return of both Sean Connery and a more understated Bond make Never Say Never Again a watchable retread
Never Say Never Again is the Bond movie that proves you can teach an old dog new tricks. Sean Connery’s return to the role is like a fine wine that only gets better with age. Sure, it’s a retread of Thunderball, but who cares when you have Connery’s grave stylishness and pleasing sense of irony? It’s a shame they didn’t take more risks, but hey, it’s still superb entertainment. Plus, it’s Bond, James Bond.
Production Company(ies)
Charles Chaplin Productions,
Distributor
NA
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Malta
MPAA / Certificate
PG
Year of Release
1983
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:70 mm 6-Track
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Aspect ratio:2.39 : 1
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Runtime:NA
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Language(s):English, French, Spanish, Arabic
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Streaming): Mar 24, 2009
Genre(s)
Action
Keyword(s)
starring Sean Connery, Klaus Maria Brandauer, Barbara Carrera, Max von Sydow, Kim Basinger, Bernie Casey, Edward Fox, directed by Irvin Kershner, written by Lorenzo Semple Jr., produced by Jack Schwartzman, action, PG, James Bond, espionage, nuclear missiles, SPECTRE, British Intelligence, Sean Connery as James Bond, Klaus Maria Brandauer as Maximilian Largo, Barbara Carrera as Fatima Blush, Max von Sydow as Ernst Stavro Blofeld, Kim Basinger as Domino Petachi, Bernie Casey as Felix Leiter, reviewed by Gary Arnold, Janet Maslin, William Thomas, Dave Kehr, Richard Schickel, Variety Staff, Eddie Harrison, Matt Brunson, Jake Tropila, Mike Massie, Richard Holliss, John Brosnan
Worldwide gross: $55,432,841
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $169,622,148
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 784
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 18,497,508
US/Canada gross: $55,432,841
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $169,622,148
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 450
US/Canada opening weekend: $10,958,157
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $33,531,497
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 395
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $36,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $110,158,477
Production budget ranking: 345
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $59,320,340
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $143,331
ROI to date (est.): 0%
ROI ranking: 1,395
Klaus Maria Brandauer – Maximilian Largo
Barbara Carrera – Fatima Blush
Max von Sydow – Ernst Stavro Blofeld
Kim Basinger – Domino Petachi
Bernie Casey – Felix Leiter
Director(s)
Irvin Kershner
Writer(s)
Lorenzo Semple Jr.
Producer(s)
Jack Schwartzman
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
1 win & 3 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (54) | Top Critics (10) | Fresh (38) | Rotten (16)
Never Say Never Again is the best acted Bond picture ever made, because it clearly surpasses any predecessors in the area of inventive and clever character delineation.
September 9, 2015
Gary Arnold
Washington Post
TOP CRITIC
In Never Say Never Again, the formula is broadened to accommodate an older, seasoned man of much greater stature, and Mr. Connery expertly fills the bill.
October 23, 2012
Janet Maslin
New York Times
TOP CRITIC
[Connery] does at least handle the whole charade, a retread of Thunderball, with a pleasing sense of irony as he reacquaints himself with old adversary Blofeld (Von Sydow) and thwarts SPECTRE’s plans.
October 13, 2008 | Rating: 3/5
William Thomas
Empire Magazine
TOP CRITIC
Without absolute conviction, no action film can survive: if there’s no belief, there’s no danger.
October 13, 2008
Dave Kehr
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
It is good to see Connery’s grave stylishness in this role again. It makes Bond’s cynicism and opportunism seem the product of genuine worldliness (and world weariness) as opposed to Roger Moore’s mere twirpishness.
October 13, 2008
Richard Schickel
TIME Magazine
TOP CRITIC
After a 12-year hiatus, Sean Connery is back in action as James Bond. The new entry marks something of a retreat from the far-fetched technology of many of the later Bonds in favor of intrigue and romance.
October 13, 2008
Variety Staff
Variety
TOP CRITIC
Never Say Never Again does have some points of interest, and is certainly no worse that some of the later Moore efforts
April 30, 2022 | Rating: 3/5
Eddie Harrison
film-authority.com
This is basically Thunderball under a new moniker. It bests its predecessor in most regards.
September 25, 2021 | Rating: 3/4
Matt Brunson
Film Frenzy
The film stands up well on its own, and there’s the added value of Connery, gifted with one last go at the role that catapulted him to superstardom.
July 16, 2021
Jake Tropila
Film Inquiry
It may be Bond, but without the use of the gun barrel graphics, the booming theme music, and the opening title silhouettes of nude figures, it just doesn’t feel the same.
September 6, 2020 | Rating: 2/10
Mike Massie
Gone With The Twins
Adding together a marvellous array of sophistication, comedy and action. Never Say Never Again is superb entertainment.
June 29, 2020
Richard Holliss
Starburst
Overall I liked Never Say Never Again but it fell far short of the movie it could have been. The makers should have been more adventurous instead of simply trying to beat Broccoli at his own game.
June 29, 2020
John Brosnan
Starburst…
Plot
S.P.E.C.T.R.E. Agents under the command of Ernst Blofeld infiltrate a U.S. Air Force base situated in the U.K. and steal two Tomahawk cruise missiles. When N.A.T.O. is held ransom, the British re-activate their “00” Agents and send James Bond to recapture the warheads and kill Blofeld.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Fresh Kernels notes that Sean Connery returns as James Bond in Never Say Never Again, marking his last go at the role that catapulted him to superstardom.
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