Octopussy (1983)
56%RT Audience Score: 47%
Awards & Nominations: 2 wins & 3 nominations
Despite a couple of electrifying action sequences, Octopussy is a formulaic, anachronistic Bond outing
Octopussy” is the 13th James Bond movie and it’s a mixed bag of reviews. Some critics say it’s one of the best, while others say it’s the worst. Personally, I think it’s like a rollercoaster ride – it has its ups and downs. The action sequences are exciting, but the characterizations are flat. The story unfolds like a true mystery, but it’s still plagued by the naffness that was prevalent in the Bond series around the time of Moore. Overall, it’s an easy film to hate, but it works perfectly as a piece of entertainment. Just don’t expect it to be the best Bond movie ever made.
Production Company(ies)
AOI Promotion Fuji Television, Network GAGA.
Distributor
CBS/Fox, MGM/UA Home Entertainment Inc.
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Monsoon Palace, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India
MPAA / Certificate
PG
Year of Release
1983
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby Surround 7.1
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Aspect ratio:2.39 : 1
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Runtime:2h 10m
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Language(s):English, Russian, German, Spanish, Hindi
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jun 10, 1983 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 4, 2007
Genre(s)
Action
Keyword(s)
starring Roger Moore, Maud Adams, Louis Jourdan, Kristina Wayborn, Kabir Bedi, Steven Berkoff, directed by John Glen, written by Ian Fleming, George MacDonald Fraser, Richard Maibaum, Michael G Wilson, action, PG, James Bond, spy, thriller, formulaic, anachronistic, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Bob Thomas, Gary Arnold, Dave Kehr, Variety Staff, Richard Corliss, Ian Nathan, Matt Brunson, Jake Tropila, Mike Massie, Kelechi Ehenulo, PJ Nabarro, David Hogan, producer Albert R Broccoli, MPAA rating, CBS/Fox, MGM/UA Home Entertainment Inc., Magnetic Stereo 6 Track, Dolby Stereo, Surround, Scope (2.35:1), James Bond 007, India, Germany, jewelry smugglers, Soviet General Orlov, gadgetmeister Q, tongue and cheek, nuclear weapon, female antagonist, lead female villain, mystery, realistic focus, animal spectacles, Tarzan noise, clown, gorilla outfit, revenge, nightmarish scheme, entrancing beauty, military plot, palaces of India, speeding circus train, mid-air battle, high-flying jet, Agent 007
Worldwide gross: $67,917,094
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $207,751,602
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 670
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 22,655,573
US/Canada gross: $67,893,619
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $207,751,602
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 330
US/Canada opening weekend: $8,902,564
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $27,241,469
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 506
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $27,500,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $84,148,837
Production budget ranking: 497
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $45,314,148
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $78,288,617
ROI to date (est.): 60%
ROI ranking: 1,098
Maud Adams – Octopussy
Louis Jourdan – Kamal
Kristina Wayborn – Magda
Kabir Bedi – Gobinda
Steven Berkoff – Orlov
Director – John Glen
Producer – Albert R. Broccoli
Writers – Ian Fleming, George MacDonald Fraser, Richard Maibaum, Michael G. Wilson
Director(s)
John Glen
Writer(s)
Ian Fleming, George MacDonald Fraser, Richard Maibaum, Michael G. Wilson
Producer(s)
Albert R. Broccoli
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
2 wins & 3 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (49) | Top Critics (10) | Fresh (21) | Rotten (28)
“Octopussy” is the 13th of the James Bond movies, and it is one of the best.
October 17, 2018
Bob Thomas
Associated Press
TOP CRITIC
It’s a pleasure to report that the James Bond company is confidently back on the beam.
October 6, 2015
Gary Arnold
Washington Post
TOP CRITIC
Glen’s willingness to give the action sequences a certain weight and seriousness produces some genuinely exciting moments, yet his work is everywhere undermined by the flatness of the characterizations and the uncertain architecture of the plot.
October 13, 2008
Dave Kehr
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
Film’s high points are the spectaccular aerial stuntwork marking both the pre-credits teaser and extremely dangerous-looking climax.
October 13, 2008
Variety Staff
Variety
TOP CRITIC
Bond had degenerated into a male model, and something of a genial anachronism.
October 13, 2008
Richard Corliss
TIME Magazine
TOP CRITIC
One for the die hards. The saving grace here is a knowing sense of humour so lacking in its predecessor, For Your Eyes Only.
October 13, 2008 | Rating: 3/5
Ian Nathan
Empire Magazine
TOP CRITIC
I’ve seen the Bond movies countless times over the decades, and this title above all is the one that fluctuates the most from one viewing to the next.
September 25, 2021 | Rating: 3/4
Matt Brunson
Film Frenzy
It’s an easy film to hate (and often paints a big target on its back encouraging you to do so), but it works perfectly as a piece of entertainment, where the good ultimately outweighs the bad.
October 14, 2020
Jake Tropila
Film Inquiry
For the first time in the series, the story unfolds like a true mystery, instead of merely having some eccentric billionaire devising a plot to take over the world.
September 6, 2020 | Rating: 7/10
Mike Massie
Gone With The Twins
Out of all the Roger Moore films as Bond, this one is easily the worse for me.
July 16, 2020 | Rating: 2/5
Kelechi Ehenulo
Confessions From A Geek Mind
The naffness that was prevalent in the Bond series around the time of Moore still abounds here.
October 31, 2019 | Rating: 2/5
PJ Nabarro
Patrick Nabarro
The very worst Roger Moore Bond Film, and one to avoid unless you really have to watch every single film in a marathon, like myself, sadly…
January 27, 2019 | Rating: 1/5
David Hogan
hoganreviews.co.uk…
Plot
James Bond’s next mission sends him to the circus. A British Agent was murdered and found holding onto a priceless Fabergé egg. Kamal Kahn buys the egg at an auction, but Bond becomes suspicious when Kahn meets up with Russian General Orlov. Bond soon finds out that Kahn’s and Orlov’s plan is to blow-up a nuclear device on a U.S. Air Force Base. Bond teams up with a circus group, which are headed by the beautiful Octopussy, who is also close friend of Kahn.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
There is no goofy or funny comment about the film Octopussy on Fresh Kernels.
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