--- title: "Dr. No: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/dr-no/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/dr-no" critics_score: 78 critics_reviews: 10 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Dr. No (1962): what the critics said Critics' score 78 from 10 reviews: 10 positive, 0 mixed, 0 negative. Every one of the ten reviews comes down in the film’s favour, and the praise gathers in the same places. Critics agree that Sean Connery arrives fully formed, with the casino introduction repeatedly named as the moment the character is fixed. Ursula Andress’s walk out of the sea is mentioned almost as often, and Joseph Wiseman’s villain is credited with real menace. Terence Young’s pacing and the tongue-in-cheek blend of sex, violence and wit are held to set the pattern the series follows. The spread is narrow, running from cheerfully approving to outright enthusiastic, with nobody dissenting. The 1960s notices from The Times, The New York Times and The New Yorker enjoy it as expert, lurid hokum rather than anything more, while later writers rate it higher, valuing its modest scale and Ken Adam’s sets against the bloat of later entries. The Playlist alone dwells on dated elements. Radio Times sits at the top with unqualified praise. ## Radio Times — Alan Jones Rating 5/5. The James Bond series launched in great style as cleverly conceived escapism true to Fleming's novels, with terrific action, exotic atmosphere, witty humour and Ursula Andress's star-making entrance. Sean Connery is perfect as the dashing, debonair agent. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-ro9opj/dr-no/) ## Empire — Kim Newman Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 1 January 2000. The critic calls it one of the most satisfying Bond films and the strong start to the franchise. They single out Connery's suave introduction as Bond, Wiseman's chilling villain performance, Andress's iconic entrance, and the film's establishment of the series' signature elements like the theme music and titles sequence. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/dr-review/) ## The AV Club — Mike D'Angelo Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 6 April 2020. The critic praises Dr. No as a modest, realistic spy film focused on routine espionage and clever spycraft rather than later franchise bloat, noting how it established many Bond conventions while feeling fresh and assured. The small-scale approach, including Ken Adam’s set design and Ursula Andress’s iconic entrance, is singled out for praise as a palate-cleanser. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/with-no-time-to-die-postponed-it-s-time-to-revisit-the-1842664564) ## The New Yorker — Brendan Gill Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 25 May 1963. The critic judges the movie a trashy success even though the source novel is a trashy failure, thanks to its nonstop action, brilliant color, and marzipan-like fantasy world. Sean Connery makes an admirable Bond, supported by strong turns from Joseph Wiseman and Ursula Andress. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1963/06/01/yes-to-no) ## The New York Times — Bosley Crowther Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 30 May 1963. The critic finds the film a lively, amusing tinseled action-thriller and effective spoof of science-fiction and sex rather than serious drama. It entertains through its exaggerated adventures, stunts, and encounters rather than plot credibility. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/1963/05/30/archives/the-screen-dr-no-mystery-spooffilm-is-first-made-of-ian-fleming.html) ## The Times Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 4 October 1962. The critic describes Dr. No as a carefully and expertly made exercise in violence and sadism, presenting it as the last word in sophisticated thrills with modern trimmings of sex. The villain's atomic station setup and the leads' experiences in Jamaica are highlighted amid the film's up-to-date pattern. [Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/article/the-last-word-in-sophisticated-thrills-dss3605hk) ## Time Out Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 10 September 2012. The first Bond film establishes the series formula effectively despite a modest budget, with a gleeful blend of sex, violence and wit. Memorable highlights include the tarantula scene and Honey's entrance, though later entries grew bigger but less creative. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/dr-no) ## Variety — Variety Staff Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 31 December 1961. The critic calls the first James Bond film an entertaining piece of tongue-in-cheek action hokum with a cool, fearless lead performance. Terence Young directs with generally strong pace through the mayhem and Bond's adventures in Jamaica. [Read the review](https://variety.com/1961/film/reviews/dr-no-1200420202/) ## Den of Geek — Mark Pickavance Rating 4/5. 7 October 2008. The critic finds Dr. No a revolutionary and tense proto-Bond film that established key franchise elements while remaining grounded. He singles out the casino introduction scene for instantly defining the character and sending a chill down the spine. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/dr-no-blu-ray-review/) ## The Playlist — The Playlist Staff Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 3 April 2015. The critic finds the film has enough redeemable qualities including elegance, subtle wit, surprising craftsmanship and clever character-building to explain its enduring appeal despite dated elements. They single out its adroit balance of genuine peril with light grace as the quintessence of Bond established here. [Read the review](https://theplaylist.net/flashback-dr-no-and-the-birth-of-the-unkillable-james-bond-franchise-20150403/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/dr-no.md