---
title: "Never Say Never Again: the reviews"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/never-say-never-again/reviews"
title_page: "https://film.one/film/never-say-never-again"
critics_score: 65
critics_reviews: 7
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."
---

# Never Say Never Again (1983): what the critics said

Critics' score 65 from 7 reviews: 5 positive, 1 mixed, 1 negative.

Most critics give Never Say Never Again a moderately warm welcome, and nearly all of them locate the reason in the cast. Sean Connery’s return is the main event: the reviews find him more human than before, older and easier in the part, playing it with an irony they enjoy. Klaus Maria Brandauer’s Largo is singled out repeatedly as one of the better villains in the series, and the henchwoman Fatima Blush draws similar praise. Several critics also credit Irvin Kershner’s direction with more humour and character than these films usually manage.

The reservations fall on the script. The story is a retread of Thunderball, and more than one reviewer finds it flabby and cutesy, with Domino a weak part. The spread is fairly wide: The AV Club sees a screenplay that treats its material with thinly veiled contempt, and Empire goes further, suggesting Connery was wise to have quit the first time.

## Time Out — CPea

Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 10 September 2012. 

The critic finds it comforting to return to the classic Bond atmosphere of gratuitous sex and violence. They single out the strong cast of villains and especially Sean Connery's welcome return in the lead role as the film's real highlight.

[Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/never-say-never-again-1)

## RogerEbert.com — Roger Ebert

Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 7 October 1983. 

The critic welcomes Connery's return as a more human Bond and highlights the emotional depth brought by Klaus Maria Brandauer's performance as the villain Largo.

[Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/never-say-never-again-1983)

## The New York Times — Janet Maslin

Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 7 October 1983. 

This is the better Bond film of the season, with noticeably more humor and character than usual, thanks to Kershner's direction and a marvelous villain in Largo.

[Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/1983/10/07/movies/sean-connery-is-seasoned-james-bond.html)

## Variety — Variety Staff

Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 31 December 1982. 

The film benefits from strong casting, with Brandauer as one of the best Bond opponents, Carrera and Basinger in key roles, and Connery in fine form.

[Read the review](https://variety.com/1982/film/reviews/never-say-never-again-1200425477/)

## The AV Club — Noel Murray

Rating C+. 1 April 2009. 

The critic finds it a flabby, cutesy Bond picture that derives most of its value from its cast, especially Connery's portrayal of an aging Bond. The screenplay is kitschy and treats the material with thinly veiled contempt, though the film remains too agreeable to dislike.

[Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/never-say-never-again-1798205941)

## Empire — William Thomas

Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 1 January 2000. 

The critic notes that Connery returns to the role with a pleasing sense of irony in this Thunderball retread involving SPECTRE and nuclear weapons. He concludes that Connery was perhaps wise to have quit the first time round.

[Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/never-say-never-review/)

## Den of Geek — Max Williams

Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 7 October 2019. 

The critic finds the film a pleasantly surprising, sly and witty semi-pastiche that holds its own with other Bond entries, praising Connery's energetic performance and standout villain Fatima Blush, while noting some narrative weaknesses and the weak Domino character.

[Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/never-say-never-again-an-unofficial-james-bond-007-movie/)

---
© 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/never-say-never-again.md