---
title: "No Time to Die"
year: 2021
kind: "film"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/no-time-to-die"
fi1m_score: 70
critics_score: 70
critics_reviews: 25
published: "2026-09-18T08:52:46.800609+00:00"
updated: "2026-09-18T10:05:55.172857+00:00"
region: "US"
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."
---

# No Time to Die (2021)

Directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga · 2h 43m · MPA PG-13 · Action, Thriller, Adventure

**Fi1m score: 70** · Critics 70 from 25 reviews

*In a sentence:* Bond finally has feelings, and it takes him two hours and forty-three minutes to get them all out

> Daniel Craig’s fifth and final Bond is the most heartfelt of the run and the longest, and the two facts are related. The Matera and Havana sequences are as good as the series has been in years; the villain and the last hour are not.

## Synopsis

James Bond (Daniel Craig) has left the service and is in Matera with Madeleine (Léa Seydoux) when Spectre gunmen find them and he decides she has betrayed him. Five years on, he is fishing in Jamaica when Felix Leiter (Jeffrey Wright) of the CIA and a colleague, Logan Ash (Billy Magnussen), ask a favour: the scientist Valdo Obruchev (David Dencik) has been snatched from an MI6 laboratory along with a weapon that targets people by their DNA. M (Ralph Fiennes) would rather Bond stayed retired, and his old number has already gone to a new agent, Nomi (Lashana Lynch). The trail runs to a Spectre gathering in Havana and back to Blofeld (Christoph Waltz) in a London prison, while a masked man, Lyutsifer Safin (Rami Malek), waits at the edges.

## Review

Daniel Craig’s fifth Bond film is also his last, and everybody involved knows it. Cary Joji Fukunaga has been handed a job no Bond director has had before: not to set up the next one but to finish this one, fifteen years after [*Casino Royale*](https://film.one/film/casino-royale) (2006) started it. He takes 163 minutes, the longest the series has ever run, and uses them to give Bond a past, a woman he trusts and a reason to stop. About two thirds of that is done well. The rest is a villain who never comes into focus and a last hour that keeps announcing the end and then putting it off.

The opening in Matera is the best sustained stretch of action the Craig films have managed since *Casino Royale*. Linus Sandgren shoots the town in cream stone and late gold, brighter than anything in the Craig run before it, and keeps the camera far enough back that we can see the geometry: a bridge, a piazza, a car that will not start. Tom Cross and Elliot Graham cut it so that we always know where Bond is, where the gunmen are and how many bullets the Aston Martin has left. We were gripped in the plain old way, leaning forward, and glad of it.

Craig is better here than he has ever been in the part. He is heavier and slower and has at last been allowed to be funny, which we put down to Phoebe Waller-Bridge on the script alongside Neal Purvis, Robert Wade and Fukunaga. His retired Bond in Jamaica, in a crumpled shirt and a bad mood, is a man who has read about himself and not enjoyed it. Lashana Lynch’s Nomi, who has inherited his number and is not sorry, gives him someone to be prickly with, and their scenes have a bounce the series usually lacks. The Havana party, lit by Sandgren in teal and candle gold, is the film’s happiest half hour: a new CIA contact with three weeks of training, a room full of Spectre in evening dress, and Craig grinning for the first time in about three films. It is the writing rather than the stunts that gets the laughs.

Then the film has to be about something, and it chooses love. Léa Seydoux’s Madeleine is asked to carry more than any Bond woman in decades, and she does it with a stillness the camera likes. Whether we believe the two of them as a couple is another matter; Craig plays devotion as a kind of wariness, and they are more convincing apart than together. Hans Zimmer’s score keeps returning to the love theme from *On Her Majesty’s Secret Service* (1969), and the quotation does a good deal of the work the scenes do not.

The villain does none of it. Rami Malek’s Lyutsifer Safin speaks in a whisper, wears a scar and a porcelain mask, and wants something the script explains three times without once making clear. Mark Tildesley’s design for his island, a concrete bunker with a poison garden and paper screens, is handsome, and the plot arrives there and sits down. The weapon, a virus that kills by DNA, is described in a laboratory, then a car, then a boat. Christoph Waltz’s Blofeld gets one scene behind glass. Jeffrey Wright’s Felix Leiter, back after two films away, is given about as much to do as the boat.

We felt the length at around the two-hour mark, in a Norwegian forest, when the film stopped for a chase it did not need. Then the last twenty minutes did something we had not expected: we were moved, properly, and not for reasons of nostalgia. We will not say what happens. We will say that the film wants those tears badly and turns the music up to get them, and that it earns most of them anyway, because Craig has spent five films building a man who could be mourned.

Against the run it sits below *Casino Royale* and [*Skyfall*](https://film.one/film/skyfall) (2012) and well above [*Spectre*](https://film.one/film/spectre) (2015) and [*Quantum of Solace*](https://film.one/film/quantum-of-solace) (2008). Suttirat Anne Larlarb dresses Craig in corduroy for Jamaica and midnight blue for London, and both fit the man rather than the poster. See it on a large screen if you can; at home the Matera sequence loses half its size, and the last hour is easier to sit through with the remote to hand. It carries a 12A, and it is the first Bond film we would call sad.

*Fi1m score 70, published 18 September 2026.*

### Reviews we read (25)

- **The Guardian**, Peter Bradshaw (5/5): The critic calls the film an epic barnstormer and weird self-aware epic. They single out Cary Fukunaga's terrific panache and the portrayal of a romantic, uxorious Bond unafraid to show his feelings. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2021/sep/29/no-time-to-die-review-daniel-craig-dispatches-james-bond-with-panache-rage-and-cuddles)
- **The Telegraph**, Robbie Collin (5/5): The critic describes the film as an extravagantly satisfying last chapter to the Craig era. They single out the unfashionably colourful visuals and one of the great Bond action sequences in Matera. [Read](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/2021/09/30/no-time-die-review-daniel-craig-bond-extravagant-satisfying/)
- **The Times**, Kevin Maher (5/5): The critic declares the film magnificent and a huge thundering epic. They single out its heart as a moving portrait of an antiquated hero facing obsolescence and Fukunaga's expert direction. [Read](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/film/article/no-time-to-die-review-craig-delivers-the-best-of-007-to-end-his-service-with-a-bang-98mmkfnqm)
- **Time Out**, Phil de Semlyen (5/5): Daniel Craig bows out with a feast of heart and spectacle, the best Bond since Casino Royale. It surprises with strong storytelling decisions, humour, visual grace notes and emotional sincerity. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/no-time-to-die-2021)
- **Variety**, Owen Gleiberman (Critics Pick): The critic calls it a terrific, briskly paced conventional Bond thriller and the best entry since Casino Royale, with high finesse and soul that delivers a satisfying emotional send-off for Craig. He singles out the ingenious weave of action, gadgets, quips, and romance that keeps the long runtime sharp and engaging. [Read](https://variety.com/2021/film/reviews/no-time-to-die-review-daniel-craig-rami-malek-lea-seydoux-1235075443/)
- **Empire**, John Nugent (4/5): The film dutifully ticks all the boxes but brilliantly does not always feel like a Bond film. Fukunaga finds vulnerability in the hero with a stunning finale that gives Craig the send-off he deserves. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/no-time-to-die/)
- **Radio Times**, Patrick Cremona (4/5): A sprawling, occasionally disjointed but exhilarating swan song with irresistible entertainment value and terrific set pieces. Craig delivers a superb, human performance amid some flaws in pacing and supporting roles. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/no-time-to-die-review-daniel-craig-disjointed-exhilerating/)
- **The i Paper**, Christina Newland (4/5): This is a surprisingly tender-hearted farewell to the 007 we have known for over a decade. The film soars when smartly combining the old with the new, as with the introduction of new MI6 agent Nomi. [Read](https://inews.co.uk/culture/film/no-time-to-die-review-premiere-daniel-craig-lea-seydoux-lashana-lynch-1223032)
- **Total Film**, Matt Maytum (80/100, inferred): Even a disappointing villain cannot detract from a bold, satisfying climax to Daniel Craig’s time in the tux. Craig is given just what he needs with a performance that offers a fitting end to his tenure. [Read](https://www.gamesradar.com/no-time-to-die-review-james-bond/)
- **The Hollywood Reporter**, David Rooney (70/100, inferred): The critic finds the film elevated by a fitting emotional farewell for Craig’s Bond and praises the tender, vulnerable human portrait of the character amid the action. The main complaint is the convoluted, protracted plot that drowns the story in villainy and pacing issues. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/no-time-to-die-daniel-craig-1235022401/)
- **The New Yorker**, Anthony Lane (65/100, inferred): The review describes the film as often exciting yet inward and agonized in its thrills, overly reliant on self-referential callbacks to prior Craig-era entries. It singles out the debonair Cuba sequence with Ana de Armas and Bond for its witty, flirtatious energy. [Read](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/10/18/james-bonds-heavy-heart-in-no-time-to-die)
- **The New York Times**, A.O. Scott (60/100, inferred): The critic finds the film a somber, lengthy send-off for Craig's Bond that leans more toward superhero saga than classic espionage caper, with mixed results on its emotional weight. He singles out the crisp, stylish Havana party action sequence featuring Ana de Armas for particular praise. [Read](https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/29/movies/no-time-to-die-review.html)
- **Screen Daily** (30/100, inferred): The film breaks many canonical rules with elegant solutions to wrap up the Craig cycle but is oddly lacking in pleasure or real wit. Craig persuades with more human substance while the whole lacks joy. [Read](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/no-time-to-die-review/5163708.article)
- **Sight and Sound**, Kim Newman (30/100, inferred): The film is action-packed but hindered by an unconvincing emotional storyline and an underused ensemble cast. It struggles with a baggy plot while managing some excellent action scenes. [Read](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/no-time-die-brings-daniel-craigs-tenure-bond-disappointing-end)
- **Slant Magazine**, Keith Uhlich (30/100, inferred): The critic calls the film bloated and personality-free in direction, criticizing how it makes viewers feel every one of its long minutes through ponderous plotting. Praise goes to some supporting character moments and Craig’s performance, but the overall arc feels like a treacly sop rather than savage Bond pleasures. [Read](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/no-time-to-die-review-daniel-craig/)
- **Vulture**, Bilge Ebiri (30/100, inferred): The review notes that the film is fun only when it embraces proper Bond action and visual spectacle on the big screen, with strong set pieces. It criticizes the overly convoluted story, lack of substance, forced emotional beats, and weak chemistry that make much of it feel like a slog. [Read](https://www.vulture.com/article/film-review-no-time-to-die-with-daniel-craig-as-james-bond.html)
- **Deadline**, Pete Hammond (90/100, inferred): The critic calls it a thrilling and emotional exit for Daniel Craig as Bond, a fitting finale that humanizes the character while delivering action and risks. He singles out Craig's complex performance and the film's emphasis on human conflicts alongside the stunts. [Read](https://deadline.com/2021/09/no-time-to-die-review-daniel-craig-thrilling-emotoinal-finale-1234845958/)
- **The Wrap** (85/100, inferred): The review deems it Daniel Craig’s best James Bond outing, one remembered most for its emotional impact and Craig’s layered performance. It singles out the focus on memory, mortality, and emotional spaces rarely explored in the franchise. [Read](https://www.thewrap.com/no-time-to-die-film-review-daniel-craig-james-bond-007/)
- **NME**, Alex Flood (4/5): The critic highlights the film's emotional stakes, believable chemistry between Craig and Seydoux, and fresh humor from Phoebe Waller-Bridge, calling it surprisingly moving. Some plot choices and the villain feel clichéd or compromised, but the bold risks and finale make it a fitting send-off. [Read](https://www.nme.com/reviews/film-reviews/no-time-to-die-review-james-bond-3057021)
- **The Playlist**, Robert Daniels (B): The critic praises the film as a fitting, emotionally resonant close to Craig’s tenure, highlighting its exploration of grief, mortality, and a heartbreaking final scene. It notes the lengthy runtime and some underutilized elements but calls the ending worth toasting. [Read](https://theplaylist.net/no-time-to-die-daniel-craig-james-bond-final-review-20210928/)
- **Collider**, Matt Goldberg (B-): The critic finds the film messy with a convoluted script but praises how it understands the core of Craig's Bond as a three-dimensional character seeking love beyond sex and violence. It highlights the strong chemistry and craftsmanship as enough to overcome the flaws, marking a fitting end to the era. [Read](https://collider.com/no-time-to-die-review-james-bond-daniel-craig/)
- **Consequence**, Clint Worthington (B-): The review calls it a thrilling swan song but notes it drops some balls juggling responsibilities, grows fatigued, with crisp but occasionally languid direction and a creaky script. It praises the attempt to adapt the series while acknowledging the weight on its shoulders as the 25th entry and Craig's farewell. [Read](https://consequence.net/2021/09/no-time-to-die-review-james-bond-daniel-craig/)
- **/Film**, Phil Nobile Jr. (7/10): The critic finds the film an uneven but worthwhile swan song that delivers strong gadgets, humor, and Hans Zimmer's score while struggling with vignette-like structure and underused supporting players. It ultimately argues Bond is eternal despite the definitive ending. [Read](https://www.slashfilm.com/619007/no-time-to-die-review-daniel-craigs-swan-song-gives-bond-a-definitive-divisive-ending/)
- **Den of Geek**, Don Kaye (3.5 out of 5): The critic praises Daniel Craig's layered, multi-dimensional performance as Bond but finds the film overstuffed with a thin central story and a muddled villain. It delivers intense action and emotional depth but strives for epic sweep without fully achieving it. [Read](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/no-time-to-die-review-daniel-craig-carries-james-bond/)
- **The Ringer**, Adam Nayman (40/100, inferred): The critic sees it as an outlier full of sentimentality and resolution, a parched solemn affair heavy on pathos that wears the viewer out, with a monotonous villain and unnecessary plot. It notes the paradigm shift signaled by female operatives and views the film as a fitting if joyless endnote for Craig's run. [Read](https://www.theringer.com/2021/10/08/movies/no-time-to-die-review-james-bond-daniel-craig-last-movie)

## Details

- **Director:** Cary Joji Fukunaga
- **Director:** Cary Joji Fukunaga
- **Screenplay:** Robert Wade, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Neal Purvis, Cary Joji Fukunaga
- **Story:** Cary Joji Fukunaga, Neal Purvis, Robert Wade
- **Cinematography:** Linus Sandgren
- **Editor:** Tom Cross, Elliot Graham
- **Music:** Hans Zimmer
- **Production design:** Mark Tildesley
- **Costume design:** Suttirat Anne Larlarb
- **Producer:** Barbara Broccoli, Michael G. Wilson
- **Cast:** Daniel Craig as James Bond; Léa Seydoux as Madeleine; Rami Malek as Lyutsifer Safin; Lashana Lynch as Nomi; Ralph Fiennes as M; Ben Whishaw as Q; Naomie Harris as Moneypenny; Rory Kinnear as Tanner
- **Runtime:** 2h 43m
- **Certificate (MPA):** PG-13
- **Release (the US):** 8 October 2021
- **Genres:** Action, Thriller, Adventure
- **Budget:** $250 million
- **Box office:** $774 million
- **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_gD9-Oa0fg

## Where to watch in the US

- Amazon Prime Video: rent $3.99, uhd
- Apple TV: rent $3.99, hd
- Amazon Prime Video: buy $9.99, uhd
- Apple TV: buy $19.99, hd

*Checked 2026-09-18.*

Also available in: AE, AR, AT, AU, BE, BR, CA, CH, CL, CO, CZ, DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, GB, HK, HU, ID, IE, IL, IN, IT, JP, KR, MX, MY, NL, NO, NZ, PA, PH, PL, PT, RO, SE, SG, TH, TR, UA, US, VN, ZA. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country.

## If you liked this

- *Casino Royale* (2006), Fi1m 86: Where Craig’s Bond began, and the tightest story the run ever told. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/casino-royale.md)
- *Le Samouraï* (1967): A professional in a good coat, alone, walking calmly towards the end.
- *Mission: Impossible – Fallout* (2018), Fi1m 87: The set pieces this film is chasing, with far fewer feelings in the way. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/mission-impossible-fallout.md)
- *Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy* (2011), Fi1m 84: Spying as paperwork and betrayal, with grey suits instead of gadgets. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/tinker-tailor-soldier-spy.md)
- *Logan* (2017), Fi1m 83: Another franchise hero allowed to grow old, ache and be finished with. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/logan.md)

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/no-time-to-die