SummaryA resourceful British government agent seeks answers in a case involving the disappearance of a colleague and the disruption of the American space program.
Directed By:Terence Young
Written By:Richard Maibaum, Johanna Harwood, Berkely Mather, Ian Fleming, Wolf Mankowitz, Terence Young
Dr. No
Metascore
Generally Favorable
78
User score
Generally Favorable
7.4
My Score
Drag or tap to give a rating
Hover and click to give a rating
Not available in your country?
ExpressVPN
Get 3 Extra months free
$6.67/mth
Top Cast
Metascore
Generally Favorable
100% Positive
8 Reviews
8 Reviews
0% Mixed
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
90
The other is a scene, improvised on the set, when Bond does a double take on seeing Goya's portrait of the Duke of Wellington (recently stolen from London's National Gallery) in Dr No's palatial living room. It's the funniest moment in any Bond picture and one of cinema's great art jokes.
80
All of the elements of the formula are there, but in pleasing moderation.
User score
Generally Favorable
82% Positive
123 Ratings
123 Ratings
16% Mixed
24 Ratings
24 Ratings
2% Negative
3 Ratings
3 Ratings
Mar 18, 2022
10
I am a fan of the series, though I do have to admit there are some bad eggs and some golden treasures. Dr No is one of the golden treasures, along with Goldfinger and From Russia with Love. Dr No also happened to start this great series off, and with great style and panache. It is very cleverly conceived, and remains true to the essence of the novels. The cinematography and locations are stunning, and the music and theme song are wonderful. The action sequences are simply terrific, the atmosphere is appropriately exotic and the humour displayed is very witty. The dialogue is great, the plot is well done and the direction is solid. Ursula Andress couldn't have asked for a better entrance, while the ever suave and charismatic Sean Connery is perfect as the dashing, debonair and ruthless title character. Overall, a great start to a great series on the whole. 10/10 Bethany Cox
Apr 17, 2022
9
It's common knowledge that Sean Connery (may God have his glory) always hated the iconic 007 but, we can't help but remember him for that role! It is true that it differs in some details from the original book but the typical details are a delight: the exotic places, the beautiful women and the megalomaniac villain.
80
As memorable as anything in the series (the arteries hadn't hardened yet) are modest highlights like Bond's encounter with a tarantula, Honeychile's first appearance as a nymph from the sea, the perils of Dr No's assault course of pain.
80
The beginning of the super-successful franchise, this remains one of the most satisfying Bond films.
75
A solid, surprisingly modest spy thriller, enlivened by Sean Connery's screen charisma and occasional hints of the extravagance to come.
75
There are no gadgets, forcing Bond to rely on his ingenuity (in one scene, when he needs to breathe while submerged, he uses hollowed-out reeds as air tubes). The single car chase is reasonably straightforward. And, for the only time in the series, 007 is unmistakably brutalized, appearing bloody, beaten, and disheveled as a result.
70
This lively, amusing picture is not to be taken seriously as realistic fiction or even art, any more than the works of Mr. Fleming are to be taken as long-hair literature. It is strictly a tinseled action-thriller, spiked with a mystery of a sort. And, if you are clever, you will see it as a spoof of science-fiction and sex.
Aug 21, 2021
9
Engaging today and particularly in '62, this debut of the popular film adaptations of Ian Fleming's 007/James Bond series lays down the template for all other subsequent entries. The suave, masculine charms of Bond (portrayed well by Sean Connery), the attractive female companions, the over-the-top villains, and of course, the innovative action that leaves the audience in wonder. 'Dr. No' and the future 007 films serve as How-to-do Popcorn Flicks 101.
Jun 24, 2021
6
Dr No, while still being a classic, hasn't aged the best but is still an enjoyable (often boring) entry in the Bond franchise
Dec 6, 2020
6
Dr. No is simply the beginning of something that no one saw coming: the longest running and (possibly) most successful saga in cinema.
Dec 17, 2025
3
Dr. No feels less like a fully formed film and more like a historical blueprint whose influence far outweighs its immediate impact. Much of the action is stiff and weightless, the pacing oddly rushed despite the film’s relatively simple structure, and the representation of Jamaicans and Bond’s treatment of women has aged extremely poorly. Sean Connery’s Bond is uneven, with flashes of charisma undermined by a lack of sharpness and energy. Still, some elements endure, particularly the iconic score, effective sound design, strong makeup work, and the foundational villain archetype embodied by Dr. No himself. As a result, the film remains important to cinema history, but more interesting to analyze than to actively enjoy today.
Jun 7, 2022
0
The debut of James Bond and Sean Connery as Bond is certainly a milestone in film history, but it has aged extremely badly due to obvious yellow facing. Fun fact about this movie is that it got translated into Japanese at first as "We Don't Want a Doctor."
Production Company:
- Eon Productions
Release Date:May 8, 1963
Duration:1 h 50 m
Rating:PG
Tagline:NOW meet the most extraordinary gentleman spy in all fiction!...JAMES BOND, Agent 007!
Awards
Golden Globes, USA
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
Online Film & Television Association
• 3 Wins & 3 Nominations
Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA
• 1 Win & 2 Nominations
