MovieChat Forums > Never Say Never Again (1983) Discussion > Octopussy VS Never Say Never Again

Octopussy VS Never Say Never Again

posted 3 years ago by enriquesingh (1774)
5 replies | jump to latest

I read the following Trivia in Never Say Never Again's IMDb page:

This Warner Brothers movie was intended to go head-to-head with the official Eon Productions Bond film, Octopussy (1983) at the box office. This movie was released four months after Octopussy (1983). Because the movies starred Sir Roger Moore and Sir Sean Connery, each equally recognized to the movie-going public as James Bond at the time, much of the talk in the press was of a "Bond vs. Bond" or "Battle of the Bonds" showdown at the box office. Most industry analysts predicted that this movie would win out at the box office, due to the return of Connery, more press, and a significantly larger production budget than Octopussy (1983). According to a press release from Variety in 1985, this was not the case. Variety quoted figures from MGM and Warner Brothers that listed Octopussy (1983)'s U.S. gross at $67.9 million, and this movie's U.S. gross at $55.4 million. It also listed Octopussy (1983)'s worldwide gross at $187.5 million, and this movie's worldwide gross at $160 million. The article also stated that, according to the studios, Octopussy (1983) had $34.031 million in U.S. rentals, while this movie had $28.2 million in U.S. rentals. When the final results were in, this movie, and Sir Sean Connery, ended up losing the "Bond vs. Bond" showdown.

To me it was the other way around. Even though Octopussy had all of these advantages, an earlier release date, being a brand new-never before adapted to the big screen official EoN production with the current James Bond (who had already been established in multiple films), Connery hadn't played the role in over a decade... yet Connery's movie still managed to gross over 85% of what EoN's production did... this is amazing.

In the end everyone was a winner though, fans got 2 James Bond movies and looking at these early-mid 80s numbers it seems like everyone involved in both movies made a lot of money, so win-win-win.

[–] hyperjet (638) 3 years ago

I remember enjoying both of them equally when I saw them in the theaters. I still love NSNA. Octopussy has it's moments but I remember getting pretty bored through much of it the past couple viewings.

[–] cyguration (3891) 3 years ago

I honestly don't even remember Octopussy.

I still fondly remember Never Say Never Again, and have been quite tempted to rewatch it on multiple occasions (I used to watch it any and every time it came on television as it was one of my favorite Bond films).

I have to be honest, though, I don't quite much like the Roger Moore Bond films.

Sir Roger Moore looked good as Bond and had striking eyes and facial expressions. His elocution as Bond was also pristine, and he had a much more everyman-appearance when he had to disguise himself as others (which makes sense for someone working as a secret agent).

However, Moore's Bond films were such a chore to sit through. I've been slowly re-watching them, and they're nothing like the Connery films.

Maybe if I give Never Say Never another watch I may feel a little less enthused about it, but even after revisiting films like From Russia With Love and Diamonds Are Forever, I was thoroughly impressed at how cool the action scenes were (especially the fight scenes, something Moore never showcased much pleasantries for) and a few unforgettable car chases.

[–] AnubisRaydeen (7897) 3 years ago

Octopussy: 4/10
Never Say Never: 3.5/10

Octo had some decent parts. Never had fewer. But were very bad.

[–] Otter (24464) 3 years ago

I like "NSN" and dislike "Octopussy", and I'd totally forgotten about the rivalry.

"Octopossy" is still a nothing of a film, just Roger Moore pushing sixty and mugging at all the twenty-something girls crowded around him on the silliest pretext, as a movie it's neither fun nor believable.

"Never Say Never" isn't believable either, but at least it's fun! Connery is genuinely charming, and has a slight sadder-but-wiser air that suits the time passed, and Brandauer and Carrera camp it up just enough to make their ridiculous scenes enjoyable. I mean the script is crap, but as I've always said, the test of a good actor is whether they can make bad material seem better than it is. In this film, Connery passes that test.

[–] seagal72 (1838) 3 years ago

(Quote) "Most industry analysts predicted that this movie would win out at the box office, due to the return of Connery, more press, and a significantly larger production budget than Octopussy (1983)

I'd have never had guessed this had a bigger production budget than OCTOPUSSY, because NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN (whilst enjoyable in places) looked so cheap and tacky (with likewise awful set-pieces)