As we celebrate the 25th anniversary of The World Is Not Enough, we revisit a film that, while perhaps not the most critically acclaimed Bond entry, remains a beloved installment in the franchise.
Released on Nov. 19, 1999, Pierce Brosnan reprises his role as the suave and sophisticated MI6 agent James Bond 007 in the 19th film produced by Eon Productions. Bond is tasked with protecting the oil heiress Elektra King (Sophie Marceau), a woman with a dark past and perhaps a dangerous agenda.
The film introduces a compelling villain in Renard (Robert Carlyle), a former KGB agent turned ruthless terrorist with a bullet lodged in his brain, rendering him virtually indestructible.
While the film’s plot is somewhat convoluted, it does offer some memorable action sequences, including a thrilling pre-title sequence in Bilbao and a high-stakes climax on an oil tanker.
The film also features a memorable performance by Denise Richards as nuclear physicist Dr. Christmas Jones, a role that, while divisive among fans, has become iconic in its own right.
The World is Not Enough Cast
Brosnan starred in his third of four outings as James Bond. His appearance in this film was sandwiched by The Thomas Crown Affair (1999) with Rene Russo and The Tailor of Panama (2001) with Geoffrey Rush and Jamie Lee Curtis.
Marceau had previously appeared as Princess Isabelle in the 1995 Best Picture Oscar winner Braveheart (1995) starring Mel Gibson. While Gibson would follow the award-winner with the box office smash Ransom, Marceau would not strike box office gold again outside of this James Bond film.
Richards was fresh off the success of the salacious hit Wild Things starring Matt Dillon, Neve Campbell and Kevin Bacon and subsequently appeared in hits such as Love, Actually (2003), Undercover Brother (2002) and Scary Movie 3 (2003).
Judi Dench (M), Robbie Coltrane (Valentin Zukovsky), Desmond Llewellyn (Q) and John Cleese (R) were all on hand for the fun.
Reception
Roger Ebert said the film was a “splendid comic thriller, exciting and graceful, endlessly inventive”, and gave it three-and-a-half stars out of four.
The World is Not Enough opened at No. 1 with $35.5 million en route to a $361.8 million worldwide gross.
Adjusted for inflation, The World is Not Enough is No. 16 in the James Bond box office list, trailing On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969) and ahead of For Your Eyes Only (1981).
Legacy
The World is Not Enough is a mixed bag, but it remains an entertaining and stylish entry in the Bond franchise. Its blend of action, humor, and international intrigue has ensured its place in the hearts of Bond fans around the world.
