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Live and Let Die

Live and Let Die

Bond is back. Back in action. Back with excitement.

1973121 minPGMidcredits score: 68th percentile of all films
Director
Guy Hamilton
Starring
Roger Moore, Yaphet Kotto, Jane Seymour, Clifton James

James Bond must investigate a mysterious murder case of a British agent in New Orleans. Soon he finds himself up against a gangster boss named Mr. Big.

Where to watch

Where can I watch Live and Let Die?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Live and Let Die streaming on Prime Video and to rent or buy on Prime Video.

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Your rating, lists and review

Highlights

What stands out about Live and Let Die?

Live and Let Die earns 10 badges, led by Standout soundtrack and Crowd Pleaser.

Show 2 more
  • Reception
  • Craft and mood
  • Awards and box office
  • Cast

Reception

Is Live and Let Die worth watching?

Live and Let Die's Midcredits score is the 68th percentile of all films, from 243K ratings across 6 sources. 64% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

68th percentile

Better received than 68% of films

81st percentile among Action69th percentile among 1970s
Acclaim (how much people like it)63rd
Approval (how many liked it)71st

65 /100

63rd percentile of all films

78th percentile among Action62nd percentile among 1970s

Critics 55 · Audience 65

Audiences liked it more than critics did.

Rating distribution

A broad spread centered near 6.8 — solid but not unanimous.

64% liked it

71st percentile of all films

81st percentile among Action72nd percentile among 1970s
64% rated it 7–1036% rated it 1–6

Critics 67% · Audience 64%

On Rotten Tomatoes, critics and audiences approve at similar rates.

Awards

0 Oscars won · 1 Oscar noms · 2 wins / 3 noms overall

  • NominatedAcademy Awards· Best Music, Original Song

96th percentile

243K ratings across platforms

92nd percentile among Action98th percentile among 1970s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 24% in 30 days

Box office

Budget$7M
Domestic gross$35M
Worldwide gross$35M

Returned 5.1× its budget — 74th percentile earner in its genre.

What reviewers say

Common ground

Both camps agree the film is a goofy, uneven, dated relic of the early 70s, loaded with stereotypes and overlong action, but redeemed by its memorable villains, iconic theme song, and a charmingly light-hearted performance from Roger Moore.

Fans praised

  • Moore's charming, self-aware take on Bond
  • Vivid, memorable villains and henchmen
  • Rousing, spectacular set pieces like the bayou boat chase

Detractors panned

  • Dull, thin plot and unconvincing stakes
  • Overlong, tiresome action sequences, especially the boat chase
  • Uncomfortable racial stereotyping and dated blaxploitation trappings

What stands out

Sound and music85

McCartney's title song and George Martin's score are highlights

ActingDivisive68

Moore's suave charm praised; Kotto, Seymour, and Harris stand out; detractors find Moore smug

CharactersDivisive62

Colorful, memorable villains and henchmen, but lead villain underused; Pepper polarizing

Atmosphere60

Voodoo and blaxploitation settings create a weird, dated, but distinctive mood

DialogueDivisive60

Witty one-liners and quips land; detractors find them corny

OriginalityDivisive55

Blaxploitation and voodoo elements seen as fresh by fans, gimmicky by detractors

Plot and storyDivisive40

Thin, convoluted, and underdeveloped; drug scheme unconvincing

PacingDivisive35

Draggy middle, overlong boat chase, slow start

Preferred by

Women vs men

Preferred by Men

Men scored it 15 points higher than women.

Under-30s vs over-30s

Preferred by Over-30s

Over-30s scored it 10 points higher than under-30s.

Critics vs users

Preferred by Critics

Critics scored it 17 points higher than users.

No notable difference between the other groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • US vs non-US 5 points apart

Watch experience

What is Live and Let Die like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Fun ride: browse every movie of this kind

Watch this when you want a fun ride.

It is intense, never lets up and leaves you entertained.

ToneFeelDemandwhat the answer rests onexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

Nothing out of the ordinary.

What it feels like

Fun ride.

The answer rests on this: Moods
ThrillingTenseRomantic
Heaviest: middle
Wry humor: Amused and slightly dry about it.
Register
Adventurous · 11% of filmsWry · 7% of films: Amused and slightly dry about it.
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.Episodic · 13% of films: Loosely connected incidents rather than one driving plot.
ToneThe film plays its outlandish plot and characters with a knowing, tongue-in-cheek charm, balancing spectacle with self-aware humour rather than complete sincerity.
The rideThe film maintains high energy with tense chases and suspense, peaking in the middle with Bond's escape and confrontation.
StructureThe story follows Bond across multiple locations (New York, New Orleans, the Caribbean) in a series of set-piece adventures, but the overall structure is a conventional beginning-middle-end. The episodic feel comes from the distinct 'worlds' Bond passes through rather than a break from linear narrative.

How it leaves you

what you carry away

Entertained.

The answer rests on this: FunRousing · 10% of films
Why it leaves you this wayThe film leaves you entertained and energized by its adventure and humor, with the iconic theme song lingering.
How it ends · evidence
Happy endingTwist

Story archetype

where it sits among all films
Monster — 21% of films. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of films. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 10% of films. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 4% of films. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 11% of films. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 9% of films. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 13% of films. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 7% of films. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 22% of filmsPredator — 6% of films. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 6% of films. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of films. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 2% of films. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of films. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of films. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of films. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of films. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of films. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of films. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — under 1% of films. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of films. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of films. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of films. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of films. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 4% of films. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 5% of films. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of films. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — 1% of films. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of films. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 2% of films. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — 1% of films. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of films. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — 1% of films. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 4% of films. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of films. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of films. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of films. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 1% of films. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of films. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — 2% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 2% of films. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 2% of films. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 3% of films. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 3% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 5% of films. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of films. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 2% of films. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of films. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 5% of films. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 2% of films. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).MonsterTyrant
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 21% (this title): Predator 6% · Tyrant 6% (this title) · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 2% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent under 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 10%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 4% · Mission 5% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage 1%
  • Voyage 4%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 2% · Survival ordeal 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent 1%
  • Comedy 11%: Romantic comedy 4% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 1%
  • Tragedy 9%: Hubris 1% · Obsession 2% · Corruption arc 2% · Doomed love 2% · Crushed by fate 3%
  • Rebirth 13%: Redemption 3% · Healing 5% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 2%
  • Mystery 7%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 5% · Enigma 2%
  • No archetype 22%

Overcoming the monster: A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated. · Tyrant: A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).

21% of films fit this archetype

with Quest underneath

A loose fit — the map only half-holds this one.

Why this archetypeBond investigates the deaths of MI6 agents and uncovers a criminal plot, ultimately confronting and defeating the villain behind it. The story is driven by the pursuit and neutralization of a powerful antagonist, Kananga/Mr. Big, who controls a drug empire.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 27% of filmsSelf — 22% of filmsPower — 7% of filmsMorality — 16% of filmsSurvival — 15% of filmsSociety — 9% of filmsIdeas — 5% of filmsRomantic love — 15% of filmsMarriage — 2% of filmsFamily bonds — 21% of filmsParenthood — 2% of filmsFriendship — 9% of filmsLoyalty — 4% of filmsIdentity — 14% of filmsComing of age — 5% of filmsAging — under 1% of filmsSelf-worth — 7% of filmsAmbition — 7% of filmsPurpose — 9% of filmsMemory — 3% of filmsObsession — 3% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 2% of filmsCorruption — 3% of filmsGreed — 3% of filmsClass — 3% of filmsOppression — 4% of filmsFreedom — 5% of filmsJustice — 13% of filmsDuty — 2% of filmsRevenge — 4% of filmsGuilt — 3% of filmsRedemption — 6% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — 1% of filmsSacrifice — 4% of filmsBetrayal — 5% of filmsDeception — 9% of filmsSurvival — 17% of filmsWar — 1% of filmsViolence — 4% of filmsMortality — 2% of filmsGrief — 6% of filmsTrauma — 7% of filmsMental illness — 1% of filmsAddiction — 1% of filmsIllness and disability — under 1% of filmsCommunity — 14% of films. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 5% of filmsPrejudice — 3% of filmsDisplacement — 1% of filmsFaith — 3% of filmsTradition vs change — 2% of filmsFame — 3% of filmsLegacy — 4% of filmsFate — 1% of filmsFree will — under 1% of filmsTruth — 4% of filmsHope — 5% of filmsNature — 2% of filmsArt — 4% of filmsTechnology — 1% of filmsSelfPower
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 27%: Romantic love 15% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 21% · Parenthood 2% · Friendship 9% · Loyalty 4%
  • Self 22%: Identity 14% · Coming of age 5% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 7% · Purpose 9% · Memory 3% · Obsession 3%
  • Power 7% (this title): Power 2% (this title) · Corruption 3% (this title) · Greed 3% · Class 3% · Oppression 4% · Freedom 5%
  • Morality 16%: Justice 13% · Duty 2% · Revenge 4% · Guilt 3% · Redemption 6% · Forgiveness 1% · Sacrifice 4% · Betrayal 5% · Deception 9% (this title)
  • Survival 15%: Survival 17% · War 1% · Violence 4% · Mortality 2% · Grief 6% · Trauma 7% · Mental illness 1% · Addiction 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 9%: Community 14% · Isolation 5% · Prejudice 3% · Displacement 1% · Faith 3% · Tradition vs change 2% · Fame 3% · Legacy 4%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 4% · Hope 5% · Nature 2% · Art 4% · Technology 1%

Power

Power · 2% of filmsCorruption · 3% of filmsDeception · 9% of films
Observes its theme: Presents its theme neutrally, declining to judge.Global stakes: Consequences reach the world.Single lead
How it treats its themeThe film centers on the corrupt use of power through drug trafficking and exploitation of fear, with Bond countering it.
StanceThe film treats power and corruption as part of espionage escapism, neither celebrating nor condemning but presenting them as obstacles for Bond.

The world

ContemporaryUrbanWildernessIn transitStylized realism
Orchestral modernJazzElectronicForeground music · original score · George Martin
Setting1970s globe-trotting: New York, New Orleans, and the fictional Caribbean island of San Monique
MusicIconic title song and jazz-infused score that captures the 70s vibe.

Content guide

Is Live and Let Die okay for kids?

PG

Live and Let Die is rated PG. As of October 3, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at moderate (55/100), sexual content at moderate (36/100), language at moderate (35/100), drug and alcohol content at mild (31/100) and frightening material at moderate (48/100). Overall it is heavier than 80% of PG-rated films.

Ratings in 20 other countries
  • UKPG
  • Canada14A
  • AustraliaPG
  • Germany16
  • France12
  • IrelandPG
  • JapanG
  • South Korea15
  • Brazil12
  • Czechia15+
  • Denmark7
  • FinlandK-16
  • ItalyT
  • MexicoA
  • Netherlands12
  • Poland12
  • PortugalM/12
  • Russia18+
  • Spain12
  • Sweden15
Overall
Moderate · all five categories
Heavier than 32% of all filmsHeavier than 80% of PG-rated films
Violence & Gore
Moderate
heavy for a PG-rated film
heavier than 85%
Sex & Nudity
Moderate · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
heavy for a PG-rated film
heavier than 79%
Profanity
Moderate
typical for a PG-rated film
heavier than 69%
Alcohol & Drugs
Mild
typical for a PG-rated film
heavier than 64%
Frightening / Intense
Moderate · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
typical for a PG-rated film
heavier than 73%

Point along a line to see a well-known title at that level.

Nothing here is extreme. The strongest element is violence, heavier than 85% of PG-rated films.

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other films that have them.

What content warnings does Live and Let Die have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Live and Let Die?

Cast

Roger Moore
as James Bond
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
newcomer then · star now
Yaphet Kotto
as Kananga
Breakout: Their highest-reaching film role at the time, and they went on to a career at least 3 times their standing then.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Jane Seymour
as Solitaire
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Clifton James
as Sheriff Pepper
Julius Harris
as Tee Hee
Breakout: Their highest-reaching film role at the time, and they went on to a career at least 3 times their standing then.
Geoffrey Holder
as Baron Samedi
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
David Hedison
as Leiter
Gloria Hendry
as Rosie
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Bernard Lee
as 'M'
Lois Maxwell
as Moneypenny

Crew

More like this

What are movies like Live and Let Die?

Movies like Live and Let Die include You Only Live Twice (1967), Tomorrow Never Dies (1997) and Funeral in Berlin (1966). Of the 12 closest matches, several are films written by Ian Fleming, and most are stories about spies.

Balanced: every group counts the same, and production only breaks ties.

All 12 share its world: espionage. Those cards say what else they share.

Explore by

What else shares a premise, people or place with Live and Let Die?

832 other films share the rarest tag below, kind of film: spy. Each tag opens Browse with the films that share it.