For Your Eyes Only
A British spy ship has sunk and on board was a hi-tech encryption device. James Bond is sent to find the device that holds British launching instructions before the enemy Soviets get to it first.
Directed by John Glen · Adventure · Action · Thriller · 2h 7m · 1981
Trailer
Director
John Glen
Writer
Richard Maibaum, Michael G. Wilson, Ian Fleming
Studio
EON Productions, United Artists
Release
1981-06-24
Runtime
2h 7m
Genres
Adventure, Action, Thriller
Full Plot
After disposing of a familiar looking face, Bond is sent to recover a communication device, known as an A.T.A.C., which went down with a British spy ship as it sunk. Bond must hurry though, as the Russians are also out for this device. On his travels, he also meets Melina Havelock, whose parents were brutally murdered. Bond also encounters Aristotle Kristatos and Milos Colombo. Each of them are accusing the other of having links with with the Russians. Bond must team up with Melina, solve who the true ally is, and find the A.T.A.C. before it's too late.
Cast & Characters
Melina Havelock
Carole Bouquet
Milos Columbo
Chaim Topol
Aristotle Kristatos
Julian Glover
Bibi Dahl
Lynn-Holly Johnson
Countess Lisl von Schlaf
Cassandra Harris
Jacoba Brink
Jill Bennett
Emile Leopold Locque
Michael Gothard
Sir Timothy Havelock, Melina's father and a marine archaeologist hired by the British Secret Service secretly to locate the wreck of St. Georges.
Jack Hedley
Bill Tanner, MI6 Chief of Staff. The role of Tanner first appeared on film in The Man with the Golden Gun, although in an un-credited capacity. Villiers presumed he would play the role of M in subsequent films and was disappointed not to be asked; the producers thought him too young for the role and wanted an actor in his 70s.
James Villiers
Luigi Ferrara, 007's MI6 contact in northern Italy.
John Moreno
Sir Frederick Gray (credited as Minister of Defence), a politician in the British government. The role, along with Bill Tanner as Chief of Staff, was used to brief Bond in place of M, following the death of Bernard Lee.
Geoffrey KeenErich Kriegler, an East German Olympic class biathlete. He is revealed to be Kristatos's second in-command and a KGB contact.
John Wyman
Did You Know?
Did You Know that Ian Fleming wrote the original story as an episode of a cancelled James Bond television series at CBS in 1958.
Source: Wikipedia · verified 2026-08-13
The producers initially intended to produce this film after The Spy Who Loved Me, but decided to make Moonraker instead due to the success of Star Wars in 1977.
Source: Wikipedia · verified 2026-08-13
The production team had to reduce the budget for For Your Eyes Only due to the financial struggles of United Artists and the early 1980s recession.
Source: Wikipedia · verified 2026-08-13
John Glen brought on many of his second-unit direction team members from The Spy Who Loved Me and Moonraker, including cinematographer Alan Hume, to help with the film's production.
Source: Wikipedia · verified 2026-08-13
Critical Assessment
For Your Eyes Only holds 6.7/10 on IMDb (117K votes), 69% on Rotten Tomatoes, with a 64% audience score.
Critics and audiences are broadly aligned on this one.
Ratings as of August 11, 2026
Where to Watch
United States
United Kingdom
India
Streaming data from JustWatch via TMDb. Availability changes often — confirm on the provider before watching.
AI Verdict
AI-generatedFor Your Eyes Only's 6.7 IMDb average and 69% Rotten Tomatoes score place it solidly mid-pack in the 60-plus-year Bond franchise.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is For Your Eyes Only's Rotten Tomatoes score?+
For Your Eyes Only holds a 69% critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes and a 64% audience score.
What is For Your Eyes Only's IMDb rating?+
For Your Eyes Only has a 6.7/10 rating on IMDb from 114,431 votes.
What is For Your Eyes Only's Metacritic score?+
For Your Eyes Only has a Metascore of 54/100 on Metacritic.
Is For Your Eyes Only good? What are critics saying?+
For Your Eyes Only holds 6.7/10 on IMDb (117K votes), 69% on Rotten Tomatoes, with a 64% audience score.
How long is For Your Eyes Only?+
For Your Eyes Only has a runtime of 2h 7m.
Who directed For Your Eyes Only?+
For Your Eyes Only was directed by John Glen.
Where can I watch For Your Eyes Only?+
For Your Eyes Only is available to stream, rent, or buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Plex, Rakuten TV, Sky Store.
Fan & Critic Buzz
The public reaction to "For Your Eyes Only" is positive and mixed. Reviewers praise the film's action, scenery, and wit, with some considering it one of Roger Moore's top films alongside "The Spy Who Loved Me". However, others find it overly sentimental and violent, despite its PG rating and mild content.
Viewer Reviews (TMDb)
Bibi vs. Melina Agent 007 (Roger Moore) seeks to apprehend a lost British encryption device in order to prevent the Soviets from acquiring it as events switch from the Ionian Sea to a villa in Spain to wintery actions in Northern Italy to a Greek Island to Albania to an abandoned…
Wuchak · 8/10This and the Spy Who Loved me were Roger Moore's top 2 of his own Bond films... and I can see that. It's not as over-the-top as Moonraker (which is one of the worst Bond movies ever made), it's not as silly as some of his other outings, although, if you are a Moore fan that hasn'…
GenerationofSwine · 10/10This is an epic Bond film. 007 is sent to beat Russia to find an important device that sank in the ocean. It's important to the security of the British people. There is non stop action, beautiful women, beautiful scenery, exotic locales, wit, gadgets, everything that makes Bond m…
drystyx · 9/10A British spy trawler is sunk in the Aegean Sea. Oceanographer Jack Hedley ("Havelock") is tasked with trying to find the ship before a vital piece of tracking hardware falls into enemy hands. Things don't go to plan though, and once the wreck has been located a brutal murder ens…
CinemaSerf · 6/10Definitely my favorite James Bond entry, as 007 must retrieve a device that can control nuclear weapons before it falls into the wrong (Soviet) hands. Moore cruises through, the action is excellent, and the film moves along briskly. (PG)- Physical violence, gun violence, mild gor…
tmdb76622195 · 9/10Another Bond I used to not like, while I have never seen this as one of the worst like Diamonds Are Forever, A View to a Kill and Licence to Kill, I did used to not like this film, but now I see it as a top 10 Bond film.
tmdb93836550 · 8/10
From the trailer's comments
My favorite James Bond, great man, rest in peace honorable Sir Roger George Moore 007!!!!😢🇬🇧
@gnice3252 · 139 likesThis was hands down one of Roger Moore's best bond films. RIP Sir Roger
@jackroper2266 · 107 likesRoger Moore was the best James Bond, this was best Bond movie, and the best Bond movie theme, we will miss you Roger R.I.P.
@vivaselena1 · 92 likesEasily one of the best films in the series.
@bobgoran · 175 likesRIP Mr Moore, Roger Moore You will be missed, but never forgotten
@felipelumo2705 · 112 likesMy favorite Moore film, definitely underrated! RIP Sir Roger.
@westernwinchester70 · 46 likesLove the scenes filmed in GREECE! The 80s! What a time!
@comanche66100 · 168 likesThis was my favourite Bond film as a kid. I still love it.
@MatthewOkot · 75 likes
