The Spy Who Loved Me

The Spy Who Loved Me

movie

PG, 1977, Action, Adventure

WISE
38%

WISE Score

82

Avg. Tomatometer

Roger Moore's Bond at peak camp: submarine cars, ski chases, and enough innuendo to make modern parents squirm.

IMDb7
RT Critics82%
MC55
Common Sense Media
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Screenwise Verdict

Look, this is Roger Moore's Bond at its most Roger Moore-y: campy, quippy, and packed with gadgets that defined a generation of toy commercials. The submarine car is genuinely cool, and if you're doing a Bond retrospective or your teen is into film history, there's value here.

But let's be real: by 2025 standards, this movie is a slog. It's nearly two-and-a-half hours of 1970s pacing, which means long stretches of exposition, gratuitous shots of scenery, and action sequences that unfold like molasses. The sexual politics are cringe-inducing—women exist to be seduced or rescued, and Bond's body count (both kinds) is played for laughs.

The violence is constant but bloodless in that old-school way, and the brief nudity will catch you off-guard if you're expecting actual PG content. Common Sense Media says 14+, and that's generous—most teens will bail before the second act.

If your family loves classic action cinema or you want to show your kid where Austin Powers got all its material, fine. Otherwise, there are better ways to spend 125 minutes.

Age Fit

Common Sense Media's 14+ recommendation is spot-on. The sexual content, violence, and dated attitudes make this inappropriate for younger teens, and honestly, most modern 14-year-olds will find it boring. This is really for Bond completists, film history buffs, or nostalgic adults.

WISE Breakdown
Wholesome
42

Classic Bond formula means lots of sexual innuendo, objectification of women, brief nudity, and a protagonist who solves problems with violence and seduction. The emotional tone is light and escapist, but models womanizing behavior and lacks meaningful cooperation or kindness. Not emotionally healthy for younger viewers.

Imaginative
68

Delivers solid spy-adventure imagination with underwater bases, gadget-filled cars, exotic locations, and over-the-top villains. The Lotus Esprit submarine car is iconic and sparked countless childhood fantasies. However, it's formulaic rather than genuinely original—you're watching a well-executed template, not groundbreaking creativity.

Safe
38

Common Sense Media rates it 14+ for good reason. Contains explicit content including brief nudity, frequent sexual innuendo, significant violence (shootings, explosions, deaths), and Bond's casual attitude toward killing. The PG rating is a relic of 1977 standards—this would be PG-13 or higher today. Not safe for unexpected viewing with young kids.

Enriching
45

Offers escapist entertainment and some Cold War historical context (British-Soviet cooperation), but limited cognitive or ethical growth. Bond is charming but morally shallow—he kills without remorse and treats women as conquests. The spectacle is fun but there's little meaningful skill-building or empathy development. It's popcorn entertainment, not particularly enriching.

Parent Info
✓

Why It Might Be Great

  • The Lotus Esprit submarine car is legitimately one of the coolest movie vehicles ever created
  • Jaws (the henchman with metal teeth) is a memorable villain who became a pop culture icon
  • Spectacular stunts including the famous ski-jump opening sequence that still impresses
  • Offers a window into Cold War-era spy fiction and 1970s action cinema aesthetics
  • Carly Simon's 'Nobody Does It Better' is an absolute banger of a theme song
⚠

What to Watch For

  • Sexual content throughout—innuendo, brief nudity, and Bond bedding multiple women as standard operating procedure
  • Violence is frequent and Bond kills without hesitation or consequence (dozens of deaths)
  • Women are treated as decorative objects more than characters; deeply dated gender dynamics
  • The pacing drags by modern standards—kids raised on Marvel movies will find this glacially slow
  • That PG rating is a lie by 2025 standards; this is solidly PG-13 territory

Conversation Starters

  • "How do you think spy movies have changed since 1977? What feels different about how Bond acts compared to modern action heroes?"
  • "The movie shows British and Soviet agents working together during the Cold War. What do you know about that time period?"
  • "Bond uses a lot of gadgets and technology. Which ones seem realistic and which are pure fantasy?"
  • "How are the women portrayed in this movie? Does that feel normal or outdated to you?"

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