Year: 1997
Runtime: 119 min
Language: English
Director: Roger Spottiswoode
A powerful media mogul, Elliot Carver, engineers international incidents to boost his network's ratings, escalating tensions between the West and China. When Carver's actions threaten to trigger a global conflict, James Bond is assigned to stop him. Partnering with Chinese secret agent Wai Lin, Bond confronts Carver in a dangerous battle of wits and action, uncovering a sinister plot with far-reaching consequences.
Warning: spoilers below!
Haven’t seen Tomorrow Never Dies yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!
Read the complete plot breakdown of Tomorrow Never Dies (1997), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.
MI6 dispatches James Bond, portrayed by Pierce Brosnan, on a critical mission to scout out a terrorist arms bazaar near the Russian border. Despite M’s insistence that Bond should finalize his reconnaissance, Royal Navy Admiral Roebuck (Geoffrey Palmer) intervenes, ordering the frigate HMS Chester to launch a Harpoon missile at the bazaar. Bond discovers that the bazaar houses two nuclear torpedoes mounted on an L-39 Albatros and must swiftly pilot the aircraft away just in time to avoid destruction as the missile obliterates the bazaar.
The notorious media baron Elliot Carver, portrayed by Jonathan Pryce, launches a devious plan using an encoder procured from the bazaar by his henchman, the cyber-terrorist Henry Gupta (Ricky Jay). With the encoder, Gupta manipulates the GPS signal, leading the HMS Devonshire off its intended course into the treacherous Chinese-occupied waters of the South China Sea. There, it encounters a stealth ship commanded by Mr. Stamper (Götz Otto), which ambushes and sinks the frigate, subsequently shooting down a Chinese fighter jet that ventures to investigate. This series of events escalates tensions, prompting the British Minister of Defence (Julian Fellowes) to call for action while leaving M with a mere 48 hours to uncover the truth and prevent a war.
At MI6, gadget-master Q (Desmond Llewelyn) and Miss Moneypenny (Samantha Bond) assist M (Judi Dench) in sending Bond to investigate Carver, especially after the latter releases news articles about the impending crisis before the Vietnamese government is even aware. Bond jets off to Hamburg, where he rekindles ties with Paris (played by Teri Hatcher), Carver’s wife and an ex-girlfriend of Bond’s. His aim is to glean information to infiltrate Carver’s newspaper headquarters. During his escapade, he bests three of Stamper’s men and successfully cuts off Carver during the live debut of his satellite network.
In a twist of fate, Paris decides to aid Bond by revealing critical information that leads him to Carver’s newspaper factory to retrieve the GPS encoder. However, Carver learns of their reunion and orders their execution. As Bond escapes with the encoder, Paris is tragically killed by Carver’s assassin Dr. Kaufman (Vincent Schiavelli) upon his return. Bond retaliates, killing Kaufman and managing to flee in his remote-controlled BMW.
At an Air Force base in Okinawa, where he meets Jack Wade (Joe Don Baker), Bond learns that the encoder had been tampered with, misguiding the Devonshire into Chinese waters. Determined to uncover the truth, he enlists the help of Wai Lin, an agent from the Chinese Ministry of State Security, portrayed by Michelle Yeoh. Their investigation leads them to the sunken ship where they discover a stolen cruise missile.
After a daring escape from Carver’s grasp, they realize Carver intends to incite a war using the missile to eliminate the Chinese government. Their plan is to stop the missile from being fired at Beijing, where Carver hopes to gain broadcasting rights in China for the next century in the aftermath of the conflict. With adrenaline coursing through their veins, they infiltrate Carver’s stealth ship, leading to a sequence of explosive events where loyalty, deception, and survival all collide.
In a gripping showdown, Bond manages to turn the tables on Carver and subsequently detonates an explosive that exposes the stealth ship to radar detection. As they brave the perilous situation, Wai Lin becomes trapped and is recaptured, prompting Bond to unleash a final rescue mission. This culminates in Bond’s confrontation with Carver, leading to a climactic explosion that destroys the ship, and amidst the wreckage, Bond and Wai Lin share a passionate moment as help arrives to search for them.
Last Updated: November 03, 2024 at 13:38
Don't stop at just watching — explore Tomorrow Never Dies in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Tomorrow Never Dies is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.
Track the full timeline of Tomorrow Never Dies with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.
Discover movies like Tomorrow Never Dies that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.
Tomorrow Never Dies (1997) Scene-by-Scene Movie Timeline
Tomorrow Never Dies (1997) Movie Characters, Themes & Settings
Movies Like Tomorrow Never Dies – Similar Titles You’ll Enjoy
No Time to Die (2021) Detailed Story Recap
Die Another Day (2002) Story Summary & Characters
Licence to Kill (1989) Spoiler-Packed Plot Recap
Never Say Never Again (1983) Full Summary & Key Details
GoldenEye (1995) Film Overview & Timeline
Octopussy (1983) Full Movie Breakdown
Quantum of Solace (2008) Film Overview & Timeline
Diamonds Are Forever (1971) Complete Plot Breakdown
Thunderball (1965) Film Overview & Timeline
On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969) Story Summary & Characters
Skyfall (2012) Movie Recap & Themes
The World Is Not Enough (1999) Story Summary & Characters
Casino Royale (2006) Complete Plot Breakdown
The Man with the Golden Gun (1974) Full Summary & Key Details
Moonraker (1979) Spoiler-Packed Plot Recap