Spectre is the twenty-fourth James Bond film produced by Eon Productions. It features Daniel Craig in his fourth performance as James Bond, and Christoph Waltz as Ernst Stavro Blofeld, with the film marking the character’s re-introduction into the series. It was directed by Sam Mendes, his second James Bond film following Skyfall, and was written by John Logan, Neal Purvis, Robert Wade and Jez Butterworth.

Distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) and Columbia Pictures, with a budget of $300 million, Spectre is tied with Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End as the second most expensive film ever made.

The story features James Bond’s first encounter with the global criminal organation Spectre, marking the group’s first appearance in an Eon Productions film since 1971’s Diamonds Are Forever, and tying Craig’s series of films together with an over-arching storyline.

Director Sam Mendes has described Daniel Craig’s James Bond, agent 007, as being extremely focused in Spectre, likening his new-found dedication to hunting. Naomie Harris plays Eve Moneypenny, a former agent who left the field to become M’s assistant; Harris also appeared as Tia Dalma in the Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End movie, thus being in both of the two most expensive films ever made.

Portraying the main villain in the film, Christoph Waltz plays Ernst Stavro Blofeld, previously known as Franz Oberhauser, a man believed to be dead. His father had helped raise Bond after his parents died. As Blofeld, he is the mysterious mastermind behind Spectre, as well as puppeteer of Bond’s recent life.

Léa Seydoux plays Dr. Madeleine Swann, a psychologist working at a private medical clinic in the Austrian Alps, and the daughter of Mr. White. Jesper Christensen plays Mr. White, a fugitive from MI6 and a senior figure in the Quantum organization, a former subsidiary of Spectre. Alessandro Cremona plays Marco Sciarra, a criminal and the husband of Lucia Sciarra.

Ralph Fiennes plays Gareth Mallory, also known as M, the head of MI6 and Bond’s superior. Rory Kinnear plays Bill Tanner, the MI6 Chief of Staff. Ben Whishaw plays Q, the MI6 quartermaster who outfits Bond with equipment for use in the field.

Dave Bautista plays Mr. Hinx, an assassin and a high-ranking member of Spectre. Andrew Scott plays Max Denbigh, a member of the British government, who is also known by his code name, C. Monica Bellucci plays Lucia Sciarra, the widow of an assassin killed by Bond. Dame Judi Dench plays the posthumous M in a video message, recorded prior to her death in Skyfall and delivered to Bond afterwards with instructions to kill a known terrorist.

Spectre has received generally positive reviews. Critics praised the film’s opening scene, action sequences, stuntwork and cinematography, as the film received favorable comparisons with Skyfall. The majority of the critiques on Rotten Tomatoes are positive, saying that the film, “nudges Daniel Craig’s rebooted Bond closer to the glorious, action-driven spectacle of earlier entries, although it’s admittedly reliant on established 007 formula.” On Metacritic, the film has received generally favorable reviews.

See the PG-13 rated, 148 minute long film soon at your local Carmike Cinema.