Medijski mogotec Elliot Carver v želji po svetovni medijski prevladi s svojo napredno tehnologijo zaneti spor med Veliko Britanijo in Kitajsko. Ko se tako v kitajskih vodah potopi britanska vojaška ladja, se svet znajde na robu 3. svetovne vojne. James Bond mora v 48 urah raziskati incident, preden Angleži odgovorijo s povračilnimi ukrepi. Da bi se dokopal do odgovorov, Bond zapelje Carverjevo lepo ženo Paris, ki je njegova nekdanja ljubimka. Medtem tudi Kitajce zanima, kaj se dogaja, zato v lov za resnico pošljejo svojo agentko Wai Lin.
Agent James Bond 007 is on a mission which includes a media tycoon, his former lover and a Chinese agent. Elliot Carver wants to complete his global media empire, but in order for this to work, he must achieve broadcasting rights in China. Carver wants to start up World War III by starting a confrontation over British and Chinese waters. Bond gains the help of Wai Lin on his quest to stop him, but how will Bond feel when he meets up with his former lover, who is now Carver's wife.
