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The silver screen has seen almost six decades of agent 007, his unbelievable gadgets, conspiring villains, and provocative relationships.
The latest James Bond film, No Time to Die (2021), is finally here and it marks the final appearance of actor Daniel Craig in the iconic role.
The newest James Bond feature is produced by Eon Productions, Albert R. Broccoli’s, and Harry Saltzman’s British production company that primarily makes Bond films based on the Ian Fleming book series.
The Eon Productions films and other unrelated works are considered one of the highest-earning and highest-rated film franchises of all time.
Sean Connery, Roger Moore, Pierce Brosnan, and Daniel Craig are some of the most recognizable faces on the big screen, thanks to their role as the reckless MI6 agent.
You might also like our ranking of the best James Bond of all time.
Who directed all the Bond films, and what are the names of all the famous Bond girls?
Can’t remember who sings your favorite James Bond theme song? What about the unofficial James Bond movies? And what are the best James Bond movie quotes from each film?
I have all the answers for you right here in my ranking of the best James Bond movies of all time.
27. A View to a Kill (1985)
“Intuitive improvisation is the secret of genius.”
Max Zorin
Director: John Glen
Screenwriters: Richard Maibaum, Michael G. Wilson
Starring: Roger Moore, Tanya Roberts, Grace Jones, Patrick Macnee, Christopher Walken
Bond Girl: Stacey Sutton
Theme: “A View to a Kill” performed by Duran Duran
Description: James Bond (Roger Moore) discovers a missing Soviet microchip in Siberia. He learns from Q (Desmond Llewelyn), the head of the Q Branch of research and development for the British Secret Service, a connection to a powerful government contractor and industrialist, Max Zorin (Christopher Walken). Bond must travel worldwide, including Paris and San Francisco, to stop Zorin’s evil plot from monopolizing microchip technologies.
A View to Kill is the fourteenth Eon Productions film and the final appearance of Roger Moore as James Bond. Moore’s last turn received mixed reviews, with many critics focused on his aged appearance. However, it became a commercial success and one of the first Bond films to premiere outside the U.K.
26. Casino Royale (1967)
“If I’m not back in five minutes, start without me.”
Evelyn Tremble
Directors: John Huston, Ken Hughes, Robert Parrish, Joe McGrath, Val Guest
Screenwriters: Wolf Mankowitz, John Law, Michael Sayers
Starring: David Niven, Peter Sellers, Ursula Andress, Orson Welles
Bond Girl: Vesper Lynd
Theme: “Casino Royale” performed by Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass
Description: In this psychedelic spoof of the Sean Connery era, Sir James Bond (David Niven) is forced out of retirement when the head of MI6 blows up his home. When Bond takes control of MI6, he renames every agent ‘James Bond’ to throw off the Russian organization SMERSH. With the help of retired British secret Vesper Lynd (Ursula Andress), Bond must stop the counter-terrorism group and the SMERSH’s corrupt financier, Le Chiffre (Orson Welles).
25. The Man With the Golden Gun (1974)
“You see, Mr. Bond, like every great artist, I want to create an indisputable masterpiece once in my lifetime; the death of 007.”
Scaramanga
Directors: Guy Hamilton
Screenwriters: Richard Maibaum, Tom Mankiewicz
Starring: Roger Moore, Christopher Lee, Britt Ekland, Maud Adams, Bernard Lee
Bond Girl: Andrea Anders
Theme: “The Man with the Golden Gun” performed by Lulu
Description: After MI6 is sent a golden bullet with ‘007’ etched on the side from the infamous marksmen Francisco Scaramanga (Christopher Lee), M (Bernard Lee) relieves James Bond (Roger Moore) of his secret mission to get ahead of the assassin. Bond sets out to find Scaramanga first by tracking down his seductive mistress Andrea Anders (Maud Adams) and the origins of his Scaramanga’s golden bullets and gun.
24. Tomorrow Never Dies (1997)
“The distance between insanity and genius is measured only by success.”
Elliot Carver
Directors: Roger Spottiswoode
Screenwriter: Bruce Feirstein
Starring: Pierce Brosnan, Jonathan Pryce, Michelle Yeoh, Teri Hatcher, Joe Don Baker, Judi Dench
Bond Girl: Paris Carver
Theme: “Tomorrow Never Dies” performed by Sheryl Crow
Description: Ambitious media mogul Elliot Carver (Jonathan Pryce) devises an evil plan to incite a war between the United Kingdom and China to boost the ratings for his cable networks and seize control of the world’s information. James Bond’s (Pierce Brosnan) former lover Paris Carver (Teri Hatcher), the mogul’s wife, enlists his help; he teams up with Chinese special agent Wai Lin (Michelle Yeoh) to save the day.
23. For Your Eyes Only (1981)
“The Chinese have a saying; Before setting out for revenge, you first dig two graves.”
James Bond
Directors: John Glen
Screenwriters: Richard Maibaum, Michael G. Wilson
Starring: Roger Moore, Carole Bouquet, Chaim Topol, Lynn-Holly Johnson, Julian Glover
Bond Girl: Melina Havelock
Theme: “For Your Eyes Only,” performed by Sheena Easton
Description: When a British vessel containing the Automatic Targeting Attack Communicator (ATAC) sinks, marine biologist Sir Timothy Havelock (Jack Headley) and his wife are sent to discover its location. Before they can succeed, they’re murdered by a hitman by orders of nefarious smugglers seeking to sell the technology and expand their illicit fortunes. James Bond (Roger Moore) must work together with Melina Havelock (Carole Bouquet), a witness to her parent’s murder, to get revenge and stop the ATAC from falling into the wrong hands.
22. The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)
“Ah. Maybe I misjudged Stromberg. Any man who drinks Dom Pérignon ’52 can’t be all bad.”
James Bond
Directors: Lewis Gilbert
Screenwriters: Christopher Wood, Richard Maibaum
Starring: Roger Moore, Barbara Bach, Curt Jürgens, Richard Kiel, Geoffrey Keen
Bond Girl: Anya Amasova
Theme: “Nobody Does It Better” performed by Carly Simon
Description: When a British and Soviet ballistic-missile submarine is hijacked, James Bond (Roger Moore) teams up with KGB agent Major Anya Amasova (Barbara Bach) to locate missing microfilm plans for an advanced submarine tracking system stolen. The pair must save the day while avoiding the clutches of the megalomaniac Karl Stromberg (Curt Jürgens) and his dangerous henchman, Jaws (Richard Kiel). Problems arise when Amasova discovers Bond’s connection to the death of her lover.
21. Live and Let Die (1973)
“There are two ways to disable an alligator, Mr. Bond.”
Tee Hee
Directors: Guy Hamilton
Screenwriter: Tom Mankiewicz
Starring: Roger Moore, Yaphet Kotto, Jane Seymour, Geoffrey Holder
Bond Girl: Solitaire
Theme: “Live and Let Die” performed by Paul McCartney & Wings
Description: James Bond (Roger Moore) is sent to the United Nations in New York to investigate after the death of three MI6 agents investigating the operations of the corrupt island dictator Dr. Kanaga. While in New York, Bond falls into the trap of the nefarious Harlem gangster Mr. Big (Yaphet Kotto) and his psychic tarot card reader, Solitaire (Jane Seymour).
20. Quantum of Solace (2008)
“And Bond, if you could avoid killing every possible lead, it would be greatly appreciated.”
M
Directors: Marc Forster
Screenwriters: Paul Haggis, Neal Purvis, Robert Wade
Starring: Daniel Craig, Olga Kurylenko, Matthieu Amalric, Giancarlo Giannini, Jeffrey Wright, Judi Dench
Bond Girl: Camille Montes
Theme: Another Way to Die performed by Jack White and Alicia Keys.
Description: Seeking revenge for the death of his lover, James Bond (Daniel Craig) partners with Camille Montes (Olga Kurylenko), a Bolivian agent seeking revenge on her lover Dominic Greene (Mathieu Amalric), a powerful reforestation and environmental science businessman working with a secret crime syndicate known as Quantum. While on the mission, Bond reunites with familiar faces like CIA agent Felix Leiter (Jeffrey Wright) and Bond’s old ally MI6 agent René Mathis (Giancarlo Giannini).
19. Die Another Day (2002)
“One man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter.”
Raul
Directors: Lee Tamahori
Screenwriters: Neal Purvis, Robert Wade
Starring: Pierce Brosnan, Halle Berry, Toby Stephens, Rosamund Pike, Rick Yune, John Cleese, Judi Dench, Michael Madsen
Bond Girl: Jinx
Theme: “Die Another Day” performed by Madonna
Description: After fourteen months in a North Korean prison, James Bond discovers a mole in the British government. His pursuit leads him to Havana, where he connects with NSA agent Giacinta “Jinx” Johnson (Halle Berry). The two follow the trail of Tang Ling Zao (Rick Yune), a terrorist working for Colonel Tan-Sun Moon (Will Yun Lee), the rouge North Korean army colonel Bond once defeated, landing him in prison. At the center of the conflict is the wealth and treachery of a British entrepreneur, Gustav Graves (Toby Stephens).
18. The World Is Not Enough (1999)
“There’s no point in living if you can’t feel alive.”
Elektra King
Directors: Michael Apted
Screenwriters: Neal Purvis, Robert Wade, Burce Feirstein
Starring: Pierce Brosnan, Sophie Marceau, Robert Carlyle, Denise Richards, Robbie Coltrane, Judi Dench
Bond Girl: Christmas Jones
Theme: “The World is Not Enough” performed by Garbage
Description: KGB agent-turned-terrorist Victor “Renard” Zokas (Robert Carlyle) seeks revenge on MI6 and a British oil tycoon for conspiring to assassinate him. M assigns James Bond (Pierce Brosnan) to protect the tycoon’s surviving daughter, Electra King, and stop Renard with the help of Russian boss Valentin Zukovsky (Robert Coltrane) and American nuclear physicist, Dr. Christmas Jones (Carmen Elektra).
17. Licence to Kill (1989)
“Well, it’s a wise gambler who knows when his luck has run out.”
Frank Sanchez
Directors: John Glen
Screenwriters: Michael G. Wilson, Richard Maibaum
Starring: Timothy Dalton, Carey Lowell, Robert Davi, Benicio del Toro, Talisa Soto, Anthony Zerbe
Bond Girl: Pam Bouvier
Theme: “Licence to Kill” performed by “Gladys Knight
Description: The DEA recruits James Bond (Timothy Dalton) and his close friend and CIA agent, Felix Leiter (David Hedison), to capture the powerful Latin American drug lord Franz Sanchez (Robert Davi). When Sanchez gets revenge, Bond must return the fight by taking down corrupt DEA agents and infiltrating Sanchez’s dangerous organization. Bond is joined by Pam Bouvier (Carey Lowell), a DEA informant, and a Kwang (Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa), a Hong Kong Police narcotics agent.
16. Diamonds Are Forever (1971)
“Curious… how everyone who touches those diamonds seems to die.”
Mr. Wint
Directors: Guy Hamilton
Screenwriters: Richard Maibaum, Tom Mankiewicz
Starring: Sean Connery, Jill St. John, Charles Gray, Lana Wood, Jimmy Dean, Bruce Cabot
Bond Girl: Tiffany Case
Theme: “Diamonds are Forever” performed by Shirley Bassey
Description: James Bond (Sean Connery) returns on a high pursuit through a diamond smuggling pipeline and takes the place of a small-time smuggler. In disguise, he meets diamond smuggler Tiffany Case (Jill St. John), who sets him on a quest to discover the source of it all. Following the deadly trail of the diamonds, he finds the man behind it all– Ernst Stavro Blofeld (Charles Gray), the infamous head of the crime syndicate SPECTRE and Bond’s most powerful arch-enemy.
15. Spectre (2015)
“You are a kite dancing in a hurricane, Mr. Bond.”
Mr. White
Directors: Sam Mendes
Screenwriters: John Logan, Neal Purvis, Robert Wade, Jez Butterworth
Starring: Daniel Craig, Christoph Waltz, Léa Seydoux, Ben Whishaw, Naomie Harris, Dave Bautista, Monica Bellucci, Ralph Fiennes
Bond Girl: Madeliene Swann
Theme: “Writing’s on the Wall” performed by Sam Smith
Description: Upon receiving a message from his former superior, James Bond follows a lead to Mexico City. He takes down a terrorist leader and retrieves a mysterious ring with an octopus insignia. When M (Ralph Fiennes) suspends him for his reckless actions, Bond uses his usual tactics to uncover the identity of a secret organization with criminal and terrorist connections. The discovery leads him back to an old foe, who pleas with Bond to protect his daughter, Madeliene Swann, from his enemies. Swann reluctantly joins Bond on a mission to uncover the truth of SPECTRE and its elusive leader, Ernst Stavro Blofeld (Christoph Waltz).
14. The Living Daylights (1987)
“That’s too bad, Bond. You could’ve been alive, rich man, instead of a poor dead one.”
Brad Whitaker
Directors: John Glen
Screenwriters: Richard Maibaum, Michael G. Wilson
Starring: Timothy Dalton, Maryam d’Abo, Joe Don Baker, Art Malik, John-Rhys Davies, Jeroen Krabbé
Bond Girl: Kara Milovy
Theme: “The Living Daylights” performed by A-ha
Description: Agent 007 (Timothy Dalton) assists ex-KGB officer General Georgi Koskov (Jeroen Krabbé) in defect and escape from Bratislava, Czechoslovakia, during an intermission. Koskov is almost assassinated by KGB sniper Kara Milovy (Maryam d’Abo) during the mission, posing as a cellist in the orchestra. Koskov informs British Intelligence of the new KGB leader General Leonid Pushkin’s (John Rhys-Davies) mission to kill British spies. Bond tracks down the cellist assassin only to learn of a sinister plot of deception, leading no one involved to be trusted.
The Living Daylights is the fifteenth film in the Eon Productions James Bond series and the first to star Timothy Dalton as MI6 agent James Bond. It was the last film to use an Ian Fleming novel title until 2006’s Casino Royale. All the movies with Dalton’s replacement were original titles. Dalton only portrayed Bond twice before being replaced by actor Pierce Brosnan.
13. On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969)
“There’s always something formal about the point of a gun.”
Marc-Ange Draco
Directors: Peter R. Hunt
Screenwriters: Richard Maibaum
Starring: George Lazenby, Diana Rigg, Telly Savalas, Bernard Lee, Gabriele Ferzetti, Ilse Steppat
Bond Girl: Tracy Di Vicenzo
Theme: “We Have All the Time in the World” performed by Louis Armstrong
Description: James Bond (George Lazenby) rescues the beautiful Contessa Tracy Di Vicenzo (Diana Rigg) from suicide only to be captured by Marc-Ange Draco (Gabriele Ferzetti), the head of one of the largest European crime syndicates, Unione Corse. When Draco reveals the Contessa to be his daughter, he asks Bond to protect her. Bond agrees on one condition if Draco reveals the whereabouts of Ernst Stavro Blofeld (Telly Savalas), the head of the secret crime syndicate SPECTRE. The mission leads to distrust among MI6, Bond’s closest allies, and everyone he meets along the way to uncover the truth.
On Her Majesty’s Secret Service is the sixth James Bond film produced by Eon Productions and the only film to feature George Lazenby. The inexperienced actor took the role after Sean Connery retired from the position following You Only Live Twice. Despite mixed reviews, the film is regarded as one of the most accurate adaptations of Ian Fleming’s novels.
12. Octopussy (1983)
“You have a nasty habit of surviving.”
Kamal Khan
Directors: John Glen
Screenwriters: George MacDonald Fraser, Richard Maibaum, Michael G. Wilson
Starring: Roger Moore, Maud Adams, Louis Jourdan, Kristina Wayborn, Kabir Bedi
Bond Girl: Octopussy
Theme: “All-Time High” performed by Rita Coolidge
Description: Agent 009 barely flees an attack from knife-throwing twin assassins, crashes through the British Embassy, and dies holding a fake Fabergé egg. James Bond is sent to investigate an auction where the real Fabergé egg is located and discovers exiled Afghan prince Kamal Khan (Louis Jourdan). Bond learns of his ties with General Olov (Steven Berkoff), a Soviet general hellbent on domination of Western Europe. The only way to get to them all is with the help of the tantalizing jewel smuggler and businesswoman, Octopussy (Maud Adams), and her cult of followers.
11. You Only Live Twice (1967)
“Rule number: never do anything yourself when someone else can do it for you.”
Tiger Tanaka
Directors: Lewis Gilbert
Screenwriters: Roald Dahl
Starring: Sean Connery, Akiko Wakabayashi, Donald Pleasence, Bernard Lee, Desmond Llewelyn
Bond Girl: Aki
Theme: “You Only Live Twice” performed by Nancy Sinatra
Description: When NASA space Jupiter 16 is hijacked, the United States suspects the Soviets, but British Intelligence suspects the Japanese. MI6 sends James Bond (Sean Connery) to Tokyo to investigate where he meets Tiger Tanaka (Tetsurō Tamba), head of the Japanese secret service. An evil plot begins to unfold upon the discovery of Japanese industrialist Mr. Osato (Teru Shimada) and his connection to the terrorist organization SPECTRE and its megalomaniacal leader Ernst Stavro Blofeld (Donald Pleasence).
Now let’s move to the top 10 James Bond movies.
10. Thunderball (1965)
“Some men just don’t like to be driven.”
Fiona
Director: Terence Young
Screenwriters: Richard Maibaum, John Hopkins
Starring: Sean Connery, Claudine Auger, Adolfo Celi, Luciana Paluzzi, Rik Van Nutter
Bond Girl: Domino Derval
Theme: “Thunderball” performed by Tom Jones
Description: The evil organization SPECTRE holds the world hostage with stolen nuclear weapons, planning to destroy the United Kingdom and the United States. James Bond (Sean Connery) travels to the Bahamas, where he comes face to face with the Number 2 in command of the evil crime syndicate, Emilio Largo (Adolfo Celi). Alongside his ally, CIA agent Felix Leiter (Rik Van Nutter) and Largo’s mistress, Dominique “Domino” Derval (Claudine Auger), Bond fights to stop SPECTRE’s evil plans of ransom, once and for all.
9. Never Say Never Again (1983)
“Are you a man who enjoys games?”
Emilio Largo
Director: Irvin Kershner
Screenwriter: Lorenzo Semple Jr.
Starring: Sean Connery, Klaus Maria Brandauer, Max von Sydow, Barbara Carrera, Kim Basinger, Bernie Casey, Alec McCowen, Edward Fox
Bond Girl: Domino Petachi
Theme: “Never Say Never Again” performed by Lani Hall
Description: MI6 leader M (Edward Fox) suspends an aged James Bond (Sean Connery) from duty upon suspicion he is past his prime. Fatima Bush (Barbara Carrera) and the evil terrorist crime syndicate SPECTRE steal nuclear missiles from the U.S. military. Bond is the only agent equipped to bring her down with the SPECTRE’s Number 2 Maximillian Largo (Klaus Maria Brandauer). This time around, Bond receives the help of his CIA friend and counterpart Felix Leiter and Largo’s mistress, Domino Petachi (Kim Basinger).
Not an official Eon Productions James Bond film, Never Say Never Again saw the unexpected return of Sean Connery after 12 years, who claimed to never appear in a Bond film again, earning the movie its unique title. The film serves as a remake of the Thunderball storyline, entangled in a series of legal battles. It holds a place as one of the best Bond films and an excellent sendoff to the best James Bond actor in history.
8. Moonraker (1979)
“My mother gave me a list of things not to do on the first date.”
Corinne Dufour
Director: Lewis Gilbert
Screenwriter: Christopher Wood
Starring: Roger Moore, Lois Chiles, Michael Lonsdale, Richard Kiel, Corinne Cléry
Bond Girl: Holly Goodhead
Theme: “Moonraker” performed by Shirley Bassey
Description: After a Drax Industries space shuttle, Moonraker, is stolen from MI6, James Bond (Roger Moore) is sent to investigate the manufacturing firm and its owner, Hugo Drax (Michael Lonsdale). Bond enlists the help of space scientist Dr. Holly Goodhead (Lois Chiles) to follow a trail of deception across the world, avoiding the deadly assassin Jaws (Richard Kiel). The worldwide investigation eventually leads to Drax and his evil plot to wipe out the world’s population and recreate humanity with the perfect species.
7. GoldenEye (1995)
“She always did like a good squeeze!”
James Bond
Director: Martin Campbell
Screenwriters: Jeffrey Caine, Bruce Feirstein
Starring: Pierce Brosnan, Sean Bean, Izabella Scorupco, Famke Janssen, Joe Don Baker
Bond Girl: Natalya Simonova
Theme: “GoldenEye” performed by Tina Turner
Description: MI6 agents James Bond (Pierce Brosnan) and Alec Trevelyan (Sean Bean) infiltrate a Soviet chemical weapons facility, and only Bond comes out alive after the facility’s commander Colonel Arkady Grigorovich Ourumov (Gottfried John) retaliates. Years later, after the facility is destroyed, Xenia Onatopp (Famke Janssen) and the Janus crime syndicate appear with apparent connections to the chemical weapons incident. Bond, along with another survivor of the incident, lab programmer Natalya Simonova (Izabella Scorupco), uncovered the secret behind the attack and the leader of the Janus crime syndicate.
GoldenEye is the seventeenth in the James Bond series and the first to star Pierce Brosnan. After legal disputes and a six-year hiatus, Brosnan took over for Timothy Dalton. Under the strict supervision of the first female M with Dame Judi Dench’s miraculous portrayal, Brosnan proved to be a worthy contender to Roger Moore and Sean Connery.
6. No Time to Die (2021)
“Life is all about leaving something behind.”
Lyutisfer Safin
Director: Cary Joji Fukunaga
Screenwriters: Neal Purvis, Robert Wade, Cary Joji Fukunaga, Phoebe Waller-Bridge
Starring: Daniel Craig, Rami Malek, Léa Seydoux, Lashana Lynch, Ben Whishaw, Naomie Harris, Jeffrey Wright, Christoph Waltz, Ralph Fiennes
Bond Girl: Madeleine Swann
Theme: “No Time to Die” performed by Billie Eilish
Description: The conflict doesn’t end with capturing the underground crime syndicate SPECTRE leader Ernst Stavro Blofeld (Christoph Waltz). James Bond and Madeliene Swann (Léa Seydoux) are ambushed by SPECTRE assassins, and the event tears them apart. Years later, M (Ralph Fiennes) informs Bond an MI6 scientist was kidnapped. Bond teams up once again Felix Leiter (Jeffrey Wright), Moneypenny (Naomie Harris), Q (Ben Whishaw), and the new 007 (Lashana Lynch) to rescue Obruchev and stop a new villain (Lyutsifer Safin) from using advanced technology to destroying the world.
No Time to Die is the 25th film in the James Bond series by Eon Productions and the fifth and final film to star Daniel Craig. Unlike previous turns at Bond, Craig’s portrayal told a story from beginning to end, connected by great storytelling and compelling action. Despite delay and conflict, it still stands as one of the most successful Bond films, with more to come.
5. Dr. No (1962)
“Hey Quarrel, if you see a dragon, you get in first and breath of him. With all that rum in you, he’ll die happy.”
Felix Leiter
Directors: Terence Young
Screenwriters: Richard Maibaum, Johanna Harwood, Berkeley Mather
Starring: Sean Connery, Ursula Andress, Joseph Wiseman, Jack Lord, Anthony Dawson, Zena Marshall, John Kitzmiller, Eunice Grayson, Bernad Lee
Bond Girl: Honey Ryder
Theme: “Jame Bond Theme” performed by John Barry, and Monty Norman
Description: Agent 007 James Bond (Sean Connery) is sent to Jamaica to investigate the disappearance of another British secret agent. His investigation leads him to Crab Key Island and the underground base of Dr. Julius No (Joseph Wiseman), a man with ties to a top-secret criminal organization with plans to disrupt an American space launch with a powerful radio beam weapon. Bond teams up with the beautiful and vengeful Honey Ryder (Ursula Andress) to stop Dr. No’s evil plot.
Dr. No (1962) is the first 007 film produced by EON Productions, starting off one of the most successful, long-running franchises in cinematic history. Sean Connery is one of the most iconic James Bond portrayals and set a standard for action heroes in cinema.
4. Casino Royale (2006)
“There’s not enough room in this elevator for me and your ego.”
Vesper Lynd
Director: Martin Campbell
Screenwriters: Neal Purvis, Robert Wade, Paul Haggis
Starring: Daniel Craig, Eva Green, Mads Mikkelsen, Jeffrey Wright, Judi Dench
Bond Girl: Vesper Lynd
Theme: “You Know My Name” performed by Chris Cornell
Description: After killing two enemy agents and barely earning his license to kill status as 007, James Bond (Daniel Craig) takes on an assignment from M (Judi Dench) to bankrupt terrorist financier Le Chiffre (Mad Mikkelsen) in a high-stakes poker game at the Casino Royale in Montenegro. While on assignment, Bond falls for the beautiful Vesper Lynd (Eva Green), a treasury employee tasked with fronting the money Bond will need to complete his mission.
3. From Russia With Love (1963)
“You may know the right wines, but you’re the one on your knees. How does it feel, old man.”
Red Grant
Director: Terence Young
Screenwriter: Richard Maibaum
Starring: Sean Connery, Pedro Armendáriz, Lotte Lenya, Robert Shaw, Bernard Lee, Daniela Bianchi
Bond Girl: Tatiana Romanova
Theme: “From Russia With Love” performed by John Barry and Matt Monro
Description: The international criminal organization SPECTRE begins training agents to kill James Bond (Sean Connery) to avenge the death of Dr. No. Villains from different corners of the world join forces to ensure the demise of the ruthless 007 agents. Irish assassin Donald “Red” Grant (Robert Shaw), former Soviet counter-intelligence Colonel Rosa Klebb (Lotte Lenya), and the beautiful, unsuspecting Soviet consulate clerk Tatiana Romanova (Daniela Bianchi) work together to stop MI6 and James Bond from foiling their plan for world domination.
2. Skyfall (2012)
“Life clung to me like a disease.”
Raoul Silva
Director: Sam Mendes
Screenwriters: Neal Purvis, Robert Wade, John Logan
Starring: Daniel Craig, Javier Bardem, Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris, Bérénice Marlohe, Albert Finney, Judi Dench
Bond Girl: Sévévine
Theme: “Skyfall” performed by Adele
Description: After a failed mission to recover a hard drive containing agents’ identities leaves James Bond (Daniel Craig) is presumed dead, the chairman of the Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament and former SAS officer Gareth Mallory (Ralph Fiennes) steps in. MI6 is attacked, and Bond returns to assist his former superior, M (Judi Dench), in finishing what they started. The mission leads Bond to a casino in Macau where the seductive Sévévine (Bérénice Marlohe) awaits. She escorts Bond to her employer, the mysterious Raoul Silva (Javier Bardem), who has a personal vendetta against MI6 and its fearless leader M.
Skyfall would take number one on any other day. The modern film reintroduced all the James Bond favorites seamlessly with the return of Q’s gadgets, Moneypenny’s chemistry, and a compelling Bond backstory of betrayal. The twenty-third in the James Bond series and the third to star Daniel Craig earned him a place among the greatest Bond actors of all time.
So what is the best James Bond movie of all time?
1. Goldfinger (1964)
“A martini. Shaken, not stirred.”
James Bond
Director: Guy Hamilton
Screenwriters: Richard Maibaum, Paul Dehn
Starring: Sean Connery, Honor Blackman, Gert Fröbe, Shirley Eaton
Bond Girl: Pussy Galore
Theme: “Goldinger” performed by Shirley Bassey
Description: When the Bank of England detects unauthorized gold leakage, James Bond is sent to investigate. His search leads him to Auric Goldfinger, the richest man in the country. With the assistance of his superior, and CIA Felix Leiter, Bond enters a game of deception against Goldfinger, his femme fatale pilot Pussy Galore, and Korean assassin Oddjob.
Goldfinger is the third installment and the first James Bond blockbuster. It’s the first film in the series to establish all the 007 tropes in the following films. The Oscar-winning movie is one of the most influential movies, from the beautiful Bond girl Pussy Galore to the popular “shaken, not stirred” movie. Connery in Goldfinger can’t be beaten.
In my opinion, Goldfinger takes the spot as the best Bond movie of all time.
Conclusion
That’s the best 007 movies of all time ranked from worst to best. Do you agree? Disagree?
What do you think is the best Bond movie of all time? Or your top 10 Bond movies? And who is the best James Bond? Let us know in the comments below.
James Bond FAQ:
Here are some answers to some common questions about 007 movies:
Who wrote James Bond?
James Bond’s character is based on a fictional character written by British novelist Ian Fleming in 1953. Bond is a secret agent working for MI6 under the codename 007.
How many 007 movies are there in 2022?
There are 27 James Bond aka 007 movies in total. 25 are from the studio Eon, and two (Casino Royale (1967) and Never Say Never Again (1983)) are from non-Eon studios.
How many actors have played James Bond?
A total of 7 actors have played James Bond. The actors who have portrayed the character are Sean Connery, David Niven, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan, and Daniel Craig in twenty-seven productions.
Who was the original James Bond actor?
The original James Bond actor was Sean Connery who starred in the first 007 movie Dr. No in 1962 (see the table below).
What are the 007 movies in order?
Below is a table with a list of all James Bond movies listed in chronological order by the time of their release. The table also works a list of all Bond actors in order. The same goes for the Bond girls, and directors.
| Title | Year | Bond Actor | Bond Girl (Actor) | Director(s) | Studio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dr. No | 1962 | Sean Connery | Honey Ryder (Ursula Andress) | Terence Young | Eon |
| From Russia with Love | 1963 | Sean Connery | Tatiana Romanova (Daniela Bianchi) | Terence Young | Eon |
| Goldfinger | 1964 | Sean Connery | Pussy Galore (Honor Blackman) | Guy Hamilton | Eon |
| Thunderball | 1965 | Sean Connery | Dominique “Domino” Derval (Claudine Auger) | Terence Young | Eon |
| Casino Royale | 1967 | Sean Connery | Vesper Lynd (Ursula Andress) | Ken Hughes John Huston Joseph McGrath Robert Parrish Val Guest Richard Talmadge | Famous Artists Productions |
| You Only Live Twice | 1967 | Sean Connery | Aki (Akiko Wakabayashi) | Lewis Gilbert | Eon |
| On Her Majesty’s Secret Service | 1969 | George Lazenby | Tracy Di Vicenzo (Diana Rigg) | Peter R. Hunt | Eon |
| Diamonds Are Forever | 1971 | Sean Connery | Tiffany Case (Jill St. John) | Guy Hamilton | Eon |
| Live and Let Die | 1973 | Roger Moore | Solitaire (Jane Seymour) | Guy Hamilton | Eon |
| The Man with the Golden Gun | 1974 | Roger Moore | Andrea Anders (Maud Adams) | Guy Hamilton | Eon |
| The Spy Who Loved Me | 1977 | Roger Moore | Anya Amasova (Barbara Bach) | Lewis Gilbert | Eon |
| Moonraker | 1979 | Roger Moore | Holly Goodhead (Lois Chiles) | Lewis Gilbert | Eon |
| For Your Eyes Only | 1981 | Roger Moore | Melina Havelock (Carole Bouquet) | John Glen | Eon |
| Octopussy | 1983 | Roger Moore | Octopussy (Maud Adams) | John Glen | Eon |
| Never Say Never Again | 1983 | Sean Connery | Domino Petachi (Kim Basinger) | Irvin Kershner | Taliafilm |
| A View to a Kill | 1985 | Roger Moore | Stacey Sutton (Tanya Roberts) | John Glen | Eon |
| The Living Daylights | 1987 | Timothy Dalton | Kara Milovy (Maryam d’Abo) | John Glen | Eon |
| Licence to Kill | 1989 | Timothy Dalton | Pam Bouvier (Carey Lowell) | John Glen | Eon |
| GoldenEye | 1995 | Eon | |||
| Tomorrow Never Dies | 1997 | Pierce Brosnan | Paris Carver (Teri Hatcher) | Roger Spottiswoode | Eon |
| The World Is Not Enough | 1999 | Pierce Brosnan | Christmas Jones (Carmen Elektra) | Michael Apted | Eon |
| Die Another Day | 2002 | Pierce Brosnan | Giacinta “Jinx” Johnson (Halle Berry) | Lee Tamahori | Eon |
| Casino Royale | 2006 | Daniel Craig | Vesper Lynd (Eva Green) | Martin Campbell | Eon |
| Quantum of Solace | 2008 | Daniel Craig | Camille Montes (Olga Kurylenko) | Marc Forster | Eon |
| Skyfall | 2012 | Daniel Craig | Sévévine (Bérénice Marlohe) | Sam Mendes | Eon |
| Spectre | 2015 | Daniel Craig | Madeliene Swann (Léa Seydoux) | Sam Mendes | Eon |
| No Time to Die | 2021 | Daniel Craig | Madeliene Swann (Léa Seydoux) | Cary Joji Fukunaga | Eon |
Myke Thompson is a freelance writer, screenwriter, and humorist based out of Los Angeles. When he’s not working on his own projects, he supports other artists as a creative manager in music, art, film, and television.