The Best Bond Films Worst to Best
I’m taking a look at the best Bond films. With the new Bond film No Time To Die seemingly being delayed forever due to the current world circumstances you may well be asking will it ever come out.
So just when is No Time To Die coming out? Currently it slated for a 30 September 2021 release in the United Kingdom with the USA release to follow on the 8th October 2021. What better time whilst we all wait than to look back at all the previous films and rank them in order from least favourite to favourite James Bond film.
Oh and I will be including Never Say Never Again as it stars the one and only Sean Connery.
So which are the best Bond films? Before I answer that lets take a look at the trailer for the upcoming No Time to Die:
Does James Bond die in No Time To Die? We will have to wait and see but as its Daniel Craig’s last outing who knows. In any case it could well spell the end of the series as we know it if the current direction is maintained. Just look at the other big film and television franchises that have been ruined recently.
Will No Time To Die rank high in my best Bond films list once I’ve seen it? Well hopefully I can update this article in October 2021 and answer that very question!
Now lets get started with my least favourite Bond film…
25. Moonraker (1979) Roger Moore
A step too far with Jaw’s romance and just all-round silliness
24. GoldenEye (1995) Pierce Brosnan
A fair effort in bringing Bond back to the big screen after several years of legal issues. Falls a little bit flat in places and the tank chase goes on too long and has a rather inadequate Bond theme.
23. Tomorrow Never Dies ( 1997) Pierce Brosnan
Another decent outing for Brosnan although problems with the script show through
22. On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969) George Lazenby
Has some good things going for it such as John Barry’s awesome music but has a poor middle to the film. Let’s be honest George Lazenby was not a very good Bond / 007.
Which movie did James Bond get married in? Yes it’s this one, although there’s very little chemistry between Lazenby and the wonderful Diana Rigg.
21. Never Say Never Again (1983) Sean Connery
Not produced by Eon like the other Bond films. This is actually based on the novel Thunderball, and is not too bad because Sean Connery is back. It does however lack the Bond theme/score which they weren’t allowed to use.
20. A View to a Kill (1985) Roger Moore
A Solid James Bond film that ticks most boxes.
19. Quantum of Solace (2008) Daniel Craig
Not terrible but suffers from feeling like part 2 of Casino Royale instead of having it’s own identity.
18. Octopussy (1983) Roger Moore
Released the same year Sean Connery returned in Never Say Never Again and it is the better of the two films.
Buy All The James Bond Films On Blu-ray Now!
The Amazon links on this page are affiliate / associate links. By buying through the links we may receive a commission for the sale. This has no effect on the price you pay.
17. The World Is Not Enough (1999) Pierce Brosnan
By this film Brosnan has now grown into being 007 and looks a lot more comfortable.
16. Licence to Kill (1989) Timothy Dalton
Not everybodys favourite 007 or Bond film but I like the darker more serious Timothy Dalton. He looks like he could kill you. A bit like Daniel Craig???
Why did Timothy Dalton stop playing Bond? The short answer is due to a dispute over the rights to the James Bond franchise the third film that would have starred Dalton was delayed. In fact Licence to Kill released in 1989 but it wouldn’t be until 1995 before the next entry in the series appeared.
With the legal issues between United Artists/MGM and Eon Productions finally resolved after four years it was thought Dalton would resume his role as 007. However with the gap in filming he had decided it was time to move on and Pierce Brosnan was hired.
15. Thunderball (1965) Sean Connery
A good all-rounder, it’s entertaining and stars Sean Connery.
14. Die Another Day (2002) Pierce Brosnan
A really entertaining good film, however I can also understand why they decided to go back to basics and recast Bond and strip most of the gadgets away in the next film Casino Royale (2006).
Have I put your favourite film too low in our Best Bond Films feature?
13. The Living Daylights (1987) Timothy Dalton
Timothy Dalton’s first outing as 007 has all the elements that make a good Bond film.
12. You Only Live Twice (1967) Sean Connery
Classic Bond – He has to investigate the disappearance of an American spacecraft which has been hijacked whilst in orbit.
11. Spectre (2015) Daniel Craig
Another excellent film in the Bond series with Daniel Craig once again impressing. The darker tone continues and may be the film could do with little more humour.
And now for my top 10 Best Bond Films…
10. For Your Eyes Only (1981) Roger Moore
After the rather stupid Moonraker (1979) this film sees 007 return to the more normal syle of films that made the franchise so popular. Good job!!!
9. The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) Roger Moore
Bond and a female KGB agent have to work together, plenty of tension there in more ways than one. Oh and don’t forget this film has the Lotus Esprit that turns into a mini-sub. Now that’s pretty cool!!!
8. Skyfall (2012) Daniel Craig
This could easily be higher up but in the end I’ve put it 9. Daniel Craig is on top form in what is a darker than normal James Bond film. Great Stuff!!!
7. From Russia with Love (1963) Sean Connery
The second film in the Bond series and one that’s hugely influential in the way future movies would be made.
6. Casino Royale (2006) Daniel Craig
A great movie with a new refreshed look for the Bond franchise and a great new 007 in Daniel Craig, who makes his mark very early on in the film.
5. Live and Let Die (1973) Roger Moore
Hugely entertaining!
4. Dr. No (1962) Sean Connery
The film that started it all and from which all the rest look at as a kind of template. Sean Connery is really great and of course Ursula Andress (Honey Rider) coming out of the sea is iconic. Fantastic stuff!
3. Diamonds Are Forever (1971) Sean Connery
Sean Connery returns as 007 following George Lazenby’s underwhelming outing in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969). Diamonds Are Forever could easily have been my favourite James Bond film but in the end I’ve put at three.
2. The Man with the Golden Gun (1974) Roger Moore
A great showdown between 007 (Roger Moore) and Scaramanga (Christopher Lee)
How many James Bond films did Roger Moore make? Seven starting in 1973 with Live and Let Die and the last outing in 1985 in A View to a Kill.
1. Goldfinger (1964) Sean Connery
This film ticks all the boxes for me which is why I’ve put it number one. Good story, plenty of action, Sean Connery as James Bond driving the iconic Aston Martin DB5. Oh and who can forget Honor Blackman as Pussy Galore!
Sadly Sean Connery passed away aged 90 on the 31st October 2020. For many myself included he will always be the definitive James Bond.
That almost brings my Best Bond Films feature to a close and I’m sure a few of you will disagree with order in which they are ranked. Do you agree with my choice of Goldfinger (1964) as being the best 007 has to offer?
Who played James Bond the longest?
It really depends on how you are measuring or by what you actually mean by the longest. In terms of who has been in the role time wise it’s Daniel Craig. He took on the role in 2006 and providing No Time To Die isn’t delayed any further will leave the role sometime in 2021 meaning around 15 years. That will mean Craig has starred in 5 Bond movies.
Roger Moore on the other hand starred in 7 James Bond movies between 1973 and 1985, so around 12 years.
And for those wondering about Sean Connery he made 6 offical films plus Never Say Never Again. He appeared as James Bond between 1962-1967 and then returned following the poorly received George Lazenby film, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969) with Diamonds Are Forever in 1971.
Finally he returned in the Non-EON production, Never Say Never Again in 1983 ironically going head to head with Roger Moore’s Octopussy in the same year.
Who is the best James Bond?
This is a question everyone has an opinion on. For me it’s a very easy question to answer, Sean Connery. However rather than leave it there he’s all of the Bonds in best to worse order (in our opinion).
- Sean Connery (7 Films) * Includes Never Say Never Again (1983)
- Daniel Craig (5 Films)
- Roger Moore (7 Films)
- Timothy Dalton (2 Films)
- Pierce Brosnan (4 Films)
- George Lazenby (1 Film)
Final Thoughts – What Is The Best James Bond Film?
That was my ‘Best Bond Films’ feature and Goldfinger is my favourite James Bond film and Sean Connery the best James Bond.
What is your favourite Bond film? Who is the best James Bond? Who will be the next James Bond? Leave a comment below or over on Facebook.
The names Bond, James Bond oh wait no it isn’t…
