The correct ranking of the James Bond movies
As many rankings of the James Bond movies there are on the Internet, I've yet to see the correct one ;-). So let me provide you with the right ranking
List activity
136 views
• 1 this weekCreate a new list
List your movie, TV & celebrity picks.
26 titles
- DirectorGuy HamiltonStarsSean ConneryGert FröbeHonor BlackmanWhile investigating a gold magnate's smuggling, James Bond uncovers a plot to contaminate the Fort Knox gold reserve.The best and most complete Bond film of them all. The first one wirh a pre-credit sequence. With gadgets, but not more important than the story. Connery completely at ease in his role as Bond. A brillant villain, with an equally brilliant henchman. The right balance, between action, story and oneliners. This film also had a major effect on all the films that came after, with those later entries borrowing from what happens here. This one got it perfectly right.
- DirectorSam MendesStarsDaniel CraigJavier BardemNaomie HarrisJames Bond's loyalty to M is tested when her past comes back to haunt her. When MI6 comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost.The Bond movie where everything past and present comes together in a personal (hi)story. A well deserved spotlight send off for Dame Judi Dench's "M". And once again, after many Bond movies leaning one way or another, a near perfect balance between action, story, gadgets and some humour. It also re-introduces the characters of Moneypenny and Q with appropriate updating.
Skyfall is also one of the few times a Bond movie had the courage to show Bond as a vulnerable character. He was a man perhaps past his prime, he is forced to confront his painful past, and he tearfully says goodbye to an old friend. It made the character more layered than it had mostly been. Not to mention that director Sam Mendes made one of the most visually stunning looking Bond films of the franchise. - DirectorTerence YoungStarsSean ConneryRobert ShawLotte LenyaJames Bond willingly falls into an assassination plot involving a naive Russian beauty in order to retrieve a Soviet encryption device that was stolen by S.P.E.C.T.R.E.The Bond movie with probably the most real(istic) espionage story of all the Bond movies, and one where the focus is truly on the story, before big budgets started to take over. The movie really relies on the characters, more than anything else. Robert Shaw plays a great KGB killer, the fight between and Bond on the train is a classic, and Lotte Lenya plays one of the most memorable advesaries of the whole franchise as Rosa Klebb.
- DirectorMartin CampbellStarsDaniel CraigEva GreenJudi DenchAfter earning 00 status and a licence to kill, secret agent James Bond sets out on his first mission as 007. Bond must defeat a private banker funding terrorists in a high-stakes game of poker at Casino Royale, Montenegro.The reboot of the series, after all the silliness of Die Another Day, with a superb Daniel Craig in his first outing as Bond, resetting the Bond film character to that of the darker Bond of the Ian Fleming novels. Second reboot, after Goldeneye, directed by Martin Campbell, who focuses on character and story and gives us some of the most intense action scenes of the franchise, while at it. Bond was definitely back!
- DirectorMartin CampbellStarsPierce BrosnanSean BeanIzabella ScorupcoYears after a friend and fellow 00 agent is killed on a joint mission, a secret space based weapons program known as "GoldenEye" is stolen. James Bond is assigned to stop a Russian crime syndicate from using the weapon.The franchise has seen quite a few reboots. Pierce Brosnan was earlier desired for the Bond role by the producers, but couldn't get out of a contract for the tv series "Remmington Steel" and Timothy Dalton ended up in the role. After a legal battle lasting several years after "Licence to Kill", Dalton's contract was expired and he wasn't interested anymore and Brosnan could finally take his turn.
Goldeneye saw Bond ready for the modern age in the 90s, with a female M, and Brosnan delivered with the grid of Connery, the humour of Moore and his own undeniable charisma. The story is good, the action is great and fast paced and with Sean Bean and especially Famke Janssen in the role as Xenia Onnatop as adversaries Bond proved to be more than ready for a new era. - DirectorLewis GilbertStarsRoger MooreBarbara BachCurd JürgensJames Bond investigates the hijacking of British and Russian submarines carrying nuclear warheads, with the help of a K.G.B. agent whose lover he killed.Generally seen as the best Roger Moore Bond. And rightfully so. A huge improvement over The Man with the Golden Gun, this movie has a lot going for it. A great villain, a henchman in Jaws that became one of the famest henchmen in movie history. A stunning Barbera Bach as Bond's opposite with the KGB. Stunning locations and set designs by Ken Adam, including one of the largests set designs ever with the inside of the Tanker. And a Roger Moore that strikes a great balance between his ever charming wit and some serious action. Big budget being put to its utmost use.
- DirectorJohn GlenStarsTimothy DaltonMaryam d'AboJeroen KrabbéJames Bond is sent to investigate a KGB policy to kill all enemy spies, and uncovers an arms deal that potentially has major global ramifications.The Living Daylights saw another reboot of the franchise. And after Roger Moore's suave, charm and wit interpretation, which let's face it, regularly crossed the border of too campy, new Bond Timothy Dalton decided to take the character of Bond back to its origins from the Ian Fleming novels.
So we get a more serious, darker and grittier Bond. But actually also a very romantic Bond in the sense that he shows emotions and is very principal when it comes to higher moral. Dalton is an excellent Bond and also very believable in the action scenes.
It's a big movie with many locations and some big actions scenes. And of course as a Dutchman I'm partial to Jeroen Krabbé playing the villain role. A successful reboot even though it proved to be shortlived. - DirectorTerence YoungStarsSean ConneryClaudine AugerAdolfo CeliJames Bond heads to the Bahamas to recover two nuclear warheads stolen by S.P.E.C.T.R.E. Agent Emilio Largo in an international extortion scheme.The more commercial successful the Bond movies became, the bigger the budget for the next Bond. Thunderball saw its budget trippled compared to previous outing Goldfinger, to $ 9 million, really extraordinary for its time. It was the last of the Connery movies that made good use of such a big budget and still kept a good balance between story, action scenes, gadgets etc. without going into overdrive.
Thunderball was filmed on some magnificent locations, adding to the story, and the underwater scenes are nothing less than spectacular, even when looked at with today's eyes. It's an exciting action/adventure with enough inserted humour. A thrilling ride. - DirectorJohn GlenStarsTimothy DaltonRobert DaviCarey LowellA vengeful James Bond goes rogue to infiltrate and take down the organization of a drug lord who has murdered his friend's new wife and left him near death.This Bond movie has opinions divided. Lots of Bond fans feel, or at least felt at the time as its reputation has redeemed itself somewhat, that it tried too hard to be like other successful action movies at the time, thereby becoming a more general revenge action movie, than truly a James Bond movie.
Personally I've always been partial to Timothy Dalton's portrayal of Bond, as his portrayal was probably the closest to the Bond of the Ian Fleming novels. In this movie Bond is set out to revenge his old CIA buddy Leiter, who's wife is killed and who himself is partly eaten by a shark, all thanks to Druglord Sanchez. He is suspended from MI6 and his Licence to Kill is revoked.
The tone of this movie is more serious and harsh. But to me it's refreshing to see a Bond that is so emotionally invested and that relies on his intelligence, resourcefulness and physical capabilities, rather than on gadgets, wit and charm. It also has some great action scenes, with for instance the tanker car chase finale. This was also the last Bond movie directed by John Glen who directed all of the 80s Bond movies, with various degrees of succes. - DirectorJohn GlenStarsRoger MooreCarole BouquetTopolSecret service agent James Bond is assigned to find a missing British vessel equipped with a weapons encryption device and prevent it from falling into enemy hands.After the complete camp and outlandishness of Moonraker, the Bond producers decided to make a far more grounded Bond, liturally and metaphorically.
The tone in this Bond film is much more serious, although Moore still gets to be his suave Bond. There's also little gadgets in this movie. The more serious tone is emphasised by Roger Moore Bond for the first and probably only time showing us a darker side when he kicks the car of a henchman deliberatly of a cliff, while he could have saved the man.
To me, it was a breath of fresh air after Moonraker. There's a good story, some good actions scenes, although the car chase with a Citroën 2cv is quite silly, and Carol Bouquet plays a strong female co-lead. - DirectorTerence YoungStarsSean ConneryUrsula AndressBernard LeeA resourceful British government agent seeks answers in a case involving the disappearance of a colleague and the disruption of the American space program.The original movie that started it all. This movie is much more a thriller, than an action movie, which the later Bonds became. There's relatively little action in it, but that's understandable as the budget to shoot this first film was minimal.
The scene in the Casino, where for the first time ever Connery utters the words "Bond, James Bond" is an all-time movie history classic. And of course Urusla Andress rising from the sea is an evenly classic scene.
Visually the movie looks like a first one, and even in points with the eyes of now looks a bit amateuristic, but then again that is also the charm of this movie; getting to know the character of Bond and seeing it all for the first time. Joseph Wiseman is the first of some iconic villains of the franchise.
All in all some rough sketches, but nevertheless a very good start. - DirectorCary Joji FukunagaStarsDaniel CraigAna de ArmasRami MalekJames Bond has left active service. His peace is short-lived when Felix Leiter, an old friend from the CIA, turns up asking for help, leading Bond onto the trail of a mysterious villain armed with dangerous new technology.The last Bond movie for Daniel Craig, who singelhandely reformed the Bond character. This one is a good send-off, although not without its faults. However Daniel Craig's acting is what keeps this film together. It's probably the most emotional character driven of all of his outings.
The first half or so of this movie is really great and has some great actions scenes, for instance the one in a Cuba at the Spectre party, which is a highlight. The film is let down by a bit of a bland villain and its runnig time, which definetly could have been shorter. The ending of course is divisive amongst Bond fans. It certainly makes me curious of how the Bond producers will follow this up and how they will reboot the franchise yet again. - DirectorRoger SpottiswoodeStarsPierce BrosnanJonathan PryceMichelle YeohJames Bond sets out to stop a media mogul's plan to induce war between China and the UK in order to obtain exclusive global media coverage.In general I find the Brosnan Bond movies highly underrated. First off Brosnan made a great Bond, combinig characteristics of all the previous Bonds, but with adding his own style. Secondly with a first outing as strong as Goldeneye and a fast changing world it was probably no easy task for the Bond producers to keep up with everything and keep Bond really current.
Tomorrow Never Dies focusses on media and how media influences us and that is actually probably more relevant now than ever, which give this Bond even 26 years after its release sort of a current feel.
There are some great actions scenes and one of the stronger Bond female co-leads is Michelle Yeoh who stands her own in those action scenes. Yes, some scenes veer to the more silly, for instance with the remote controlled BMW, but all in all this is a better Bond movie than it's often credited for. - DirectorMichael AptedStarsPierce BrosnanSophie MarceauRobert CarlyleJames Bond uncovers a nuclear plot while protecting an oil heiress from her former kidnapper, an international terrorist who can't feel pain.Another Brosnan Bond relatively high on the list, compared to other lists.
Even though the quality of the Brosnan Bond movies was declining, there is still a lot to be enjoyed in this movie. The action scenes are good as ever, for instance the boat chase on the Thames or the card/bomb in the pipe line and Sophie Marceau is brilliant as villain, actually being more of a presence than Robert Carlyle in his role as the sort of main villain.
Denis Richards isn't the best choice for her role, as she isn't realy convincing in it.
And of course this film contains the last ever filmed scene with Desmond Llewyn as Q, a role he had been playing since 1963.
All in all a very respectable and enjoyable entry. - DirectorGuy HamiltonStarsRoger MooreYaphet KottoJane SeymourJames Bond is sent to stop a diabolically brilliant heroin magnate armed with a complex organisation and a reliable psychic tarot card reader.The first one with Roger Moore and it's a rather good one. The tone of the film and Moore's portrayal of Bond seem to fit like a glove. Moore still keeps the silliness of some of his later entries reigned in and there's a good balance between action, story and some humour.
It does come off dated nowadays and one can clearly see the movie was trying to tie in with the then popular blaxploitation films. Yaphet Kotto plays a great villain although slightly under utilised. All in all a good reboot3of the series after the less impressive Diamonds are Forever. - DirectorJohn GlenStarsRoger MooreMaud AdamsLouis JourdanA fake Fabergé egg recovered from the body of a fellow agent leads James Bond to uncover a jewel smuggling operation led by the mysterious Octopussy, and a plot to blow up a NATO air base.This entry divides opinions. Many review this one as going too campy yet again after the more serious tone of its predecessor. However I see this one as entertainment in it puresr form and the movie doesn't pretend to be anymore than that. And in that way it really succeeds in my opinion.
Moore was actually already getting too old for the role, but unlike with A View to a Kill is still able to get by with his usual suave performance. Louis Jordan is almost an evenly suave villain and Maud Adams gets to perform her second Bond film as the title character. As said, a thoroughly enjoyable entry. - DirectorSam MendesStarsDaniel CraigChristoph WaltzLéa SeydouxA cryptic message from James Bond's past sends him on a trail to uncover the existence of a sinister organisation named SPECTRE. With a new threat dawning, Bond learns the terrible truth about the author of all his pain in his most recent missions.In the Craig era, each great movie (see top 4) seemed to be followed by a less than stellar entry. Not that this is a bad movie, but it lacks the greatness and especially balance of for instance its predecessor.
It is nice to see some storyline of the previous movies being tied up and some historic storylines, the Spectre one, coming back and the action is still good as is Craig as Bond. But Blofield being Bond's stepbrother, really? And wanting to destroy the world because he didn't get the attention from dad, his stepbrother did? That really is way over the top and drags the movie down from what it could have been. A matter of trying too hard. - DirectorLewis GilbertStarsSean ConneryAkiko WakabayashiMie HamaJames Bond and the Japanese Secret Service must find and stop the true culprit of a series of space hijackings, before war is provoked between Russia and the United States.After 4 Bond movies, and each Bond movie being more commercially successful than the previous one, and the follow up getting a bigger budget, You Only Live Twice is for me where balance was lost and things got excessive.
There's still some good stuff in this movie, the big finale is great and it's the first time we actually get to see Ernst Stravo Blofield (portrayed here by Donald Pleasance). Sean Connery however wanted out after Thunderball, but still was contractually obligated to do one more Bond and to me it shows. He rather seems to be playing his role on autoplot. And Bond being made Japanese really feels embarrassing. - DirectorPeter R. HuntStarsGeorge LazenbyDiana RiggTelly SavalasBritish agent James Bond goes undercover to pursue the villainous Ernst Stavro Blofeld, who is planning to hold the world to ransom.This movie is very high upon a lot of ranking lists. I get why, because it has an excellent story, good action and stunts.
But for me it misses the most important thing: a convincing James Bond. George Lazenby's acting is wooden, flat and uncomfortable and for me ruins what could have been a very good movie.
The Bond movies stand or fall with either a very believable Bond or one that doesn't take himself too seriously (Moore) and Lazenby is neither. - DirectorJohn GlenStarsRoger MooreChristopher WalkenTanya RobertsThe recovery of a microchip from the body of a fellow British secret agent leads James Bond to a mad industrialist scheming to cause massive destruction.This movie often ends as one of the last ones on many Bond movies ranking lists. I'm probably somewhat biased, as this was the first Bond movie ever that I saw at the cinema, at thirteen years of age, and so it has a special place in my heart.
Yes, Roger Moore was too old to perform Bond at 57 years of age. It shows in the action scenes all done by stunt doubles. Tanya Roberts is one of the worst Bond girls in the franchise. Still, the movie has saving graces in Christopher Walken and Grace Jones as villains, a great chemistry between Moore and Avenger Patrick Macnee and still some nice action sequences. - DirectorMarc ForsterStarsDaniel CraigOlga KurylenkoMathieu AmalricJames Bond descends into mystery as he tries to stop a mysterious organisation from eliminating a country's most valuable resource.The second Daniel Craig movie is the least good one of is outings. That's by no means Craig's fault as he's a convincing Bond, but the material he has to work with lets him down.
There was a scenario writer's strike going on when this movie was filmed, so the director and also Craig wrote parts themselves. There is lack of a story, as the movie jumps from action scene to action scene. There's no memorable villain as well. They do try to bring some continuity as this film starts exactly where Casino Royale left off and fortunately it's the shortest Bond film in the franchise. - DirectorLee TamahoriStarsPierce BrosnanHalle BerryRosamund PikeJames Bond is sent to investigate the connection between a North Korean terrorist and a diamond mogul, who is funding the development of an international space weapon.This movie suffers the most from trying to be everything at once. It wants to be a serious espionage drama, with the hostage holding and torture of Bond, then the tone completely switches halfway to a light comedic action adventure. Meanwhile as it was the 40th anniversary of the Bond franchise it aims to deliver all sorts of nods to previous Bond films. An it tries to enter a character, Jinx, to have her own spin off series (which never materialises).
The end result is a bit of an overcrowded mess. However there is still some good action and Brosnan is still a good Bond, although he deserved a better send off. - DirectorGuy HamiltonStarsRoger MooreChristopher LeeBritt EklandJames Bond is targeted by the world's most expensive assassin, while he attempts to recover sensitive solar cell technology that is being sold to the highest bidder.After being off to a relatively good start, the second Bond film with Roger Moore in the lead was a bit of a disappointment.
It had a better villain almost than leadman, even though Christopher Lee as Scaramanga only had relatively little screentime. For some reason the sherrif J.W. Pepper from Live and Let Die was brought back, but it added little but silliness.
That's probably it, the movie was silly in a lot of places and there wasn't a whole lot of action and the story isn't really gripping. - DirectorGuy HamiltonStarsSean ConneryJill St. JohnCharles GrayA diamond smuggling investigation leads James Bond to Las Vegas where he uncovers an evil plot involving a rich business tycoon.After the commercial disappointment of On Her Majesty's Secret Service the Bond producers decided to lure Sean Connery back to the role of Bond with a, then exorbitant, paycheck of one million dollars, and getting to make two movies of his choice.
It was also decided to take Bond in completely different direction; more comedy and more campy.
Connery's portrayal of Bond is adjusted to this new style, but there's little to no connection to the Bond character of his previous outings. There are some good scenes, like the fight in the elevator in Amsterdam, but far to few to make this a good Bond movie and Connery is clearly there for the cash. - DirectorIrvin KershnerStarsSean ConneryKim BasingerKlaus Maria BrandauerA S.P.E.C.T.R.E. agent has stolen two American nuclear warheads, and James Bond must find their targets before they are detonated.Apparantly Sean Connery felt he had something to prove, playing Bond once more in a non Eon productions movie. I'm not sure he actually proves anything, besides that it would have been better if he had not taken it up.
Ofcourse Connery still has his charms and the producers are smart to let him portray an aged Bond with all the little inconveniences that come with that.
But the movie itself is a remake of Thunderball (after years of legal battle co-writer Kevin McGlory had retained the filming rights of the novel), but in everything is less than the orignal movie. Especially the special effect seem more outdated now, then the orignal of 1965, even though this one was released 18 years later.
Every actor seems to make the most of their role, as far as possible, but all in all the movie has few redeeming qualities, certainly held up to the rest of the franchise. - DirectorLewis GilbertStarsRoger MooreLois ChilesMichael LonsdaleJames Bond investigates the mid-air theft of a space shuttle, and discovers a plot to commit global genocide.James Bond goes Star Wars. It's a wonder to me that some people place this entry high upon their list. It's campier than camp. It's more comedy than action. It's almost a James Bond parody. Jaws has suddenly gone from serious murderous henchman to comedic side kick. Its only saving graces are the great set design by Ken Adam and Michael Lonsdale's performance as Hugo Drax.