007 needs no introduction. Whether he is a smug Scotsman, a mopey ozzie, a professional Leslie Phillips impersonator, a dimple-chinned welsh thespian, an Irishman who constantly looks like he wants to shag your mum, or a pouting blonde with sticky-out ears, Ian Fleming’s James Bond is without doubt the most enduring cinematic icon of the last 50 years, synonymous with beautiful women who have double-entendred names, exotic locales, deformed villains, witty puns, impossible gadgets, fast cars, guns and enough alcohol to finish off the combined livers of Indiana Jones, Batman and Sherlock Holmes.
Finally, Daniel Craig, who is in my opinion the best Bond so far, has returned in Skyfall- you’ll find out my opinion on the film later on. So Bond’s back, and Bond will return. With that in mind, I felt this was the perfect time to re-evaluate the franchise and rank each of the 23 films EON has produced- for your eyes only, of course.
Before I start, because I imagine many of my choices will cause unrest, please keep this in mind- this is purely my opinion. Everyone has their favourite bond, and their own expectations of what makes a great Bond film. For me, the Bond films I love the most hearken back to Fleming’s original character as he was written- but that is not to say I don’t love Bond when its just incredibly fun, silly and entertaining. In my eyes, though, Bond should be a cold-blooded killer, and not rely on gadgets, with as few elements that date the film as of its time, and the opportunity to deconstruct the legend and see at least some emotion, be it of mourning, defiance or revenge. So you may see a pattern develop as I go higher into my entries.
With that out the way, read on, Mr. Reader. I’ve been expecting you…
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31 Comments
Why don´t you like Casino Royale (2006) and Skyfall at all? – Saying “Ranking Best To Worst”…
And Casino Royale (1954) was missing.
You are clearly out of your mind. I disagree with all of your opinions.
This is perhaps the worst ranking of the Bond movies I’ve ever seen.
Firstly, you’ve ranked them the wrong way round. The tile should say Worst to Best if you think Skyfall is the best.
Also I’d like to know how you’ve decided these in this order. Have you watched all of them recently so you could get an unbiased opinion? I doubt it.
I know it is an opinion piece, but I stopped reading when I got to Diamonds are forever as one of the worst…
Skywalk was the most over rated film of the decade.
Even if I don’t agree with all of your choices I do appreciate your explaining your thought process and influences.
The only film I don’t quite understand is OHMSS.
The first time I watched the film I had a very strong reaction. The first half of the story is so bizarre and offbeat I found it extremely off putting to say the least. And then a Bond film broke out near the end but I suddenly understood why I hadn’t, ever, EVER seen OHMSS broadcast on television or included in Bond marathons until very recently. Lasenby isn’t terrible but he does deliver a fairly awkward performance. I guess some people view the weirder aspects of the film to be “charming” but for me it just left me wondering what the hell the film makers where thinking. I do think it’s unfair that we didn’t get a second sampling of Lasenby but fate had other designs on his career.
My best Bond films, according to story, music and action:
From Russia With Love, On her majesty’s sercret service, Thunderball, the Living Daylights and You Only live Twice.
Worst films,
Almost all of Roger Moore’s except Live and Let Die.
Best modern James Bond movie, undoubtably Craig’s Syfall;)
What an awful awful list. The Spy Who Loved Me and From Russia With Love should always be in the top ten.
You can’t critisize one’s personal taste, but I think Die Another Day is the worse Bond ever made. Too cartoonish and ridiculous. I’d say Brosnan is the lesser Bond of all. Just a bit better is Quantum of Solace: way to over-the-top action sequences and breaking with countless Bond traditions. Among the bottom ranks should also be Diamonds are forever, boring as hell. Some people don’t like the Roger Moore movies, but I like Moore a lot and thought that his movies were at least entertaining.
Wait a second: you put The World is not Enough ABOVE from Russia with Love?? That’s just plain blasphemy, buddy.
I agree with you completely. This reviewer is high off his ass if he genuinely believes this list???! I mean, we are all entitled to our opinions but placing License to Kill and The world is not enough above classics like Spy who loved me or Octopussy. Lol. Deluded. Why overstate this is a BEST TOOOOOO WORST LIST!! I expect to click on the link and see #1 FIRST BEST!! Not number 23. In my OPINION the only decent Brosnan film was ‘Goldeneye’. In fact I’m pretty sure most people’s opinion would also concur.
Have to agree on Timothy Dalton, he was a brilliant bond – shame he only got to appear in a couple due to pointless legal battles stalling the franchise for 6 years.
For such an authority on Bond Films to say that Sheena easton was painted Gold is a hell of an error!! Poor girl only sung a theme tune 20 years later!!
Also Skyfall is very over rated and everyone goes on about Bond (Moore) pushing the car off the cliff in FYEO,, his whacking away of the henchman holding his tie on the roof in TSWLM was far more brutal!
The reviewer is deluded.
Totally agree his lits is the wrong way round (what a sad indictment of the students of today!!)
And in Skyfall…What gagdets? What a let-down more like. Can you really remember a memorable scene in Skyfall? It was just a Bourne-a-like movie…nothing Bond or special about it at all…will you even remember the plot or any scene in 2 years time….I really doubt it.
Evene if you don’t rate Lotus…everyone remembers the car that became a submarine…..and the opening chase scene in Goldfinger.
Re-evaluate your ranking….Skyfall is just NOT #1
Wow, I am saddened I was so compeled to read all the way to Number 1. This list is a train wreck from the beginning. I am glad explainations are given for rankings, but I am also glad this is just an opinion list! Obviously the writer is a young man fascinated by today’s technology, but that doesn’t make a movie great. The Idea of Craig, and Brosnan as the Top Bonds is Crazy. James Bond is a “Man’s Man” and Sean displays all the smoothness, tenderness and quirkiness needed to kill a man and still make it to dinner in a clean Tuxedo. I hope a real ranking of the Bond films would show a different result.
‘
“The World is Not Enough” ranked over “From Russia With Love?” REALLY?
NGL, I genuinely liked Moonraker. It was silly, the plot was nonsensical, the Jaws romance was bizarre…and yet I can’t help but enjoy it every time it comes on tv.
A nice list all things considered, so if I may throw my two cents in here;
1) Connery should have left Bond permanently after YOLT… and never returned.
2) George Lazenby should have and did want to do DAF, but his agent wouldn’t let him take the $1million offer, then he should have left.
3) ‘Moonraker’ is NOWHERE near as bad as some think, watched it again recently and loved every gloriously OTT minute of it… it has Michel Lonsdale, say no more!
4) Roger Moore should have bowed out with the fab ‘Octopussy’.
5) Timothy Dalton should have debuted with a grittier and more Fleming-esque ‘A View to a Kill’.
6) Jane Seymour is so smoking hot in LALD, my widescreen telly blew a fuse!
I’ve said it before a list without a frame of reference just becomes personal opinion. I like your recognition of the dalton bonds as far better than they get credit for but for me brosnan’s movies have not aged well at all so they would rank lower down. Skyfall is overlong and confused to be at the top of the list. The top 5 for me depends on my mood but at the moment it would be, FRWL, TLD, FYEO, CR and OHMSS. You can probably tell I prefer the espionage bonds.
You’ve taken a LOT of heat for this list, but it’s well thought out and thoroughly explained. I happen to agree with most of your selections and much of your reasoning. I’m amazed people can actually rate movies like Spy Who.. and From Russia.. in the top 10. That’s … just …. wow.
Timothy Dalton was easily the best Bond and his movie’s are consistently lambasted for reasons that don’t have any credibility (much like some of your reviewers here….)
The only real disagreement I have with the list is the placing of Skyfall. I’ve also seen it more than once and I don’t think it belongs in the top-5, definitely not in the top-3. I think it will lose some of its lustre as time passes. It had some wonderful scenes and a tremendous villain, but it was very spotty and I never really felt like I was watching a Bond movie. Daniel Craig has become less Bond with each passing movie. Frankly, I’m looking forward to his successor, whoever it ends up being…
Regardless, your list is wonderfully well presented. You’ve done an excellent job of explaining your rational and presenting us with your evaluation of the Bond series. I applaud your efforts and I wish you the best of luck in your studies and with your aspirations.
You’re either an idiot or a real life bond villain, I can’t tell.
Why are some of Connery’s so far down? He was the one of the best and the films excellent though old. Brosnan’s films sucked so much, GoldenEye being the exception of course, I know everyone is entitled to there own opinion so I expected to differ a bit from your views, but really? I agree with some of your views but after GoldenEye brosnan failed and roger Moore stayed in too long.
Leave off. We all have different opinions and this person’s is different from your.
You and I have very similar taste in Bond movies. Even if I didn’t agree, we all rate these movies on personal preference alone and everyone has different taste. In my opinion Dalton was the best Bond. The Living Daylights is my number 1, closely followed by Casino Royale, Skyfall and Licence to Kill. Thanks for making this list :)
i know opinions can’t be wrong but yours is
It beggars belief how negative / picky some of these comments are.
I enjoyed reading it. Cheers.
I liked Dalton too. Probably a generational thing. License to kill was my first trip to the cinema.
Listen. It’s not all about Eon. Casino Royale (1967) and Never Say Never Again are good enough to be included in any list. Also, Skyfall is great but let’s not get all carried away just because it happens to be the latest one out and happens to be half decent. Some of the older films are just as good. Here’s the real top 25!
1. The Spy Who Loved Me
2. Thunderball
3. Skyfall
4. Casino Royale
5. The Living Daylights
6. From Russia With Love
7. Goldfinger
8. Dr. NO
9. Never Say Never Again
10. Licence To Kill
11. GoldenEye
12. On Her Majesty’s Secret Service
13. Diamonds Are Forever
14. Live And Let Die
15. For Your Eyes Only
16. Tomorrow Never Dies
17. The Man With The Golden Gun
18. Casino Royale (1967)
19. You Only Live Twice
20. Moonraker
21. Quantum Of Solace
22. Die Another Day
23. The World Is Not Enough
24. Octopussy
25. A View To A Kill
Hi, your list is quite good. Seems that ‘Spy…’ is the most ‘complete’ film ever! I bet anyone can say that. I agree your opinion about ‘Skyfall’ but to be frank I cant get why you gave 1967′s bond such a high rank…. hope you enjoy my list :)
Well, for me the worst part in this list was bloody hell Dalton bonds were in top seven and the most fab bond film- ‘The Spy Who Loved Me’ was at 17th rank. Well ‘Living…’ is a good movie but it is neither bold nor fascinating than ‘The Spy..’ Also giving ‘The Man With golden gun’ whose main fight is more than unbelievable and fancy and ‘Die Another Day’ who has nothing except a good opening fight, average car fight and sweet bond girl were totally disgusting …
For me correct order is:
1. The Spy Who Loved Me
2. Goldeneye
3. On Her Majesty’s Secret Service
4. Casino Royale
5. Living Daylights
6. Live and Let Die
7. Skyfall
8. Thunderball
9. From Russia With Love
10.Dr. No.
11.For your eyes only
12.Octopussy
13.Goldfinger
14.Licence to kill
15.Never Say Never Again
16.Tomorrow never Dies
17.Moonraker
18.The World Is Not Enough
19.Diamonds are forever
20.You only Live twice
21.Quantum of Solace
22.The man with the golde gun
23.(For) A view to a kill
24.Die Another Day
25.Casino Royale(1967)
Opinions are arbitrary.
I disagree with a lot of the placings in your list but am bothered more by the amount of spelling and grammatical errors in your descriptions.
I’m not ruthlessly attacking you because I disagree with your opinion.
Though, to be honest, your opinions became irrelevant due to your spelling.
Delivery is everything.
1. On Her Majesty’s Secret Service
2. Casino Royale
3. From Russia With Love
4. Dr. No
5. Skyfall? (This is tough as it is quite fresh. I agree with a lot of comments and will wait until the “Honeymoon is over” before deciding completely. At this point, I’m sticking it here)
6. Thunderball
7. Goldfinger
8. Licence To Kill
9. The Living Daylights
10. For Your Eyes Only
11. Goldeneye
12. The Spy Who Loved Me
13. Live and Let Die
14. The Man with the Golden Gun
15. Tomorrow Never Dies
16. Quantum of Solace
17. You Only Live Twice
18. Diamonds Are Forever
19. Moonraker
20. The World is Not Enough
21. Octopussy
22. Never Say Never Again
23. A View To a Kill
24. Die Another Day