In a few days, James Bond will make his way into movie theaters for the 24th time officially in Spectre (he’s been there twice in less official capacities). The character, based on the series of novels by Ian Fleming first published in 1953, is the centerpiece of the longest continually-running film series in history. From his first appearance, played by Sean Connery, in 1962’s Dr. No to his three most recent films featuring Daniel Craig, Agent 007 has been a pop-culture mainstay and a titan of the silver screen. If you adjust for inflation and add them all up, the James Bond franchise has grossed the equivalent of $13 billion dollars, which far outpaces any other franchise in cinematic history. It doesn’t hurt that there are 24 movies, many of which were the highest grossing films of their respective years.
There’s more to it than widespread success at the box office, though. The Bond franchise is one of those properties by which you can set your cultural watch. Every generation since the 1960s has grown up with Bond, many of whom have been vastly different than the others. Each Bond era is a product of its own time, but with only a few exceptions, they all have loads of connective tissue. Personally, I’m glad that I grew up in the 1990s, when Pierce Brosnan’s turn as Fleming’s international man of mystery reinvigorated the franchise and brought it back into the mainstream consciousness. I’m also thankful that it went downhill so quickly for the Brosnan era, which prompted my rediscovery of the Sean Connery and Roger Moore eras. It was after being re-immersed in the classics that I found myself ready for a new, modern James Bond just in time for Daniel Craig to emerge as the new face of the franchise.
Just as there are film fanatics who can chart their formative years by the chronology of the Star Wars franchise and young Millennials who will be someday wistful of their early Harry Potter years, there are several generations of human beings who are connected through the James Bond franchise. While your mileage may vary from film to film (rightfully so in a few cases), there’s no denying that Bond is essential to the landscape of 20th century cinema.
With the legacy of James Bond in mind and in honor of his next adventure, I’ve asked some of our resident Bond experts to join me in ranking the franchise from worst to best. With the assistance of Rob Hunter, Jack Giroux and Matthew Monagle, we’ve compiled our most definitive (and undoubtedly divisive) list in order of preference. Gauged on a scale of individual quality, cultural significance and simple entertainment value, these are The James Bond Movies ranked from worst to best.
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