The Best And Worst James Bond Films

February 17th, 2007

So what was the point of my watching all twenty-something James Bond movies? So I could write several awesome “Best Of” posts laden with Bond quips, cool images, and / or sexual innuendo. So here are what I consider the best Bond films — exactly seven, in honor of “007”.

Note: These are listed in chronological order, or in “no particular order.”

Secondary note: Please click on the titles to read my previous reviews on each film. Plus, here are the links to all my James Bond movie reviews.

Best 007 James Bond Films:

001. From Russia With Love

From Russia With Love

Three aspects of Bond: suave seducer, sneaky spy, and killer were established right here.

002. Goldfinger

Goldfinger

Take From Russia With Love but add an uber bad guy and several evil henchmen (and one henchwoman).

003. Thunderball

Thunderball

You’ll certainly “get the point” of Bond during this one. There’s the addition of epic battles and an outrageously smoking hot babe to the franchise.

004. The Spy Who Loved Me

The Spy Who Loved Me

Roger Moore’s best outing, with adept, needed variations on the Bond formula.

005. The Living Daylights

The Living Daylights

Dalton is surprisingly good, playing a more serious Bond after a string of “meh” Roger Moore outings.

006. GoldenEye

Goldeneye

Pierce Brosnan comes in and resets the franchise yet again. Plus, it’s hard to “top” Xenia as the sexiest baddie since Pussy Galore.

007. Casino Royale (2006)

Casino Royale

The ultimate Bond reboot. A bit too violent for my tastes, but a shock to the system is yet again, exactly what the franchise needed.

Worst 007 Bond Films:

1. Moonraker: Space and spies don’t mix.

2. Tomorrow Never Dies: I started watching this one, and realized I’d seen it before. Totally forgettable.

3. Die Another Day: I wanted to die during this film, as it seemed to last an entire day.

4. Licence To Kill: Much too dark Dalton misfire.

5. Diamonds Are Forever: Sean Connery looks bored during his last EON Bond film.

6. Octopussy: Too many villains and Bond stoops to dressing in a clown suit.

7. The Man With The Golden Gun: Just tragically average, and in addition to the gun there’s a third nipple — gross.

(Never Say Never Again was pretty bad, but it wasn’t an EON production. Still, it ought to be mentioned as yet another bad Bond film.)

Who’s The Best Bond Actor?

So who’s the best Bond? I’m a Sean Connery fan. These next lists are my orderings based on who played Bond:

Sean Connery Bond Films from Best to Worst:

Goldfinger, Thunderball, From Russia With Love, Dr. No, You Only Live Twice, Diamonds Are Forever

Roger Moore Bond Films from Best to Worst:

The Spy Who Loved Me, For Your Eyes Only, Live And Let Die, A View To A Kill, The Man With The Golden Gun, A View To A Kill, Octopussy, Moonraker

Pierce Brosnan Bond Films from Best to Worst:

GoldenEye, The World Is Not Enough, Tomorrow Never Dies, Die Another Day

Timothy Dalton Bond Films from Best to Worst:

The Living Daylights, Licence To Kill

…and poor George Lazenby only made one Bond film, which was pretty decent. Lastly, I think the jury is still out with Daniel Craig, but he’s off to an outstanding start.

Note: Here are the links to all my James Bond movie reviews.

 

260 Comments

  1. Rik says:

    Moonraker ??? Whoa! You consider this a good Bond film? Sorry this automatically makes your opinions not valid at all… SORRY but true.

  2. Rik says:

    you are correct sir! What’s with the contraDICTION?

    • Carnage says:

      Rik, as You may have not noticed the Roger Moore list goes from best to worst. Moonraker being at the end of the list would place it at the worst.….idiot

  3. Tyler says:

    I think moonraker is awsome. My favoroute bond is Roger moore.
    MY FAVROUTE BOND MOVIES IN ORDER ARE…
    1.MOONRAKER
    2.GOLDENEYE
    3.THE SPY WHO LOVED ME
    4.QUANTOM OF SOLICE
    5.CASINO ROYALE
    6.FOR YOUR EYES ONLY
    7.LICENCE TO KILL
    8.DR.NO
    9.ON HER MAJASTYS SECRET SERVICE
    10.DIMONDS ARE FOREVER
    I HATE DIMONDS ARE FOREVER + ON HER MAJASTYS SECRET SERVICE

    • Spandan says:

      I love Danny, Connery and Bros:
      Casino Royale
      Goldfinger
      Die Another Day
      Dr. No
      Golden Eye
      Quantum of Solace
      Thunderball
      Diamonds are Forever
      The World is Not Enough

      I hated George(no fun, no sex); Roger Moore(Ha! Ha!) and Dalton(superbly serious).

  4. Jaws says:

    DANIEL CRAIG IS MY FAVURUTE
    GEORGE LAZENBY IS PANTS
    MOONRAKER IS MY FAVORUTE
    2.THE SPY WHO LOVED ME
    3.QUANTOM OF SOLICE
    4.CASINO ROYALE
    MY FAVROUTE VILAN IS JAWS

  5. Romeo says:

    My favroute bond is Daniel craig my favroute movie is QUANTOM OF SOLICE!

    • Ian says:

      *favourite*. *quantum*. Perhaps you should read a book instead of obsessively watching James Bond movies.

      • romeo says:

        yes i know now after all i was only 9 now im 11 and i read piles of books!

  6. Leonardo di Dawson says:

    I agree with Jaws+Romeo but my favroute is‘nt quantom of solice
    Mr Right is rong because the old casino royale is‘nt even James bond it‘s Jimmy bond in 1967+1957

    • Ian says:

      *favourite*. *quantum*. *wrong* (yes, you are). *isn’t*.

      • Leonardo di Dawson says:

        quantum i know so shut up it was a typing error so stop controdicting mine and my friends comments!

  7. abhishek says:

    i like timothy dalton the most in his last movie licence to kill.….….….….….….…

  8. pc says:

    youre a fuckin dumbass..

  9. MONNEX says:

    Roger Moore is my Personal favorite, but I don’t look at worst and best Bonds, I take all the bonds together and find the great things about each of them, such as the Humor of Roger Moore, the Goofyness of Connery, the Modern quality of Craig and the “I don’t give a shit” from Brosnan, They are all fine to me, but Fleming’s goal wasn’t to find the Bond most like his books, he wanted to entertain people, and Moore entertains me with his Suave intelligent Humor, My Favorite is Moonraker or Octopussy, it may not be your favorite, but it’s mine… Next would be License to kill, The Spy Who Loved Me, Live And Let Die, and Man With The Golden Gun. I don’t know how people can tell other people which Bond is “Bad”, there is no way of Calculating, it’s all opinion, and I find it childish to see it in this way, just take the best and put it together :)

  10. Ben says:

    Casino Royale is one of my favourites too. But we should remember that the movie and novel story-lines are very different.

    Just throwing it in there that Goldeneye is my fav bond. Also, I think For Your Eyes Only is under-rated quite often

  11. g says:

    I think your opinions are wrong. My favorite bond is Dalton. Licence to kill was better than what most say about it, and i wish Dalton made more films. Lazenby Stinks!

  12. claytonn says:

    pierce brosnan is the best james bond and i think the best james bond movie is goldeneye or die another day.

  13. kill1991 says:

    This is my opinion on the Best to Worst Bond Movies
    1.) From Russia With Love
    2.) The Spy Who Loved Me
    3.) Licence to Kill
    4.) Tomorrow Never Dies
    5.) For Your Eyes Only
    6.) Goldfinger
    7.) Casino Royal
    8.) Goldeneye
    9.) Dr. No
    10.) Live and Let Die
    11.) The Living Daylights
    12.) You Only Live Twice
    13.) On Her Majesty’s Secret Service
    14.) A View To A Kill
    15.) Quantum of Solace
    16.) Thunderball
    17.) Moonraker
    18.) Die Another Day
    19.) Octopussy
    20.) The World is Not Enough
    21.) Diamonds are Forever
    22.) The Man With The Golden Gun

  14. Hkg36 says:

    The worst bond film ever is never say never hands down it is just pure pro yank propaganda Q wants to join the CIA that laughable anyone who truly knows the British or any European they would know the US is despised. No member of Her majesties service would be caught dead claiming the CIA is better it is utter nonsense as the Brits would say.
    Not to mention Kim Basinger is the ugliest bond girl ever; see looks like Yankee trailer trash.

  15. Alyssa says:

    Well it would be understandable that an ugly brit, with your horrid accents, and your disgusting dirty teeth, would think in such ways of the United States. However, as, Americans, know that this is the greatest nation on earth. Don’t like that? Tough. Deal with it you ugly limey.

    • Hkg36 says:

      You are an Idiot why would I make a comment like“it is utter nonsense as the Brits would say.” if I was English.

      Also you are clear proof of why most of the world hates you stupid Yankees, only brainwashed Americans think the US is the “greatest nation on earth”

      The rest of us laugh at a Country full of uneducated ignorant morons like you the US spend so much on Military hardware yet nothing on schools and Health services.

      If you like being uneducated, unhealthy, fat, brainwashed Yankee trash that’s fine but don’t pretend anyone else what’s to be like you.

    • Hkg36 says:

      You are an Idiot why would I make a comment like“it is utter nonsense as the Brits would say.” if I was English.

      Also you are clear proof of why most of the world hates you stupid Yankees, only brainwashed Americans think the US is the “greatest nation on earth”

      The rest of us laugh at a Country full of uneducated ignorant morons like you the US spend so much on Military hardware yet nothing on schools and Health services.

      If you like being uneducated, unhealthy, fat, brainwashed Yankee trash that’s fine but don’t pretend anyone else what’s to be like you.

  16. puszkin says:

    nobody is better than Roger Moore, and “kill 1991″ about your list who cares whether 18 or 21, it is not 100 meter sprint you can use a stopwatch and declare who was better by a margin of .01 sec. all those lists are simply stupid. the best 100 movies ever, the best 100 actores ever, etc. I have my own list, so does my wife, and who’s list is BETTER?

  17. jason says:

    the best bond movie is die another day for sure

  18. Dave says:

    Die another day was Hitler’s favourite.

  19. […] free to compare to my own James Bond Reviews and list of Best and Worst Bond movies. I have to say, Slammerworm’s list is much funnier and better […]

  20. Verweyen says:

    the best bond movie is Goldfinger because everything is right

  21. three gun fish says:

    live and let die is my favorite bond film.

  22. hotshotboy says:

    best bonds:
    pierce brosnan
    sean connery
    roger moore
    timothy dalton
    daniel craig
    george lazenby

  23. Bill says:

    Dr. No was the best. I saw it first run in a large theater with a small audience, with a few of my friends. We knew nothing about Bond or what to expect. Starting with the colored circles moving in the intro with the Bond music of course (did Saul Bass do this?). It blew is away. The three blind mice, the Kingston location, varnished wood of the British interiors, and of course Bond’s wardrobe. His suit #1 (grey kidd mohair “conduit cut”, white shirt, dark blue tie) So kool. Also very foreboding was Dr. No’s round room where he gives the dufis gunsil the spider to kill Bond with–that was tasty too, with the round open air skylight. And who could forget Ursulla Undress? Yeah after Dr. No, it was all downhill.

  24. J. Rockwell says:

    Goldfinger is the best.
    Goldeneye is great, and I think in Goldeneye Pierce Brosnan made a terrific Bond. It is too bad that the other Pierce Brosnan bond movies are so terrible. They seem very rushed and poorly planned in comparison to Goldeneye.

    And to me, Roger Moore is very annoying.

  25. […] The best and the worst James Bond films By venkatarv The Best And Worst James Bond Films » Webomatica – tech, movies, music blog […]

  26. OldschoolVgamer says:

    Generally speaking, I like them all. It’s frickin’ James Bond for crying out loud! How can you go wrong?

    But generally speaking, and call me odd for saying this, my favorite thus far is 1985’s “A View to a Kill”. Yeah the main Bond girl wasn’t the best and the “California Girls” sequence at the beginning felt out of place, but it seriously was one of the best.

    How can you go wrong with Christopher Walkin playing that blonde-haired Nazi spawn who’s a sick and backwards villian and his trusting and loving but eventually betrayed sidekick of May Day played by Grace Jones? Those were good villians.

    Not to mention seeing Grace Jones naked backside and the scene where she and her lover were training together and she was in that work outfit of hers? Dang! That was something else!

    Locales were good too and I did get a kick out of Max Zorin’s one liner of “Anyone else decide to drop out?” after dumping that guy from the blimp.

    Seriously, I think this one was pretty damn good and doesn’t get enough credit! Just got done watching it on DVD and now the theme song by Duran Duran is running through my head.

  27. Josh says:

    Best to worst films:
    1. Goldfinger
    2. Casino Royale
    3. From Russia with Love
    4. Thunderball
    5. On her majesty’s secret Service
    6. You only live twice
    7. Dr. No
    8. Goldeneye
    9. The Living Daylights
    10. The World is not enough
    11. Diamonds are Forever
    12. Quantum of Solace
    13. The Spy who loved me
    14. Tomorrow never dies
    15. Live and let die
    16. For your eyes only
    From here on down, all of the movies are awful:
    Moore mugging for the camera, too many gadgets for Brosnan, etc., but I’ll try to rank them:
    17. Moonraker
    18 Die another day
    19. The man with the golden gun
    20. Octopussy
    21. A view to a kill

    The best to worst Bonds:
    1. Connery
    2. Craig (he’s a very close second and could outdistance
    Connery).
    3. Dalton/Lazenby
    4. Brosnan
    5. And the truly awful: Moore.

  28. Marc says:

    Best:
    1.- From Russia With Love
    2.- Casino Royale
    3.- Thunderball
    4.- On Her Majesty’s Secret Service
    5.- GoldenEye

    Worst
    1.- Never say never again (Connery too Old)
    2.- Octopussy
    3.- The man with the golden gun
    4.- Moonraker
    5.- The spy who loved me

  29. Gianni says:

    Ok so we all have different opinions on who was the best bond and which was the best movie, but they’re all different, and that is what makes them enjoyable.
    I liked Moore for his humour
    I liked Connery because he was totally believable as Bond
    I the Brosnan movies because of the way he carried off those Brioni suits
    Craig was great for action
    Dalton was a good Bond but the movies were a trifle cheesey if you ask me
    and Lazenby, well, there’s only 1 OHMSS.

  30. jakebloodx says:

    Myseof having seen all the films was so surprised how well they hold up on BLue Ray which puts me back in the threatre with my big widescreen tv. The sharp quality picture and surround sound make it a hott! I now have 18 bond pics on dvd will buy the rest. IT was a shame poor George Laz did only one film , but Iheard from experts that he was a prima dona and got the AX poor stupid him!
    Did he make another film after Bond ? hmmm let me know. Porno maybe!!! Jake :) >

  31. Leonardo di Dawson says:

    My favroute bond movies in order now are
    1.Quantom of solice
    2. Casino royale
    3. Goldeneye
    4. Die another day
    5. Moonraker
    6. Live and let die
    7. Goldfinger
    8. Tomorrow never dies
    9. For your eyes only
    I couldent bey bothered to finish it!

  32. mefive says:

    Anyone who says Connery is not the best Bond is born too late. Goldfinger is by far the greatest Bond movie ever. Timothy Dalton never played Bond, he only had the name. Roger Moore was fantastic. Pierce Brosnan’s best was The World is not enough. Daniel who?

  33. Muni says:

    This is ridiculous. Of course there is a right answer in distinguishing what makes a good bond film, and i certainly isn’t die another day. Moore had a couple but theres far to much tongue and cheek. From russia from love is the best. A proper espinage thriller as intended. I mean seriously, unless you’re a fool with no clue you should be able to make a call definate call.

  34. Muni says:

    Espionage. I do apologize

  35. Banu says:

    My favroute bond movies in order now are

    1. Casino royale
    3. Goldfinger
    4. Tomorrow never dies
    5. On Her Majesty’s Secret Service
    6. From Russia With Love

  36. Rik, as You may have not noticed the Roger Moore list goes from best to worst. Moonraker being at the end of the list would place it at the worst. True

  37. […] a 2007 post called “The Best and Worst of James Bond Films,” Webomatica ranks the Bond movies and the Bond actors. Daniel Craig is omitted. Here’s my […]

  38. I’m not english so please excuse me for my lack of words.
    Here my favorite 007 movies

    1# Goldfinger
    2# From Russia with love
    3# Dr.No
    4# Casino Royale ( If you have ever read Ian Fleming, You know that Bond is sometime cold and cruel)
    5# License to kill
    6# Goldeneye
    7# On her majesty secret service (Decent and I love went George act like a Scot)
    8# Thunderball
    9# Diamond are forever

    Now to say for those who think about Quantum for a Solace as the best bond movie ever.…..You are fool ! Stop being insubstantial and try to gain some good taste ! And yes, Moonraker is the crappyest bond movie ever, followed by Die another Day..

  39. Nick says:

    I think allthe bond actors were great, but I think that Craig is one of the best considering the “re-boot” of the whole series and that he represent a new, “vulnerable” Bond that is’nt always perfect. Overall though i would have to say “Die another Day” and “Quantum of Solace” are the worst Bond Movies. The fight scenes in Quantum of Solace are untolerable and the storyline is all messed up, not even close to being as good of a movie as Casino Royale, which in my opion is one of the top 3 Bond films.

  40. Nostra says:

    Personal favourites:
    1) Goldfinger
    2) Thunderball
    3) You only live twice
    4) Moonraker (despite the fact that is ranked as the worst)
    5) The Man with the golden gun (despite its poor box-office reception)
    6) Goldeneye
    7) Die another day

    Personal opinion probab;y the worst films in the franchise ever:
    1) Quantum of Solace (what the hell is with this one, a complete dissapointment)
    2) Casino Royale (Sorry my opinion, i hate Graig)
    3) License to kill (this is no Bond)
    4) Diamonds are forever (Connery returned only for the money, shame)
    5) From Russia with love (too slow pace for my taste)

    Daniel Graig should have played Born not Bond
    John Glen and Michael Wilson destroyed the series
    I miss Q, the original M and the music of John Barry

    Roger Moore and the then Sean Connery, best Bonds ever! Period!

  41. I like Tomorrow Never Dies:to be added in best of bond films, Casino Royal can be eliminated from this list

  42. monkey butthole says:

    craig is the worst bond ever. and casino royale is unwatchable. the villain’s poker tell is BLEEDING OUT OF HIS EYE. puhleeze. it’s an insult to the viewer’s intelligence.

  43. the dude says:

    Hey, I agree with your list, except I think that Live and let diw should be in the top 7, that was a GREAT one!

  44. jimmy 147 says:

    brosnan for me was the best Bond.

    Although the films that follwed Goldeneye were never as good. Goldeneye was a fantastic film.

  45. This Man says:

    your all wrong, i am in fact right, the best one is the man with the golden bat

  46. Nicholas Gagnon says:

    My 10 favorites

    1.Licence to Kill
    2.The World is Not Enough
    2.For Your Eyes Only
    4.Casino Royale
    5.Die Another Day
    6.A View to a Kill
    7.On Her Majestys Secret Service
    8.Goldfinger
    9.The Living Daylights
    10.From Russia with Love

    Worst:Quantum of Solace

  47. Karl-Heinz Smith says:

    Bond films, best to worst from a 31 year old fan who has been watching them since he was 6! Excluding NSNA as its unofficial and quite frankly, crap. It’s only opinion, and others will disagree — but as mentioned, all the actors have done superby, all of the movies suit the era they were produced and thats why there is such variation.

    1 (BEST) — From Russian With Love
    2 — Goldfinger
    3 — Live and Let Die
    4 — The Living Daylights
    5 — You Only Live Twice
    6 — Thunderball
    7 — Dr No
    8 — Casino Royale
    9 — Goldeneye
    10 — On Her Majesty’s Secret Service
    11 — The Spy Who Loved Me
    12 — For Your Eyes Only
    13 — Quantum of Solace
    14 — The Man with the Golden Gun
    15 — Diamonds are Forever
    16 — A View To A Kill
    17 — Octopussy
    18 — Tomorrow Never Dies
    19 — Licence to Kill
    20 — Moonraker
    21 — Die Another Day
    22 — The World Is Not Enough

    18–22 I don’t really like watching much, all the others are good films. 3 of Brosnans 4 make my bottom 5, but Goldeneye was excellent (top 10).

    • Karl-Heinz Smith says:

      Looking back, my top 10 feature all the actors who’ve played Bond. Interesting…

  48. hey you all …just listen… no one will say anything wrong about pierce brosnan ok. otherwise i will kill that mosquito…ok..
    pierce brosnan was is and will always remain the best bond ever…
    and if anyone will say anything wrong about pierce then i will kill u all mosquitos.…and dirty flies.…

  49. pierce brosnan was the best bond and was the most handsome…

  50. all the pierce brosnan movies are excillent…and he is really a very good actor

    • Nicholas Gagnon says:

      Highly agreed!

    • Karl-Heinz Smith says:

      Good actor, poor films, except Goldeneye. Not Brosnans fault. Brosnan was supposed to take the role of Bond a lot earlier, but due to other commitments, couldn’t. Was supposed to take over for The Living Daylights (from IMDB.com: Pierce Brosnan was the hot favorite to replace Roger Moore, was signed but then was ruled out because of his contractual obligations to “Remington Steele” (1982).)