All 25 James Bond films ranked

It’s been a while since No Time to Die was released. While I actually saw the film on its premiere night, at the time, I felt I was not ready to talk about it. The 25th Bond film is unique. Too unique to be judged in one viewing.

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In many ways, the film was a statement of change. It declared that the Bond franchise would no longer be the same. That it was time to break traditions and step into brave new worlds. And yet, the film is not short on nostalgia-inducing fan service, from the cheeky reference to Dr No (1962) in the title sequences to the lines and scores lifted from On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969).

The contrast between change and nostalgia made my first viewing of No Time to Die emotionally exhilarating. But that rush also made me numb to objective thoughts. I was not able to think of No Time to Die beyond the highs and lows of my feelings. I needed to watch it again, but this time with the rest of the Bond franchise in mind.

That’s what I did.

And while it gave me much-needed perspective, it created a kind of distance that prevented me from writing an actual review. Instead, I was filled with an urge to rank all the Bond movies I saw, including the latest one. So here it is, a retrospective list by a Bond fan.

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25. Diamonds Are Forever (1971)

1971’s Diamonds Are Forever is the 7th film in the franchise, and the last one where the legendary Sean Connery played the British agent. By that point, Connery had already played Bond in 5 films and had passed on the baton to George Lazenby in the 6th film. Bringing Connery back felt like an attempt to save a franchise plagued by identity confusion. This film constantly plays like a parody of itself. Its characters were haphazardly written and were not given clear motivations. This was a Bond film that simply did not know what it was and what it wanted to be.

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24. A View to A Kill (1985)

Yet another final film starring a legendary Bond actor ranking at the bottom of this list. While A View to A Kill’s campy style is not surprising, considering that it starred Roger Moore – the campiest of the Bond actors. That said, camp and comedy was never the problem here. The problem is that the camp and the comedy didn’t make the film fun to watch. The villains, while gleefully portrayed by Christopher Walker and Grace Jones, never really crossed the threshold to become engaging.

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23. Die Another Day (2002)

It seems strange that like Connery’s and Moore’s, Pierce Brosnan’s final film is also his worst. While Die Another Day has an engaging set-up, the rest of the film did not live up to the expectation. To say that the villains and their plot are derivative and uninteresting seem like a no-brainer. But what sets Die Another Day apart is the painfully unnatural dialogue. The conversation between Bond and Jinx for example are over-littered with innuendos so obvious they are guaranteed to make your skin crawl.

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22. Live and Let Die (1973)

Live and Let Die presents another case of Bondian identity confusion. This one seems to have been a holdover from Diamonds. Roger Moore’s first Bond film was still trying to imitate the style perfected by the early Connery era films. The result is total confusion. Moore’s performance, while the effort is admirable, it still seems a little undercooked.

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21. Quantum of Solace (2008)

While I admire Quantum’s attempt to continue Bond’s emotional journey, that may have been the thing that sank the film. Aside from the poor editing that jumbled action sequences and extremely unnatural dialogue, the overall structure of this film serves a character arc that ultimately rings quite hollow. In its attempt to be deep and artistically superior, Quantum forgot to be entertaining.

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20. Thunderball (1965)

By all account, Thunderball is a classic Connery Bond adventure. The film stands as a testament to the Bond mania of the 1960s, with its massive production, high budget, and a general sense of confidence in plot and characterization. But unlike its predecessors, Thunderball suffers from an overly long first act, slow and unengaging underwater fight sequences, and gratuitous uses of sped-up action sequences.

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19. The Man with The Golden Gun (1974)

I’ve always had mixed feelings about Moore’s second outing as James Bond. While his performance as Bond significantly improved, it still feels like he’s trying to imitate Connery in many aspects. The whole sequence in Thailand is uncomfortable to watch, not because of the rampant orientalism but because of how fake it feels. And yet, I cannot deny I enjoyed a substantial portion of the film.

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18. Dr No (1962)

I’ve heard Dr No described as a perfect Bond film, and in many ways, it really is. This is a classic Bond adventure that I have no problem watching all the way through. But at the same time, I don’t feel like there’s any reason for me to watch it. It’s a blueprint for how a Bond film should be and not much more.

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17. Moonraker (1979)

Objectively speaking, Moonraker is not a very good film. The film lacks tension. Its plot is a derivative of its superior predecessor. The villain’s scheme makes no sense. And yet, this film is proud of its B-movie quality. I mean, Bond literally goes to space in this film, and it seems like no big deal. That kind of confidence and spirit makes this movie eminently watchable.

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16. Spectre (2015)

The first half of Spectre makes for one of the most unique set-ups for any Bond film. It’s a genuine mystery. The atmosphere conveys a sense of doom. Scenes after scenes of chases, interrogations and infiltrations unfold like a Bondian Russian Doll. But at the end, it all unravels to reveal a stupid and unnecessary origin story, an underdeveloped romance and an underwhelming finale. Still, the first half really was something.

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15. From Russia with Love (1963)

From Russia with Love is objectively an excellent spy film. It has a great performance by Connery, great villains, and great plot progressions. However, the film plays everything a little too straight, causing it to pale in comparison to the more colourful films of the franchise.

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14. You Only Live Twice (1967)

In more than a few scenes, You Only Live Twice feels like the best Bond film of all time. It does a great job building a distinctively laid-back vacation-like atmosphere that is also permeated by riveting tension. However, there are also moments in the film that dragged down the pacing, sometimes to an absolute halt. This leaves it a bit of a mixed bag.

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13. The World Is Not Enough (1999)

Pierce Brosnan’s third outing as Bond showcases his best performance as a character. It has some of the most innovative action sequences, chief among which is the legendary pre-title boat chase. Its villains rank as some of the best in the series. However, some trite dialogues and a few stupid elements in the plot – M insisting to risk her life for no good reason for instance –make it a headache to watch in parts.

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12. Octopussy (1983)

Octopussy is probably the most colourful Bond film ever made. It presents a wide array of fascinating allies, villains and even anti-heroes for Bond to interact with. The plot is brilliant, beginning with a small mystery that eventually builds up to a cold-war level conflict. Its set-pieces range from an auction room to a jungle to a circus. It’s campy Bond at its best.

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11. Tomorrow Never Dies (1997)

Tomorrow Never Dies is a fun Bond adventure and that’s all it needs to be. Still, it gives us my favourite Bond villain plot of all time, and one of the best Bond villains in Jonathan Pryce’s Elliot Carver. Also, Michelle Yeoh as Wei Lin makes for one of the best allies Bond has ever had. All these elements make Tomorrow Never Dies a breeze to watch.

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10. No Time to Die (2020)

The latest film in the Bond franchise gives us some of the best action sequences in the series. But where it excels is interweaving those sequences into the drama. On the one hand, it tries to be another fun Bond adventure. On the other hand, it’s an attempt to tie up the complex canon of the Craig Bond franchise. Its success in balancing these two makes it a truly remarkable achievement.

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9. On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969)

George Lazenby’s only turn as Bond makes for the weakest performance in the series. And the sequence in Blofeld’s lair can be a bit boring at times. It’s a shame that these flaws exist because the rest of Majesty is the best film in the Bond franchise. The beautiful directing of Peter Hunt makes for much-needed deviation from the usual Connery-based formula. And the doomed romance between Bond and Tracy is easily the best thing this franchise has ever created.

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8. Goldfinger (1964)

The Bond formula – its over-the-top villain, its pre-titled sequences, the female characters, the gadgets, everything – was perfected in Connery’s third outing in Goldfinger. Like a chef with a perfect recipe, director Guy Hamilton cooks the film to perfection. Goldfinger is so good, with so little effort – it’s the personification of Bond.

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7. The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)

After two clunky attempts at imitating the tone and style of the Connery era Bond, Roger Moore finally came into his own in The Spy Who Loved Me. Likewise, Lewis Gilbert seems to have found an inimitable passion in the making of this film. Moore’s pitch-perfect turn as Bond marries well with Gilbert’s surehanded direction. Each moment in the film flows into each other. Watching this film is like staring at a remarkable painting. You take it all in, at once.

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6. For Your Eyes Only (1981)

The most underrated film in the entire Bond franchise, For Your Eyes Only is the rare Bond that seems to have a running theme – that of vengeance. Bond is not really the main character of the story, but rather Maylina Havelock. Bond’s relationship with her makes for a fascinating dialectic. You feel like you went through an emotional journey in this film, which is a rare occurrence in this franchise.

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5. The Living Daylights (1987)

The Living Daylights is an otherwise mundane Bond adventure that is significantly elevated by Timothy Dalton’s fresh take on 007. From his first appearance on screen, Dalton brings new energy and harshness hitherto unseen from this character. And still, he retains the suaveness and tenderness in moments that demand them. The plot of the movie, which features double-crosses, betrayal and romance, brought out the flavours in Dalton’s performances. Ultimately, it’s a perfect marriage of actor and film.

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4. Goldeneye (1995)

An innovative break in a franchise in search of a new identity, Goldeneye foreshadows new expanses that depth this franchise would venture. The slicker action sequences, a villain with a backstory person to 007, and a much more capable female companion to Bond represent the franchise’s attempt to move forward. In a post-cold war world, Bond is a machine-gun wielding, tank driving spy whose relevance needs to be proven. Hence, a greater attempt to explore Bond as a character. These are monumental tasks, and Goldeneye and the new Bond, Pierce Brosnan, usher in a new era of 007 with a true swagger.

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3. Casino Royale (2006)

Casino Royale however is a reboot Bond needed. And who better to do it than Martin Campbell, whose previous film Goldeneye already accustomed Bond to a post-cold war world. Here, Campbell gives the blonde and blue-eyed Daniel Craig a chance to create a dark a brutal Bond. Craig’s confidence – almost arrogant – enhances the brash tone of the film. Casino Royale breaks traditions with the smashing power of an exploding aeroplane. But beneath the incredible action sequences, lies an intimate character study that makes the film truly legendary.

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2. License to Kill (1989)

Easily the darkest film in the Bond franchise, License to Kill remains the one time when Bond is truly out of control. Dalton brings the intensity that matches the tragic setup of this dark adventure. The sadistic villain Sanchez and his unforgettable henchman Dario are creepy and intimidating. While the story is intimate, it moves forward at such a relentless pace, you are left breathless by the end. Great story, great villain, and the best Bond performance of all time – what more can you ask for?

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1. Skyfall (2012)

Skyfall is the epitome of what a Bond film could be. It is exciting, funny, dramatic, and aesthetically pleasing. One scene flows into another so seamlessly, like poetry. The central theme of Bond becoming obsolete blended well with the subtle drama of Bond returning to his family roots. This movie shoots far and ambitious but it keeps everything within the perfect limit. Even more so than Goldfinger, Skyfall feels like lightning in a bottle – a perfect Bond film.