The Best James Bond Films Ranked: A Ranking and Analysis of 007

The James Bond franchise is the longest running movie series of all time, with 25 entries and counting. The movies in this series are as different as they come in termsof tone and quality but there are some common qualities that run through the bunch. To help me decide the rankings of the James Bond films I decided to create a points system based on the many common factors shared by the 25 installments in the series. By doing this, this rankings will reflect how good of a “James Bond Film” each entry is, as well it’s merits as a film outside of the context of the franchise.

The Bonds:

While the actor who portrays Bond is key to the success of a good James Bond film, most of the actors are very good at the role, and even the best Bond actors can make bad movies. Therefore the weighting is not much on the overall score of the film.

1. Sean Connery (seven films)

The first is the best in this case. It definitely helps that he was the first to familiarize the role but there are some undeniable areas in which he is unmatched. Better than any of the other actors, Connery managed to combine the deadly, raw power of the agent with the suave gentleman aspect. He had strong dramatic chops as well as good comedic timing and although his films weren’t always great, even the bad ones were made enjoyable thanks to his presence.

2. Daniel Craig (four films)

Craig’s James Bond is a badass. His stoic presence is a big departure from past interpretations but it was also necessary for the gritty path the modern entries took. Although it was primarily due to the auteur direction the later films have taken, Craig explored the character in the deepest approach yet.

3. Roger Moore (seven films)

Roger Moore had a very long tenure as James Bond, and it tied for the most prolific in the role with Connery. Many of his later films were a mess, and although they remained very popular, their critical disparaging has diminished his legacy in the eyes of many modern viewers. There are some reasonable complaints, namely that he is not very menacing as an agent, he does a lot of things better than anyone else. He is the most charming of all the Bonds, always has a witty one-liner ready and was a much needed solution to keep the franchise going post-Connery. While often goofy, Moore’s Bond films were the most fun.

4. Pierce Brosnan (four films)

In many ways, the method in which Brosnan approached the role is a spiritual successor to Connery, finding a good middle ground between serious and camp. His movies were of varying quality but his portrayal seemed to tie them all together and define his own era of the franchise. The downside of his 007 is that he often felt like a superhero-type movie character instead of a real person with flaws and weaknesses.

5. Timothy Dalton (two films)

Timothy Dalton was a refreshing change of pace from the 60 year old Roger Moore when he came onto the scene and did bring an interesting, toned down approach to the agent. With his serious demeanor, while nuanced, was a little bland and ill-suited for the type of films he starred in. Perhaps if he had better directors with similar creative taste his legacy would be different.

6. George Lazenby (one film)

George Lazenby gets a bit of a bad wrap, and really I don’t think any of the six actors could have saved On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, but Lazenby was by far the worst fit for Agent 007. He wasn’t a great actor in general, and with weak direction he comes across as the blandest secret agent ever put on film. Luckily, the franchise realized their mistake before too much damage was done.

The Villains:

The villains were ranked on several aspects: their menace, intelligence, schemes and overall memorability. One important note is that I’ve decided to rank each different iteration of Bond’s arch-nemesis Ernst Blofeld separately due to the vastly different interpretations of the character. The villain, whose ranking is typically tied to the intrigue of the plot, is highly weighted in the ranking.

The Henchmen:

Almost as important to the villain are his henchman, who usually interact with Bond much more frequently. Typically, the main henchman has some sort of gimmick that adds a unique color to the film and the fight scenes of the character. The henchman’s ranking is weighted less, because while they are important, they wont make or break a film.

The Bond Girls:

The Bond Girls are the second most important characters in James Bond movies behind 007 and they typically get the second most screen time as well. The rankings are based on several characteristics such as their chemistry with Bond, their usefulness and depth of character. Their beauty is also considered, but since all the Bond girls are gorgeous it doesn’t make much of a difference.

In most Bond films, there are two Bond girls, one who is the main love interest, and another who is typically evil. This ranking will be based solely on the main Bond Girl character, but if there is a notable secondary one that will be taken into account in the general score.

Action:

The action score encompasses the thrills of all the fight scenes, chases sequences, tense set pieces and gadgets. I made this criteria as broad as possible to not favor the campy or the serious Bond films, giving both styles opportunity to score high.

General Score:

The general score is obviously the most significant in the weighting for the rankings, as the best Bond films still need to be good films. This ranking is based on all the other criteria that one usually judges movies on, such as plot, direction, editing, cinematography as well as any other notable aspects of the film that are not caught by the other categories.

The Formula:

Total Score = (General Score [100 pts max] + Villain [12 max] + Bond [11 max] + Bond Girl [11 max] + Action [10 max] + Henchman [6 max])/145

The Rankings:

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

The infamous George Lazenby Bond film has received a lot of hate over the years, and there are some good reasons for that, but in many aspects it is quite ahead of it’s time. Lazenby is a fine actor, and even though he lacks the suave persona needed to play Bond, he is far from the film’s biggest problem. It’s almost two and a half hours long, has really poor pacing and the fight scenes seem pretty cheap. The plot itself seems like satire; Blofeld opens an sanatorium in the alps using the guise to brainwash women to spread biological warfare and leverage that into a clean slate and nobility. The direction is also awful, with bizarre tonal shifts and weirdly gruesome violence. There are some cool set pieces, like some ski chases and when Bond climbs across giant gears but overall is boring. It’s unfortunate because Telly Savalas does a fine job in the role. His main henchman Irma Blunt is also quite memorable as the dangerous leader of the facility. Dianna Rigg in the role of Tracy di Vicenzo is a great Bond Girl; she has a complex past, is a useful aide to Bond in taking down Blofeld and Bond even marries her! That brings us to the ending… a truly shocking ending that could have been great if the film had properly set it up, but in this case is so mishandled that it borders on laughable.

24. Diamonds Are Forever (1971)

Sean Connery comes back after the disaster of On Her Majesty’s Secret Service but the result is quite a bit worse than his previous outings as 007. Some elements of the plot had promise, such as Blofeld making body doubles, but the end result is a nonsensical mess; Blofeld wants diamonds to build a laser satellite to hold Earth hostage. The action is B-Movie level which is strange because the movie doesn’t feel cheap despite it being the campiest of all the Bond films. Charles Gray is one of the lesser incarnations of Blofeld and he certainly doesn’t seem the mastermind worthy of being Bond’s nemesis. Tiffany Case, played by Jill St. John, is a smuggler who is inconsistently helpful, but it is hard to keep your eyes off of her. The henchmen Mr. Kidd and Mr. Wint are the two of most bizarrely terrible characters I’ve ever come across in a mainstream film, and for me they are by far the worst henchmen of the series; I would rather have none at all. While the theme song sung by Shirley Bassey may be a high point and the film is stupid with many shortcomings, it is still enough fun to avoid being a real train wreck.

23. Quantum of Solace (2008)

This film is a misfire for a number of reasons but the most damning is that it’s just no fun at all. Even for one of the Craig Bond’s it’s very dark, which in itself isn’t bad, but it the plot is also incredibly boring. At the root of it is one of the least effective Bond villains Dominic Greene, who has an evil plan involving water rights and is as nonthreatening as they come. His henchman (Elvis?) barely even deserves a mention due to how little of an impression he makes. Bond girl Camille Montes is decent, with a relevant, if somewhat forced, backstory and capable abilities but the writing is just not interesting enough to make her great. It’s not all bad though. The action set piece during the performance of Tosca was a high point and killing MI6 agent Strawberry Fields by coating her in oil was a nice callback to Goldfinger. This film proves that serious themed Bond films NEED to have a good plot an are otherwise much less forgiving than their campy counterpart: a lesson that the producers unfortunately did not learn from (see Spectre).

22. Octopussy (1983)

The name alone raises some question marks, but after diving deeper into the late Moore-era Bond film there are so many more. It starts with a pair of twin knife-throwers chasing down a clown through a forest…and it doesn’t get any tamer. Bond travels to India to track down a Faberge egg forgery that has ties to the Russian government. That’s all I’m going to talk about the plot because it doesn’t really matter. Kamal Khan is the main villain who is actually a good match for Bond and is wasted in this mangled plot. His main henchman is Gobinda, a massive bodyguard who lacks any personality but is memorable and suitably menacing nonetheless. The action, while completely camp, is surprisingly good, including a great chase through the streets of India and a lot of fights featuring circus performers. Octopussy, the main Bond Girl, is pretty weak, especially considering she is the titular character. Even though she is actually somewhat age appropriate for Roger Moore for once, she is sidelined as sub-villain for much of the film. But enough analysis, any film that has Bond dress up in clown make-up AND a gorilla suit is a travesty.

21. Never Say Never Again (1983)

This is the only Bond film not produced by Eon Productions, and as such has quite a different feel. It is apparent immediately by the lack of the traditional silhouetted credit sequence, but throughout it feels more like a normal thriller of the era than a 007 picture. The plot itself is a remake of Thunderball, but lacks in overall intrigue and plot development. There are some good changes that it makes. Connery as an older Bond that comes out of a retirement is an interesting twist. Kim Basinger gives a little more character to the role of Domino, but also makes her more helpless in the process. Largo’s portrayal is also a little fuller, making him more of an individual force instead of a pawn of SPECTRE. Fatima Blush, however, is much weaker than Fiona Volpe and is quite forgettable as the main henchman. Overall, the remake increases considerably on action and adds some interesting twists, but is not as gripping as it should be and lacks the flair of the Eon productions.

20. A View to a Kill (1985)

The Duran Duran theme song is a high point (let that sink in). The last Roger Moore film feels as exhausted as the aging actor looks. The film drags on for far too long and the plot is filled with under cooked development. There is a particular scene on the Eiffel Tower that ranks as the dumbest moment in all the franchise, which is no small feat considering some of the films ranked worse on this list. The title, removed from it’s original context, is completely nonsensical and the Bond girl Stacey Sutton is as helpless and shallow as they come. There are some redeeming qualities, however, that keep this one from the bottom of the pack. Christopher Walken is captivating as scheming tycoon Max Zorin and his henchwoman May Day, played by Grace Jones, is similarly memorable. There are also many well-designed set-pieces that are effective despite the lackluster action. It’s entertaining enough but also makes pretty clear why they switched up the formula after.

19. The World is Not Enough (1999)

The World is Not Enough is a fun romp despite having the least interesting story of any of the Brosnan films. The main villain “Renard” Zukas is an ex-KGB agent terrorist who has a plot to destroy oil reserves by stealing nuclear weapons. It’s not that he isn’t an intimidating or clever villain, but simply that his evil plot is a little uninspired. Renard doesn’t have a main henchman in the typical sense but there is a secondary villain in Elektra King who fits the role for this list’s purposes. In fact Elektra, played by Sophie Marceau, is a much more interesting character than the main villain: the daughter of an oil heiress with a vendetta against MI6. The actual Bond girl, Dr. Christmas Jones, is significantly less developed. Played by Denise Richards, Jones doesn’t make for a very believable nuclear scientist, although she certainly is more capable than some and doesn’t deserve the mockery that critics made of her. The action is overdone and cheesy but very enjoyable, although it lacks very many memorable set pieces. Despite a rather uninspired story, The World is Not Enough manages to entertain with strong performances and fun thrills.

18. Thunderball (1965)

Coming after Goldfinger, Thunderball is a bit of a disappointment and doesn’t quite live up to the sum of it’s parts. Connery is great again as Bond and the plot is pretty standard; SPECTRE steals some bombs and Bond has to go hunt down #2 Emilio Largo in the Bahamas. Largo, with a memorable eye patch, is a good villain and has more face-to-face time with Bond than most villains. Domino, Largo’s mistress, is also a good character who plays a large part in the development of conflict and can also handle herself in the water. Thunderball is lacking a traditional henchman, so the best character to fill that criteria is Fiona Volpe, who also acts as the secondary Bond Girl. This deadly femme fatale’s scenes are really the most thrilling of the film and she steals the show. Hence, the real downfall of the film is the action, most of which takes place underwater. While Bahamas act as a beautiful setting, underwater combat is slow and confusing making what should have been a great Bond film into a classic but slightly boring one.

17. Die Another Day (2002)

Die Another Day is a divisive Bond film. The plot is a bit of a mess but there are some original elements to it and the action is a lot of fun, although the pacing of the story is the worst in the series. Everything feels a bit forced and has the bizarre stylistic artifacts of other mainstream flicks of the early 2000s. Brosnan jumps from North Korea, to Cuba, to Iceland, ending on a plane and the story moves just as quickly. Gustav Graves, the British billionaire bad guy, who is actually a North Korean in disguise, is a formidable enemy with entertaining fits of rage, which includes an outrageous fencing match with Bond. His henchman Tang Ling Zao, who has diamonds embedded in his face, is also pretty cool. Hale Berry’s spunky Jinx Johnson, an NSA agent, is one of the most famous bond girls, mostly for her introductory bikini scene, and is a great fit for the film, matching the outrageous energy level of everything else. The action is similarly appropriate. While not especially cool, the sequences of lasers, invisible cars, impossible stunts are the exact kind of absurdity that this film needed to succeed. It’s easy to look at this film in a poor light, especially in comparison to what followed, but it’s a good addition to the series if you appreciate it for the camp that it is.

16. Spectre (2015)

The second Bold film by Sam Mendes is quite a bit of a letdown given what he accomplished with Skyfall. Cinematically speaking it’s very competent, with some gorgeous imagery, slick action and a masterful opening sequence. It is also the most ambitious entry in the series, attempting to tie together the past Craig films while simultaneously unveiling a major twist. Unfortunately the plot didn’t unfold in a successful way and although it built intrigue in the beginning, it was completely uninspired after the big reveal with some goofy, tone-deaf set pieces. Dr. Madeleine Swann is a good Bond girl with interesting character, but her background is extremely forced. Dave Bautista is one of the highlights of the film as Mr. Hinx, an exciting, hulking SPECTRE agent. Christoph Waltz as SPOILER Ernst Stavro Blofeld, Bond’s archnemesis, is as underwhelming as the film. To no fault of the great actor, the writing is just there to give him enough to work with. While the idea was admirable, the concept to connect all of the Craig films into a great climax was ultimately flat.

15. Tomorrow Never Dies (1997)

Brosnan’s second Bond film has a great, topical plot and villain: a media mogul is manipulating global politics to gain greater power. Jonathan Price as Carver, the said mogul, is by far the best part of the film and is especially prescient of today’s leading billionaires. There are also some cool action sequences, particularly one with a remote control car. Unfortunately, the plot doesn’t go anywhere interesting and Bond Girl Wai Lin is badass but lacks much defining character. The henchman Richard Stamper is as dull as they come. Some notable minor characters do liven up the proceedings like Teri Hatcher as Carver’s wife and the creepy assassin Dr. Kaufman, but the duller main supporting cast leaves a forgettable impression. It’s too bad that such a unique premise resulted in Brosnan’s most underwhelming entry into the series.

14. Dr. No (1962)

The one that started them all, Dr. No is not quite what you might expect from a franchise inspiring classic but it does set the standard for pretty much every aspect analyzed on this list. Ursula Andress as Honey Ryder is the prototypical Bond girl: tough, smart and sexy. Dr. No is a good villain, with an interesting gimmick (metal hands) and a sprawling, nefarious plot. Even the Three Blind Mice, henchmen with a limited role, had an interesting gimmick and start the film off with a stylish, exciting opening. It’s not perfect; the plot is not very captivating and the action is pretty hokey. The main factor is that Connery embodies James Bond from the second he steps on screen and is really the main cause for this film spawning a franchise. Not the greatest, but a must see nonetheless.

13. You Only Live Twice (1967)

Obviously the premise of this one is problematic for today’s audiences; James Bond fakes his death and gets reconstructive surgery to go undercover as a Japanese man (but all they really did was put makeup on Connery). The plot is otherwise solid; SPECTRE tries to aggravate the Cold War by capturing a NASA rocket and trying to blame it on the Russians. There are two villains: Mr. Osata, a Japanese businessman and secret SPECTRE agent, and Ernst Stavro Blofeld, who finally takes center stage opposite Bond. Osata is as capable as the past featured SPECTRE middle managers, and Donald Pleasance’s interpretation as Blofeld is the best of the many shown in the series. There are similarly two Bond girls: Aki, the larger part, is a strong character who is killed off about halfway through, and Kissy Suzuki, a beautiful but weaker character who fills the role in the second half. The henchman Carl is another hulking blonde guy and is almost completely forgettable. It’s pretty middle of the road for the Connery films, which means it’s above average for the franchise.

12. Moonraker (1979)

This one gets a lot of hate for it’s outlandish premise and ending space segments which is really a shame because it might be the most fun entry in the entire franchise. The villain, Sir Hugo Drax, is a bit underwhelming at first glance but as a genius billionaire and privatized space tycoon he is as timely a character as ever. His overall plot, as well as some of his evil actions, rank among the cruelest and most ambitious of all the Bond villains. Jaws, having first appeared in The Spy Who Loved Me, is the main henchman again (and the only one in the series to appear twice). He is similarly capable but his role is a bit more comedic this time, fitting with the overall tone of the film. Dr. Holly Goodhead is a pretty adept Bond girl: a CIA agent also spying on Drax, but ends up being captured and lacks a good backstory. Overall, while the film borders on science fiction, Moonraker was the most popular Bond film of the Moore era and is one of the most enjoyable as long as you don’t take it too seriously.

11. License to Kill (1989)

I have to give this film credit for trying something new; instead of following the typical Bond formula of saving the world, this film is a straight up revenge thriller, sending Bond rogue to kill a viscous drug kingpin. Unfortunately it ends up feeling a bit like the Steven Seagal films of the era and not much like Bond. They unique intensity Dalton brings to the role actually works quite in this scenario. Robert Davi does a great job, bringing a real brutal terror to the character of Sanchez, but because he’s just a drug lord that brings down his ranking a bit. Dario, played by Benicio del Toro, doesn’t have the most significant of roles for a henchman but makes his limited screen time count .The violence in this film is more serious, and much darker than most Bond films, but there are some great set pieces (conveyor belt grinder) and fun gadgets like the cigarette case Bond to keep it fun. Pam Bouvier, is pretty middle of the pack as a Bond Girl; competent enough and beautiful but missing memorable character traits and any real relevance to the story. In summary, License to Kill is a unique entry to the franchise and while it brings some new things to the table, it is overall a middling Bond film.

10. Live and Let Die (1973)

Fusing blaxploitation with 007 was one of the most daring experiments the series has ever done and Roger Moore was the right Bond to pull it off. His carefree approach to the agent fit perfectly with the wild, and in one case mythical, villains. Mr. Kananga, played by blaxploitation star Yaphet Kotto, is a solid if tame bad guy (although his alter ego is an interesting twist). His main henchman Tee Hee Johnson on the other hand is one of the most memorable at the position, with his hook hand and alligator farm. Jane Seymour is both stunning and interesting as Bond girl Solitaire, a tarot reading psychic employed by Kananga. While the film’s unique style is certainly it’s most defining characteristic, it’s plot attempts some complexity and includes some great set pieces for action scenes. Two minor aspects that push this one into great territory are the all-time best theme song by Paul McCartney and the character Baron Samedi, a voodoo figure who actually seems to be immortal.

9. For Your Eyes Only (1981)

An often forgotten entry into the franchise, For Your Eyes Only is a well developed film with great action and colorful characters. The plot takes some twists but ultimately revolves around a missile control system sunk at the bottom of the Mediterranean. Melina Havelock is one of the better Bond Girls, with her tragic story acting central to the plot and her being very effective in combat. The villain of Milos Colombo and his main henchman Emile Locque are somewhat memorable in appearance and charisma, even if they are blander than the average Bond baddie. The action, with the exception of a strange hockey fight sequence, is the film’s strong suit, with great underwater sequences, a nice car chase and a thrilling cliffside battle. It isn’t the most memorable Bond film, but it’s one of the most consistent of Roger Moore’s and is an enjoyable, if grounded, entry in the series.

8. The Living Daylights (1987)

The first Timothy Dalton film starts out as a smart espionage thriller, with timely political intrigue and it does a rarely good job of introducing the organizational presence of MI6 in the story. It gets a bit unfocused near the end but is still an underrated part of the series. Kara Milovy is one of the best Bond girls in the, franchise, with smarts, courage and a solid connection to the plot. The action is exciting and uncharacteristically intense for the series, even when it gets a little campy, like in the funhouse ending fight. Joe Don Baker is great as the original and unexpected villain Brad Whitaker. His henchman Necros is another typical strong, blonde henchmen (why so many?) but at least his opening scene with the milk bombs and headset strangulations adds a bit to his character. The Living daylights will probably not be a movie most casual fans will remember but it is a solid entry that deserves a better audience.

7. From Russia With Love (1963)

From Russia with Love is one of the most mature Bond films, more focused on the espionage found in the novels than the more outlandish tropes of the secret agent genre. In his second outing as Bond, Sean Connery really finds his stride and gives one of the most nuanced performances of 007 ever. It helps him that the plot is well developed; SPECTRE creates a plan to trap and kill James Bond, hiring the competent and powerful Red Grant to do the job. Grant is one of the few henchmen in the series who seems to be as intelligent as Bond and is only beaten with the aid of a trusty gadget. SPECTRE also enlists Tatiana Romanova as an undercover agent, who abandons her duty after falling in love with Bond, giving her a complexity that was unmatched by a Bond Girl until Casino Royale. Rosa Klebb, the SPECTRE officer in charge of the operation, is not a terrible villain, but it’s lamer that she isn’t the mastermind, taking orders from Blofeld behind the scenes. All in all, From Russia with Love was a vast improvement on Dr. No and ermains one of the smartest and well crafted of all the Bond films, cementing the style and image of Bond in pop culture.

6. The Man With the Golden Gun (1974)

The Man With the Golden Gun is a great example of how campy Bond can be done right. The premise is solid enough: a world class assassin is hunting Bond so 007 must find him first. Most of the rest borders on ridiculous, making for immense cinematic enjoyment. Francisco Scaramanga, the titular villain, is played to great effect by the great Christopher Lee, being both menacing and full of quirky eccentricities. He lives in a funhouse island compound with his servant Nick Nack, a very memorable but mostly ineffective dwarf henchman. The film sends Bond to the far East, engaging in kung-fu fights, seducing Scaramanga’s woman and uncovering a nefarious plot of destruction. His MI6 operative is the beautiful Mary Goodnight who is at best helpless and at worst a nuisance (she accidentally engages a deadly laser with her butt). But at the end of the day, all the goofiness adds character and fleshes out the good story making for one of Moore’s most memorable outings as Bond.

5. Goldeneye (1995)

All of the opening scenes in the Brosnan era upped the game in terms of action and excitement, but Goldeneye tops them all with a tense standoff leading into madcap explosion, and sets up the story as well. From the very start, Goldeneye set itself apart with a complex plot that unfolds like a good mystery, capped by the terrific villain Alec Trevelyan, a former MI6 agent turned criminal mastermind played by career villain Sean Bean. His iconic henchwoman Xenia Onatopp, who gets erotic pleasure from killing, is a sillier but similarly memorable character for Bond to face off against. Not only does the film find the perfect Bond balance of serious intrigue and campiness, it has many supporting components that cement it’s status as a classic. Russian gangster Valentin Zukovsky and computer programmer Boris Grishenko are abnormally well acted and fleshed out compared to most Bond side characters, and the set piece of the giant satellite in the Cuban jungle is one of the coolest in the franchise. Bond girl Natalya Simonova has a good character arc but is a bit boring compared to the rest of the film. But if that’s the biggest criticism I can find, it’s clearly one of the best Bond films ever.

4. The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)

The greatest of the Moore films, The Spy Who Loved Me is a brilliant blend of serious and campy Bond. Soviet and British agencies team up making Bond partner with a female Soviet spy (hence the title). Barbara Bach plays the Soviet spy Anya Amasova and is one of the greatest Bond girls. Not only is she capable as a secret agent but is featured heavily throughout the film and has thoroughly developed character. The main villain, Karl Stromberg, is a great protoypical Bond villain, with a floating evil lair, larger than life ego and a equally large evil plan. Even more memorable is his henchman Jaws, a giant, indestructible man with steel teeth who is easily the most capable and memorable henchman in the entire franchise (his vampiric introduction scene alone was enough to put him in the running). Outside of the Bond qualifiers, this film is a masterpiece with some of the greatest production design for any film of it’s era as well as incredible cinematography, rivaled in the series only by Skyfall.

3. Skyfall (2012)

Outside of the context of the Bond franchise, Skyfall is the greatest film in the series. Sam Mendes creates a complex and exciting tale of espionage that not only unfolds like the best of thriller but also ties in the history of Craig’s Bond and perfectly says goodbye to Judi Dench as M. Despite it’s brilliant direction, franchise best cinematography and great acting, it is not the best Bond film. It does not unfold like a typical Bond film and doesn’t check the same boxes that the majority of the series adheres to. The Bond girl, Severine, is not a secondary protagonist like the best ones are, but merely a plot piece to set up the villain and get 007 emotionally invested. The henchman, Patrice, while competent, also doesn’t really fit the bill. Javier Bardem as Raoul Silva, however, is a great villain with a unique plan and a thrilling vendetta. The action, like most of the Craig films, is also some of the best in the series, with the “Skyfall” sequence particularly standing out. So even though it lacks some of the characteristics that make the series great, it is an unmissable entry in the franchise and a great piece of cinema.

2. Casino Royale (2006)

A game changer that revived the popularity and success of the franchise, Casino Royale was an inspired fresh take on the genre, shifting into a serious realm. Daniel Craig is a great Bond, who can be cold and threatening and although he is not as suave as Connery or Moore, he has a dry wit might even work better in the modern setting. The overall plot of the film is very strong, even though it doesn’t feature an ambitious villainous scheme. Le Chiffre is a banker to an organization of worldwide terrorists and warlords, but after losing a lot of money needs to make it back in a poker game that MI6 enters Bond into. While he is crafty and intelligent, he is not a very intimidating villain, although the strong acting by Mads Mikkelsen and adept direction elevate the character. He also lacks any real notable henchmen. The most notable would be his girlfriend Ivana who is helpful in that she poisons Bond, but is pretty weak overall for the position. Bond girl Vesper Lynd played by Eva Green is on the other end of the spectrum as the best of all time. She is smart, challenges Bond and is one of the most interesting characters in the entire series. The action is also incredible, from the electrifying opening in Africa to the thrilling climax in Venice. It may have been a surprising change of pace for the franchise, but it backed it up by being one of the greatest entries in almost every way.

1. Goldfinger (1964)

There is no Bond film more iconic than Goldfinger. The imagery of a naked woman covered in gold is enough to stake that claim but there is so much more to cement it. From the beginning, the action sets itself apart from others of the genre, and includes along the way great car chases and exciting set pieces such as Fort Knox and a laser beam torture. The plot is actually compelling and tricky like the greatest espionage stories, with several characters continuously switching sides. Auric Goldfinger is a well developed, nefarious, and most importantly human, villain with a fun but not impossible plan. His henchman Oddjob is one of the most iconic in the series. He’s an incredibly strong butler with a blade-rimmed hat that he can throw with deadly accuracy. And then there is Pussy Galore, one of the best characters in the series, as well as the most outrageously named. She is a very capable fighter and pilot as well as a complex character, switching allegiances throughout the film and acting a good match for Bond. Along with boasting the best theme song, Goldfinger is an all-around masterpiece and is the high watermark to which all Bond films should aspire

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