Ranking the James Bond movies
I'm going to rank all 23 of the James Bond movies in preparation for Spectre this weekend. As with all my lists, I'm going to be making some extremely unorthodox picks, and feel free to comment and share your own lists.
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23 titles
- DirectorJohn GlenStarsTimothy DaltonRobert DaviCarey LowellA vengeful James Bond goes rogue to infiltrate and take down the organization of a drug lord who has murdered his friend's new wife and left him near death.Yeah, I know this isn't the most well-liked movie, but I really like the gritty tone, and this was the first one I saw, so all the differences it has between the rest of the series doesn't bother me as much.
- DirectorTerence YoungStarsSean ConneryUrsula AndressBernard LeeA resourceful British government agent seeks answers in a case involving the disappearance of a colleague and the disruption of the American space program.I really like Dr. No because it's interesting to see how Bond started out. Plus, this one has a great cast, with Sean Connery when he still cared about doing Bond and Urusula Andress as Honey Ryder.
- DirectorMartin CampbellStarsPierce BrosnanSean BeanIzabella ScorupcoWhen a powerful secret defense system is stolen, James Bond is assigned to stop a Russian crime syndicate from using it.This movie gets a lot of bonus points for the great villain, who is my personal favorite in the series. Plus, Pierce Brosnan is at his best here, and we get a lot of action.
- DirectorMartin CampbellStarsDaniel CraigEva GreenJudi DenchAfter earning a licence to kill, secret agent James Bond sets out on his first mission as 007. Bond must defeat a private banker funding terrorists in a high-stakes game of poker at Casino Royale, in Montenegro.This one may not be the most conventional Bond movie, but again, I really like the gritty Bond movies, and the poker game is just an absolute blast to watch.
- DirectorGuy HamiltonStarsSean ConneryGert FröbeHonor BlackmanWhile investigating a gold magnate's smuggling, James Bond uncovers a plot to contaminate the Fort Knox gold reserve.Most people would put this higher up, but there is a slow stretch in the middle, but aside from that this is a great movie, where Bond finally begins to take shape into the blockbuster franchise it is now.
- DirectorLewis GilbertStarsRoger MooreBarbara BachCurd JürgensJames Bond investigates the hijacking of British and Russian submarines carrying nuclear warheads, with the help of a K.G.B. agent whose lover he killed.While I may not be the biggest Moore fan, this is still a good movie, which incidentally features Jaws. It's just one of those iconic James Bond movies (like Goldfinger, but not quite as good) that you just have to watch.
- DirectorTerence YoungStarsSean ConneryRobert ShawLotte LenyaJames Bond willingly falls into an assassination plot involving a naive Russian beauty in order to retrieve a Soviet encryption device that was stolen by the organization Spectre.It may not be the most action-packed Bond movie, but it's by far the most realistic, and it has my favorite henchman in the whole series, Red Grant.
- DirectorSam MendesStarsDaniel CraigJavier BardemNaomie HarrisJames Bond's loyalty to M is tested when her past comes back to haunt her. When MI6 comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost.True there are some plot holes in this movie, and I may not be the biggest fan of Javier Bardem, but I think this is a nice addition the franchise, one which features a very good Craig performance, as well as some nice work by Judi Dench.
- DirectorGuy HamiltonStarsRoger MooreYaphet KottoJane SeymourJames Bond is sent to stop a diabolically brilliant heroin magnate armed with a complex organisation and a reliable psychic tarot card reader.This movie has some dumb segments (The boat chase, for instance), but I still think it's a fun movie, especially with Moore giving his best performance, and a really good Bond girl.
- DirectorGuy HamiltonStarsRoger MooreChristopher LeeBritt EklandJames Bond is targeted by the world's most expensive assassin, while he attempts to recover sensitive solar cell technology that is being sold to the highest bidder.Sure, it's a dumb movie, but I really like seeing Christopher Lee as a Bond villain, who has a golden gun. That being said though, the Bond girls this time around are pretty bad.
- DirectorRoger SpottiswoodeStarsPierce BrosnanJonathan PryceMichelle YeohJames Bond sets out to stop a media mogul's plan to induce a war between China and the United Kingdom.This movie gets bonus points for still managing to be fun despite how cheesy it is. Seriously, if this movie took itself too seriously, it would be awful, but when the bad guy wants to start World War III for exclusive news rights, how can you not have at least a little fun?
- DirectorJohn GlenStarsTimothy DaltonMaryam d'AboJeroen KrabbéJames Bond is sent to investigate a KGB policy to kill all enemy spies, and uncovers an arms deal that potentially has major global ramifications.Though it is a pretty boring movie, Dalton is a good James Bond, and we get a nice, cheesy villain too for good measure.
- DirectorLewis GilbertStarsSean ConneryAkiko WakabayashiMie HamaJames Bond and the Japanese Secret Service must find and stop the true culprit of a series of space hijackings, before war is provoked between Russia and the United States.I originally had this a little lower, but it does introduce Blofeld, who I think is at his best here. Of course, if Connery looked like he cared about making the movie and if we didn't have to waste an hour on those stupid ninjas, it would be even better.
- DirectorMichael AptedStarsPierce BrosnanSophie MarceauRobert CarlyleJames Bond uncovers a nuclear plot while protecting an oil heiress from her former kidnapper, an international terrorist who can't feel pain.Despite having a more serious tone, this movie scrapes by largely on how fun it is, with Brosnan cracking jokes every minute or two and Denise Richards playing a nuclear physicist. Oh yeah, it also has a villain who can't feel pain and has super strength.
- DirectorMarc ForsterStarsDaniel CraigOlga KurylenkoMathieu AmalricJames Bond descends into mystery as he tries to stop an organisation from eliminating a country's most valuable resource.I still don't think this is such a bad movie. Sure, it's flawed, but Craig gives a good performance, so there's that. The plot's convoluted (something about... oil... or was it water?), and the supporting cast is weak, so it's certainly not getting any higher than this.
- DirectorTerence YoungStarsSean ConneryClaudine AugerAdolfo CeliJames Bond heads to the Bahamas to recover two nuclear warheads stolen by S.P.E.C.T.R.E. Agent Emilio Largo in an international extortion scheme.This movie suffers heavily from how dull it is. The side characters are weak, and Connery looks bored the whole way through. It does have some good one liners though (She's just dead).
- DirectorJohn GlenStarsRoger MooreCarole BouquetTopolSecret service agent James Bond is assigned to find a missing British vessel equipped with a weapons encryption device and prevent it from falling into enemy hands.This is better than the rest of Moore's later work, but it's got the most boring villain ever, and Moore's looking way past his prime here. Plus, why such a lame death for Blofeld?
- DirectorJohn GlenStarsRoger MooreChristopher WalkenTanya RobertsThe recovery of a microchip from the body of a fellow British secret agent leads James Bond to a mad industrialist scheming to cause massive destruction.This movie would be unwatchable if not for Christopher Walken, who is so over the top he makes the whole thing somehow enjoyable, despite an almost sixty year old James Bond with like, Bond girls who are in their twenties. Does that sound creepy or what?
- DirectorGuy HamiltonStarsSean ConneryJill St. JohnCharles GrayA diamond smuggling investigation leads James Bond to Las Vegas where he uncovers an evil plot involving a rich business tycoon.I tried to watch this recently, and I couldn't finish. Seriously, what is up with this directing? The camera work is sloppy, and Wint and Kidd are extremely annoying. Not to mention the plot is just...boring, and we have yet another lame finisher for Blofeld.
- DirectorLewis GilbertStarsRoger MooreLois ChilesMichael LonsdaleJames Bond investigates the mid-air theft of a space shuttle, and discovers a plot to commit global genocide.This movie is so corny, it's almost funny. Almost. The acting is terrible, and if not for some decent special effects it would be a total drag. The plot though is essentially one long string of people trying to kill Bond.
- DirectorJohn GlenStarsRoger MooreMaud AdamsLouis JourdanA fake Fabergé egg recovered from the body of a fellow agent leads James Bond to uncover a jewel smuggling operation led by the mysterious Octopussy, and a plot to blow up a NATO air base.Most people wouldn't put this so low, but I do for: a) no cohesive plot whatsoever, b) terrible puns, c) boring characters, and d) almost no action whatsoever.
- DirectorPeter R. HuntStarsGeorge LazenbyDiana RiggTelly SavalasBritish agent James Bond goes undercover to pursue the villainous Ernst Stavro Blofeld, who is planning to hold the world to ransom.Apologies to those who like this, but I just find this really boring. I don't like George Lazneby as Bond, the camerawork is sloppy, and it takes so long to get anywhere that by the time you do, you don't care anymore.
- DirectorLee TamahoriStarsPierce BrosnanHalle BerryRosamund PikeJames Bond is sent to investigate the connection between a North Korean terrorist and a diamond mogul, who is funding the development of an international space weapon.Watching this is like watching a disaster unfold. Seriously, what were they thinking? They've got it all in this one, terrible camerawork, terrible characters, terrible puns, terrible special effects, and a terrible story. Good job!