Every James Bond Movie, Ranked From Worst to Best

eOnline ^ | 10/04/2012 | by John Whalen

[SeekAndFind]

The James Bond film franchise turns 50 today, so we're celebrating something called Global James Bond Day. And if you don't, the studio bosses will evaporate the world's oceans with lasers from space.

Really and clearly, Global James Bond Day is all about promoting Skyfall, the 23rd 007 film, which opens next month.

So where will Daniel Craig's latest stack up against the previous Bond films? Will it be better than the excellent Casino Royale? More cringe-worthy than Moonraker?

To help you assess the looming threat of Global James Bond Day, we present our list of 22 the previous Bond films, ranked from worst to best.

And we're just kidding about the laser. 

See how we rank the 22 James Bond movies

[Perdogg]

Casino Royale #1????? - my patience is being tested today. The best movie is On Her Majesty's Secret service

[Michael.SF.]

Put the Roger Moore movies at the bottom, then go up from there.

[GonzoGOP]

I'm surprised Golden Eye only made it to 9, I would have put it in the top five. I think it got dissed only because all of the other Pierce Brosnan films were so bad. It certainly holds up better than The Living Daylights and Thunderball.

The other thing I find amazing is that there are two bond films rated worse than Moonraker. Seriously that movie is so bad it wouldn't even have made it on MST3K.

[Timber Rattler]

Glad to see OHMSS as #2. It’s my favorite.

[AzSteven]

Not a bad list overall, however, I would put “You Only Live Twice” (their 13) in the top five, and “Casino Royale” (their 1) at about number 20 - absolutely hate the new Bourne-like Bond. It has no resemblance to the original books at all.

[SeekAndFind]

RE: Glad to see OHMSS as #2. It’s my favorite.

If it’s so good, why wasn’t George Lazenby retained as James Bond?

[muir_redwoods]

In terms of fidelity to Ian Fleming’s work, “From Russia With Love” is the best, IMHO

[AzSteven]

This is why I lvoe Free Republic - any site that drawss people smart enough to understand OHMSS is one of the best Bond films is definitely worth a daily visit!

[Boogieman]

Bah, Moonraker still had Jaws, so it cannot be the worst.

[The Wizard]

I wasted my time looking at this.....I disagree with their rating.......extremely

[Perdogg]

It was Lazenby’s decision not to return to the role, even before the movie was released. Lazenby did not want to be controlled by the producers, so he walked.

[GonzoGOP]

If it’s so good, why wasn’t George Lazenby retained as James Bond?

I think their analysis hits it. The only thing wrong with OHMSS is Lazenby himself. It would be an excellent candidate for a semi-remake. In the same way that The Spy who Loved Me was a remake of You only Live Twice. It would be fairly easy. Move the location from the Alps to the Balkans and have the Russian mob replace the Mafia.

[ArtDodger]

From Russia with Love was Connery’s favorite. Had a good, believable story. Original stuff that was copied extensively by the following movies.

[Mr. K]

puh-lease!!! Timothy Dalton deserves that honor (last place)

The latest guy does not even feel like a James Bond- more like a serious version of John McLean (Die Hard)

Sean Connery will always be number one. Roger Moore was a nice amusing Bond. Pierce Brosnan was excellent in that one where he was captured and exchanged for a prisoner.

I cant even remember any of the others...

[Snickering Hound]

Casino Royale #1?! The movie comes to a screeching halt with that card game.

“Mr Bond, do you have any “7’s”?

“Go fish.”

#1 is Goldfinger.

[apillar]

I must be the oddball, may because it's because I grew up in the late 70’s early 80’s, but I actually like those goofy James Bond movies of that era like View to a Kill (which is probably my all time favorite), Octopussy and Moonraker.

[xp38]

I actually agree with Casino Royale being the top Bond movie. I would put From Russia with Love and Goldfinger very close to it though. Because of it being so high in my regard Quantum of Solace was a big disappointment in comparison. OHMSS I thought was ok and would put it somewhere in the middle in terms of ranking it. What I really liked about Casino though is that it deemphasized the droll humour which had been a Bond staple since Dr. No. It made a noticeable and improved difference to all the previous movies. There was still some humour but it had just the right amount.

[who knows what evil?]

The best movie is On Her Majesty's Secret service

Couldn't agree more...best soundtrack, too...

[denydenydeny]

One good line though. In Tomorrow Never Dies Bond “is tortured by North Koreans and Madonna’s title song”