The James Bond franchise is one of the most iconic in cinema history, with 27 beloved films spanning more than six decades.
Based on the novels about fictional British agent 007, created by Sir Ian Fleming, the films have given us nail-biting action sequences, Bond girls to fall in love with, futuristic gadgets, and some of the most cutting one-liners you could imagine.
Several stars have taken the role of the martini-drinking secret agent over the years, from the first man to officially don the legendary tux, Sean Connery, to the most recent stint from Daniel Craig.
The search is officially on for the next Bond, with everyone from Idris Elba, Taron Egerton, Regé-Jean Page, Theo James, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson rumoured for the legendary role.
Everyone has their opinion on the best – and worst – of the Bond franchise, with review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes giving us a definitive ranking of every film based on critics’ reviews.
Here are the top five Bond films of all time – from a modern classic to a record-breaking instalment in the famed franchise.
5. Skyfall (2012)
Daniel Craig’s third outing as 007 in Skyfall is among the most revered of the franchise.
The 23rd James Bond film was directed by Sam Mendes and featured Javier Bardem as the sinister villain Raoul Silva, with Dame Judi Dench returning to the role of M.
In it, Bond is tasked with investigating a series of data leaks and attacks on MI6 led by Silva, an assignment that goes terribly wrong with the identities of hundreds of agents in the field being revealed.
The film was a huge hit, grossing a whopping $1 billion worldwide, making it the highest-grossing Bond film of all time and the seventh highest-grossing film of all time. It was nominated for five awards at the 85th Academy Awards as well as several other accolades.
It holds a mighty impressive 92% rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, with the critics’ consensus reading: ‘Sam Mendes brings Bond surging back with a smart, sexy, riveting action thriller that qualifies as one of the best 007 films to date.’
4. Casino Royale (2006)
Pipping Skyfall to the post by just 2% is Craig’s introduction to the role of Bond – Casino Royale.
Released in 2006, the film follows the secret agent after receiving his license to kill as he travels to Madagascar, uncovering a link to Le Chiffre (Mads Mikkelsen), a man who finances terrorist organisations.
The stacked ensemble cast features Eva Green, Judi Dench, and Jeffrey White. It was produced by Eon Productions who decided to reboot the franchise following 2002’s Die Another Day, ushering in a more inexperienced and multi-faceted Bond.
And it’s a decision that paid off in droves, with Casino Royale grossing $616 million worldwide making it the fourth highest-grossing film of 2006.
Rotten Tomatoes lauds it a ‘a caustic, haunted, intense reinvention of 007’ that ‘disposes of the silliness and gadgetry’ of previous films, earning it a score of 94%.
3. Dr No (1962)
As we enter Rotten Tomatoes’ top three, we take a trip back to the swinging sixties and the first Eon Bond film that gave us the blueprint for the films that followed.
Dr. No follows Sean Connery’s iconic Bond as he travels to Jamaica to investigate the disappearance of a fellow British agent, crossing the path of the scheming Dr. Julius (Joseph Wiseman) who is plotting to disrupt an early American space launch.
The hit film introduced many of the franchise’s familiar tropes, including the highly stylised title sequence, theme music, and introduction of the character through the view of a gun barrel.
It received a mixed reception at the time of its release but grossed $6 million worldwide and President John F. Kennedy even requested a private showing of Dr. No in the White House.
Dr. No holds a stellar 95% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics saying it features ‘plenty of the humour, action, and escapist thrills.’ What more could you want?
2. From Russia With Love (1963)
Missing out on the top spot by 2%, From Russia With Love was greenlit following the success of Dr. No and improved on the formula it introduced.
Following Dr. Julius’ death, Bond (Connery) is sent to assist in the defection of Soviet consulate clerk Tatiana Romanova (Daniela Bianchi), but his mission is thrown into disarray by SPECTRE’s plans to avenge the doctor.
From Russia With Love was a bigger success than anyone could have imagined, taking home more than $78 million after being made on just a $2 million budget.
The blockbuster went on to win a BAFTA Award for Best Cinematography and often features on lists of the greatest Bond films of all time (including this one) as well as best film round-ups.
And Rotten Tomatoes critics agree, with it standing at 97% on the review aggregator with the consensus dubbing it a ‘razor-sharp, briskly-paced Cold War thriller.’
1. 007: Goldfinger (1964)
No James Bond film is packed full of as many iconic moments as Goldfinger – from Bond himself facing death via laser beam, to Shirley Eaton as his gold-painted love interest and the famed ejector seat.
The film sees business tycoon Auric Goldfinger (Gert Fröbe) set in motion Operation Grand Slam in a bit to raid Fort Knox and destroy the world’s economy. Of course, Bond (Connery) is tasked to stop him – and several other adversaries along the way.
With Dame Shirley Bassey’s iconic theme, a budget bigger than the previous two films combined, extensive use of technology and gadgets, and exotic filming locations, Goldfinger is really where the Bond franchise hits its stride.
It was the first Bond film to win an Academy Award and grossed over $120 million worldwide, cementing its status as a classic film even before it graced multiple publication’s top 100 lists.
Goldfinger boasts a near-perfect Rotten Tomatoes score with a cool 99% rating, making it the site’s number one Bond film of all 27 releases so far.
This article was originally published on June 9, 2024.
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