Daniel Craig is one of the most successful actors working today, who recently enjoyed a thrilling sendoff to his 15-year stint as the iconic James Bond in No Time To Die and who will soon return as Detective Benoit Blanc in Rian Johnson's Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery.
Craig may be experiencing one of the most successful periods in his acting career, but he has enjoyed a massively lucrative filmography for several decades. According to Box Office Mojo, several of his films stand above the rest, with profit margins worthy for a star of his caliber.
The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (2011) - $232,617,430
Available To Rent On Apple TV
The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo is a psychological thriller starring Daniel Craig and Rooney Mara and is considered to be one of Craig's best non-007 films. Directed by David Fincher, the film adapts the novel of the same name by Stieg Larsson.
The film was a major success, more than doubling its production budget of $90 million (via Box Office Mojo). The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo differentiated itself from other works in Craig's career, proving he was capable of far more than spy drama and espionage. Despite the film's success and Craig's acclaimed work therein, he would not return for the 2018 sequel.
Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001) - $274,703,340
Available On HBO Max
Long before Alicia Vikander took over the role in 2018, Angelina Jolie portrayed the first live-action version of the eponymous treasure hunter in Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, based on the Tomb Raider video game series. Daniel Craig joined Jolie as Alex West, a fellow adventurer and companion of Croft during her journey.
The film did well at the global box office despite being panned by critics, earning over $200 million (via Box Office Mojo). The success of Tomb Raider would go on to fuel Craig's career, acting as one of his first major action roles, though he would not return for the 2003 sequel.
Knives Out (2019) - $311,605,581
Available To Rent On Apple TV
In 2019, Daniel Craig united with director Rian Johnson and a shockingly star-studded cast for the hit murder-mystery film Knives Out. Starring as Detective Benoit Blanc, Craig attempts to unravel the grisly murder of a wealthy author, believing a member of the family to be the culprit. Craig will reprise his role later this year in Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery.
Knives Out quickly became a major hit, earning over $300 million against a $40 million budget (via Box Office Mojo). Thanks in part to its large cast, held together by Craig's caricature of a Southern detective, the film became one of 2019's biggest surprise hits, reinvigorating the murder-mystery genre.
The Golden Compass (2007) - $372,234,864
Available On Netflix
The Golden Compass is a 2007 fantasy film based on Philip Pullman's book, Northern Lights. Daniel Craig stars as Lord Asriel, the protagonist's uncle who hides the truth about his adventures. Craig was joined by a host of other famous actors, including Eva Green, Nicole Kidman, and Christopher Lee.
Despite mostly negative reviews comparing the film to its superior source material, The Golden Compass did surprisingly well at the box office, earning over $300 million (via Box Office Mojo). Attempting to fill the void left in the fantasy genre by The Lord of the Rings franchise's ending four years earlier, the film benefited greatly from fans eager to return to the genre, thereby boosting many careers of those involved, including Craig's.
The Adventures Of Tintin (2011) - $373,993,951
Available On HBO Max
The Adventures Of Tintin was a massive undertaking with several major names attached to it, including Steven Spielberg, Edgar Wright, and Steven Moffat. Based on the comic book series of the same name, this animated film starred a host of memorable actors, including Daniel Craig, who portrayed the film's villain, Ivan Ivanovitch Sakharine.
The Adventures Of Tintin was a massive undertaking that managed to pay off in the end, tripling its massive budget (via Box Office Mojo). The animated adventure film no doubt benefited from the slew of recognizable names attached to it, with Craig just being one of many.
Quantum Of Solace (2008) - $589,580,482
Available On Netflix
Quantum of Solace is the second appearance of Daniel Craig in the 007 franchise and the lowest-rated of Craig's James Bond films. Also starring Olga Kurylenko, Gemma Arterton, and Mathieu Amalric, the film received mixed-to-negative reviews from critics and fans alike.
Quantum of Solace failed to live up to the box office numbers of its predecessor (via Box Office Mojo), though the disparity was not large enough to cause the studio any lasting fear, as a sequel would soon be announced after the film's release. Quantum of Solace's slightly lower numbers are likely due to the film's poor reviews and production delays as a result of the 2008 screenwriters' strike.
Casino Royale (2006) - $616,502,912
Available On Netflix
Casino Royale began a brand-new timeline for the James Bond franchise, introducing Daniel Craig's 007 for the first time on the big screen. Uniting Craig with Eva Green's Vesper Lynd and Mads Mikkelsen's villainous Le Chiffre, Casino Royale redefined both its main character and the franchise itself.
Casino Royale earned over $600 million at the worldwide box office, making it the highest-grossing film of the franchise at the time of its release (via Box Office Mojo). Moviegoers were excited -- and cautious -- about welcoming a brand-new Bond to the franchise in Daniel Craig, who exceeded expectations and established himself as one of the best versions of the character yet.
No Time To Die (2021) - $774,153,007
Available On Amazon Prime Video
No Time To Die is the 25th film in the 007 franchise and Daniel Craig's final appearance as James Bond. The film is strikingly different from previous installments in the franchise, breaking many unspoken rules therein. It is also notable for marking the first time that James Bond is depicted as a father and for introducing Ana de Armas's standout character, Paloma.
After a series of long delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, No Time To Die quickly became one of the highest-grossing films at the post-pandemic box office, making $774 million globally (via Box Office Mojo) as fans flocked to see the highly-anticipated conclusion to Craig's long tenure as Bond. While No Time To Die's earnings were considerably less than the previous two installments of the series, this can be explained by the reluctance of many moviegoers to return to theaters following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Spectre (2015) - $880,681,519
Available On FuboTV
Spectre is Daniel Craig's fourth outing as James Bond who, in this film, goes up against the titular villainous organization and Christoph Waltz's Dr. Ernst Blofeld. The film also introduced Léa Seydoux's Madeleine Swann, a character who would become a major part of the franchise's future.
Many fans likely turned up for this film to see the rebooted version of Spectre and Dr. Blofeld, the rights for which had finally reverted to MGM Studios after long legal disputes. Though Spectre was a highly profitable film, making over $800 million globally (via Box Office Mojo), the film did earn less than the previous installment of the series, Skyfall. This is likely due to the film's somewhat negative reviews, though Craig continued to be a highlight despite the franchise's waning quality.
Skyfall (2012) - $1,108,569,499
Available On Amazon Prime Video
Skyfall is the third installment of Daniel Craig's rebooted James Bond films and the twenty-third overall film in the franchise. This beloved installment of the franchise sees the introduction of Javier Bardem's villain, Raoul Silva, who attempts to murder M as revenge for their tortured past as fellow operatives.
Not only is Skyfall one of the most beloved entries in the 007 franchise, it is also the most lucrative, becoming the only film in the franchise to break the $1 billion mark (via Box Office Mojo). Anticipation for the film after its delayed production and general goodwill toward Craig's version of the character contributed greatly to its success, but rave reviews from fans and critics would ultimately ensure its extreme profitability at the global box office.