No Time to Die released in October of 2021, marking the end of actor Daniel Craig's arc as 007. Fans of the franchise have been mostly fond of Craig, and some of his films are considered to be not only strong James Bond films, but great action pieces on their own. Daniel Craig modernized the role, subverting many of the previous tropes of the character that hadn't aged well in the contemporary world, forming a more approachable, realistic version of 007.
With five under his belt, Craig is the Bond actor with the third most appearances as the character, out of 27 total in the franchise. But what are the best of Craig's Bond films? IMDb can be a reliable source for film scores for those hoping to enjoy Craig's saga while fans eagerly await the news on the next James Bond casting.
Quantum Of Solace - 6.6/10
The second installment of Daniel Craig's Bond run, Quantum of Solace, is considered by many to be the weakest of the saga. The film picks off right where Casino Royale left off with Bond furiously seeking revenge for Vesper's murder. Many fans considered it to be lacking a strong plot, which was where Casino Royale excelled. The supporting cast has some terrific actors, but the characters weren't on par with Eva Greene and Mads Mikkelsen's in the first installment.
This was no coincidence though, as the film's production suffered due to the 2007 Writers Guild strike. Daniel Craig has explained that the lack of writers resulted in him and the director making tweaks on set, constantly trying to form the best story possible with what they had. A rushed and imperfect script can mean terrible news for a film, and Quantum of Solace is lucky it had Daniel Craig's charm and skill to carry it to at least decent reviews.
Spectre - 6.8/10
Similarly with Quantum of Solace, the 4th film in Craig's Bond run, Spectre, had almost too much hype to match. Skyfall was a great hit, and knowing Sam Mendes was returning to direct its followed up led to pretty high expectations. This was part of the reason for its decline in rating, as in many ways they were too similar, with Spectre being weaker in different aspects of production.
Spectre offered a fantastic cast, introducing Christoph Waltz into the Bond universe. Many fans believe the incomparable Waltz was misused as Blofeld when he could've reached the potential he had in his other villain roles like Inglourious Basterds. The cinematography by Hoyte van Hoytema is spectacular as always, and was on par with the visual beauty fans expected after Skyfall. It's mainly due to the mediocrity of the writing that Spectre finds itself on the lower end of Craig's portfolio.
No Time To Die - 7.3/10
The most recent and final Daniel Craig 007 film was No Time to Die, which ranks in the middle of the pack of the five installments. The film was seen as a necessary step up from Spectre, allowing Craig's run to end on a high note, with long-awaited appearances from Rami Malek and Ana de Armas. The latter of which was very brief, leaving many fans wanting more.
Separating the Craig saga from other Bond iterations is that these films have had an actual continuity, which required the film to provide closure with an emotional send-off. The distance between Casino Royale and No Time to Die shows the modernization of the franchise, with the final installment wrapping up the evolution neatly.
Skyfall - 7.8/10
Skyfall and Casino Royale are undoubtedly the most beloved in Craig's era, but both offer a separate unique experience. Skyfall is a masterpiece in action film directing by Sam Mendes and cinematography by the legendary Roger Deakins. The film has a terrific villain performance from Javier Bardem, and also introduces Ralph Fiennes, Naomi Harris, and Ben Whishaw to the franchise, all of whom would be pivotal in the sequels.
Skyfall may not be the highest-rated, but it is the summation of what the Daniel Craig movies were all about, as it literally and thematically explores the idea of James Bond and how he fits in the modern world. Many fans consider Skyfall in itself to be something of a resolution to the series, as it explores the declining need for 007 due to the power of technology.
Casino Royale - 8/10
Casino Royale is considered by fans to be one of the greatest Bond films ever, earning its 8.0 score on IMDb, a score which is very impressive for a big-budget action movie. The film has some great performances, notably Craig's first as James Bond, earning him critical acclaim. It also had Mads Mikkelsen in one of his highest-rated roles as a terrific and thrilling Bond villain. Eva Green was fantastic as Vesper Lynd, making for a highly emotional storyline.
The film sets up the world of Daniel Craig's James Bond saga perfectly, with a perfect antagonist, engaging plot, and awesome action sequences. It's unfortunate that Daniel Craig's run lowered in rating after the first, but the films had some great moments, solidifying the actor as a great action star and 007.