With more than fifty years and 25 chapters to consider, here's how to watch the James Bond movies in order. After starry names like Cary Grant and David Niven turned down the opportunity to play Ian Fleming's James Bond in Dr. No, the relatively unknown Sean Connery stepped into the void, launching a franchise that would become one of the most dependable in cinematic history. Over the course of Connery’s run, the core elements that would cement the franchise would be established - the exotic locations, the gadgets, the flamboyant villains, and so on.
Despite accusations of one-dimensional scope and a tendency to repeat things, the James Bond series has, in fact, reinvented itself multiple times. Though his era is now over, Daniel Craig's take on Bond was a revisionist revival that came on the back of the franchise's most wayward chapter. By not only adopting the tropes of the Bourne franchise and more modern sensibilities but also looking inwards to Bond in an unprecedented way, Craig set a new model for what 007 movies could be. And even before he emerged from the sea in his signature shorts, Bond had previously found himself in grounded, cold war spy thrillers as well as fighting bad guys in outer space.
Each actor who has inherited the role has made it their own, giving every era a different flavor. With 25 movies and counting, rewatching the James Bond movies in order can be a daunting task, but it’s still the best way to experience the series. And with No Time To Die bringing an end to another 007 era and the next James Bond set to be announced in the near future, it's the perfect time to go back. Especially as No Time To Die is so consciously nostalgic. From the campy misadventures of Roger Moore to the gritty action thrillers of Daniel Craig, here's how to watch all of the James Bond movies in order.
Sean Connery's James Bond Movies In Order (1962 – 1967, 1971)
Connery is still the gold standard other James Bond performers are held to and with good reason. The star originally departed the role after his fifth adventure You Only Live Twice, though he was later lured back for seventh movie Diamonds Are Forever after his successor departed.
Dr. No (1962)
From Russia With Love (1963)
Goldfinger (1964)
Thunderball (1965)
You Only Live Twice (1967)
Diamonds Are Forever (1971)
George Lazenby's Bond Movie
George Lazenby was an Australian model who blagged his way into the part of Bond after convincing producers he was a seasoned actor. Despite being offered a seven-movie deal, Lazenby departed after one movie due to his belief the character would be outdated in the 1970s.
On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969)
Roger Moore's James Bond Movies In Order (1973 – 1985)
Roger Moore had briefly been considered for Bond in Dr. No and eventually landed the role for Live And Let Die. Moore’s charm and humor would come to define his run and at 7 movies he’s still the longest-reigning James Bond star.
Live And Let Die (1973)
The Man With The Golden Gun (1974)
The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)
Moonraker (1979)
For Your Eyes Only (1981)
Octopussy (1983)
A View To A Kill (1985)
Timothy Dalton's James Bond Movies In Order (1987 – 1989)
Timothy Dalton beat out stars like Sam Neill for Bond following Roger Moore’s retirement. Dalton attempted to introduce a darker shade and make the character closer to Ian Fleming’s books. While fans didn’t take to this at the time, he’s now considered the most underrated Bond.
The Living Daylights (1987)
License To Kill (1989)
Pierce Brosnan's James Bond Movies In Order (1995 – 2002)
Pierce Brosnan had actually been cast in The Living Daylights, but the producers of his TV series Remington Steele declined to release him from his contract. After Dalton declined to return for GoldenEye Brosnan was offered the role again. While the star made for a great James Bond, his era is considered one of the weakest, with Die Another Day often ranked as one of the worst entries in the franchise.
Tomorrow Never Dies (1997)
The World Is Not Enough (1999)
Die Another Day (2002)
Daniel Craig's James Bond Movies In Order (2006 – 2021)
While some fans were initially upset about a blond actor being cast as Bond, Daniel Craig has proven to one of the best actors to take the part. He returned for one final time for James Bond 25 in 2021 despite initially expressing no desire to come back as 007.
No Time To Die (2021)
Outside of the Eon productions, there were “unofficial” Bond movies like 1967 spoof Casino Royale where multiple actors - including David Niven and Peter Sellers - played the character. Connery also returned for Never Say Never Again in 1983, which was something of a remake of Thunderball but is not counted as canon. Since these installments weren’t produced by Eon they’re often disregarded by fans.
It’s kind of fascinating watching the James Bond movies in order, with the series finding its formula in Goldfinger and evolving and adapting to different trends throughout each decade. The continuity is a mess for those paying attention, and some fans have suggested a good viewing order is watching Craig’s Casino Royale and Quantum Of Solace first – since those depict his first missions – and then the rest of the series, but starting from the beginning is still the purest way to experience the franchise.