Let’s be honest – James Bond movies are among the best Hollywood has to offer. And since 1990, they’ve expanded into becoming one of the most prolific and iconic film franchises in history.
If you’re a big fan of 007, then this post is for you! We’ll be ranking every James Bond movie released since 1990 on a scale from 1-10 while also providing some context about what makes each movie so unique. Come with me on this whirlwind adventure to explore the 24 years of the world’s favourite spy!
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From Russia With Love (1963) – 10/10
“From Russia with Love” (1963) starring Sean Connery.
This is our first entry and currently holds the top spot! Without a doubt, this is THE James Bond film of all time! Made during the height of Fleming’s popularity and featuring one of cinema’s most iconic villains is none other than Mr Blofeld, this movie is also one of the most iconic and influential James Bond films of all time. The film features the first appearance of SPECTRE and features 6 actors who would later go on to become famous in their own right: Daniel Craig, Judi Dench, Roger Moore, Sean Connery, Ralph Fiennes and Javier Bardem.
Goldfinger (1964) – 10/10
Classic and iconic, Goldfinger remains one of the most universally loved Bond films. It boasts exceptional pacing that keeps you on the edges of your seat the entire time. The 1964 British spy film Goldfinger was one of the longest-running productions in the James Bond series. In this film, a criminal mastermind and gold magnate stages an elaborate robbery and plots to commit a third theft: the destruction of Fort Knox by flooding it with balloons carrying atomic weapons.
Dr No (1962) – 10/10
Dr No is an American television and film series that Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) produced and aired on NBC . The series depicts the adventures of James Bond as he battles villains in a variety of locations around the world. The show was based on Ian Fleming’s first Bond book, Casino Royale. One critic described Dr No as “the most perfect spy thriller ever made”.
Thunderball (1965) – 5/10
The first color James Bond film ‘Thunderball’ is unfortunately the worst amongst all James Bond movies. We saw the first bond girl with the film. The pacing was poor and it felt like several scenes were missing; it’s not worth watching beyond the intro sequence with Sean Connery driving an Aston Martin DB5.
You Only Live Twice (1967) – 9/10
Soundtrack of “You Only Live Twice” by John Barry.
This is the one James Bond movie that has a lot of people confused about its ranking. This is because it was released after six other films and it never had a theatrical release in the United States. The film features a new Bond actor, George Lazenby, who only filmed one 007 movie before he was replaced with Roger Moore. So while this can be seen as an “old” James Bond movie, there are many who see it as the beginning of a new era for the spy and action series because of this change to such an iconic character in James Bond.
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Diamonds Are Forever (1971) – 9/10
This is James Bond’s first feature film, the one where he proves to the world that he’s a man of mystery. It is the only original full-length work written by Ian Fleming that was not adapted into one of the Aeon Productions James Bond films. The film was directed by Guy Hamilton who had directed six other James Bond films between 1963 and 1974, with its screenplay co-written by Richard Maibaum and John Hopkins who had also collaborated on From Russia with Love, Goldfinger and Diamonds Are Forever.
Skyfall (2012) – 8/10
In this, thanks goes to Roger Deakins for the absolutely shinning entry in the movie. But chasing Judi Dench till Scotland was just not good enough.
There are so many plot twists that it’s hard to say what pace this movie could be categorised under; thriller or action-adventure. With all of these things in mind, it makes for an entertaining thriller with some solid action scenes and some great cinematography. It doesn’t quite live up to the hype and is worth checking out but not one of my favourites from this franchise.
Goldeneye (1995) – 8/10
Goldeneye (1995), directed by Martin Campbell, was met with great critical acclaim, accumulating an average rating of 76/100 at Metacritic. Critics praised the film’s plot and length but were divided over the casting of Sean Bean as Alec Trevelyan. The film remains one of the highest-grossing James Bond films to date at $346 million worldwide.
Casino Royale (1967) – 8/10
The popularity of the James Bond franchise started to decline in the ’80s. However, it wasn’t until Casino Royale in 2006 that audiences would see an injection of originality back into James Bond. The film is based on Ian Fleming’s first-ever published novel blurring boundaries between reality and fantasy so aptly.
Quantum of Solace (2008) – 8/10
Quantum of Solace (2008), is one film that may have been overlooked by many cinema connoisseurs because its predecessor, Casino Royale (2006). But while Quantum of Solace might not be as well-known or widely discussed as Casino Royale, it is nonetheless an intriguing and entertaining movie that shouldn’t be overlooked by anyone who even remotely enjoys James Bond movies or action-adventure dramas.
Ultimatum Of James Bond
In conclusion, we see there’s a clear trend of gradually increasing quality for the Bond series since 1990. The post-2000 films became an entirely different animal, and even the bottom-of-the-barrel (Quantum of Solace) still manages to pack more punch than most other series in that timeframe.
- From Russia With Love (1963) – 10/10
- Goldfinger (1964) – 10/10
- Dr No (1962) – 10/10
- Thunderball (1965) – 5/10
- You Only Live Twice (1967) – 9/10
- Diamonds Are Forever (1971) – 9/10
- Skyfall (2012) – 10/10
- Goldeneye (1995) – 8/10
- Casino Royale (1967) – 8/10
- Quantum of Solace (2008) – 8/10
So, what are your thoughts on the best James Bond movies? Which ones would you put at the top of the list?
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