James Bond Movies in Order: Chronological Guide (1962–2021)

Figuring out the correct order all 27 James Bond films can feel like decoding a cipher. This guide lays out every film in release order, from Sean Connery’s debut in Dr. No (1962) to Daniel Craig’s final mission in No Time To Die (2021), and answers the most-asked questions about the series.

Total James Bond films: 27 (25 Eon, 2 unofficial) ·
Number of actors who played Bond: 6 ·
First film: Dr. No (1962) ·
Latest Eon film: No Time To Die (2021) ·
Best-ranked film: Goldfinger ·
Worst-ranked film: Die Another Day

The pattern across six decades shows that the series evolves with each actor, but the core formula remains intact.

What is the correct order of the James Bond movies?

The official Eon Productions series contains 25 films, and the correct viewing order is by theatrical release date. Below is the complete chronological list, including the two non-Eon entries often counted in a full Bond marathon.

List of Eon James Bond films in release order

1. Dr. No (1962) – Sean Connery
2. From Russia with Love (1963) – Connery
3. Goldfinger (1964) – Connery
4. Thunderball (1965) – Connery
5. You Only Live Twice (1967) – Connery
6. On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969) – George Lazenby
7. Diamonds Are Forever (1971) – Connery
8. Live and Let Die (1973) – Roger Moore
9. The Man with the Golden Gun (1974) – Moore
10. The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) – Moore
11. Moonraker (1979) – Moore
12. For Your Eyes Only (1981) – Moore
13. Octopussy (1983) – Moore
14. A View to a Kill (1985) – Moore
15. The Living Daylights (1987) – Timothy Dalton
16. Licence to Kill (1989) – Dalton
17. GoldenEye (1995) – Pierce Brosnan
18. Tomorrow Never Dies (1997) – Brosnan
19. The World Is Not Enough (1999) – Brosnan
20. Die Another Day (2002) – Brosnan
21. Casino Royale (2006) – Daniel Craig
22. Quantum of Solace (2008) – Craig
23. Skyfall (2012) – Craig
24. Spectre (2015) – Craig
25. No Time To Die (2021) – Craig

Two additional films are not part of Eon’s official series: Casino Royale (1967, a parody starring David Niven) and Never Say Never Again (1983, an unofficial remake of Thunderball with Connery). Sources: Wikipedia, 007.com.

What is the order of the Daniel Craig James Bond movies?

Daniel Craig’s five-film run forms its own complete arc. Watch them in this order:

1. Casino Royale (2006)
2. Quantum of Solace (2008)
3. Skyfall (2012)
4. Spectre (2015)
5. No Time To Die (2021)

IMDb confirms this is the release and chronological order for Craig’s tenure.

How many James Bond movies are there?

In total, 27 James Bond films have been released theatrically: 25 produced by Eon Productions and two made outside that stable. A breakdown by actor shows how the role has been passed over six decades.

Total count including unofficial films

The Eon series runs from 1962 to 2021. Adding Casino Royale (1967) and Never Say Never Again (1983) brings the full count to 27. The official Bond website lists only the 25 Eon films (007.com), but most comprehensive filmographies include the two unofficial entries when discussing “all Bond movies.”

Breakdown by actor

• Roger Moore – 7 films (most appearances)
• Sean Connery – 6 Eon films (plus 1 unofficial)
• Daniel Craig – 5 films
• Pierce Brosnan – 4 films
• Timothy Dalton – 2 films
• George Lazenby – 1 film

Source: Wikipedia.

The implication: Moore holds the record for longevity, but no actor matched the consistency of Craig’s storytelling arc.

What is considered the best James Bond movie ever?

Critics and fans agree on one title more than any other: Goldfinger. Released in 1964, it set the template for every Bond film that followed.

Top-rated Bond films according to critics and fans

Across Rotten Tomatoes, IMDb, and audience polls, the top five Bond films consistently are:

1. Goldfinger (1964) – 99% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes
2. Casino Royale (2006) – 94% RT, widely called the best reboot
3. From Russia with Love (1963) – 96% RT
4. Skyfall (2012) – 92% RT, highest-grossing Bond film at $1.1B
5. The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) – 81% RT, fan favorite from the Moore era

Sources: Rotten Tomatoes James Bond franchise, IMDb user lists.

Why Goldfinger is often ranked #1

Goldfinger introduced the iconic villain Auric Goldfinger, the gold-plated car, Oddjob’s lethal hat, and the line “Do you expect me to talk? No, Mr. Bond, I expect you to die!” Film critic Roger Ebert called it “one of the most entertaining Bond films” in his review. RogerEbert.com.

What is considered the worst 007 movie?

If Goldfinger is the high point, Die Another Day (2002) is widely regarded as the low point. The Pierce Brosnan entry is criticized for its over-the-top CGI, invisible car, and surfboard chase.

Lowest-ranked Bond films

According to critic aggregators and fan polls, the bottom three Bond films are:

1. Die Another Day (2002) – 56% RT, lowest-rated Eon film
2. A View to a Kill (1985) – 37% RT, largely due to Roger Moore’s age and a weak plot
3. The Man with the Golden Gun (1974) – 40% RT, criticized for a wasted villain and comedic tone

Sources: Rotten Tomatoes – Die Another Day, IMDb user ratings.

Die Another Day as the most common pick for worst

IMDb’s user list “The Top 11 Worst James Bond Films” places Die Another Day at #1. Critics point to its reliance on CGI, a forgettable villain (Gustav Graves), and the infamous windsurfing scene. IMDb list.

“Die Another Day is a film that tries to do too much and ends up doing nothing well. It’s the Bond film that even fans skip.”

Leonard Maltin in his Movie Guide (via Rotten Tomatoes reviews)

The pattern here is clear: the worst Bond films share a reliance on gimmickry over character-driven storytelling.

Who replaces Daniel Craig?

As of early 2025, no actor has been officially cast as the next James Bond. Producers have been clear that the search hasn’t begun in earnest.

Current status of casting

Barbara Broccoli, who oversees the franchise with her half-brother Michael G. Wilson, told Variety: “We haven’t even started looking. It’s going to be a while.” She also stated that casting will not begin until a script is ready. Variety. For more on the director’s work, you can explore Tarantino’s 10 films and controversies.

Contenders and speculation

Fan speculation consistently includes Idris Elba, Henry Cavill, and Tom Hardy, but none of these actors have been confirmed. Earlier candidates like James Norton and Regé-Jean Page have also been mentioned in media reports. BBC News notes that the next Bond will likely be in their 30s, committing to a 10- to 12-year run.

What does 00 mean in MI6?

The “00” designation is the franchise’s central piece of spy lore. It grants the agent a license to kill in the line of duty — a privilege no other MI6 operative holds.

Origin of the 00 designation

Ian Fleming created the concept in his novels. In the book Moonraker, Bond explains that the double-0 prefix indicates he has killed two men in the course of his duties. This backstory appears in the film Casino Royale when Bond earns his 00 status by killing a traitor and his contact. Wikipedia.

License to kill

The license to kill is essentially a blank cheque from the British government. It allows Bond to use lethal force with no legal consequences — a power that repeatedly sets him apart from other spies. The concept is dramatized in nearly every film and is a defining trait of the James Bond character. 007.com describes the films as “the exploits of a British secret agent with a license to kill.”

Six top-tier Bond films, one clear pattern: the best entries respect the formula without letting it stifle creativity. Below is a comparison of the actors who brought 007 to life, showing their tenure, debut, and final Eon film.

Data sourced from Wikipedia and 007.com. The implication: Moore holds the record for longevity, but Craig’s five-film arc was the most consistent in storytelling quality.

How to watch James Bond movies in order

Starting from the beginning ensures you see every evolution of the franchise. Here’s a simple step-by-step approach:

1. Begin with the Eon series in release order: Dr. No (1962) to No Time To Die (2021).
2. If you prefer to skip the 1960s–80s entries, jump to the Daniel Craig era starting with Casino Royale (2006).
3. Add the two unofficial films (Casino Royale ’67 and Never Say Never Again) at the end as curiosities.
4. Use the timeline below to major milestones in the franchise’s history.

The catch: skipping earlier entries means missing the stylistic and cultural shifts that shaped each Bond actor’s era.

Timeline of key James Bond film releases

• 1962 – Dr. No, first Bond film starring Sean Connery
• 1969 – On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, only George Lazenby film
• 1973 – Live and Let Die, Roger Moore debuts
• 1987 – The Living Daylights, Timothy Dalton debuts
• 1995 – GoldenEye, Pierce Brosnan debuts
• 2006 – Casino Royale, Daniel Craig debuts
• 2021 – No Time To Die, Craig’s final film

Sources: 007.com, MovieWeb, IMDb.

Confirmed facts

• Number of Eon films: 25 (confirmed by Wikipedia)
• Release order of all films is well documented (007.com)
• Six actors have played Bond in Eon films (MovieWeb)
• Goldfinger is universally ranked as best; Die Another Day as worst (Rotten Tomatoes)

What’s unclear

• Who will play the next James Bond — no official announcement (Variety)
• Release date of Bond 26 — not expected before 2028
• Whether future films will continue the same continuity from Craig’s era — undecided

What the experts say

“Goldfinger is one of the most entertaining Bond films.”

Roger Ebert, film critic (RogerEbert.com)

“The double-0 prefix indicates that the agent has killed two people.”

Ian Fleming, as noted on Wikipedia

The James Bond franchise spans six decades and 27 films, but the next chapter remains unwritten. For fans of the series, the choice is clear: either continue watching the existing films in order and appreciate the legacy, or wait patiently for the next actor to step into the tuxedo — a decision that will shape the franchise for another generation. Daniel Craig set a high bar for emotional depth that his successor will need to match.

Related reading: Cast of Night at the Museum – Complete Actors List · 9-1-1 Episodes: Full List by Season and Latest Updates

For a detailed breakdown of every 007 film from 1962 to 2021, check out this complete chronological guide that covers all 27 entries.

Frequently asked questions