James Bond Movies, Ranked

The template-defining Bond film and the first in the series to win an Academy Award (Best Sound Effects, for Norman Wanstall); it holds a 99% Rotten Tomatoes score, the highest in the franchise, and routinely tops 'best Bond' critics' polls.

Craig's debut earned a 94% Rotten Tomatoes score and frequently ranks #1 in modern polls (Empire, Time Out) for rebooting the franchise with grounded realism after Die Another Day.

The first Bond film to gross over $1 billion worldwide ($1.11B); it won two Academy Awards (Best Original Song for Adele and Best Sound Editing) and holds a 92% Rotten Tomatoes rating.

Often cited alongside Goldfinger as the finest Connery entry, it carries a 96% Rotten Tomatoes score and was reportedly among President Kennedy's favorite films in the series.

The film that launched the entire franchise and introduced Ursula Andress's iconic bikini scene; it maintains a 96% Rotten Tomatoes rating as a landmark of the spy genre.

Broadly considered Roger Moore's best outing, it earned three Oscar nominations and introduced the fan-favorite henchman Jaws; it holds an 80% Rotten Tomatoes score.

Lazenby's lone outing is one of the most faithful Fleming adaptations, with genuine emotional stakes, a superb ski-chase and the devastating ending that reshaped the series. Long underrated, now widely reappraised as a top-tier entry.

The blockbuster that cemented Bond as a global phenomenon. Spectacular underwater set pieces, a strong SPECTRE plot with Largo, and peak Connery-era confidence. Slightly dragged down by its slow-motion aquatic climax.

Brosnan's acclaimed debut revived the series after a six-year gap and inspired the landmark Nintendo 64 shooter; the film holds an 80% Rotten Tomatoes score.

Moore's debut is best remembered for Paul McCartney and Wings' Oscar-nominated title song, one of the most celebrated in the franchise; it sits around 66% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Craig's finale grossed $774 million worldwide and earned an 83% Rotten Tomatoes score, praised as an emotional send-off despite its 163-minute runtime.

Iconic volcano lair, the first proper reveal of Blofeld, and gorgeous Japanese locations make it a memorable spectacle. The plot is thin and the ninja-army finale is more camp than classic, keeping it mid-tier.

Dalton's grittier, more grounded Bond was a welcome course-correction after the Moore years. A solid Cold War plot and strong action, though a somewhat convoluted arms-dealing storyline holds it back.

A sleek, well-paced Brosnan entry with a prescient media-mogul villain and a genuinely capable co-lead in Michelle Yeoh. Competent and entertaining but rarely surprising, landing it comfortably in the middle.

Dalton's darker, revenge-driven entry divided audiences and underperformed at the U.S. box office, though critical reassessment has warmed to its grittier tone (79% Rotten Tomatoes).

Following Skyfall, it drew a more mixed 63% Rotten Tomatoes score, with critics faulting a convoluted plot despite a record-setting opening single-take sequence in Mexico City.

Sophie Marceau's Elektra King is one of the more interesting Bond antagonists, but the film is undermined by a muddled plot and Denise Richards' poorly received nuclear-physicist role. A middling Brosnan effort.

Moore's final and lowest-rated Bond film on Rotten Tomatoes (37%), widely panned for his visibly advanced age, though Duran Duran's US #1 theme song remains a bright spot.

Routinely voted the worst Bond film in fan and critics' polls (55% Rotten Tomatoes), it is notorious for its invisible car and heavy CGI; its poor reception directly prompted the franchise's Casino Royale reboot.