As Daniel Craig stepped away from his iconic role as James Bond in No Time to Die, fans of the franchise have been left with a lingering question: who will be cast to take up the mantle of 007? The world-renowned character has been portrayed by six different actors over the years, and now that Craig is officially retiring from the part, many are eager to learn who will be chosen as his replacement.

For over sixty years, James Bond has been portrayed on the silver screen by a variety of performers. This long-running movie franchise continues to captivate audiences with no indication that it will be ending in the foreseeable future. The iconic secret agent has enthralled viewers throughout the decades and shows no sign of slowing down.

With the announcement of Craig’s successor yet to come, now is an ideal moment for fans of Bond to relive some of his most thrilling and captivating exploits. From heart-pounding ski pursuits to high stakes life-or-death poker matches, there are countless classic moments from Bond’s history to revisit. In honour of 007, here is a list of the top ten films starring the legendary British spy.

10. Live and Let Die

Sir Roger Moore’s inaugural outing as the iconic British secret agent James Bond was one of his most successful performances in the role. The mission assigned to 007 is a high-stakes operation to disrupt an international heroin trafficking syndicate. This leads him on a journey to the Caribbean where he must confront the nefarious criminal mastermind, Kananga (Yaphet Koto). With stakes this high and an enemy of such power, it is up to Bond and his wits to bring down this deadly criminal empire.

Following Sean Connery’s exit from the role of James Bond, Roger Moore took over and injected much more light-hearted comedy into his portrayal. In the movie Live and Let Die, one of the most intrepid and courageous scenes in James Bond’s storied history was captured on film; Bond had to bravely utilize a series of live alligators as makeshift stepping stones, in order to elude a certain deathly fate.

9. You Only Live Twice

Sean Connery starred as the world-famous secret agent James Bond a total of seven times, with You Only Live Twice being his fifth appearance. Although it was still an entertaining movie, it is not considered to be one of Connery’s best performances as 007. In this film, James Bond, the legendary British secret agent, embarked on an unforgettable mission to Japan in order to confront Ernst Stavro Blofeld, one of the most notorious movie villains of all time. Played by distinguished actor Donald Pleasance, this villainous character provided a formidable opponent for 007 and created an exciting journey that remains etched in the minds of fans around the world.

The movie features some truly spectacular sequences, including the memorable moment when Bond takes to the air in a single-person, self-assembled helicopter. Unfortunately, there are also long interludes where 007 is being coached and instructed by his Japanese counterpart which drag down the overall quality of the film and prevent it from achieving a higher rank on this list.

8. Goldeneye

Easily the most acclaimed Pierce Brosnan outing, Goldeneye is a thrilling and captivating movie with huge action set pieces (including an incredibly memorable scene of Bond driving a tank in St. Petersburg), an exciting plotline that moves at a rapid pace, and plenty of fun moments throughout. The story follows James Bond as he attempts to track down one his fiercest adversaries yet; a former British double-oh agent who has gone rogue and become a formidable enemy.

Sean Bean delivers an outstanding performance as the villain in Goldeneye. Alongside Bond’s spectacular tank driving scene, this film is also remembered for its remarkable opening stunt – a breathtaking 220m bungee jump from the towering Verzasca Dam in Switzerland. Furthermore, Judi Dench makes her debut as M, becoming the first female to ever play this iconic character.

7. The Spy Who Loved Me

Sir Roger Moore’s favourite Bond film was one of the biggest budgeted films in the whole franchise, having a staggering figure of $13.5 million. It featured all the classic elements that make a Bond movie – from a megalomaniacal villain with global domination on his mind to incredible gadgets, beautiful locations and an irresistible Russian agent who succumbs to 007’s charms.

By this time, Moore had truly mastered the character and was easily able to bring out a few laughs. Despite that, there are still some intense scenes throughout the movie (such as the remarkable ski pursuit in the beginning), which make it quite captivating.

6. Skyfall

Daniel Craig gave us a Bond with a much more nuanced characterization, one that was firmly planted in the 21st century. Through his portrayal, we gain insight into Bond’s troubled past and understand why he chose to delve into the shadowy world of espionage and secret operations. Craig brought Ian Fleming’s literary character to life in a way that had never been seen before on screen.

The much-anticipated return of the Aston Martin DB5 and its accompanying exciting, yet gritty narrative were two of the main factors that made Skyfall the highest-grossing Bond film ever, accumulating a staggering $1.1 billion in box office receipts. This impressive feat was achieved through a combination of fantastic action sequences and an engaging story line, making it one of the most iconic films in cinematic history.

5. Thunderball

Thunderball boasted an impressive budget, and the anticipation was immense. The production took advantage of the beautiful locations in the Bahamas for their on-location shooting, creating some stunning visuals. As well as this, Thunderball featured one of the most dangerous Bond girls ever seen in the franchise; Fiona Volpe was a cold-blooded assassin with no qualms about eliminating anyone who stood in her way.

When the nefarious group S.P.E.C.T.R.E succeed in absconding with two powerful nuclear warheads, it falls to the intrepid James Bond to deploy his formidable talents and expertise in order to recover them before they can be utilized by the villains to wreak devastating destruction upon numerous major Western cities, reducing them to piles of smoldering rubble and ashes.

Despite its spectacular underwater combat scenes, which are admittedly impressive, Thunderball didn’t rank higher on the list due to their length and lack of tension. Nevertheless, it is still an excellent Bond movie worthy of its number five ranking.

4. Casino Royale

Daniel Craig’s debut performance as James Bond in the series is still widely considered to be his finest. His interpretation of the iconic British spy character captures the essence of Ian Fleming’s original literary works; a tough yet vulnerable, complex and troubled agent who has been assigned to bankrupt notorious enemy operative Le Chiffre at a high stakes card game. To ensure that he will come out on top, Bond must navigate through numerous obstacles and survive long enough to collect his winnings.

However, Le Chiffre does not conform to conventional standards of decency, making the presence of Eva Green as the romantic interest all the more remarkable. Casino Royale is perhaps most renowned for featuring the most intense and violent torture scene in any Bond movie so far, which has undoubtedly contributed to Daniel Craig’s celebrity status among audiences worldwide.

3. Goldfinger

Goldfinger is considered by many fans to be the best Bond movie. At this time, Connery had taken on the role as his own, giving the right amount of easy cool and tough-guy image. Almost every word in the movie may be quoted, starting with the line “shocking… positively shocking” after electrocuting a henchman in the bath.

James Bond’s most beloved automobile, the Aston Martin DB5, equipped with an ejector seat, is pitted against Auric Goldfinger in a thrilling game of cat and mouse. Although the initial confrontation takes place on a rather ordinary British golf course, Bond eventually manages to trace Goldfinger to the highly secure Fort Knox.

2. Dr. No

Jamaica was the favorite destination of Ian Fleming, the creator of James Bond. So much so that he even built a house there named Goldeneye. Therefore, it made perfect sense when Jamaica became the setting for the first ever Bond film in 1962. The island’s stunning scenery and beautiful beaches have since been featured in numerous Bond films and remain an iconic part of the franchise to this day.

After a series of rejections from more established actors, the relatively unknown Sean Connery was eventually chosen for the role of James Bond. His performance truly cemented his place in film history and he is now widely regarded as one of the greatest Bonds ever to grace the screen. His commanding presence, charm and charisma combined with an air of danger made him perfect for this iconic character and helped to make Bond into the worldwide phenomenon it is today.

Dr. No, the iconic James Bond movie, is an acclaimed classic that deserves its place in cinematic history. Agent 007 is sent to Jamaica to investigate the suspicious death of a British agent and soon finds himself on the hunt for the megalomaniacal Dr. Julius No – a man who presides over an expansive criminal network from his own personal island paradise. An amazing and thrilling adventure ensues as Bond attempts to unravel this nefarious villain’s dastardly plot and bring him down once and for all.

After several narrow escapes, Bond is eventually taken prisoner. Despite his predicament, he somehow manages to cause the destruction of No’s nefarious lair from within. Adding another layer of excitement, the film also includes an iconic and unforgettable Bond girl – Honey Ryder – whose entrance in a white bikini remains one of the most memorable moments in all of Bond history.

1. From Russia with Love

The second Bond movie has it all. It contains one of the most tightly-crafted and believable storylines, set across a backdrop of espionage and intrigue. Travelling to Turkey, 007 must steal a Soviet encryption device and is soon embroiled in an elaborate network of murder plots after being seduced by a mysterious Russian woman. The action is intense, with plenty of twists and turns as James Bond battles his way through the perilous mission.

When James Bond boards the Orient Express, the temperature really rises as he is being chased by a team of assassins determined to terminate him. Robert Shaw gives a chillingly subdued yet intimidating performance as an invincible warrior that will stop at nothing in his mission to take out 007.

Wrapping Up:

That’s our comprehensive list of The Best James Bond Movies. We have carefully considered each installment in the iconic series and hope you are in agreement with our rankings. It is no small feat to rank such a beloved franchise, but we believe that these movies represent the very best of 007 on film.