One of the most dapper men in a suit in film, James Bond has captured the hearts of generations starting in 1962 with Dr. No. Since then, twenty-five other films featuring the British secret agent have been created, starring no less than seven different actors portraying Bond. These include Sean Connery, David Niven, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan, and the most recent, Daniel Craig.
Below, we have ranked the seven best James Bond movies that Sean Connery, George Lazenby, and Roger Moore have appeared in. Check back for our updated list of additional James Bond actors, later culminating in a list of all twenty-six films.
15. Never Say Never Again (1983)
Our fifteenth selection for the best James Bond movies is Never Say Never Again. James Bond is older, and when he makes a mistake during a routine training mission, M believes the spy is past his prime, suspending him from active duty. But, when SPECTRE agents steal two nuclear missions from the U.S. military, M must send Bond because he is the only agent cunning enough to beat SPECTRE at their own game.
–IMDb score: 6.1
RELATED: 6 Best Composers for Movies From the Last 100 Years
14. A View to Kill (1985)
Earning the fourteenth spot for the best James Bond movies is A View to Kill with Roger Moore. James Bond has returned from the USSR with a computer chip that can withstand a nuclear electromagnetic pulse. When he goes to investigate the owner, Max Zorin of Zorin Industries, Bond realizes the man is planning to set off an earthquake in San Andreas. It’s up to Bond to save the day while also dealing with another evil companion of Zorin, May Day.
–IMDb score: 6.3
13. Moonraker (1979)
Next up for our best James Bond movies list is Moonraker, as our savvy spy takes a trip into space. A spaceship traveling through space is mysteriously hijacked, so Bond and a team must head into space and find the culprits. Bond starts with the rocket’s creators, Drax Industries and Hugo Drax, to see if there are any hidden agendas. Along the way, Bond meets up with Dr. Holly Goodhead and the metal-toothed Jaws.
–IMDb score: 6.3
CHECK OUT: 7 Most Memorable Godfather Movie Quotes
12. Octop***y (1983)
Yes, you read the title right. Ranking twelfth on our best James Bond movies list is Octop***y, and James Bond is heading to the circus. A British Agent was killed holding onto a priceless Fabergé egg, which soon fell into the hands of Kamal Kahn. Suspicious, Bond follows him and sees Kahn meeting with Russian General Orlov, planning to blow up a nuclear device on a US Air Force Base. Bond teams up with a circus group headed by Octo to save the day.
–IMDb score: 6.5
ALSO READ: 14 Controversial Movies About Conspiracy Theories
11. Diamonds Are Forever (1971)
Next up for best James Bond movies is Diamonds Are Forever, Connery’s sixth appearance as Bond. Several diamonds have been disappearing, and James Bond must find who is keeping the precious jewels. This leads him to a Las Vegas diamond-smuggling ring that is plotting to target Washington with a laser in space. As 007 closes in on the target, he gets distracted by Tiffany Case, who may be a double agent.
–IMDb score: 6.5
10. Live and Let Die (1973)
Tenth on the best James Bond movies list is Live and Let Die, which was Roger Moore’s first appearance as Bond. Several British agents have been murdered in New Orleans, and Bond is sent deep into the bayou to figure out what happened. Discovering diabolically brilliant heroin magnate Mr. Big, it will be up to Bond combined with a unique cast of characters to stop Mr. Big’s plans. Some of these characters include Tee Hee who has a claw for a hand, Baron Samedi the voodoo master, and tarot-card reader Solitaire.
–IMDb score: 6.7
CHECK OUT: 6 Realistic Movie Characters and Why
9. For Your Eyes Only (1981)
Roger Moore is back in For Your Eyes Only, our ninth selection for best James Bond movies. After getting rid of a person from his past, Bond’s new mission is to recover a communication device, known as an A.T.A.C., which went down inside a British spy ship. He must hurry though, as the Russians are determined to find the technology first, and Bond must figure out who is friend or foe in a race to find the A.T.A.C.
–IMDb score: 6.7
READ MORE: 6 Movies Like Inception
8. The Man with the Golden Gun (1974)
Contract killers and solar cells merge in our eighth selection for the best James Bond movies list, The Man with the Golden Gun. James Bond has been sent to investigate the death of a scientist working on a powerful solar cell and unknowingly catches the attention of the world’s most expensive assassin, Scaramanga. As the hitman becomes a suspect for Bond, the two must cross paths and see who wins the final showdown.
–IMDb score: 6.7
7. On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969)
For one installment, George Lazenby takes the helm as Bond in our seventh selection of best James Bond movies, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. Bond must team up with the adventurous Tracy Di Vicenzo to battle against the SPECTRE organization in the Swiss Alps. The group’s evil leader, Ernst Stavro Blofeld, is preparing to launch germ warfare that could kill millions, and it will be up to Bond and Di Vicenzo to stop the plot.
–IMDb score: 6.7
CHECK OUT: 6 Movies to Watch If You Liked Whiplash
6. You Only Live Twice (1967)
Ranking sixth on the best James Bond movies list is You Only Live Twice, which premiered in 1967. It’s the height of the Cold War, and the United States and the Soviet Union are on thin ice. When each country loses one spacecraft they are quick to blame the other country as tensions rise. However, the United Kingdom has an alternative theory including Japan, and sends their number one spy James Bond to uncover the mystery, and a plot more sinister than any could have imagined.
–IMDb score: 6.8
CHECK OUT: 6 Best Movies Filmed in Venice
5. Thunderball (1965)
Fifth on the best James Bond movies list is Thunderball, Connery’s fourth appearance as Bond. His newest assignment? Recover two stolen warheads taken by the SPECTRE organization by heading to the Bahamas. There, he meets Domino and must confront SPECTRE agent Emilio Largo in a high-stakes international extortion scheme.
–IMDb score: 6.9
ALSO READ: 6 Incredible Movies Filmed in Iceland
4. The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)
Earning the fourth spot on our best James Bond movies list is The Spy Who Loved Me with Roger Moore. The newest mission? Bond must figure out how a Royal Navy Polaris submarine holding sixteen nuclear warheads disappeared while on patrol. Major Anya Amasova joins Bond’s investigation, ultimately fighting against mastermind Karl Stromberg and his henchman Jaws to find the warheads and secure them.
–IMDb score: 7.0
3. Dr. No (1962)
Earning the top three spot for the best James Bond movies is Dr. No, the very first Bond film Sean Connery starred in. James Bond, also known as 007, is Britain’s top agent and is sent on a mission to stop the mysterious Dr. No, a scientific genius dedicated to destroying the U.S. space program. As the countdown begins, Bond travels to Jamaica to confront the villain in his island headquarters.
–IMDb score: 7.2
2. From Russia With Love (1963)
Second on our best James Bond movies list is From Russia With Love, premiering in 1963. Agent James Bond is back, this time fighting against the secret crime organization SPECTRE to recover a Russian decoding machine known as “Lektor.” Along the way, Bond gets romantically involved with Russian Tatiana Romanova, who may be working for the enemy. It will take all of Bond’s wits to escape with his life in a series of dangerous encounters.
–IMDb score: 7.3
CHECK OUT: 12 Iconic Movie Openers That Live in the Brain Rent-Free
1. Goldfinger (1964)
Last but not least on the best James Bond movies list is Goldfinger, the third Bond film Connery starred in. James Bond’s newest assignment? The Bank of England and Mi6 want him to investigate gold magnate Auric Goldfinger, who they suspect is gathering a vast inventory of gold bars. At first, nothing seems awry until Bond uncovers “Operation Grand Slam,” which could put the entire Western economy in danger unless Goldfinger is stopped.
–IMDb score: 7.7
READ NEXT: Who Were the Highest Paid Actors of 2024?