More than 60 years ago, movie history was made when Dr. No hit theaters. The film, based on the Ian Fleming novel, was the first time James Bond was portrayed on the big screen. Prior, he appeared in an hour-long episode of the thriller anthology series Climax! Mystery Theater. This episode was an adaptation of the first Bond novel, Casino Royale, and was the first live-action appearance of 007. This episode aired in 1954, and it would take eight years before he reached iconic status when he first hit the silver screen.

Update October 5, 2023: In honor of James Bond Day, which is the anniversary of when Dr. No was released in the U.K., this article has been updated with even more information regarding the James Bond film franchise.

Since then, the character has become synonymous with the movie spy genre. Even those who have never seen the films know the legendary gun barrel sequence in the opening titles or the iconic score. Plenty of James Bond films are available for streaming on platforms such as Amazon Prime, HBO Max, and Netflix. It is never the wrong time to get caught up with this legendary series. To help fans navigate, here are all the James Bond films in order of release since there is largely no chronology whatsoever until the recent handful of Daniel Craig films. Additionally, readers need to know what the future of the franchise looks like as it enters a possible new era.

James Bond Movies in Order of Release Date

1 Dr. No (1962)

While not the first of Fleming's stories, Dr. No was chosen to be the first of 007's big-screen adventures; the producers had bought the rights to most of Fleming's novels, but not the first, Casino Royale. Dr. No features the debut of the late, great Sean Connery as James Bond, one of the most iconic performances of all time. The movie follows suave British agent 007 as he attempts to uncover the secrets of Dr. No, an evil scientist looking to destroy the US space program. The film is missing much of the franchise's staples and has yet to find its identity, but nonetheless has a slick '60s style.

The franchise's first Bond girl is Honey Ryder (Ursula Andress). Honey is a shell diver who helps Bond face Dr. No. The movie was a huge success, grossing nearly 60 times its modest budget, and skyrocketed both Sean Connery and James Bond into the mainstream. Today, the movie is bogged down by hokey acting and even hokier special effects. While still entertaining, Dr. No should mostly be seen just to witness the beginnings of one of cinema's most prolific franchises.

2 From Russia With Love (1963)

Just a year later, 007 returned to the big screen in From Russia with Love. This first of many sequels is where some Bond-isms start to sprout. One such example is Q, who makes his first brief appearance here. Bond learns that Dr. No was working for a secret organization known as SPECTRE, a criminal empire Bond would face for many movies to come.

Another first in the series that debuts here is Ernst Starvo Blofeld, Bond's arch-nemesis. Blofeld's name is never mentioned, but fans can clearly see that it's him. Blofeld's face is never seen, only his lower body, as he is usually seen stroking a white cat. Sean Connery returns as 007 and is joined by Daniela Bianchi as Bond girl Tatiana. This movie holds up better than Dr. No, especially in the action department.

3 Goldfinger (1964)

Goldfinger is the first movie in the series to truly feel like a Bond film. Most of the classic tropes of the franchise appear here. Aspects such as Q's gadget gags and the legendary Aston Martin finally appear in this movie. Even classic lines such as "Shaken, not stirred" are first uttered in Goldfinger, along with others which are endlessly quotable, like "No, Mr. Bond, I expect you to die." The film's Bond girl is also known as one of the best — Pussy Galore played by Honor Blackman.

Regardless of the double entender in her name, Pussy is praised for being one of the few Bond girls who aren't used just for eye candy. The film sees Bond go after the titular Goldfinger. What makes Goldfinger work is that he isn't out for world domination or power. At the end of the day, he is simply a glorified bank robber. He is looking to radiate all the gold in Fort Knox, making it worthless and him rich. Goldfinger is one of the best Bond films and is where the series really began to take shape.

4 Thunderball (1965)

The fourth Bond film in as many years sees Connery once again in the role of 007. By now, Connery has perfectly slipped into the role and James Bond was a worldwide phenomenon. One interesting thing about Thunderball is this is the first time Sean Connery performed the iconic Gunbarrel opening. Prior to this film, it was stuntman Bob Simmons. This marked the first time the actor portraying Bond was featured in the gun barrel, a tradition that would last for the rest of the series. Once again going against SPECTRE, Bond must stop the organization from holding the world ransom using nuclear warheads. Bond must charm Domino (Claudine Auger) into joining him, and together they set out to stop SPECTRE.

Thunderball is responsible for some behind-the-scenes controversy. Kevin McClory and Jack Whittingham sued Ian Fleming for the rights to the story. Before Dr. No, Thunderball was to be the first Bond film. The screenplay was an original work written by the trio, and later Fleming published it as his own novel. This led the two to later make their own film based on the script titled Never Say Never Again, and for EON productions (the company behind the Bond films) to lose the right to use the name SPECTRE from 1973 to 2013, redefining Bond plots in the process.

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5 Casino Royale (1967)

The story behind Casino Royale is legally complicated. Gregory Ratoff bought the rights to it and produced the first live-action Bond, the television episode of Climax! Mystery Theater. He wished to turn it into a movie but died before he could, and his widow sold the rights to his former agent, Charles Feldman. Feldman could never settle with the producers over at EON to make his version of Casino Royale, and he tried to entice Connery to defect and join his film, but the Bond actor demanded $1 million at the time (in what was likely a coincidental but still hilarious synchronicity with the Dr. No villain).

So, Feldman, with his rights to just one title, made a ridiculous satire to mock the entire James Bond franchise with the satirical Casino Royale, which turned into a ridiculous, troubled production more interesting than the movie itself. Six-time Oscar-nominee Ben Hecht was hired to write the script, and then had a heart attack and died. Feldman then hired a variety of people, from acclaimed Catch-22 novelist Joseph Heller to brilliant Sunset Boulevard director Billy Wilder to work on the script. Six directors ended up working on the project. The film ultimately starred David Niven as Bond, and it featured Woody Allen, Peter Sellers, and the original Bond girl, Ursula Andress. Even Peter O'Toole showed up, and was literally paid for his work in champagne. The Burt Bacharach score won a Grammy, but the film is mostly remembered as a trivia question these days.

6 You Only Live Twice (1967)

You Only Live Twice is where all the popular spy clichés finally came together in one movie. The film's primary villain is once again Blofeld, who is shown on screen for the first time. Before he helped change the face of horror with Halloween, Donald Pleasence portrays Blofeld, whose look in the film should be familiar to many.

The design of Dr. Evil from the Austin Powers series was lifted straight from Blofeld in You Only Live Twice. Bond must stop Blofeld from orchestrating a nuclear war between America and Russia at the height of the Cold War. This was the first of the official Bond movies to heavily differ from Ian Fleming's source novels, using a script actually written by children's book author Roald Dahl. The film is as thrilling as a Bond movie can get, and is one of the absolute best.

7 On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)

For the first time in the official series, the actor playing James Bond was changed. On Her Majesty's Secret Service features George Lazenby in his first and only portrayal of the legendary super spy. While today, it is typical not to get attached to an actor who plays James Bond, audiences in 1969 were less than enthusiastic to welcome anybody but Connery in the role. This (along with its more emotional and sentimental version of Bond) damaged the film's success, although it was still a huge hit.

On Her Majesty's Secret Service sees James truly fall in love for the first time in the series, as he meets Tracy Di Vicenzo, a woman who more than holds her own against the famed secret agent. The movie is best known for its shocking ending. Shortly after their wedding, James and Tracy are ambushed by SPECTRE agents. This leads to Tracy dying in James' arms, as the grief-stricken agent tries to convince himself she is okay.

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8 Diamonds Are Forever (1971)

The first Bond film of a new decade sees Sean Connery once again return to the role of 007. The film wastes no time getting down to business, showing James on the warpath seeking out Blofeld for revenge against Tracy's death. After seemingly avenging his late bride, James must travel to Las Vegas to seek information on a hijacked space laser aimed at Washington. This film is arguably the most humorous of the series, as James' wit is dialed up to 11, perhaps to counteract the of the incongruous previous movie's emotional devastation.

Due to Connery's return, the film was much better received by fans. However, this return was short-lived, as this was the last time Connery would appear as James Bond in the 'official' series. This was also the last film produced while EON productions held the rights to the name SPECTRE and Blofeld. By the time the next film was released, Kevin McClory and Jack Whittingham had won the rights to those names, as well as the Thunderball story.

9 Live And Let Die (1973)

Once again, the role of James Bond was passed to another actor after Sean Connery retired from the role. This time, however, the replacement was much better received. Live and Let Die was Roger Moore's introduction as 007, and he would go on to play him for the next six films. The plot sees 007 investigating the murders of three fellow agents.

He soon becomes involved in a plot orchestrated by Mr. Big to cause a global threat using heroin. This film is notable for featuring the first Black Bond girl, CIA agent Rosie Carver, played by Gloria Hendry. The movie is a fun addition to the series, with a great title song and score, and it's a worthy first film for Roger Moore. Roger not only does a good job filling Sean Connery's shoes, but he would also go on to make the role his own in a specific way.

10 The Man With The Golden Gun (1974)

Roger Moore's second film, The Man With the Golden Gun sees James set out to find Francisco Scaramanga, a famed assassin who has named Bond his next target. Scaramanga's signature weapon is a golden gun that can kill its victims using a single bullet. Christopher Lee played the titular assassin, and most fans agree he is one of the best of Bond's foes.

The film also features Maude Adams in her first of three appearances in the franchise, albeit as a different character each time. This movie is not only praised as one of Roger Moore's best but one of the best in the entire series. The Golden Gun featured in the film would go on to have a life of its own in the Goldeneye Nintendo 64 game, as a highly sought-after weapon in the multiplayer mode.

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11 The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)

The film that is frequently called Moore's best is The Spy Who Loved Me. The film features the first appearance of iconic baddie Jaws, played by Richard Kiel. Jaws is notable for his huge stature and his metal teeth. The film's title was also the basis of the name of the second Austin Powers film, The Spy Who Shagged Me.

The story has 007 on a mission to stop Karl Stromberg from wiping out New York City with nuclear weapons. This is the film where Roger Moore had become fully accepted as James Bond. The film's Bond girl is Russian agent Anya Amasova, played by Barbara Bach. The Spy Who Loved Me is still well regarded and is essential viewing for anyone looking to get into Bond.

12 Moonraker (1979)

With the success of Star Wars in 1977, space was all the rage. EON productions took note of this new craze and sent Bond to the stars for his latest adventure, Moonraker, the first fully original story since the franchise launched. This space plot proved to pay off financially, as it was Bond's most financially successful movie until Goldeneye 16 years later (if you don't count Never Say Never Again). Fans, however, were much more mixed. They criticized the film for leaning too heavily into science fiction and trying to capitalize on the success of Star Wars, and the film is certainly the most ridiculous in the series so far.

Bond doesn't spend the entire film in space, however. Most of the film is the typical globetrotting fare fans had grown accustomed to. Richard Kiel reprises his role as Jaws and even has his own romantic subplot. Moonraker is a fun time, but it is foreshadowing the outlandish nature the series would soon take on.

13 For Your Eyes Only (1981)

While Blofeld legally hadn't appeared in a Bond film since Diamonds are Forever, he does make an unnamed appearance at the beginning of For Your Eyes Only. While visiting Tracy's grave (making this Bond the same as in On Her Majesty's Secret Sevice and disproving the popular code name theory), he is attacked by a man whose face or name isn't known. He is clearly Blofeld, and Bond makes short work of him. The film itself is much more realistic than the science fiction-heavy Moonraker.

This is arguably the darkest Bond movie up to that point and deals with the repercussions of revenge. The film's Bond girl is Melina Havelock, a Greek woman seeking vengeance for the deaths of her parents. The darker story is a huge tonal shift from the previous film and works in the film's favor. While perhaps not the best, For Your Eyes Only is still a worthy entry.

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14 Never Say Never Again (1983)

Sean Connery was glad to have left the Bond films; he told The Observer, "I have always hated that damned James Bond – I’d like to kill him." However, Connery was at that point legally contentious with EON, and when offered $3 million to appear in Never Say Never Again (a title referring to Connery's decision to never play Bond again), the actor took the deal. Crucially, the film was based on Thunderball, the only title that Kevin McClory, Jack Whittingham, and Ian Fleming (the latter two of whom died of heart attacks before its release) had film rights to after lawsuits with EON.

Never Say Never Again humorously opens with James Bond, out of shape, failing a physical and being sent to a health clinic. There, he gets involved in a plot involving SPECTRE and Blofeld, who is alive in this film after dying in the previous one, making Never Say Never Again not just outside of canon but outside of continuity. The great Max Von Sydow plays Blofeld, and a young Kim Basinger and Rowan Atkinson (Mr. Bean) star. Audiences adored seeing Connery and the more light-hearted film after For Your Eyes Only, and it was the highest-grossing Bond film at the time, even if it's unofficial.

15 Octopussy (1983)

The film with the most suggestive title, Octopussy follows Bond as he investigates the mysterious death of a fellow agent. Maude Adams makes her second Bond appearance as the titular Octopussy, a woman looking to blow up an American Air Force Base. The film was much less polarizing than For Your Eyes Only.

Octopussy carried the humor and silliness of some earlier films while still remaining mostly grounded and realistic. Fans of the time seemed to prefer this mixture of tones. Octopussy doesn't do anything spectacular or groundbreaking. While not making any best of Bond lists, it is still far from the worst 007 movies.

16 A View To A Kill (1985)

Christopher Walken as a Bond villain alongside art-pop singer Grace Jones seems like something out of a ridiculous parody. Alas, it is a very real thing that appears in Roger Moore's final Bond film, A View to a Kill. The movie features Christopher Walken as Max Zorin, a businessman responsible for deadly technology. Roger Moore had been playing James Bond for eleven years, and it was starting to show. Most of the action featuring Bond is very clearly a stunt double, and when it is Moore the action is very limited.

While the idea of an older Bond isn't bad (as attested to by Never Say Never Again), this film treats him like he is still a man in his 30s or even 40s. Roger Moore was 57 at the time. The worst elements are the fact that the film's main Bond girl, played by Tanya Roberts, was considerably younger. While seeing Christopher Walken face James Bond is entertaining, most fans place this film low on their franchise lists.

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17 The Living Daylights (1987)

When Roger Moore unsurprisingly retired from the role of 007, the search was on for the new Bond. Several actors, including Sam Neil, tested, but Bond was finally replaced with Timothy Dalton starting with The Living Daylights. EON Productions used casting a new Bond as an opportunity for rebranding the series. They wanted to take James back to his darker roots, as he was in Ian Fleming's source material. This film features a much more serious Bond, although he still cracks the occasional joke.

The Living Daylights sees 007 uncovering a weapons plot that could cause global destruction. Fans were highly receptive to the film, as they saw it as a breath of fresh air after the last few films had grown stale. This movie is seen as an underrated fan favorite and comes highly recommended.

18 License to Kill (1989)

License to Kill is one of the films that would show Bond at his most ruthless. After James' newlywed friend is left for dead and his wife murdered, he sets out for revenge. James is disavowed from the MI6, meaning he is a rogue agent for the duration of the film. This is one of the few times Bond's mission is purely personal.

The movie was mixed due to his darker tone at the time, but is much better received today. The idea of a darker, grittier Bond has been popularized with the Daniel Craig era, making License to Kill ahead of its time. This marks Timothy Dalton's second and final outing as 007, and many fans feel he is the most underrated Bond. License to Kill also has one of the earliest Benicio Del Toro performances.

19 GoldenEye (1995)

James Bond and his iconic film series seemed to fall out of public favor following License to Kill. While successful, the film failed to recapture the glory days of 007. EON Productions knew James Bond needed yet another revamp if he was to survive throughout the '90s and into the new millennium. It took six years (the longest gap in between Bond movies), but in 1995 it happened. This revamp was successful in not only making James Bond a household name again but also helped usher in a new era of spy thrillers. GoldenEye is Pierce Brosnan's first movie as James Bond and fans (including a young Idris Elba) praised him immediately. Also debuting in GoldenEye is Judi Dench as M, a performance nearly as iconic as Bond himself.

This was the first James Bond film released post-Cold War, meaning a lot had to change. The plot follows 007 as he investigates a deadly weapon, the titular GoldenEye, that has been stolen. He soon discovers the mastermind is Alec Trevelyan, the former 006 and close friend of James'. This is the film that helped formally introduce James Bond to a new generation. The action sequences are among the best in Bond, and Pierce Brosnan proves right away he was born to play 007.

For those who may not be accustomed to older-style films, GoldenEye is a great place to start the James Bond journey. It takes elements from the older films and modernizes them in a way that isn't too gimmicky. The movie was directed by Martin Campbell, who would revive the series yet again in 2006. GoldenEye's influence extends past the silver screen as well. A video game tie-in was released on the Nintendo 64. This game is not only known as one of the best N64 games, it was key in the popularization of the first-person shooter genre and split-screen multiplayer.

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20 Tomorrow Never Dies (1997)

Pierce Brosnan's second outing as 007 sees him facing off against a corrupt media mogul. Elliot Carver wants his news empire to be known worldwide, and he plans on invoking a massive war to do so. Carver makes his own news' he causes death and mayhem and later reports it. Bond is hot on his trail and, along with Chinese agent Wai Lin (the great Michelle Yeoh), plans on stopping him. Tomorrow Never Dies continued the success of Bond in the '90s.

The film received rave reviews and did well at the box office. The plot harkened back to some earlier Bond films, and fans ate it up. Brosnan further cemented himself as Bond, and new Bond girl Wai Lin quickly went down as one of the best. The movie is a fun and worthy successor to GoldenEye. This was the first 007 movie made after the passing of Albert R. Broccoli, who had been with the franchise since the beginning, and was involved in its endless lawsuits.