Ranking the James Bond Films

I was so excited for the new Bond film No Time To Die to be released in April and was saddened last month when it was announced they would postpone it's release to November due to the Corona Virus pandemic. At the time I'm writing this it is impossible to see any new movies in theaters.

During this down time, I've been thinking about my favorite 007 movies and I decided to rank them. I am including the bootleg Bond movie Never Say Never Again, but I'm not including the 1967 Casino Royale spoof movie or Chitty Chitty Bang Bang which is technically a Bond film.

I didn't really start watching Bond films until the late 70's so I grew up with Roger Moore as Bond, but I have seen every movie multiple times. I appreciate what each of the actors who have taken the role have brought to the table. I love Connery's charisma and power. Lazenby did better than he is given credit for in his one installment. Moore and Brosnan were both good but usually kept their hands clean and relied heavily on gadgets and technology. Dalton was an angrier more brooding version of 007. Daniel Craig revitalized the character by showing a very inexperienced and unpolished Bond who has grown and matured over each installment.

I know many of you will scoff at some of the rankings on my list but it's just how I feel. Several years ago I wrote that I liked Die Another Day but after several viewings it has plummeted due to the invisible car and the windsurfing scene. I know that some of these are not the greatest films but many still have memorable stunts and action scenes so I can kind of turn a blind eye to their weaknesses.

Casino Royale	2006
Golden Eye	1995
Skyfall	2012
Goldfinger	1964
From Russia with Love	1963
The Spy Who Loved Me	1977
Thunderball	1965
Dr. No	1962
For Your Eyes Only	1981
Man With The Golden Gun	1974
On Her Majesty's Secret Service	1969
The Living Daylights	1987
Live and Let Die	1973
Octopussy	1983
Licensed to Kill	1989
Moonraker	1979
Spectre	2015
Quantum of Solace	2008
Tomorrow Never Dies	1997
Diamonds Are Forever	1971
A View to A Kill	1985
You Only Live Twice	1967
The World is Not Enough	1999
Die Another Day	2002
Never Say Never Again*	1983

There you have it. I look forward to November and hope the theaters are able to safely open soon. I also hope No Time to Die ends up with a ranking near the top of this list after I finally get to see it.