With 7-8 actors, 14 books, 26 movies, and over 70 years in the making, the James Bond franchise has not only entertained generation after generation, it has also established the blueprint of pure action television. Known for featuring prestigious cars, guns, views, and gadgets, James Bond has amassed over $7.9 billion in total global box office revenue and over 1.6 million admissions in its most popular film and my personal favorite, Skyfall (2012). Find out which of the most recent 007 stories are my favorites and why– from best to worst.
Skyfall (2012)
There is absolutely no denying Skyfall (2012) is the fan-favorite. Released in movie theaters on October 26, 2012, in the United Kingdom, it gained immediate worldwide popularity due to the many beautiful attributes of the film. Not only does it feature the gorgeous mountainesque Scottish Highlands and the classic silver Aston Martin DB5 Bond car, but also an addictive theme song by Adele that topped charts in 11 countries, paired beautifully with a memorable intro, and surpassed all other Bond theme songs– no argument.
Casino Royale (2006)
Set between the beautiful views of the Czech Republic, the Bahamas, Venice and Lake Como in Italy, Casino Royale (2006) completely outshined the scenery of any movie. Though the theme song, You Know My Name, by Chris Cornell, is not one I would ever replay, the 7-minute-long opening credits does not really ever get boring. The first of Daniel Craig’s five-movie-sequel, Casino Royale (2006), highlights emotional vulnerability over invincibility, a theme not often seen in action movies like such.
Spectre (2015)
Transitioning from a mostly European setting to some South American scenery, Spectre (2015) reminds the audience of three reasons why James Bond is worth watching after three years of silence since Skyfall (2012)’s success. First, a greater story is revealed as the sequel goes on, one that makes you realize every villain might just be interlinked. Second, some emotion does indeed peak through the constant car pursuits and fight scenes that can get very repetitive over time. And last but not least, the picturesque views of the Austrian Alps, bustling Mexico City streets, and elegant Rome architecture remind audiences of just how good the filming actually is.
Quantum of Solace (2008)
A pretty much unnecessary movie, there was nothing memorable or worth clicking replay for me again in Quantum of Solace (2008). Only focused on revenge for the death of his former lover Vesper Lynd (Eva Green), James Bond doesn’t really serve the British Secret Service MI6 over his own personal interests. However, he creates a tight bond with Camille Montes (Olga Kurylenko) that defies the normalized presence of girls in the movies. Out of all James Bond movies, Camille’s presence is the most one of a female version of Bond rather than just another “Bond girl,” a dramatic turn of events for the franchise.
No Time To Die (2021)
The sole reason this is placed at the bottom of my list is due to the horrible ending. Spoiler alert: James Bond dies, signifying the end of Daniel Craig’s portrayal of the 007 agent, a realization that hit hard for many people, including me. Though the theme song by Billie Eilish is definitely one of the best, the scenery is not memorable. Craig had visibly aged due to the gap of almost six years between the last movie, and the plot gets so repetitive that, in the end, you don’t really remember what happened– except that Bond died of course.
