Daniel Craig in 'Casino Royale' (2006)Image via Sony Pictures Releasing
By
Dawson Nyffenegger
Published 10 minutes ago
Sign in to your Collider account
Add Us On
Summary
Generate a summary of this story
follow
Follow
followed
Followed
Like
Like
Thread
Log in
Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents:
Try something different:
Show me the facts
Explain it like I’m 5
Give me a lighthearted recap
The 007 films are generally known for being a high-stakes action franchise, with the fate of the United Kingdom, or even the world being at stake if the world's greatest superspy doesn't defeat the villain. Of course, this is only a general rule of thumb, and some of the movies can certainly fall flat in many regards, especially when it comes to sheer entertainment value. Over the course of the saga, six different actors have played the part of James Bond, but which of their films stand out as being the most exciting?
What follows is a definitive list of every single Bond actor's most entertaining films, featuring great action, huge stakes, and sometimes, even some enthralling drama. For the purpose of this list, only the films in the Eon canon will be considered. Also, do note that this is not a ranked list--instead, this will be presented in chronological order, from the first actor to play the role to the most recent one.
6 'Goldfinger' (1964)
Starring Sir Sean Connery
Image via United Artists
Dr. No is commonly seen as one of the best Bond films, and thus, one of, if not the single greatest Bond film to feature Sir Sean Connery. While this may be true, it's not necessarily the most entertaining. No, that honour almost certainly goes to Goldfinger. Goldfinger is the one that featured some pretty high stakes, apart from its incredible action setpieces, iconic villains, and memorable quotes. Where it really succeeds is in its finale.
The movie culminates in an attempted robbery of Fort Knox, Kentucky, with all initially seeming safe once the villains are dealt with. However, the villain then makes one final reappearance on board Bond's plane for a brief, but deadly showdown. This is one of the few Bond movies to ever pull something like that, and it's made all the better for it. Goldfinger is definitely one of the most exciting Bond films to date, and arguably the best of the Sir Sean Connery era.
5 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service' (1969)
Starring George Lazenby
George Lazenby as James Bond in On Her Majesty's Secret ServiceImage via MGM
Okay, so On Her Majesty's Secret Service is literally the only movie starring George Lazenby as James Bond, so it kind of wins by default. While this movie is regarded by fans as being the black sheep of the franchise, it is actually pretty good in its own right, and is highly underrated when compared to the other films. George Lazenby might not be the best Bond, but he does just fine in the role, especially considering how the studios had to scramble to find a replacement for Sir Sean Connery.
This film takes place in the Swiss Alps, featuring ski chases, elaborate villain lairs and some pretty thrilling action sequences. It's a rather adventurous movie, distinctly different from the previous entries, and one that is surprisingly emotional towards the end. This is the movie that single-handedly connects all the films in the franchise into one canon, and allows viewers to see Bond at his most vulnerable. Surprisingly, showing Bond's more human side is just as entertaining as watching him be a one-man army. Even if this weren't George Lazenby's only Bond film, it would still likely be the most entertaining of them.
4 'The Spy Who Loved Me' (1977)
Starring Sir Roger Moore
Image via United Artists
To be honest, a significant portion of the Bond movies starring Sir Roger Moore can be pretty dull at times, and downright ridiculous at others. The Spy Who Loved Me is one of the better ones though, and features some pretty exciting moments throughout. The setting is really interesting, too, with much of the film centring on the Pyramids of Giza. It's one heck of a backdrop for a spy movie, you can't deny that.
There's also a fantastic ski chase at the beginning of the film, ending with a spectacular stunt in which Bond skis off the edge of a cliff, only to safely pop a Union Jack parachute, slowly drifting down to the pass below, and leaving his incompetent pursuers careening off the edge. Considering how mediocre the previous film in the saga was, The Spy Who Loved Me more than makes up for things in the entertainment factor.
3 'Licence to Kill' (1989)
Starring Timothy Dalton
Timothy Dalton's James Bond in the water with Carey Lowell's Pam in Licence to Kill Image via MGM
It's actually kind of tough to pick the best Bond movie starring Timothy Dalton considering he was only in two of them and they're at about the same level of quality. However, in terms of sheer entertainment factor, the title has got to go to Licence to Kill, the second and final Bond movie to star Dalton as the British superspy. Truth be told, Dalton's era is way too slept on in the 007 community, but only one of the two can reign supreme in entertainment factor.
There's a few chase scenes in this one that are pretty sweet, with the fight scenes feeling a little more advanced than some of the campiness of the older films. Plus, Timothy Dalton does a surprisingly good job as James Bond, which he often doesn't get enough credit for. Overall, Licence to Kill is the most exciting of the two Bond films Dalton worked on, even if it's not one of the most exciting when compared to the rest of the franchise.
2 'GoldenEye' (1995)
Starring Pierce Brosnan
James Bond (Pierce Brosnan) emerges from a tank wielding an AK-47 machine gun in 'GoldenEye' (1995).Image via United International Pictures
GoldenEye was the first film to feature Pierce Brosnan in the leading role. It was also the only good one out of the four that he starred in. On the plus side, it isn't just good--it's excellent. Brosnan makes a grand entrance in the film by rappelling off of a giant hydroelectric dam. This is followed by a short action sequence, culminating in one of the most insane stunts the movies have ever been blessed with. Is the stunt implausible? Absolutely. But, is it awesome? Definitely.
Subscribe to the newsletter for deeper Bond film insights
Want smarter Bond watch picks? Subscribe to the newsletter to unlock curated highlights, scene breakdowns, and viewing recommendations that deepen your understanding of Bond films while placing them in broader film analysis. Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.So much good stuff can be found in this movie, from a killer tank chase through the streets of Moscow to a climactic showdown in a satellite control array, this movie pretty much has it all. Considering it had been six years since the previous installment in the franchise, GoldenEye delivered in almost every possible way, making every second well worth the wait. This one feels like a non-stop action fest, with even the moe peaceful parts being infinitely enjoyable.
1 'Casino Royale' (2006)
Starring Daniel Craig
A bloody and dirty James Bond (Daniel Craig) stands in a garden, aiming a pistol in 'Casino Royale' (2006).Image via Sony Pictures Releasing
Casino Royale marked a big change in the franchise. Instead of the slight goofiness of the original series, this new era started to move into a much more gritty style, keeping the beloved tropes, but increasing the level of danger tenfold. The first to feature Daniel Craig as the world's greatest superspy, Casino Royale really kicks off on a high note, featuring a wild parkour chase across a Madagascan construction site, which is an amazing setpiece that really gets the pulse pounding.
When the movie isn't featuring some amazing action sequences like that, it also keeps tensions high in its Poker games. Even the Poker scenes are highly entertaining, regardless if one even know how to play Poker. When Craig's Bond isn't being an action hero, he's seamlessly blending in and executing some truly remarkable infiltrations, true to the spy movie genre. This is just an awesome movie from beginning to end, and is easily the most entertaining of the five Craig films, although Skyfall is a close second.
Casino Royale
Like Follow Followed PG-13 Adventure Action Thriller Release Date November 17, 2006 Runtime 144 minutes Director Martin Campbell Writers Neal Purvis, Paul Haggis, Robert Wade, Ian Fleming Producers Barbara Broccoli, Michael G. Wilson
7 Images
Close
Cast
See All-
Daniel Craig
James Bond
-
Eva Green
Vesper Lynd
Expand
Collapse
-
Movie
-
Casino Royale
-
Goldfinger
What To Watch
July 20, 2025
The 72 Best Movies on Netflix Right Now
Trending Now
1:51
30 Steamy Movies to Get You in the Mood on Date Night
The 25 Most Popular Pokémon From the Original 151, Ranked
The Second-Highest-Grossing James Bond Movie Is Streaming for Free
