James Bond is a character who has established himself as a movie classic over the decades. There have been so many renowned actors playing the role of the most famous secret agent of all time that it's hard to choose which James Bond films are the most popular!
But we decided to take on the challenge and bring you the definitive list of the best Bond titles according to the ratings posted by critics on Rotten Tomatoes! Will your favorite work by the spy known for luxury cars and pretty girls be on this list?
007 - On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)
This, the sixth 007 franchise movie, may not be one of the most popular James Bond films with the public, but it has scored very well with the critics. Here we have George Lazenby in the lead role while Peter R. Hunt is directing the project.
We follow James Bond over 142 minutes of screen time as he tries to dismantle a gang led by the villain Ernst Stavro Blofeld (Telly Savalas) who plans to start a biological war and destroy the world. The film popularized the incredible snow chase scenes using skis and achieved 81% critical approval on Tomatoes.
007 - The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)
In The Spy Who Loved Me, Roger Moore dons the mantle of the secret agent to shine in the role for 125 minutes directed by Lewis Gilbert. Once again, we see Bond on skis, but the scene that will please all spy fans the most is when a car chase takes place and Bond's Lotus Esprit turns into a submarine.
In the story, the secret agent has to investigate the disappearance of nuclear submarines and face many challenges while trying to accomplish this mission. The film was a huge box office success at the time of its release and currently has an average approval rating of 82% on the Rotten Tomatoes website. Undoubtedly one of the most popular James Bond films of all time.
007 - No Time to Die (2021)
No Time to Die is the latest title in the franchise and also the twenty-fifth in the series. In it, Daniel Craig returns to play Bond in what has become his farewell to the role after 15 years of playing him. The film is directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga and runs for 163 minutes.
The film has a critical approval rating of 83% and is considered one of the most popular James Bond films. In the plot, Bond is called back into action after a period of inactivity to face an enemy who has very dangerous technology in his possession. The final confrontation with the villain Safin, played by Rami Malek, can be considered the highlight of this movie.
007 against the Atomic Blackmail (1965)
This time played by Sean Connery, Bond is sent to investigate the theft of two nuclear warheads. The protagonist encounters the villain Emilio Largo, played by Adolfo Celi, who is prepared to blow everything up if a ransom is not paid.
This is the fourth film in the franchise and one of the most popular James Bond films with its 85% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and 130-minute running time. Director Terence Young hit the nail on the head in a number of scenes, but the one that left the biggest impression on viewers was certainly the opening scene in which the nuclear warheads are stolen by the villains of the group that the protagonist must fight.
007 - Operation Skyfall (2012)
Starring Daniel Craig as James Bond, Operation Skyfall is the twenty-third film in the 007 franchise. It was directed by Sam Mendes and lasts a total of 143 minutes. In this new story, the secret agent faces the villain Raoul Silva (Javier Bardem) who is trying to target the British intelligence agency MI6.
With 92% of critical acclaim and a box office success on its release, Operation Skyfall has secured its place among the most popular James Bond films with flying colors. Many fans get goosebumps to this day when they remember the scene where the secret agent's origin story is told or the final battle at the Bond family estate.
007 - Casino Royale (2006)
Casino Royale is the twenty-first film in the 007 franchise and also the beginning of Daniel Craig's era as the secret agent. Here he is sent to a casino to take part in a poker tournament and face the villain Le Chiffre, played by Mads Mikkelsen, who is a terrorist financier.
Bond is one of the most popular James Bond films with its 94% critical approval rating and has many outstanding moments thanks to Martin Campbell's direction. Among them is the tense poker game scene in which Bond takes part. The movie is approximately 144 minutes long.
007 against the Satanic Dr. No (1962)
007 Against the Satanic Dr. No is a milestone in the franchise for being the first feature film in the secret agent saga. Here he is played by Sean Connery and directed by Terence Young. Even today, decades after its release, it remains one of the most popular James Bond films.
In the story, Bond has to investigate the disappearance of a co-worker and in the process discovers the terrible plans of the villain Dr. No (Joseph Wiseman), having to stop him from sabotaging the United States space system. This adventure lasts 110 minutes and has 95% critical approval, showing that it is indeed one of the most popular James Bond films. Bond's introduction scene in this movie is one of the most remembered by fans.
Moscow against 007 (1963)
As the second film in the franchise, Moscow vs. 007 stands out among the most popular James Bond films due to its 97% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Directed by Terence Young, the title is about 115 minutes long.
In it, Sean Connery reprises the role of the secret agent who has to deal with a trap set by the enemy group SPECTRE who want revenge on him for the death of Dr. No. The most iconic scene in this film is certainly the fight between Bond and the assassin Red Grant (Robert Shaw). Any enthusiast of the genre will agree that this is one of the best James Bond films.
007 against Goldfinger (1964)
This is one of the most famous James Bond films of all time, not only because of its almost perfect rating on Tomatoes, where it has an average of 99%, but also because of Guy Hamilton's direction. The movie is about 110 minutes of action and in this, the third film in the franchise, Sean Connery returns to play the secret agent.
In the story, the secret agent is assigned to investigate the actions of the tycoon Auric Goldfinger, played by Gert Fröbe, who wants to steal the entire gold reserve of the United States. The most striking scene in the movie was the death of the villain's secretary, whose skin was painted gold, preventing her from breathing. Whether or not this would work in practice remains to be seen, but the scene was very shocking at the time of its release and became something of a meme among fans of the franchise.
Conclusion
There's no denying that the titles in the franchise are impressive and were epoch-making when they were released. But do you agree with these assessments of the best 007 films? Would you change anything? Share your opinion with us in the comments! Also check out the 9 best Jason Statham movies!
