You’ve seen the tuxedo. You know the drink order. But honestly, trying to watch all the bond movies in order is a lot more complicated than just hitting "play" on a streaming service. Most people think it’s a straight line from 1962 to now. It isn't.
It is a mess of legal battles, competing studios, and a timeline that basically blew itself up in 2021. If you're looking for a simple list, you'll find one below, but the real story of 007 is hidden in the gaps between the films.
The Connery Era and the Birth of a Legend
It started with Dr. No in 1962. Sean Connery wasn't the first choice—Ian Fleming actually wanted Cary Grant—but Connery had a "panther-like" walk that won over the producers. This first run of films established the tropes we still see today: the gadgets, the megalomaniacs, and the distinctive musical stings.
- Dr. No (1962) – Budget was tiny. The "Dragon" was just a swamp buggy with a flamethrower.
- From Russia with Love (1963) – This is widely considered the best "spy" movie of the bunch. It’s gritty.
- Goldfinger (1964) – The peak. It introduced the Aston Martin DB5 and the laser beam.
- Thunderball (1965) – Massive underwater battles that actually won an Oscar for visual effects.
- You Only Live Twice (1967) – Bond goes to Japan. This was supposed to be Connery’s final bow.
Then things got weird. While Connery was filming You Only Live Twice, a rival studio produced a spoof called Casino Royale (1967) starring David Niven. It’s not "official," but it exists.
The One-Off: George Lazenby
In 1969, we got On Her Majesty's Secret Service. George Lazenby, a model with zero acting experience, took the role. People hated it at the time. Today? Critics love it because it’s the most emotional Bond film of the original era.
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The Roger Moore Marathon: 1973–1985
After Connery came back for one last paycheck in Diamonds Are Forever (1971), Roger Moore took over. His Bond was different. Less "blunt instrument," more "dinner party guest with a hidden gadget."
The tone shifted toward comedy. Sometimes it worked. Sometimes Bond ended up in space fighting with lasers because Star Wars was popular.
- Live and Let Die (1973) – Bond enters the world of Voodoo and boat chases.
- The Man with the Golden Gun (1974) – Christopher Lee as Scaramanga is the highlight here.
- The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) – The submarine car. Enough said.
- Moonraker (1979) – Bond in space. It's ridiculous, but it made a ton of money.
- For Your Eyes Only (1981) – A much-needed return to grounded spy work.
- Octopussy (1983) – Yes, that's the real title.
- A View to a Kill (1985) – Moore was 57 years old. It was time to go.
By the mid-80s, the franchise felt tired. The Cold War was cooling down, and the "gentleman spy" felt like a relic.
The Dalton Shift and the Brosnan Glow-Up
Timothy Dalton tried to fix Bond. He wanted to go back to the books—a darker, more brooding character. The Living Daylights (1987) and Licence to Kill (1989) were ahead of their time. They were violent and cynical. Audiences weren't ready for it yet, and a six-year legal hiatus effectively killed Dalton's run.
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Then came Pierce Brosnan. GoldenEye (1995) reinvented Bond for the 90s.
Brosnan’s run is a weird mix of high-tier action and "oh no, what are they doing?" moments. Tomorrow Never Dies (1997) and The World Is Not Enough (1999) held their own, but Die Another Day (2002) went too far. It had an invisible car and a villain who changed his DNA. The franchise had to reset.
The Daniel Craig Continuity
This is where the list of all the bond movies in order actually starts making sense as a narrative. Unlike the previous films, Craig’s movies are one long story.
- Casino Royale (2006) – A hard reboot. No gadgets. Just a guy earning his 00 status.
- Quantum of Solace (2008) – Picking up minutes after the first one. It suffered from a writer's strike.
- Skyfall (2012) – The billion-dollar Bond. It explored 007’s childhood.
- Spectre (2015) – Tried to tie all the previous villains together.
- No Time to Die (2021) – The end of the line. Literally.
The Future: Bond 26 and Beyond
As of 2026, the world is waiting for the next name. We know that Denis Villeneuve (the mind behind Dune) has signed on to direct the next installment. This is huge.
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Reports from insiders like Baz Bamigboye suggest a total reboot. No more ties to the Daniel Craig era. We’re looking for a British actor in his late 20s or early 30s. The word is they want a "fresh face" who looks like he could "kill you with his bare hands in a trice."
Production is rumored to start in April 2026 at Pinewood Studios. If everything stays on track, we’re looking at a 2028 release date for the untitled Bond 26.
How to Actually Watch Them
If you want the full experience, don't just watch them chronologically. Watch them by actor. It lets you see how the character evolves with the cultural zeitgeist. Start with Goldfinger, then jump to GoldenEye, then finish with the Craig saga.
You’ll notice that while the world changes, the core of Bond stays the same: a man out of time, doing the dirty work so the rest of us don't have to.
Your Next Steps:
- Check streaming availability: Most Eon-produced Bond films are currently hosted on Amazon Prime Video following the MGM merger.
- The "Non-Official" List: If you're a completionist, track down the 1967 Casino Royale and Sean Connery’s 1983 return in Never Say Never Again—but be warned, they don't fit the main canon.
- Follow Bond 26 updates: Keep an eye on casting announcements throughout 2026 as Villeneuve begins his search for the next 007.