Honestly, if you try to count how many 007 films actually exist, you’re going to get three different answers depending on who you ask. Most people say 25. Purists might argue for 27. If you’re a real nerd who remembers black-and-white television anthologies from the fifties, you might even say 28. It’s a mess, but a fun one.
The James Bond movies list is essentially the history of modern action cinema. It’s more than just a bunch of guys in suits drinking martinis; it’s a weird, sixty-plus-year-old experiment in how to keep a character alive while the world around him changes completely. We've gone from the Cold War gadgets of the sixties to the gritty, "I can kill you with my bare hands" vibe of the modern era.
The Official Eon Productions Canon
This is the list most people mean. Eon Productions, started by Albert R. "Cubby" Broccoli and Harry Saltzman, is the "official" family business. They’ve made 25 films so far.
It all started in 1962 with Dr. No. Back then, Sean Connery wasn't the legend he is now—he was just a guy with a great walk and a lot of charisma. The budget was tiny. People forget that Bond wasn't always a billion-dollar franchise. Dr. No was a gamble.
Then came the boom. Goldfinger in 1964 basically wrote the blueprint: the gadget-laden car, the megalomaniac villain, the iconic theme music. If you’re looking for where "Bond" really started, it’s there.
The Sean Connery Era (1962–1967, 1971)
Connery defined the role, but he also grew to hate it. He quit, came back for a massive payday, and then quit again.
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- Dr. No (1962)
- From Russia with Love (1963)
- Goldfinger (1964)
- Thunderball (1965)
- You Only Live Twice (1967)
- Diamonds Are Forever (1971)
Between those last two, there was a weird blip called George Lazenby. He did one movie, On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969), and then walked away because his agent told him Bond was a "dying" brand. Imagine being that guy.
The Roger Moore Years: Camp and Cornettes
When Roger Moore took over in 1973 with Live and Let Die, the tone shifted. Hard.
Moore’s Bond was more about the eyebrow-raise than the fistfight. He played the character for twelve years across seven movies. Some of them, like The Spy Who Loved Me (1977), are absolute classics. Others, like Moonraker (1979)—where Bond literally goes to space—are... an acquired taste.
- Live and Let Die (1973)
- The Man with the Golden Gun (1974)
- The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)
- Moonraker (1979)
- For Your Eyes Only (1981)
- Octopussy (1983)
- A View to a Kill (1985)
By the time Moore finished in 1985, he was 57 years old. He was older than some of his leading ladies' mothers. It was time for a change.
The Dalton Grit and the Brosnan Polish
Timothy Dalton tried to bring Bond back to the books. He was "gritty" before it was cool. The Living Daylights (1987) and Licence to Kill (1989) were way darker than anything Moore did. Audiences weren't quite ready for it yet, and a legal battle put the series on ice for six years.
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Enter Pierce Brosnan.
GoldenEye (1995) was a massive hit. It proved Bond could survive the end of the Cold War. Brosnan was the perfect "average" of all the Bonds before him—he had Connery’s look and Moore’s charm. But by Die Another Day (2002), with its invisible cars and CGI kite-surfing, the series had once again lost its way.
The Daniel Craig Reinvention
In 2006, Casino Royale changed everything. No gadgets. No puns. Just a guy who looked like he’d actually been in a fight. Daniel Craig's run was the first time the movies really felt like a serialized story rather than "adventure of the week."
- Casino Royale (2006)
- Quantum of Solace (2008)
- Skyfall (2012)
- Spectre (2015)
- No Time to Die (2021)
Skyfall remains the peak of this era, commercially and critically. It’s currently the highest-grossing film in the entire franchise, bringing in over $1.1 billion. Then, No Time to Die did the unthinkable: it actually ended Bond's story.
The "Unofficial" Movies Most People Forget
This is where the James Bond movies list gets tricky.
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There are two major films not made by Eon Productions. One is Casino Royale (1967), which is a psychedelic comedy starring David Niven. It’s barely a Bond movie, but it has the name.
The bigger one is Never Say Never Again (1983). It’s actually a remake of Thunderball and stars Sean Connery, returning to the role at the same time Roger Moore was playing it in Octopussy. There was a literal "Battle of the Bonds" at the box office that year. Moore won, but seeing Connery back in the tux one last time was a wild moment for fans.
What’s Next for Bond 26?
As of early 2026, things are finally moving.
Rumors have been flying for years, but here is what we actually know: Denis Villeneuve (of Dune fame) is the name most heavily linked to the director's chair. Insiders suggest that casting for the new 007 will likely happen by the middle of this year, with filming potentially starting in early 2027.
The talk in the industry, specifically from writers like Steven Knight (Peaky Blinders), is that they want a "fresh face" in his late 20s or early 30s. They are looking for someone who looks like "he could kill you with his bare hands."
There's even talk of a period piece—going back to the 1950s or 60s to explore Bond's origins in the Royal Navy. It would be a bold move, but after the definitive ending of the Craig era, a total reset is probably the only way forward.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans:
- Watch the Connery Era first: If you want to understand the DNA of the series, start with From Russia with Love. It’s the most "grounded" of the early films.
- Track the 4K releases: Most of the franchise is being remastered. For the best experience, look for the UHD versions of the 60s films; the cinematography in Thunderball is still stunning today.
- Keep an eye on casting news: Official announcements usually come via the 007.com website or major trades like Deadline. Avoid the "leaks" from tabloids—they've "cast" everyone from Idris Elba to Tom Hardy about a thousand times by now.
The hunt for the next Bond is officially on. Whether they go for a gritty period piece or another modern reboot, the legacy of the James Bond movies list ensures that 007 isn't going anywhere.