Ranking: James Bond films.

[TheKingOfGalaga]

Here's my ranking of the James Bond films (EON only). What's yours?

 

[Fool's Requiem]

I suggest a different format that doesn't use tier lists. Can't tell what some of the movies are.

1. Casino Royale
2. Goldeneye
3. Skyfall
4. The Spy Who Loved Me
5. From Russia with Love
6. No Time to Die
7. License to Kill
8. Living Daylights
9. Tomorrow Never Dies
10. Goldfinger
11. Quantum of Solace
12. Moonraker
13. On Her Majesty's Secret Service
14. Thunderball
15. Man with the Golden Gun
16. World is Not Enough
17. Dr No
18. Die Another Day
19. Spectre
20. For Your Eyes Only
21. Live and Let Die
22. You Only Live Twice
23. Diamonds Are Forever
24. A View to a Kill
25. Octopussy

I think everything from 13 to 22 is interchangeable in terms of ranking. I have neither extreme dislike nor feelings of joy from the movies. Though, I only know that both World is Not Enough and Die Another Day can't be too low because there was some cheesy fun in those.

I typically place A View to a Kill at last, but I realized that being nearly so bad it's good is objectively better than the utter forgettablity of Octopussy. I watched all of the Bond movies leading up to Skyfall's release. I didn't watch them in any specific order. I watched Octopussy last. I still don't remember a single thing about it. Top 10 and bottom 3 were cake for me.

Diamonds are Forever has the special distinction of following up On Her Majesty's Secret Service and completely ignoring the events of that movie despite it being an extremely important event for James Bond as a character. I recall Tracy being referenced twice in later films, once in a cold open where Blofeld ambushes Bond at her grave in a Roger Moore film, and License to Kill when Felix mentions it early on.

Diamonds are Forever was a heartless and unnecessary return for Connery's Bond.

 

[Crazy Jamie]

I haven't watched most of the Bond films enough to form strong views, and I do need to minimise the bias towards the ones that I have seen a fair few times, though naturally me seeing them a fair few times probably means I like them, so there is that. So, without wanting to go through every one of them or actually make a list (because it would quickly become very difficult and quite meaningless), I'll comment on @Fool's Requiem's list.

First, I think Goldeneye and Casino Royale are the top two for me as well. The order changes. Goldeneye is the first Bond film that I watched in the cinema, and even to this day I think it is absolutely spot on classic Bond. Casino Royale was obviously the attempt to reinvent the franchise for a modern era and quite specifically departs from the classic formula, and I think it nails it. It's probably a better film than Goldeneye if we're being critical, but I think they're fantastic for different reasons. Casino Royale might also have been the first Blu Ray I owned, and I remember being stunned by how vivid the colour was at times, particularly the initial chase scene.

As for the others, most of my thoughts are random. I think No Time To Die is appropriately high. It's a good film. I really need to rewatch the other Craig films. I might have only seen them once in the cinema and once on tv, and I probably wasn't paying full attention when they were on tv. I'm not sure how I'd rank them immediately.

I have two other specific thoughts. The first is that Brosnan's films obviously get progressively worse. I like Tomorrow Never Dies but I don't know if in good conscience it could be top 10. I just don't know if it's that good. It could be. But The World Is Not Enough isn't very good even if I kind of like it, and Die Another Day is awful. It's the only Bond film to date that I watched in the cinema and did not enjoy, and my opinion hasn't improved on subsequent viewings. It's outrageously cheesy but not to the point of enjoyment to me.

The only 'classic' film I'll bat for is You Only Live Twice. Yes, I know it's usually rated by purists as a bit average and it is not a perfect film, but the vast majority of Bond films have obvious flaws. I like the fact that it differentiates itself with a slower pace and more exotic location, whilst keeping a classic villain in Blofeld and a classic final action sequence with the volcano scene. It's probably in my top 5, if not 6 or 7. But even on a general list, I don't think it should be below half way.

 

[dimmerwit]

Here's my ranking of the James Bond films (EON only). What's yours?

I think your take on the Craig films is interesting. I'd put them in tiers with Casino Royale and Skyfall at the top, Quantum of Solace and Spectre at the bottom and No Time To Die somewhere in between, although probably closer to the top two. I feel like that's quite a typical ranking.

I agree with FR and Jamie that the Brosnan films would be ranked chronologically. The two middle Brosnan films just blend into each other for me, and Die Another Day is awful. I would say that Brosnan himself is a great Bond who was often let down by the source material. The only thing I remember about watching Die Another Day in the cinema is them revealing the Aston Martin and some guy behind me announcing it to his date as a Jaguar. The fact that I've chosen to remember that and not the movie says it all.

I haven't watched many classic Bond films recently enough to rank them, but I'd pick out From Russia With Love, Goldfinger and The Spy Who Loved Me. I'd probably rank Lazenby's effort higher than FR as well.

Ranking Bond themes would be fun.

 

[Fool's Requiem]

Ranking Bond themes would be fun.

Casino Royal

Spy Who Loved Me

Skyfall

Live and Let Die


These are my top picks. The song for Live and Let Die is practically the only thing I remember from the movie. Roger Moore's era truly sucked.

Quantum of Solace is towards the bottom. I reeeeeaaaallllly dislike Jack White's voice. Die Another Day's song is bad, but the opening is pretty solid.

Not a Bond movie but definitely inspired:
Deadpool 2


Shame the Austin Powers movies never did a parody of the Bond movie opening credits. It was always a dance sequence. Never a true parody of Bond credits.

 

[Crazy Jamie]

I mean, if we're ranking Bond themes and Live and Let Die doesn't win unanimously, I'm not sure what we're doing here. It's probably the only one where the song is more famous and recognisable than the film.

I like Goldeneye but that's because of the number of times I've seen the film. It's probably not widely considered to be decent though, right?

I do also like No Time To Die a lot, but again, it's the sort of song that I can imagine will divide opinion.

 

[dimmerwit]

I mean, if we're ranking Bond themes and Live and Let Die doesn't win unanimously, I'm not sure what we're doing here. It's probably the only one where the song is more famous and recognisable than the film.

I guess it depends on how we rank them. Based on popularity, sure, McCartney walks it, but on musical enjoyment it definitely has competitors even as it remains one of the best in that category too.

Interestingly though the only song to make it to No. 1 in the US is Duran Duran's A View To a Kill, and none did so in the UK until the chart rules changed and both the latest two tracks made it.

I like Goldeneye but that's because of the number of times I've seen the film. It's probably not widely considered to be decent though, right?

I think there's usually a split between people putting it either in the mid tier or closer to the upper tier of themes. I've always quite liked it personally.

I do also like No Time To Die a lot, but again, it's the sort of song that I can imagine will divide opinion.

Definitely true - this never really worked for me. It perhaps makes more sense after seeing the film but I'm still not a huge fan. Not necessarily a terrible song although not one of her best.

 

[shortkut]

Bond themes:

Spoiler

 

[dimmerwit]

I've been ill all day and bored, so I ranked all the Bond songs. Or at least put them into tiers (S>A>B>C>D) because I don't like ranking music precisely when my opinion wil change on a whim.

Film	Theme Song	Artist(s)	Comments	Tier
Dr. No (1962)	James Bond Theme	John Barry	Obvious classic, no more needs to be said.	S
From Russia with Love (1963)	From Russia with Love	Matt Monro	A product of its time and feels old fashioned, but Matt Monro undeniably has a great voice. You have to say that because Sinatra rated him and he'll send the mob after you if you disagree.	B
Goldfinger (1964)	Goldfinger	Shirley Bassey	Great song. I was thinking about an A but I think a re-listen and appreciating more the contrast with the previous two themes pushes it higher.	S
Thunderball (1965)	Thunderball	Tom Jones	Not as big of a fan as others are, but it's a powerful vocal and fitting in the Bond music is a neat touch.	B
You Only Live Twice (1967)	You Only Live Twice	Nancy Sinatra	This is so close to an S. I know there are people who don't rate her vocals, but I don't care. It's great.	A
On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)	On Her Majesty's Secret Service	John Barry	Actually pretty great for an instrumental even as I prefer the ones with lyrics.	B
On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)	We Have All the Time in the World	Louis Armstrong	Technically not the theme (see above) but IDGAF. This is probably one I'm overrating but I've always loved this song. Louis Armstrong and that orchestra is a match made in heaven and it plays over such a poignant moment in the film. Used in the latest film to hauntingly good effect.	S
Diamonds Are Forever (1971)	Diamonds Are Forever	Shirley Bassey	Very good theme, but it's just not as good as Goldfinger despite those memorable first few seconds.	A
Live and Let Die (1973)	Live and Let Die	Paul McCartney & Wings	As Jamie said it's perhaps the only theme song to completely transcend the movie it came from. But as great as some of the elements of this song are, I do find some bits of it to be out of place to the detraction of the overall piece.	A
The Man with the Golden Gun (1974)	The Man with the Golden Gun	Lulu	A lyrical travesty bouncing between ill disguised smut and the inane ("If you want to get rid of someone; The man with the golden gun; Will get it done"), but I like Lulu and she won Eurovision for us so just avoids the D.	C
The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)	Nobody Does It Better	Carly Simon	Probably the best of the more sultry themes. Very close to an S for me. Also fits in well with that iconic parachute opening sequence.	A
Moonraker (1979)	Moonraker	Shirley Bassey	It's OK, but easily the weakest of the Bassey themes for me. Also the film is a bit dumb.	B
For Your Eyes Only (1981)	For Your Eyes Only	Sheena Easton	Pretty good and well sung, but mostly remembered for the fact that Sheena Easton is the only title theme singer to appear in person in the credits sequence.	B
Octopussy (1983)	All Time High	Rita Coolidge	It's competent but forgettable. Also disappointing they didn't title it Octopussy or even work it into the lyrics.	C
A View to a Kill (1985)	A View to a Kill	Duran Duran	Some mixed opinions about this, but for me this is a pop-style entry that absolutely works. Helps that I'm a sucker for both Duran Duran and 80s music in general.	A
The Living Daylights (1987)	The Living Daylights	a-ha	Decent song and I like a-ha a lot, but it's hard to think of this as anything other than it trying to be like the Duran Duran song but failing.	C
Licence to Kill (1989)	License to Kill	Gladys Knight	Just an OK song, but great vocals. On the threshold with A, but I feel it just lacks something.	B
GoldenEye (1995)	GoldenEye	Tina Turner	A vocal masterclass by Tina Turner. Most artists who had to sing the film title multiple times in the chorus would just end up mired in disaster. Close to an S.	A
Tomorrow Never Dies (1997)	Tomorrow Never Dies	Sheryl Crow	A good but not great song. K.D. Lang's Surrender was the second choice and plays over the end credits, and it's always a topic of discussion over which was better - I'm on team Surrender. Had it in C, but the second half elevates it.	B
The World Is Not Enough (1999)	The World Is Not Enough	Garbage	I like it, but I've never been enamoured by it unlike many others. Not exactly garbage though.	B
Die Another Day (2002)	Die Another Day	Madonna	Yeah, it didn't work. I don't completely hate the song (although it's far from Madonna's best) but it's a fitting symbol of a film that felt very try hard and as if it was modernisation by committee.	D
Casino Royale (2006)	You Know My Name	Chris Cornell	I saw Casino Royale quite early and this song always stood out as a banger. The way the gun-barrel sequence is integrated into it makes it even better. RIP.	S
Quantum of Solace (2008)	Another Way to Die	Jack White & Alicia Keys	Nothing more than audio pollution for me. I do genuinely find it difficult to listen to in parts.	D
Skyfall (2012)	Skyfall	Adele	A classic theme, perhaps a reaction to some of its immediate predecessors, but one of immaculate quality in every way.	S
Spectre (2015)	Writing's on the Wall	Sam Smith	One I probably like more than the consensus (it was on the edge of A), but maybe that's because I like Sam Smith's voice so much.	B
No Time to Die (2021)	No Time to Die	Billie Eilish	Quite divisive. As I said before I think it made more sense after seeing the movie but it doesn't fully work for me.	C

Now watch as I listen to them again and change my mind. I already feel like I've done Sheena Easton an injustice.

 

[VashTheStampede]

I need a day off so I can give this thread the attention it deserves