a ‘definitive’ James Bond ranking

James Bond films are halfway between pure entertainment and ‘proper’ cinema. The worst thing you could do, really, is to take them too seriously.

1. ‘Casino Royale’ (2006, dir. Martin Campbell)
2. ‘Goldfinger’ (1964, dir. Guy Hamilton)
3. ‘From Russia with Love’ (1963, dir. Terence Young)
4. ‘The Living Daylights’ (1987, dir. John Glen)
5. ‘Goldeneye’ (1995, dir. Martin Campbell)
6. ‘Skyfall’ (2012, dir. Sam Mendes)
7. ‘Spectre’ (2015, dir. Sam Mendes)
8. ‘Dr No’ (1962, dir. Terence Young)
9. ‘License to Kill’ (1989, dir. John Glen)
10. ‘The Spy Who Loved Me’ (1977, dir. Lewis Gilbert)
11. 'Quantum of Solace’ (2008, dir. Marc Forster)
12. ‘Tomorrow Never Dies’ (1997, dir. Roger Spottiswoode)
13. ‘Thunderball’ (1965, dir. Terence Young)
14. ‘On Her Majesty’s Secret Service’ (1969, dir. Peter Hunt)
15. ‘Live and Let Die’ (1973, dir. Guy Hamilton)
16. 'Diamonds are Forever’ (1971, dir. Guy Hamilton)
17. ‘The World is Not Enough’ (1999, dir. Michael Apted)
18. ‘Die Another Day’ (2002, dir. Lee Tamahori)
19. ‘You Only Live Twice’ (1967, dir. Lewis Gilbert)
20. ‘Moonraker’ (1979, dir. Lewis Gilbert)
21. ‘A View to a Kill’ (1985, dir. John Glen)
22. ‘For Your Eyes Only’ (1981, dir. John Glen)
23. ‘The Man with the Golden Gun’ (1974, dir. Guy Hamilton)
24. ​‘Octopussy’ (1983, dir. John Glen)