James Bond Movies: Essential Classics

1962 - 19957 Films14h 35m3.9 Average

This watch order lists the definitive pre-Craig Bond films that showcase the franchise at its peak across different eras. The curated selection includes template-setting Connery classics, the emotional complexity of Lazenby, spectacular Moore entries, and Brosnan's successful revival.

These seven films represent the evolution of classic Bond cinema and include critically acclaimed and culturally influential entries that defined the character for generations of viewers.

There are 6 other watch orders available – see the links up above.

1
Dr. No poster

Dr. No

19621h 50m4
Director: Terence Young
Cast: Sean Connery, Ursula Andress, Joseph Wiseman, Jack Lord, Anthony Dawson

Agent 007 is sent to Jamaica to investigate the mysterious Dr. No, a scientific genius plotting to sabotage the U.S. space program. Bond must infiltrate the villain's island fortress and stop his diabolical scheme before it's too late.

AdventureActionThriller
2
Goldfinger poster

Goldfinger

19641h 50m4.3
Director: Guy Hamilton
Cast: Sean Connery, Gert Fröbe, Honor Blackman, Harold Sakata, Shirley Eaton

Special agent 007 faces off against the notorious villain Goldfinger, a powerful tycoon plotting a devious scheme against Fort Knox that threatens the world's economy.

AdventureActionThriller
3
On Her Majesty's Secret Service poster

On Her Majesty's Secret Service

19692h 22m3.7
Director: Peter R. Hunt
Cast: George Lazenby, Diana Rigg, Telly Savalas, Gabriele Ferzetti, Ilse Steppat

James Bond pursues his archnemesis Ernst Blofeld to a Swiss Alps retreat where he's training an army of deadly women. Along the way, Bond falls for and marries Italian contessa Tracy Draco in this unique entry that sees the secret agent face both professional and personal stakes.

AdventureActionThriller
4
The Spy Who Loved Me poster

The Spy Who Loved Me

19772h 5m3.9
Director: Lewis Gilbert
Cast: Roger Moore, Barbara Bach, Curd Jürgens, Richard Kiel, Caroline Munro

When Russian and British nuclear submarines mysteriously vanish, James Bond must work alongside a beautiful KGB agent to uncover the truth behind the disappearances and stop a megalomaniacal villain's underwater scheme.

AdventureActionThriller
5
For Your Eyes Only poster

For Your Eyes Only

19812h 8m3.7
Director: John Glen
Cast: Roger Moore, Carole Bouquet, Chaim Topol, Julian Glover, Lynn-Holly Johnson

James Bond races against Soviet agents to recover a critical encryption device from a sunken British spy ship before it falls into enemy hands.

AdventureActionThriller
6
The Living Daylights poster

The Living Daylights

19872h 10m3.7
Director: John Glen
Cast: Timothy Dalton, Maryam d'Abo, Joe Don Baker, Art Malik, John Rhys-Davies

James Bond is assigned to protect a defecting Russian general and prevent a dangerous escalation of Cold War tensions between the Soviet Union and the West.

ActionAdventureThriller
7
GoldenEye poster

GoldenEye

19952h 10m3.9
Director: Martin Campbell
Cast: Pierce Brosnan, Sean Bean, Izabella Scorupco, Famke Janssen, Joe Don Baker

James Bond must stop his former ally Agent 006, now turned rogue, from using a powerful satellite weapon to destroy the earth. Pierce Brosnan's debut as Bond features high-stakes espionage and deadly encounters with dangerous adversaries.

AdventureActionThriller