How to Watch the James Bond 007 Movies in Order?

With four decades of movies and multiple actors, the James Bond series is one of the best thriller movies in Canada to watch. 007’s storied career is packed with unforgettable characters, exotic locations, and larger-than-life action.

To keep track of it all and watch James Bond movies in order, you’ll have to dive into an ocean of mind-bending detailed timelines and character lists.


How to Watch the James Bond 007 Movies in Order (Chronologically and by Release Date)

The complete James Bond collection is a mind-blowing almost 30 films long! This guide will help you sort out which movies to watch when and in what order.

If you want to watch James Bond movies in order of their release dates over the years, take a look at the list below:

James Bond Movies In Order
Dr. No (1962) Never Say Never Again (1983) (Unofficial)
From Russia with Love (1963) A View to a Kill (1985)
Goldfinger (1964) The Living Daylights (1987)
Thunderball (1965) Licence to Kill (1989)
Casino Royale (1967) (Unofficial) GoldenEye (1995)
You Only Live Twice (1967) Tomorrow Never Dies (1997)
On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969) The World is Not Enough (1999)
Diamonds Are Forever (1971) Die Another Day (2002)
Live and Let Die (1973) Casino Royale (2006)
The Man with the Golden Gun (1974) Quantum of Solace (2008)
The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) Skyfall (2012)
Moonraker (1979) Spectre (2015)
For Your Eyes Only (1981) No Time to Die (2021)
Octopussy (1983)

However, if you are a bit more invested in the storylines and want to watch James Bond movies in order of their chronology, then take a look at the list given below:

James Bond Movies in Chronological Order
Dr. No (1962) A View to a Kill (1985)
From Russia with Love (1963) The Living Daylights (1987)
Goldfinger (1964) Licence to Kill (1989)
Thunderball (1965) GoldenEye (1995)
You Only Live Twice (1967) Tomorrow Never Dies (1997)
On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969) The World is Not Enough (1999)
Diamonds Are Forever (1971) Die Another Day (2002)
Live and Let Die (1973) Casino Royale (2006)
The Man with the Golden Gun (1974) Quantum of Solace (2008)
The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) Skyfall (2012)
Moonraker (1979) Spectre (2015)
For Your Eyes Only (1981) No Time to Die (2021)
Octopussy (1983)

James Bond Movies In Order of Release

Dr. No (1962)

dr_no

Writer: Richard Maibaum, Johanna Harwood

Director: Terence Young

Cast: Sean Connery, Ursula Andress, Joseph Wiseman, Jack Lord, Bernard Lee

IMDb Rating: 7.2

In 1962, James Bond burst into cinemas and gave moviegoers the greatest action hero of all time. In Dr. No, Sean Connery’s debut as the world’s favorite secret agent, Agent 007 arrives in Jamaica to investigate the mysterious murder of one of his fellow agents.

From sabotage, shark fishing, and menacing tarantulas to outsmarting three assassins with deadly guns hidden in walking sticks – James Bond never puts a foot wrong as he goes up against Dr. No, who is working day and night to bring the United States space program to its knees! If you’re looking to watch James Bond movies in order, your best bet is to start with this masterpiece.


From Russia with Love (1963)

from-russia-with-love

Writer: Richard Maibaum

Director: Terence Young

Cast: Sean Connery, Daniela Bianchi, Pedro Armendàriz, Lotte Lenya, Robert Shaw

IMDb Rating: 7.4

From Russia with Love is the second film to watch when watching James Bond movies in order. This time around, Bond must find a decoding device known as “Lektor,” and to do so, he enlists the help of Russian Tatiana Romanova.

The two quickly fall for each other but must part ways when they are hunted by S.P.E.C.T.R.E., led by Rosa Klebb, who has a poison-tipped shoe and other lethal weapons up her sleeves.

With the help of old friends Felix Leiter and C.I.A. Agent Jimmy “Double Oh” Bond, 007 once again finds himself facing off against Grant’s murder attempt and saving his new love interest Tatiana from her sticky situation in Istanbul.


Goldfinger (1964)

goldfinger

Writer: Richard Maibaum, Paul Dehn

Director: Guy Hamilton

Cast: Sean Connery, Gert Fröbe, Honor Blackman, Shirley Eaton, Tanya Mallet

IMDb Rating: 7.7

James Bond’s mission to recover stolen monetary gold is linked to a plot by arch-villain Auric Goldfinger to destroy western economies. With the help of C.I.A. agent Felix Leiter and Pussy Galore, a sadistic pilot flies Operation Grand Slam mission leader Goldfinger into Fort Knox during daylight hours and floods the market with millions of dollars worth of counterfeit gold.

Bond must thwart Goldfinger’s plot and protect MI6 operative Jill Masterson from a grisly fate. He uses all his wits, cunning and fighting skills as he battles evil forces in thrilling chases across England, Switzerland and America.


Thunderball (1965)

Thunderball

Writer: John Hopkins, Richard Maibaum

Director: Terence Young

Cast: Sean Connery, Claudine Auger, Adolfo Celi, Luciana Paluzzi, Rik Van Nutter

IMDb Rating: 6.9

Thunderball follows Agent 007 as he heads to the Bahamas for a meeting with SPECTRE agent Emil Largo to recover two stolen nuclear warheads. Unfortunately, they’re being used as part of an extortion scheme by a group of terrorists, and it’s now up to 007 to stop the evil SPECTRE organization from destroying them.

As Bond attempts to find more ways to destroy Largo’s plan, he soon finds himself trapped on board Largo’s distinctive boat, the Disco Volante.


Casino Royale (1967) UNOFFICIAL

casino_royale

Writer: Wolf Mankowitz, John Law, Michael Sayers

Director: Val Guest, Ken Hughes, John Huston, Joseph McGrath, Robbert Parrish

Cast: Peter Sellers, Ursula Andress, David Niven, Orson Welles, Joanna Pettet

IMDb Rating: 5.0

After a brief stint in retirement, 007 is called upon once again after the death of “M” to do battle with SMERSH, led by its leader Kronsteen. Bond devises the final plot to deceive SMERSH and Le Chiffre and avert civilization’s impending demise.

His brilliant plan is to rename every available agent to James Bond. One of the Bonds, Evelyn Tremble, is assigned to play baccarat against Le Chiffre, but all of the 007s soon realize that they have signed up for way more than they can handle.


You Only Live Twice (1967)

You_Only_Live_Twice

Writer: Roald Dahl

Director: Lewis Gilbert

Cast: Sean Connery, Akiko Wakabayashi, Mie Hama, Tetbury Tenba, Teru Shimada

IMDb Rating: 6.8

You Only Live Twice sees James Bond on his most dangerous mission yet: finding out who’s turned Russian and American spacecraft into floating bombs. The British spy must team up with Tiger Tanaka and the beautiful Aki to uncover a sinister global conspiracy – one that begins far below the sea in a submerged Japanese submarine base.

With SPECTRE on its last legs, Ernst Stavro Blofeld is preparing for war, seeking revenge against Bond.


On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969)

On_Her_Majestys_Secret_Service

Writer: Simon Raven, Richard Maibaum

Director: Peter R. Hunt

Cast: George Lazenby, Diana Rigg, Telly Savalas, Gabriele Ferzetti, Ilse Steppat

IMDb Rating: 6.8

In this thrilling adventure, Secret Service agent James Bond discovers that a SPECTRE operative has been infiltrating high society by posing as an archaeologist. With the help of a Spanish beauty making a name for herself as a journalist, they follow the trail to Blofeld’s home base and find themselves in an explosive confrontation with the evilest villain of all time.

Blofeld, leader of SPECTRE, is launching his most calamitous scheme yet: using a rare orchid flower to reproduce a deadly poison gas that would, in turn, destroy all food crops in the world. While investigating the crime syndicate’s connection with a diamond smuggling ring, James Bond uncovers Blofeld’s plan.

He must then dissuade his enemies from this dastardly deed and save the day before time runs out on him.


Diamonds Are Forever (1971)

Diamonds_Are_Forever

Writer: Tom Mankiewicz, Richard Maibaum

Director: Guy Hamilton

Cast: Sean Connery, Jill St. John, Charles Gray, Lana Wood, Jimmy Dean

IMDb Rating: 6.5

Bond encounters his ultimate nemesis, arch-criminal Ernst Stavro Blofeld, who has been established as connected with every previous Bond adventure. Bond’s mission is to investigate the activities of Mr. Wint and Mr. Kidd, a pair of diamond smugglers who have acquired an enormous supply of precious stones.

With the help of Tiffany Case, a beautiful smuggler whom he rescues from danger, Bond follows clues that ultimately lead him to the discovery of Blofeld’s most ambitious scheme: to use diamonds in laser beam weaponry that can destroy satellites in space and wipe out entire armies on Earth!


Live and Let Die (1973)

Live_and_Let_Die

Writer: Richard Maibaum,Tom Mankiewicz

Director: Guy Hamilton

Cast: Roger Moore, Yaphet Kotto, Jane Seymour, Clifton James, Julius Harris

IMDb Rating: 6.7

In Live and Let Die, James Bond is sent to stop a diabolically brilliant heroin magnate armed with a complex organization and a reliable psychic tarot card reader. Teaming up with local “tough gal” C.I.A. agent Mary Goodnight, 007 infiltrates the empire of Mr. Big, an international crime lord.

He has carved out his little corner of hell in the bayous around New Orleans by manufacturing his own drugs and developing a network of assassins to keep anyone from interfering.

With its central character more flippant than previous incarnations of Bond, Live and Let Die offers up plenty of action sequences – particularly one involving a plane hijacking – and is not one to miss, especially if you are watching James Bond movies in order.


The Man with the Golden Gun (1974)

The_Man_with_the_Golden_Gun

Writer: Tom Mankiewicz

Director: Guy Hamilton

Cast: Roger Moore, Christopher Lee, Britt Ekland, Maidstone Adams, Herve Villechaize

IMDb Rating: 6.7

When James Bond is sent to investigate the murder of a solar cell scientist and the theft of the top-secret technology he’s developed, he finds himself up against the world’s most expensive hitman, Francisco Scaramanga.

The two adversaries engage in a high-stakes game of cat-and-mouse as they’re both hunted down by Scaramanga’s beautiful personal assistant and his henchmen on the island of San Monique.

Watch as 007 races across the globe to piece together details of Scaramanga’s scheme and prevent him from collecting his next ransom money in this thrilling action flick.


The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)

The_Spy_Who_Loved_Me

Writer: Christopher Wood, Richard Maibaum

Director: Lewis Gilbert

Cast: Roger Moore, Barbara Bach, Curd Jurgens, Richard Kiel, Caroline Munro

IMDb Rating: 7.0

James Bond is back again, this time to investigate the hijacking of British and Russian submarines containing nuclear warheads. From Turkey to Italy to Sardinia, Bond must follow a trail that leads him to Karl Stromberg, an oceanographer with a plan for global destruction.

With the help of Major Anya Amasova from the Soviet Union’s K.G.B. and a deformed henchman, Jaws with steel teeth, James Bond must stop Karl Stromberg before he releases poison into the water supply on both sides of the Atlantic, bringing death and destruction beyond belief.


Moonraker (1979)

Moonraker

Writer: Christopher Wood

Director: Lewis Gilbert

Cast: Roger Moore, Lois Chiles, Michael Lonsdale, Richard Kiel, Corinne Clery

IMDb Rating: 6.2

The Moonraker adventure begins when a Boeing 747 carrying a U.S. space shuttle on loan to the U.K. crashes into the Atlantic Ocean, apparently killing all aboard. When British government agents investigate the wreckage, they find no trace of the spacecraft nor any passengers and send Agent James Bond to the U.S. manufacturer of the shuttle, Drax Industries, to investigate further.

Upon his arrival at Drax’s headquarters in Venice, 007 discovers that the main suspect is Hugo Drax, an entrepreneur who has made a fortune in high technology.

However, according to Drax’s physician, Dr. Goodhead, he may also be attempting a hostile takeover of England’s House of Lords through parliamentary elections—with deadly consequences for all humanity! Will, our favorite spy, be able to save himself and mankind from this threat before Drax’s orbiting space station destroys all life on Earth?


For Your Eyes Only (1981)

for-your-eyes-only

Writer: Michael G. Wilson, Richard Maibaum

Director: John Glenn

Cast: Roger Moore, Carole Bouquet, Topol, Lynn-Holly Johnson, Julian Glover

IMDb Rating: 6.7

James Bond is back in this thrilling action adventure! When the British ship VICTORIA is sunk, the message that its cargo included a nuclear submarine control system sent to the United States causes a global frenzy. James Bond is assigned to find the missing device and prevent it from falling into enemy hands.

Joining forces with Melina Havelock and Agent Johnson, our hero is led on an explosive chase through Athens, Venice and Cortina d’Ampezzo in search of the missing component. But will he get there before Russian agent General Orlov and his two beautiful accomplices?


Octopussy (1983)

octopussy

Writer: George MacDonald Fraser, Richard Maibaum

Director: John Glenn

Cast: Roger Moore, Maud Adams, Louise Jordan, Kristina Wayborn, Kabir Bedi

IMDb Rating: 6.5

James Bond is pitted against a powerful enemy in his most thrilling adventure ever. The film is centered around an international jewel-smuggling operation and war plot. Facing unseen danger, Bond travels from India to Soviet Russia to West Germany and beyond.

Bond teams up with a circus group, and with few friends to rely on, he must rely on his skill and cunning wit as he faces an enemy more powerful than anyone could imagine… the mysterious Octopussy!


Never Say Never Again (1983) UNOFFICIAL

Never_Say_Never_Again

Writer: Kevin McClory, Jack Whittingham

Director: Irvin Kirshner

Cast: Sean Connery, Klaus Maria Brandauer, Max Von Sydow, Barbara Carerra, Kim Basinger

IMDb Rating: 6.1

The outfit S.P.E.C.T.R.E. and its commander, Ernst Stavro Blofeld, have looted two American nuclear bombs. The British resurrect their “00” unit and dispatch Bond to the Bahamas to retrieve the warheads. Bond has gotten wind of a millionaire called Maximilian Largo, as well as Largo’s female companion, Fatima Blush.

Bond investigates Largo further, drawing Largo’s lover, Domino, into the fray. Will Bond make it out of this mess before irreversible damage occurs? If you’re watching James Bond movies in order, don’t miss this one!


A View to a Kill (1985)

A_View_to_a_Kill

Writer: Michael G. Wilson, Richard Maibaum

Director: John Glenn

Cast: Roger Moore, Christopher Walken, Tanya Roberts, Grace Jones, Patrick Macnee

IMDb Rating: 6.3

Bond comes back from his adventures in the U.S.S.R. with a microchip that can endure a nuclear electrical discharge that would normally obliterate a regular chip in A View To A Kill.

Zorin Industries manufactured the microchip, and Bond sets out to find its creator, Max Zorin – who may appear to be a harmless man but is trying to trigger an earthquake in San Andreas that would destroy everything in Silicon Valley.

Will our favourite secret agent be able to stop him?

The Living Daylights (1987)

the-living-daylights

Writer: Michael G. Wilson, Richard Maibaum

Director: John Glen

Cast: Timothy Dalton, Maryam d’Abo, Jeroen Krabbé, Joe Don Baker, John Rhys-Davies

IMDb Rating: 6.7

James Bond is sent on a mission to help a top Soviet general defect. But unfortunately, the general is re-captured, and now it’s up to Bond to find out why an ally of General Koskov was sent to murder him. So Bond heads off to Afghanistan, where his mission takes him to meet an arms dealer named Brad Whitaker.

Now all of these events ultimately lead up to something big, something global in proportions that could change the world as Bond knows it.


Licence to Kill (1989)

licence_to_kill

Writer: Michael G. Wilson, Richard Maibaum

Director: John Glen

Cast: Timothy Dalton, Carey Lowell, Robert Davi, Talisa Soto, Anthony Zerbe, Frank McRae

IMDb Rating: 6.6

Licence to Kill, the sixteenth film if you’re watching James Bond movies in order, follows James Bond and American C.I.A. agent Felix Leiter, who is killed by drug lord Franz Sanchez and his henchman Dario before Bond can rescue him.

This leads to Bond setting out for revenge disguised as a fly-fisherman and single-handedly finishing off Sanchez’s remaining henchmen before exacting revenge on Sanchez himself with help from his wife, Pam Bouvier.


GoldenEye (1995)

goldeneye

Writer: Jeffrey Caine, Bruce Feirstein, Michael France

Director: Martin Campbell

Cast: Pierce Brosnan, Sean Bean, Izabella Scorupco, Famke Janssen, Joe Don Baker

IMDb Rating: 7.2

World peace hangs in the balance as Agent 007 battles a resourceful villain bent on controlling the world’s most powerful satellite system. So Bond dispenses with his usual order of martini “shaken, not stirred” and sets out to prevent the evildoers from putting their evil scheme into effect.


Tomorrow Never Dies (1997)

Tomorrow_Never_Dies

Writer: Bruce Feirstein

Director: Roger Spottiswoode

Cast: Pierce Brosnan, Jonathan Pryce, Michelle Yeoh, Teri Hatcher, Ricky Jay, Götz Otto

IMDb Rating: 6.5

When a lethal satellite missile system comes into the hands of terrorists, only Agent James Bond can protect the planet from inevitable destruction. Bond travels to Russia, equipped with his licence to kill, in quest of the hidden security codes for “GoldenEye,” an incredible cosmic weapon that can launch a catastrophic atomic blast toward Earth.

However, 007 has to face an adversary who foresees his every action: a genius fueled by decades of seething resentment.


The World is Not Enough (1999)

The_World_is_Not_Enough

Writer: Neal Purvis, Robert Wade

Director: Michael Apted

Cast: Pierce Brosnan, Sophie Marceau, Robert Carlyle, Denise Richards, Robbie Coltrane

IMDb Rating: 6.4

James Bond investigates an international power struggle as an oil tycoon is murdered by MI6, and his daughter Elektra King becomes the prime suspect in his death. However, when M is kidnapped, it becomes clear that the attacks are part of a plan to gain control over Europe’s oil supply. It will be up to Bond to race against time, travel the world and prevent a nuclear disaster.


Die Another Day (2002)

die-another-day

Writer: Neal Purvis, Robert Wade

Director: Lee Tamahori

Cast: Pierce Brosnan, Halle Berry, Toby Stephens, Rosamund Pike, Rick Yune, Judi Dench

IMDb Rating: 6.1

As a well-seasoned spy, James Bond is no stranger to risky operations. On this mission, he will have to infiltrate the terrorist Zao’s stronghold and steal critical information from his fortress. It’s not going to be easy. He is protected by an army of guards, surveillance cameras, and a network of lasers. In other words, it will take all of Bond’s wits and skills to survive this mission intact. Will he survive?


Casino Royale (2006)

Casino_Royale-2

Writer: Neal Purvis, Robert Wade, Paul Haggis

Director: Martin Campbell

Cast: Daniel Craig, Eva Green, Mads Mikkelsen, Judi Dench, Jeffrey Wright

IMDb Rating: 8.0

James Bond embarks on his new operation as a 007 agent against Le Chiffre – the world’s criminals’ financier. First, he has to take part in a poker game in Montenegro, in which he has to win back his fortune to be protected in the terrorist market.

The head of MI6, referred to simply as “M,” assigns Bond and Vesper Lynd to this game to keep Le Chiffre from scoring. With the support of his companions, Bond joins the most crucial poker game ever. Will he make it out alive?


Quantum of Solace (2008)

Quantum_of_Solace

Writer: Paul Haggis, Neal Purvis, Robert Wade

Director: Marc Forster

Cast: Daniel Craig, Olga Kurylenko, Mathieu Amalric, Judi Dench, Giancarlo Giannini

IMDb Rating: 6.6

James Bond and M are on the trail of a murky multinational organization of corruption and abuse worth billions of dollars. All paths lead towards Dominic Greene, a popular inventor of green tech. As Bond chases the agents of an assassination attempt on M., Will Bond be successful in saving M? Do not miss this one if you’re watching James Bond movies in order!


Skyfall (2012)

skyfall

Writer: Neal Purvis, Robert Wade, John Logan

Director: Sam Mendes

Cast: Daniel Craig, Judi Dench, Javier Bardem, Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris

IMDb Rating: 7.8

James Bond’s devotion to M is challenged when her past comes back to cause a rift between the two. When MI6 is attacked, 007 has to hunt down and eliminate the attacker, regardless of how dangerous and personal matters get.


Spectre (2015)

spectre

Writer: Neal Purvis, Robert Wade, John Logan

Director: Sam Mendes

Cast: Daniel Craig, Christopher Waltz, Léa Seydoux, Ralph Fiennes, Monica Belluci, Ben Whishaw

IMDb Rating: 6.8

Following the demise of his revered employer M, James Bond gets a posthumous signal that leads him on the prowl for a lethal assassin. But suddenly, a cryptic sign surfaces on a ring, and Bond embarks on a personal vengeance that commences in Mexico City.

He learns of an organization known as S.P.E.C.T.R.E., and as he fits together all of the evidence regarding them, he discovers a horrible secret that connects him to the adversary.


No Time to Die (2021)

No-Time-to-Die

Writer: Neal Purvis, Robert Wade, Cary Joji Fukunaga, Phoebe Waller-Bridge

Director: Cary Joji Fukunaga

Cast: Daniel Craig, Léa Seydoux, Rami Malek, Lashana Lynch, Ralph Fiennes, Ben Whishaw

IMDb Rating: 7.3

Bond has retired from active duty and is living a peaceful life in Jamaica. However, his tranquillity is shattered when an old buddy from the C.I.A., Felix Leiter, shows up seeking assistance. Unfortunately, the mission to save an abducted scientist proves considerably more perilous than planned, bringing Bond on the path of a mystery enemy equipped with terrifying new technology.


How to Watch the James Bond 007 Movies in Order? FAQ:

Except for Sean Connery’s performance in 1983’s ‘Never Say Never Again,’ the following actors have played James Bond: Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan, and Daniel Craig.


Conclusion

And there you have it – the multiverse madness of our favourite secret agent. Watching James Bond movies in order can be a confounding experience, but we hope this guide has made it easier for you.

Happy watching!

Oliver Grayson

Oliver is an ambivert who scratches his creative itch by writing on different topics of interest. Being a movie buff, he’s almost always updated about the latest movies and shows releasing worldwide. When he’s not writing or binging movies, he’s gaming and socializing online from his couch.

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