2022 marks 60 Years of the James Bond films. In that time, we’ve had more than 20 instalments in the franchise.
Understandably for new fans it can be tricky to know where to start, but fear not, because we’ve done the hard work for you.
These six Bond films will not only give you a perfect taste of each actor to portray 007, but also act as a perfect jumping in point for the entire Bond saga.
Let’s begin…
1. Goldfinger
You might think that starting with the third film in the James Bond Series is a bit of an odd choice.
But it’s not.
Goldfinger is where the 007 films really hit their stride. Its predecessors, ‘Dr No’ and ‘From Russia with Love’ are both great Bond films – but ‘Goldfinger’ takes the biscuit.
Bond: Do you expect me to talk?
Goldfinger: No Mr Bond, I expect you to die!
Featuring the debut of the gadget filled Aston Martin DB5 as well as the legendary villains of Auric Goldfinger and his hat wielding henchman Oddjob and a title song by the phenomenal Shirely Bassey, this film has it all.
Oh and the Bond girl has the most Bond girl of names for the time period – Pussy Galore.
Sean Connery stars as the secret agent tasked with getting to the bottom of a mysterious plot that involves the entire gold supply at Fort Knox.
It’s classic Bond at its best – and a perfect place to start.
2. On Her Majesty’s Secret Service
George Lazenby stars as 007 for one time only in this classic James Bond film.
As Bond scours the globe for his arch nemesis Blofeld, something very unexpected happens to him – Bond falls in love.
With a very personal attachment to the mission at hand, the stakes are even higher for 007 to put a stop to Blofeld’s latest plans for world domination.
With music from Louis Armstrong and a tone that allows the film to stand up well today, it’s a gem of a Bond film that everyone should watch.
3. The Spy Who Loved Me
With perhaps one of the most iconic opening sequences in cinematic history – Roger Moore’s third 007 outing really proves that nobody does it better.
The plot is over the top and hair raising but brilliantly Bondian as the villainous Stromberg attempts to create a modern day Atlantis.
The film also sees the debut of fan favourite villain Jaws and the famous submarine car version of the Lotus Esprit.
It’s such a brilliant vehicle that it even made it onto our recent list of the best James Bond Vehicles of all time.
4. Licence to Kill
Usually skipped over, ‘Licence to Kill’ deserves more praise.
Timothy Dalton’s second and final time as 007 sees the secret agent go rogue on a revenge mission to avenge his friend in arms Felix Leiter.
Robert Davi plays the brutal drug lord Franz Sanchez in what has to be one of the darkest Bond films to date.
It’s not all doom and gloom though as Desmond Llewelyn’s Q provides some quite funny moments throughout that help to remind the film not to take itself too seriously.
5. GoldenEye
Six years after Licence to Kill came a rebirth for Bond.
Pierce Brosnan stepped masterfully into the shoes of 007. His first scene will instantly convince you that he was born for the role.
Desmond Llewelyn’s Q is the only actor from before to be carried over from previous films. Samantha Bond becomes the new Moneypenny and Dame Judi Dench begins her brilliant tenure as spymaster M.
Sean Bean plays the film’s villain, Alec Trevelyan, whilst Famke Janssen plays the chaotic femme fatale Onatopp.
‘GoldenEye’ also has one of the best chase scenes in Bond history as 007 acquires a tank and proceeds to drive through (and destroy large parts of) St. Petersburg as he peruses a corrupt Russian army general.
It’s another breath of fresh air for the Bond series. It keeps the best of the older films while bringing something new to the table. Lovely stuff.
6. Casino Royale
2006 saw James Bond brought swiftly into the 21st century.
Based on the first 007 novel by Ian Fleming, ‘Casino Royale’ completely reinvents the franchise.
Starring Daniel Craig as Bond with the rest of the cast featuring the likes of Eva Green, Mads Mikkelsen, Jeffrey Wright and Judi Dench, you just can’t go wrong.
Vesper: It doesn’t bother you, killing those people?
Bond: I wouldn’t be very good at my job if it did.
The film is the first of five for Craig and sees Bond both at his most vulnerable and at his most violent.
With two Aston Martins, a poisoned Martini, intense poker games and breakneck chases and action sequences, it’s easily one of the best Bond films ever made.
So if for some head spinning reason you’ve not enjoyed the other five films on this list, this will be the one to get you.
