What is the correct order of the James Bond movies?

24 nights or 24 weeks – sorted.

With the eagerly anticipated fifth and final outing of Daniel Craig in the 2020 No Time to Die, let’s use this lockdown time wisely to watch up on all the Bonds and infamous Bond girls that came before. Starting from the top…

Dr No (1962) Starring: Sean Connery IMDB 7.3

A resourceful British government agent seeks answers in a case involving the disappearance of a colleague and the disruption of the American space program.

From Russia with Love (1963) Starring: Sean Connery IMDB 7.4

James Bond willingly falls into an assassination plot involving a naive Russian beauty in order to retrieve a Soviet encryption device that was stolen by S.P.E.C.T.R.E.

Goldfinger (1964) Starring: Sean Connery IMDB 7.7

While investigating a gold magnate’s smuggling, James Bond uncovers a plot to contaminate the Fort Knox gold reserve.

Thunderball (1965) Starring: Sean Connery IMDB 7

James Bond heads to the Bahamas to recover two nuclear warheads stolen by S.P.E.C.T.R.E. Agent Emilio Largo in an international extortion scheme.

You Only Live Twice (1967) Starring: Sean Connery IMDB 6.9

Secret Agent James Bond and the Japanese Secret Service must find and stop the true culprit of a series of space hijackings, before war is provoked between Russia and the United States.

On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969) Starring: George Lazenby IMDB 6.7

James Bond woos a mob boss’ daughter and goes undercover to uncover the true reason for Ernst Stavro Blofeld’s allergy research in the Swiss Alps involving beautiful women from around the world.

Diamonds Are Forever (1971) Starring: Sean Connery IMDB 6.6

A diamond smuggling investigation leads James Bond to Las Vegas, where he uncovers an evil plot involving a rich business tycoon.

Live and Let Die (1973) Starring: Roger Moore IMDB 6.8

James Bond is sent to stop a diabolically brilliant heroin magnate armed with a complex organisation and a reliable psychic tarot card reader.

The Man with the Golden Gun (1974) Starring: Roger Moore IMDB 6.8

James Bond is targeted by the world’s most expensive assassin, while he attempts to recover sensitive solar cell technology that is being sold to the highest bidder.

The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) Starring: Roger Moore IMDB 7.1

James Bond investigates the hijacking of British and Russian submarines carrying nuclear warheads, with the help of a K.G.B. Agent, whose lover he killed.

Moonraker (1979) Starring: Roger Moore IMDB 6.3

James Bond investigates the mid-air theft of a space shuttle and discovers a plot to commit global genocide.

For Your Eyes Only (1981) Starring: Roger Moore IMDB 6.8

James Bond is assigned to find a missing British vessel, equipped with a weapons encryption device and prevent it from falling into enemy hands.

Octopussy (1983) Starring: Roger Moore IMDB 6.6

A fake Fabergé egg, and a fellow Agent’s death, lead James Bond to uncover an international jewel-smuggling operation, headed by the mysterious Octopussy, being used to disguise a nuclear attack on N.A.T.O. forces.

A View To A Kill (1985) Starring: Roger Moore IMDB 6.4

The recovery of a microchip off the body of a fellow agent leads James Bond to a mad industrialist who plans to create a worldwide microchip monopoly by destroying California’s Silicon Valley.

The Living Daylights (1987) Starring: Timothy Dalton IMDB 6.7

James Bond is sent to investigate a KGB policy to kill all enemy spies and uncovers an arms deal that potentially has major global ramifications.

License to Kill (1989) Starring: Timothy Dalton
IMDB 6.6
After capturing a drug lord, Felix Leiter is left for dead and his wife is murdered. James Bond goes rogue and seeks vengeance on those responsible, as he infiltrates an organisation posing as a hitman.

GoldenEye (1995) Starring: Pierce Brosnan IMDB 7.2

Years after a friend and fellow 00 agent is killed on a joint mission, a secret space based weapons program known as “GoldenEye” is stolen. James Bond sets out to stop a Russian crime syndicate from using the weapon.

Tomorrow Never Dies (1997) Starring: Pierce Brosnan IMDB 6.5

James Bond sets out to stop a media mogul’s plan to induce war between China and the U.K in order to obtain exclusive global media coverage.

The World Is Not Enough (1999) Starring: Pierce Brosnan IMDB 6.4

James Bond uncovers a nuclear plot while protecting an oil heiress from her former kidnapper, an international terrorist who can’t feel pain.

Die Another Day (2002) Starring: Pierce Brosnan IMDB 6.1

James Bond is sent to investigate the connection between a North Korean terrorist and a diamond mogul, who is funding the development of an international space weapon.

Casino Royale (2006) Starring: Daniel Craig IMDB 8

After earning 00 status and a licence to kill, Secret Agent James Bond sets out on his first mission as 007. Bond must defeat a private banker funding terrorists in a high-stakes game of poker at Casino Royale, Montenegro.

Quantum of Solace (2008) Starring: Daniel Craig IMDB 6.6

James Bond descends into mystery as he tries to stop a mysterious organisation from eliminating a country’s most valuable resource.

Skyfall (2012) Starring: Daniel Craig IMDB 7.7

James Bond’s loyalty to M is tested when her past comes back to haunt her. When MI6 comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost.

Spectre (2015) Starring: Daniel Craig IMDB 6.8

A cryptic message from James Bond’s past sends him on a trail to uncover the existence of a sinister organisation named SPECTRE. With a new threat dawning, Bond learns the terrible truth about the author of all his pain in his most recent missions.

The math just works out that you can fit your 24 nights snugly into the 30-day-free-trial for Amazon Prime

Happy watching!

Knowing how to watch the James Bond movies in order can be complicated. After all, unlike most franchises, these are not numbered entries. And while you can enjoy them all as solo adventures, or in batches depending on which actor's time as Bond you want to nestle down with, there's a reasonable order to watch them in.

The first James Bond movie was Dr. No, and came out over 50 years ago. The latest, No Time to Die, brought Daniel Craig's tenure as 007 to an end. The franchise has, at this point, never been more open-ended. Who will take over as the next James Bond? That's a question for another time. For now, let's sit down with these excellent movies and watch (or rewatch) the series.

First up, we've got the full list of James Bond movies in order if you want to marathon the whole thing. Then we've broken each Bond stint down, actor by actor. That's perfect for the year where George Lazenby slides in for a quick hello and confuses everything. It also makes choosing your favorite Bonds (and their best films) a whole lot easier. We'll even briefly touch on the decidedly non-canon entries from MI6's finest. Here's how to watch the James Bond movies in order.

How to watch every James Bond movie in order

Here’s the current order to watch Bond movies by release date. Starting in 1962 with Dr. No and ending (for now) with 2015’s Spectre.

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

But that’s not the only way to watch James Bond movies in order. Debates have raged over the best actor who has donned the tuxedo over the years. Connery. Lazenby. Moore. Dalton. Brosnan. Craig. You’re probably thinking of your choice right now. Let’s divide them up so, if you wish, you can dive straight into the oeuvre of your favourite 007 – starting with Sean Connery and his one unique entry that you won’t find in the list above. Intrigued?

(Image credit: Eon)

Out of all the actors to portray Bond, Sean Connery has (by far) the strangest run with the character. Having originated the on-screen movie role of 007, he starred in the first five Bond movies, departed from the role (and replaced by George Lazenby), before returning for the seventh, Diamonds Are Forever in 1971. He’d later go on to play James Bond again in the non-canon entry Never Say Never Again, a remake of 1965’s Thunderball. It’s not part of the main franchise, so you can ignore it if you wish, though we’ve kept it here for completion’s sake.

  • Dr. No (1962)
  • From Russia With Love (1963)
  • Goldfinger (1964)
  • Thunderball (1965)
  • You Only Live Twice (1967)
  • Diamonds Are Forever (1971)
  • Never Say Never Again (1983)

George Lazenby's James Bond movies

What is the correct order of the James Bond movies?

(Image credit: Eon)

Just the one man for our man Lazenby. He did help kickstart the prevalent fan theory that every James Bond is a different person, though. Sure, it’d later be retconned – but it was a nice wink and a nod from the new 007 in his very first scene.

  • On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969)

Roger Moore's James Bond movies

What is the correct order of the James Bond movies?

(Image credit: Eon/United Artists)

The most prolific Bond actor, Roger Moore played the character in seven movies across 12 years. His flicks are best known for heavily increasing the camp factor – and introducing a variety of several increasingly silly gadgets (crocodile submarine anyone?), which would fast become a staple of the franchise.

  • Live and Let Die (1973)
  • The Man with the Golden Gun (1974)
  • The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)
  • Moonraker (1979)
  • For Your Eyes Only (1981)
  • Octopussy (1983)
  • A View to a Kill (1985)

Timothy Dalton's James Bond movies

What is the correct order of the James Bond movies?

(Image credit: Eon/United Artists)

Cards on the table. Dalton is low-key one of our favourite Bonds. If you’re eager for a grittier, proto-Craig version of 007 then you could do a lot worse than seeking out Dalton’s two entries as the secret agent.

  • The Living Daylights (1987)
  • License to Kill (1989)

Pierce Brosnan's James Bond movies

What is the correct order of the James Bond movies?

(Image credit: Eon/United Artists)

Brosnan picked up where Dalton left off after a six-year hiatus – to date, the joint-longest gap between Bond movies.

  • GoldenEye (1995)
  • Tomorrow Never Dies (1997)
  • The World is Not Enough (1999)
  • Die Another Day (2002)

Daniel Craig's James Bond movies

Daniel Craig’s Bond films more or less follow on from each other so should be watched in order. A fifth movie, No Time to Die, is almost here.

  • Casino Royale (2006)
  • Quantum of Solace (2008)
  • Skyfall (2012)
  • Spectre (2015) 

Non-canon James Bond movies

What is the correct order of the James Bond movies?

(Image credit: Columbia)

As you may have already noticed, there’s one Sean Connery Bond film that isn’t counted as part of the mainline canon. For reasons too head-scratching to go into here (mostly involving licensing issues and years-long legal fights), there are two films that star James Bond but aren’t considered canon.

When considering the correct order of James Bond movies, that’s important – they don’t technically count, but are still an extra slice of 007, should you so wish it. The first is Casino Royale (no, not that one) from 1967, starring David Niven as James Bond. The second is the Thunderball remake Never Say Never Again, featuring Sean Connery in his seventh spin as Bond.

  • Casino Royale (1967)
  • Never Say Never Again (1983)

Check out our other watch order explainers, including:
--
How to watch the Marvel movies in order
--
How to watch the Star Wars movies in order
--
How to watch the Spider-Man movies in order