How Many James Bond Films Are There?
There are exactly 25 official EON James Bond films starring six different actors. Including two non-EON productions, the total is 27. The 26th official film is currently in development.
Official EON James Bond films (1962–2021)
Bond By The Numbers
12 Defining Bond Moments
The scenes that defined 60 years of cinema. Hover over a moment to reveal the quote.
The Introduction
Dr. No (1962)
The Laser Table
Goldfinger (1964)
The Tragic Finale
On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)
Crocodile Stepping Stones
Live and Let Die (1973)
The Ski Jump
The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)
Train Compartment Fight
From Russia With Love (1963)
Going Rogue
Licence to Kill (1989)
The Tank Chase
GoldenEye (1995)
Crane Parkour
Casino Royale (2006)
The Estate Siege
Skyfall (2012)
Day of the Dead
Spectre (2015)
The Sacrifice
No Time To Die (2021)
Six Actors. Six Eras. One License to Kill.
The Stuff The Producers Don't Talk About
Connery's Lucrative Return: After walking away from the role in 1967 due to intense press intrusion and salary disputes, Sean Connery was lured back for Diamonds Are Forever (1971) with a record-breaking £1.25 million salary (which he donated to a Scottish charity) plus a percentage of the gross.
Lazenby's Abrupt Exit: Unknown Australian model George Lazenby was offered a seven-film contract after his debut in On Her Majesty's Secret Service. Influenced by his agent, who convinced him Bond would be irrelevant in the 1970s counterculture era, he quit before the film even premiered.
The Gold Paint Myth: A persistent urban legend claimed actress Shirley Eaton died of skin asphyxiation after being painted gold in Goldfinger. The producers never aggressively debunked it at the time, as the morbid rumor generated massive free publicity. Eaton is still alive and well today.
Moore's Long Wait: Roger Moore was considered for the role of Bond before Sean Connery was cast, but television commitments kept him away. He was finally cast in 1973 at age 45, making him older when he started than Connery was when he officially retired from the EON films.
Craig's Exhaustion: Following the grueling shoot of Spectre (2015), an exhausted Daniel Craig famously told an interviewer he would rather "break this glass and slash my wrists" than play Bond again. He eventually rested, renegotiated, and returned for his swan song in No Time To Die.
Amazon's creative control changed everything. In February 2025, Amazon MGM and EON Productions formed a joint venture giving Amazon creative control of Bond 26 and beyond. Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson — who had protected Bond at EON for over 60 years — stepped back from day-to-day creative decisions but remain co-owners. Bond 26 will be the first film made without the Broccoli/Wilson family's direct creative oversight. Denis Villeneuve, Steven Knight, and producers Amy Pascal and David Heyman now run Bond's future. (Note: Amazon had already owned MGM and Bond distribution rights since 2022 — the 2025 deal was specifically for creative control.)
Quiz 1: Bond Quotes — Who Said It?
10 iconic Bond quotes. Pick the speaker. Share your score with your fellow agents.
"No, Mr. Bond, I expect you to die!"
The Bond Themes That Defined Generations
From Shirley Bassey's brassy classics to modern Oscar-winning ballads.
Shirley Bassey
"Goldfinger" (1964)
The gold standard of Bond themes. Bassey famously passed out holding the final note.
Paul McCartney & Wings
"Live and Let Die" (1973)
The first rock theme and the first to be nominated for an Academy Award.
Carly Simon
"Nobody Does It Better" (1977)
The first theme not to share the film's title (The Spy Who Loved Me).
Duran Duran
"A View to a Kill" (1985)
The only James Bond theme to hit number one on the US Billboard Hot 100.
Tina Turner
"GoldenEye" (1995)
Written by Bono and The Edge, bringing swagger back for the Brosnan era.
Chris Cornell
"You Know My Name" (2006)
A gritty, aggressive rock track perfectly matching Daniel Craig's debut.
Adele
"Skyfall" (2012)
The first Bond theme to actually win the Academy Award for Best Original Song.
Sam Smith
"Writing's on the Wall" (2015)
Won the Oscar for Spectre, marking the first time a solo British male sang the theme since 1965.
Billie Eilish
"No Time To Die" (2021)
The youngest artist to write and record a Bond theme, winning the franchise's third consecutive Oscar.
Who Is The Best Bond?
What about the others? George Lazenby brought surprising physical intensity and vulnerability to his sole outing. Timothy Dalton was decades ahead of his time, predicting the darker, grittier tone that Craig would later popularize. Pierce Brosnan perfectly threaded the needle between Connery's cool and Moore's wit, saving the franchise from irrelevance in the 1990s.
Quiz 2: The Ultimate James Bond Trivia Test
Prove it.
Which James Bond film was the first to win an Academy Award?
Quiz 3: Match the Bond Actor
10 questions about the six actors who wore the tuxedo.
Which actor stepped away from the role, allowing George Lazenby to step in, only to return for the very next film?
Frequently Asked Questions
How many actors have played James Bond?
Six actors in official EON productions: Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan, and Daniel Craig. A seventh actor will be cast for Bond 26 — Nina Gold (Game of Thrones) was announced as casting director in May 2026.
Is there going to be a Bond 26?
Yes — Bond 26 is in development under Amazon MGM. Denis Villeneuve (Dune, Blade Runner 2049) is directing, Steven Knight (Peaky Blinders) is writing. Casting officially began May 2026. Realistic release window: late 2027 to 2028.
Who owns James Bond now?
In February 2025, Amazon MGM and EON Productions announced a joint venture giving Amazon creative control over the franchise's future. Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson — who had stewarded Bond at EON for over 60 years — stepped back from day-to-day creative decisions but remain co-owners. Producers Amy Pascal and David Heyman now run Bond 26 production. Amazon already owned MGM (and Bond distribution rights) since 2022; the 2025 deal was specifically for creative control.
What order should I watch the Bond films in?
Release order is recommended for first-time viewers. The Daniel Craig films (Casino Royale through No Time To Die) are the only ones with continuous chronological continuity — the others can be watched in any order.