1. George Lazenby (1969)
Australian actor George Lazenby entered this ranking out of courtesy. He played James Bond only once in "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" (1969).
He was recruited by Eon Productions, the film's producers after Connery decided to retire. He was quickly replaced by Roger Moore when the saga resumed in 1973 with "Live and Let Die."
2. Pierce Brosnan (1995-2002)
After spending 15 years with Daniel Craig—whom we'll praise later—it's easy to forget the damage Pierce Brosnan did to the James Bond franchise. However, it is important to revisit those dark moments.
So here, I humbly ask: do we remember the unfortunate orange tan that Brosnan sported as he brought 007 to life? Or uncomfortable hyper-pop songs, like Madonna's terrible “Die Another Day”?
Brosnan's movies even have bad guns.
It is important to note that "GoldenEye" (1995), Brosnan's first James Bond film, was also the first in the franchise that was not produced by Albert R. Broccoli, the creator of the saga, who was succeeded by his daughter, Barbara Broccoli, and her stepson, Michael G. Wilson.
It has been reported that Albert R. Broccoli favored Brosnan, so perhaps it was time for him to step down.
Throughout his four films, Brosnan moved James Bond away from his great origins and toward a less interesting Hollywood.
3. Roger Moore (1973-1985)
Roger Moore played James Bond seven times. Most of his films were directed by Briton John Glen, who had an unrivaled ability to capture pure chaos on screen. That's what Moore's 007 is best known for.
In his run on the saga, Moore went into space, fought off a herd of crocodiles, and defused a nuclear bomb.
Though Moore's James Bond was charismatic and entertaining, there was rarely any substance to what he said. There was less of a plot to hold all of his big-budget stunts together. For this reason, Moore's seven films are not ideal for rewatching.
4. Timothy Dalton (1987-1989)
The only reason Timothy Dalton isn't ranked higher in this ranking is that he only played James Bond twice, but this wasn't due to bad reviews or box office sales.
His films “007: His Name is Danger” (1987) and “License to Kill” (1989) are two of the most beloved James Bond movies. Furthermore, Dalton's dark and often serious take on 007 is widely considered to be the most accurate interpretation of Ian Fleming's book.
"He wanted to make it human," Dalton said of his portrayal of James Bond during an interview in 2008.
“He is not a Superman; you cannot identify with a Superman. You can identify with the James Bond books. He is a tarnished man, really. He wanted to capture that occasional feeling of vulnerability and he wanted to capture the spirit of Ian Fleming,” he added.
As many people have said before, Dalton's work paved the way for the franchise's most profitable period under Daniel Craig.
However, Dalton's tenure was cut short by complex legal disputes between the film's producers, MGM, and Eon Productions, halting production until 1994, when his contract expired.
5. Sean Connery (1962-1967)
Sean Connery had a legendary acting career that spanned over 50 films. This included appearances in some of Hollywood's most iconic films, such as "Marnie" (1964), "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" (1989), and "The Untouchables" (1987), for which he won an Oscar for Best supporting actor.
However, according to Connery, his portrayal of James Bond managed to charm everyone but Fleming.
"I was never introduced to Fleming until he was well into the movie, but I know he wasn't happy with me as a choice," he said on the "South Bank Show" in 2008.
Despite Fleming's reservations, Connery played the secret agent in seven films from 1962 to 1983. His version is remembered as not only the coolest in the franchise but as one of the most iconic characters in movie history.
Connery can also claim that he is the only James Bond actor who really managed to capitalize on the famous catchphrase “Martini, shaken, not stirred” and make it sound great.
6. Daniel Craig (2006-2021)
Daniel Craig's Bond films are dark, physical, and entertaining; but it is the actor's commercial success that has placed him at the top of this ranking.
The numbers just don't lie: “Skyfall” (2012)—Craig's third outing as James Bond and first collaboration with British director Sam Mendes (“American Beauty”)—has grossed $1.1 billion at the worldwide box office, making it the most commercially successful 007 films of all time.
Craig's portrayal of the British spy helped revive the franchise, which, at the time, had struggled to find a contemporary identity.
