1 of 28Screenshot by Aaron Pruner/CNETThe James Bond movie catalog is big -- 25 films in the official 007 canon, plus two others. Six different actors have played the cinematic secret agent across six decades, from 1962's Dr. No to 2021's No Time to Die. If it's all new to you, it might seem a little daunting.Daniel Craig's 007 is the most recent and stands out to many -- especially newer Bond watchers -- as the face of the secret agent. He starred in five of the films, compared with seven for Sean Connery (the original James Bond), seven for Roger Moore, five for Pierce Brosnan, two for Timothy Dalton and one for George Lazenby.So there's a lot to explore beyond the Craig era. The question is, where to start? And then where do you go from there? Sure you could watch them chronologically by theatrical release date from 1962 onward, but a notable characteristic of the Bond franchise -- unlike the MCU -- is that for the most part there's very little continuity or narrative arc. There are also, we have to warn you, some real clunkers mixed in with the gems.This guide gets the shaken, not stirred treatment, bouncing from era to era and actor to actor to guide you through the most essential Bond movies to start and give you tips on where to go from there. The two of us have been watching Bond movies for decades, across nearly all the era as they occurred, so we've got strong thoughts on what worked well and what flopped. Let's get into it.2 of 28MGMCasino Royale (2006)The movie to start with is the one that kicked off the Daniel Craig era, the most modern Bond of the bunch. His Casino Royale honored the franchise while upping the ante with intense action sequences and a lead who gave the role a welcome sense of edge. This movie also gives us the Bond origin story that had been missing from all the previous films, adapted smartly from the Ian Fleming novel that started it all. Casino Royale also kicks off a five-film narrative arc, a throughline that helps Craig's movies stand out from all the others. It's also just a breathtaking action flick, period.3 of 28MGMQuantum of Solace (2008)Spoiler: We're going through all the Craig movies first, across the whole of his arc. That's our recommendation on the best way to approach the full 007 catalog. The Craig movies are all indispensable... except maybe this one, Craig's second. Quantum of Solace does deliver spectacularly on the action front, but underneath the hood it's a confusing and not entirely satisfying story. If you skip it, you're not missing all that much from the arc. If you're a completist like us, go ahead and dig into this one next.4 of 28MGMSkyfall (2012)If you're looking for the best Bond movie of the modern era, and arguably the quintessential one of all time, this would be it. Skyfall, Daniel Craig's third, is the highest-grossing Bond movie, earning more than $1.1 billion at the global box office. And for good reason. It's a compelling story and just plain gorgeous to watch. It reintroduces and reinvents two of the definitive recurring characters from the Bond series, Q and Moneypenny. The villain is one of the best ever, played with gusto by Javier Bardem. It's also the first entry in the franchise to take home Oscar wins since 1964's Goldfinger -- it won one for sound editing and another for Adele's title song.5 of 28MGMSpectre (2015)Spectre continues the narrative trend of delving deeper into the James Bond backstory, reintroducing audiences to one of the franchise's most iconic villains: Ernst Stavro Blofeld. Christoph Waltz breathes new life into the bad guy, with a twist that opens up an intriguing perspective, while Ralph Fiennes replaces Judy Dench as M. The fourth of Craig's five Bond movies, it is the second-highest grossing entry of the franchise and probably the darkest.6 of 28UniversalNo Time to Die (2021)No Time to Die is the final film in the Daniel Craig Bond era, and it delivers a powerful wrap-up to his story arc. (Its nearly three-hour runtime makes it the longest entry in the franchise.) It also leaves a clean slate for whoever steps into 007's shoes next. Will it be as big a reinvention as with Craig's debut? That's up to Amazon, which bought MGM Studios -- home of the Bond franchise -- in 2022 and which this year is finalizing a deal to gain creative control over Bond. A whole new and yet to be determined future for James Bond awaits. Will it also look to the distant past? That's where we're going next in our recommendations.7 of 28Screenshot by Aaron Pruner/CNETDr. No (1962)Until Daniel Craig came along, the definitive James Bond actor was the one who first portrayed him on the big screen: Sean Connery. His first turn came in Dr. No, a relatively low-budget movie that set the standard for every 007 film that comes after and that established his trademarks -- we first encounter him in a casino, wearing a tux, bantering suavely and introducing himself as Bond, James Bond. Connery brings the fictional spy to life with a mix of cool and classy that, for many, makes him the quintessential Bond.8 of 28Screenshot by Aaron Pruner/CNETFrom Russia with Love (1963)The second Bond movie followed quickly after Dr. No and helped establish 007 as the spy movie franchise to watch -- and, for many in Hollywood, to imitate. It introduced a fun level of campiness to the mix, continued the "Bond girl" trend, gave us Robert Shaw as the Spectre assassin out to eliminate Bond and introduced Desmond Llewelyn as Q, the armorer, in an iconic supporting role that would continue across 17 Bond movies, working with every Bond actor except Craig. Like Dr. No, it's a low-key movie compared to those that follow, starting with...9 of 28Screenshot by Aaron Pruner/CNETGoldfinger (1964)For many, Goldfinger is the best James Bond movie of all time. Released just a year after From Russia With Love, Connery's third 007 film has everything fans have come to expect from a Bond movie: the megalomaniac villain with an outrageous and murderous scheme, the henchman with a quirky method for killing (Oddjob and his hat), big set pieces with extravagant action and, of course, the titular hero in a stylish dinner jacket. It's also got one of the all-time greatest theme songs, belted out by Shirley Bassey.10 of 28Screenshot by Aaron Pruner/CNETOn Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)Connery would go on to do two more Bond films before walking away and leaving Eon Productions scrambling for a replacement. That led to an anomaly in the franchise: On Her Majesty's Secret Service is the only entry that starred George Lazenby as 007. He lacked Connery's charisma and was a novice actor to boot. That said, the movie delivers a good deal of excitement and charm and another anomaly: Bond getting married. Take a guess how that relationship turned out.Those two Connery-as-Bond films between Goldfinger and On Her Majesty's Secret Service, both of which are essential 007 franchise watches. Thunderball and You Only Live Twice have not aged well and rank well down the must-watch list.11 of 28MGMGoldenEye (1995)We're skipping around again for this next recommendation -- we'll get to Roger Moore in a second. GoldenEye is the first Pierce Brosnan Bond movie and pretty much the best Pierce Brosnan Bond movie. All the ingredients for a good 007 movie are here: Sean Bean as the bad guy, Famke Janssen as the Bond girl and the introduction of Judy Dench as spy boss M. (Dench would play M in seven Bond films, up through Skyfall, in case you're looking for arcs.) Audiences had waited six whole years for a new James Bond movie, and Brosnan's introduction as 007 was welcomed by many: He brought a nonchalant suaveness to the role and ushered the franchise into the '90s.12 of 28Screenshot by Aaron Pruner/CNETThe Spy Who Loved Me (1977)Our next recommendation brings us to Roger Moore's third Bond movie, The Spy Who Loved Me, which received three Oscar nominations. That's a noteworthy accomplishment for a James Bond movie that is... fine. Richard Kiel's terrifying villain Jaws makes his debut here, and he returns two years later in the corny, sci-fi-flavored Moonraker.13 of 28MGMMoonraker (1979)Moonraker hit theaters in 1979, two years after the original Star Wars movie disrupted the sci-fi genre and changed Hollywood forever. The iconic space adventure's influence on Bond is on full display here. The filmmakers sent 007 to space, a decision that made sense in the moment. As hokey as it is to watch today -- it's the campiest in a long run of campy Bond movies -- audiences ate it up at the time, and it proved to be the best-reviewed Bond movie of the Roger Moore era.14 of 28Screenshot by Aaron Pruner/CNETThe Living Daylights (1987)Timothy Dalton was James Bond but only fortwo movies. The Living Daylights is his introduction to the franchise and turned out pretty well just for the simple fact that it wasnota Roger Moore entry. A welcome combination of tough and suave was finally back on screen.At this point in our list, we're transitioning quickly away from the must-sees to the remainders bin. There are good moments and fun bits in just about every Bond movie, but we're also moving toward groaner territory.15 of 2820th Century Fox Home EntertainmentTomorrow Never Dies (1997)Honestly, Pierce Brosnan's follow-up to GoldenEye was a bit of a dud. That doesn't mean there aren't noteworthy elements to the film. You've got Jonathan Pryce stepping into the villainous role of Elliot Carver, and eventual Oscar-winner Michelle Yeoh got her first significant Hollywood role as Chinese secret agent Wai Lin. So that's something.16 of 28Screenshot by Aaron Pruner/CNETThe World Is Not Enough (1999)The third Pierce Brosnan James Bond film ticks all the expected boxesbut doesn't reinvent the wheel. Still, it served its purpose and delivered enough entertainment to earn it a solid $361.7 million at the worldwide box office. It co-stars Robert Carlyle as the villain Renard, who feels no pain; Sophie Marceau as the strikingly conflicted Elektra King; and Denise Richards as a nuclear physicist named (checks notes) Dr. Christmas Jones. Seriously.17 of 28MGMFor Your Eyes Only (1981)Roger Moore's collection of Bond films is hit or miss. For Your Eyes Only lands in the hit category. It didn't break new ground, but it is a competent thriller that earned the second-best box office showing for a Moore Bond film, earning $195.3 million worldwide. 18 of 28Screenshot by Aaron Pruner/CNETThunderball (1965)Thunderball is one of Sean Connery's lesser-appreciated James Bond entries. That's not to say it isn't entertaining. It concludes with an epic underwater battle sequence and provides the template for the actor's final Bond outing, Never Say Never Again, nearly two decades later.19 of 28Screenshot by Aaron Pruner/CNETNever Say Never Again (1983)Sean Connery returned to the role of James Bond in 1983's Never Say Never Again, his second comeback in the role and a reprise of the Thunderball plot. (This is also one of the two non-canonical Bond movies, meaning it didn't come from Eon Productions.) The actor's final appearance as 007 was well-reviewed and benefited from having been released during the reviled tail end of the Roger Moore era.20 of 28Screenshot by Aaron Pruner/CNETYou Only Live Twice (1967)You Only Live Twice is a fair enough entry in the franchise, even if Connery's performance feels as if he needs a break (and he did). The film holds a special place in 007 canon though. Its cat-petting iteration of Blofeld (this time, played by Donald Pleasence) is complete with a villain's hideaway in a volcano and a whole load of scenery chewing that inspired the Austin Powers franchise's Dr. Evil. 21 of 28MGMThe Man with the Golden Gun (1974)The Man with the Golden Gun is Moore's second outing as 007 and a bottom-dweller in the James Bond franchise. The casting of horror icon Christopher Lee as villain and rival marksman Scaramanga adds some corny flair.22 of 28MGMDiamonds Are Forever (1971)Diamonds Are Forever is Connery's lowest-ranked Bond film and the last one he made before taking a 12-year hiatus from 007. (It was his first comeback, sandwiched between Lazenby's turn in On Her Majesty's Secret Service and Roger Moore's Bond debut in Live and Let Die.) Charles Gray brings Bond villain Blofeld to life alongside Jill St. John's Bond girl, Tiffany Case. Ultimately, this installment showed the need for a new actor to take the reins in the lead role.23 of 28MGMLive and Let Die (1973)Live and Let Die was Roger Moore's first outing as James Bond, and the vibe just wasn't the same as in Connery's heyday. The movie leans heavily, and uncomfortably, into the blacksploitation film trend going strong at the time. Geoffrey Holder plays the voodoo-practicing henchman Baron Samedi and Yaphet Kotto menaces underwhelmingly as the head bad guy, Katanga/Mr. Big. A high point: This entry features the hit title song by Paul McCartney's Wings.24 of 28MGMLicense to Kill (1989)License to Kill is the second -- and final -- James Bond movie of the Timothy Dalton era and a solid-enough action movie. It doesn't feel much like a 007 movie, though; it's more in the vein of the cop action movies of the era. Robert Davi plays the drug lord villain Sanchez, Carey Lowell is feisty Bond girl Pam Bouvier and a young Benicio del Toro has his moments as a henchman.25 of 28MGMOctopussy (1983)Octopussy is one of the most forgettable and skippable Bond films. Just months after this Roger Moore entry hit theaters, Sean Connery returned triumphantly, if briefly, to the role in Never Say Never Again, making 1983 a year packed with James Bond. Maud Adams returns to the franchise (after appearing in The Man with the Golden Gun) as the titular character. If you like to see James Bond wearing a gorilla suit or disguised as a clown, this is the movie for you.26 of 28Screenshot by Aaron Pruner/CNETView to a Kill (1985)A View to a Kill is Roger Moore's seventh and final outing as James Bond. The subpar entry is ridiculous to be honest and bogged down with a whole bunch of silly plot points. Christopher Walken plays the villainous Max Zorin who wants to destroy Silicon Valley to control the computer chip market. Grace Jones is also in this film -- she plays Bond baddie (and eventual ally) May Day.27 of 28MGMDie Another Day (2002)Die Another Day is Pierce Brosnan's final James Bond film and, OK, it does hit some of the story beats audiences want from a 007 film. But an invisible car? Really? It's a safe franchise entry that avoids taking big swings. It's also widely considered one of the bottom-dwellers of the franchise. The most significant selling point for the movie at the time was the casting of then-reigning Oscar-winner Halle Berry as Bond girl Jinx Johnson. Monty Python's John Cleese took on the role of Q, and Madonna performed the title track.28 of 28Screenshot by Aaron Pruner/CNETCasino Royale (1967)Rounding out the list is the original Casino Royale, which, we can say with conviction, is a bad movie. This is one of the two noncanonical entries in the franchise (the other being Never Say Never Again) and features a bevy of actors playing 007, an absurdly campy, poorly executed, psychedelic-tinged outing. The result is a silly, sloppy and downright weird Bond movie that features performances by David Niven, Peter Sellers and Orson Welles.