Every Sean Connery James Bond Movie, Ranked

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Sean Connery was long considered the definitive James Bond, and many still feel that way even after Daniel Craig’s portrayal. While all of Connery’s Bond films were well-made, their quality varied quite a bit – some were more enjoyable and innovative than others. His seven films can be divided into phases: the initial five produced by Eon Productions, then a brief period with George Lazenby, followed by Connery’s return for Diamonds Are Forever. Finally, he made one last Bond film over a decade later, which was notably not produced by Eon.

Honestly, I think the original five movies were the peak, but that doesn’t mean everything that came after was bad. I just keep wondering, how much better were those first films, really? It’s something I often think about as a fan.

7) Never Say Never Again

The James Bond film Never Say Never Again doesn’t quite fit into the official Bond storyline, and it shows. The movie originated from a script called Longitude 78 West that Ian Fleming, the author of the Bond novels, co-wrote with two others. Though that project was scrapped, Fleming used some of its ideas in his Thunderball book – including key elements like SPECTRE and Blofeld. However, he didn’t give credit to his original collaborators, Kevin McClory and Jack Whittingham. When Eon Productions began making the official Bond films, they had to negotiate with both Fleming and McClory to adapt Thunderball. The agreement allowed McClory to produce Thunderball, but stipulated a ten-year wait before he could create another film based on the same story.

Essentially, Never Say Never Again feels like a less-than-stellar remake of Thunderball. It’s missing key elements that define a James Bond film, like the iconic opening gun barrel sequence and John Barry’s signature music. Despite having double the budget of Diamonds Are Forever (adjusted for inflation), the film isn’t visually impressive. While fans enjoyed seeing Sean Connery return as Bond, at 52, he was noticeably too old for the role – almost as much as Roger Moore in A View to a Kill. At least A View to a Kill was entertaining, something Never Say Never Again doesn’t quite achieve.

6) Diamonds Are Forever

Diamonds Are Forever is a strange entry in the James Bond series. While it’s important to the overall story, it feels like a temporary film. It continues the story from On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, but feels very different due to a change in tone and a new lead actor. This makes Diamonds feel separate from both Secret Service and the earlier films starring Sean Connery. Connery looked noticeably older after four years, and the recasting of Blofeld also contributed to this sense of disconnection.

Charles Gray was a talented actor, but his portrayal of Blofeld feels a bit strange. Even if it had been great, he wouldn’t have matched Donald Pleasence’s iconic performance. And Jimmy Dean’s character, Willard Whyte, is an over-the-top caricature – arguably the most exaggerated in the series up to that point (though he’d soon be surpassed by the annoying Sheriff J.W. Pepper in the next film). Despite all this, Sean Connery is still the focus, but it’s clear he was weary of the role and only returned because of the huge paycheck he received.

5) Dr. No

It’s important to remember that Dr. No was the very first James Bond film. Many of the things that now define the series hadn’t been developed yet, so it was still finding its footing. The pacing, in particular, wasn’t quite as polished as it would become in later films.

While Dr. No can feel slow at times and isn’t as thrilling as some of Sean Connery’s later Bond films, it’s interesting to watch as the series finds its footing. It’s similar to the first episode of a TV show – the characters haven’t quite gelled yet, but it’s a necessary start. It’s enjoyable to see a franchise with so much potential figuring out what will ultimately make it successful, and that’s exactly what Dr. No is doing.

Stream Dr. No on MGM+.

4) You Only Live Twice

You Only Live Twice is an enjoyable Bond film, and a key installment in the series because it finally introduces Blofeld properly. However, it leans into silliness more than some of the earlier movies, which might not appeal to everyone.

Let’s address the obvious issue of racism. While not as severe as in some of Ian Fleming’s novels, the scene where Bond disguises himself as Japanese is pretty cringeworthy. The attempt at disguise – simply using black hair dye – is unintentionally funny. Despite this, the film delivers a spectacular final battle and features a great appearance by Donald Pleasence as Blofeld, echoing his role in Halloween. Ultimately, You Only Live Twice feels like a deliberate attempt to wrap up Sean Connery’s time as Bond, paving the way for future films. This makes Diamonds Are Forever seem even more unnecessary and disjointed in comparison.

3) Thunderball

While not as good as Goldfinger, Thunderball still represents Sean Connery at his best as James Bond. The series hadn’t become overly silly like it would in You Only Live Twice, but Thunderball definitely embraces some playful, over-the-top moments. The underwater battle with spearguns is a perfect example – it’s one of the most unusual climaxes in any Bond film!

However, Thunderball is particularly memorable because of its strong cast. Sean Connery delivers what many consider his finest performance as Bond, completely embodying the character and blurring the line between actor and role. Almost as impressive is Adolfo Celi as Emilio Largo. His portrayal of the eyepatch-wearing villain is genuinely frightening, displaying a ruthless and deadly presence whenever he appears, solidifying his place among the best villains of Connery’s era.

2) From Russia with Love

While From Russia with Love shares a similar slow pace with Dr. No, it’s more successful because it avoids the silliness of its predecessor. This Bond film is a surprisingly grounded and serious spy story. It feels realistic, as if the events could have genuinely occurred during the Cold War, a quality that’s become even more apparent when compared to the more over-the-top Bond films that followed with Roger Moore and Pierce Brosnan.

Surprisingly, the film’s lack of a major villain actually enhances what makes it special within the James Bond series. While we’re introduced to Blofeld, he doesn’t have a significant presence. Instead, Robert Shaw’s character, Red Grant, takes on the role of the primary antagonist, but his conflict with Bond is surprisingly contained – largely a compelling conversation on a train and a short fight. This works because the dialogue is so sharp and engaging, it’s just as captivating as a more typical, explosive action sequence.

Stream From Russia with Love on MGM+.

1) Goldfinger

Goldfinger is widely considered the most influential James Bond film. It’s the movie that truly defined the series’ style and established the formula that would be followed in subsequent films, solidifying what worked and discarding what didn’t.

The movie Goldfinger really established the formula for James Bond films: a ridiculously expensive, heavily armed car, a powerful main villain, and a memorable henchman. It also gave us some of the most iconic scenes in the entire series, like Bond being threatened with a laser and Goldfinger cheating at cards – and the shocking fate of the woman who crossed him. With Sean Connery fully embodying the role, and the film skillfully balancing intense action with playful moments – a deadly hat versus the tragic death of Jill Masterson – Goldfinger is widely considered the best James Bond movie ever made.

Stream Goldfinger on MGM+.

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2025-12-06 23:44