Every Roger Moore 007 Movie, Ranked

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The James Bond franchise has entered a new era, as Amazon has acquired the rights and is planning to produce a substantial amount of content. There are several actors being rumored for the role, with Tom Holland, who plays Spider-Man, being one of them. Although Quantum of Solace and Spectre received less than stellar reviews, many consider Daniel Craig’s time as Bond to be either the best or second-best era in the franchise’s history. Given the success of No Time to Die just four years ago, it will be challenging to match that level of excellence moving forward.

In this version, I’ve attempted to make the language more natural and easy to read while preserving the original meaning.

In terms of the least preferred James Bond portrayals, opinions vary. Some argue that Timothy Dalton’s two films are the weakest, while others believe Pierce Brosnan excelled in his role except for the film “GoldenEye”. There are also those who appreciate George Lazenby’s performance in “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service”, despite reservations about the film as a whole. Roger Moore, with his seven-film run, often lands somewhere in the middle due to his extensive tenure (Connery had six films, excluding the unofficial “Never Say Never Again”). Given the number of films he starred in, Moore’s collection is quite diverse and reflects the era of the ’70s and ’80s. But which ones truly stand out and which ones fall short? Let’s delve into it.

7) The Man with the Golden Gun

As a devoted fan, I must admit that despite the formidable performance of the late Christopher Lee, “The Man with the Golden Gun” stands out among the James Bond films as one of the least compelling. Despite sharing length with most of the pre-Craig Bond movies, it feels stretched by approximately 30 minutes due to some inconsistent pacing.

At its initial release and over subsequent decades, this film has been criticized as the least impressive installment in the franchise due to several issues beyond just pacing. One significant problem lies in the humor, which often falls flat, particularly concerning Sheriff J.W. Pepper from Live and Let Die, who was also a weak point in that movie. Additionally, Mary Goodnight portrayed by Britt Ekland lacks both strong writing and convincing performance. Although Christopher Lee delivers an impressive portrayal of Francisco Scaramanga, the film as a whole is challenging to watch due to these and other shortcomings.

Rent The Man with the Golden Gun on Amazon Video.

6) Octopussy

In comparison, “Octopussy” can be considered somewhat forgettable, while “The Man with the Golden Gun” is clearly the less favorable of the two. However, the difference isn’t significant. So, while “Octopussy” ranks higher, it’s not by a wide margin.

In this installment, Bond dons clown-like makeup, and considering the apparent disinterest of Moore, it seems he was aware that the series was nearing monotony. Nothing presented here wasn’t already executed, and more effectively so, in earlier episodes. However, the saw blade yo-yos are quite impressive, and Louis Jourdan consistently delivers as a formidable villain (although this movie doesn’t fully utilize him; it does so less egregiously than “Rambo: First Blood Part II” or “Beverly Hills Cop” did with Steven Berkoff).

Stream Octopussy on FuboTV.

5) Moonraker

As a follower, I found “Moonraker” to be quite popular with United Artists, but it had its fair share of inconsistencies in tone. It wasn’t just the fact that most of the story unfolded on Earth before we were whisked away to an orbiting space station for a laser gun battle reminiscent of “Star Wars.” Instead, it was the unexpected shifts between earthly intrigue and cosmic action that made it feel a bit disjointed at times.

In this new movie, the shark character Jaws, who was a formidable antagonist in the previous film “The Spy Who Loved Me,” is portrayed as more of a joke, which is inconsistent with the serious tone of the franchise. Throughout the film, Jaws is used for comedic effect, but it doesn’t seem to work effectively. This movie stands out as one of the more humorous installments in the series, but when it isn’t trying to be funny, it features intense scenes where Hugo Drax, played by Michael Lonsdale, unleashes his hounds on Corinne Dufour.

Rent Moonraker on Amazon Video.

4) Live and Let Die

In terms of its theme song and memorable villains, Yaphet Kotto’s Dr. Kananga and Mr. Big, in the movie “Live and Let Die,” marked a strong start for Roger Moore’s Bond tenure. However, over time, it may not hold up as well regarding cultural sensitivity, although it is less problematic compared to some of the language found in Ian Fleming’s original books, particularly this film’s source material. The scene where Bond manipulates Jane Seymour’s Solitaire into intimacy can be uncomfortable to watch.

In this case, the positive aspects far surpass the negative ones. Moore seamlessly fits into the story, Tee Hee Johnson and Baron Samedi make excellent henchmen, Seymour excels as Solitaire, and it boasts two of Moore’s most impressive scenes from his entire work. Particularly noteworthy are the gator farm scenario and the high-speed bayou boat chase (which includes a record-breaking stunt according to Guinness World Records).

Stream Live and Let Die on FuboTV.

3) A View to a Kill

It’s clear that certain elements in the film “A View to a Kill” have contributed to its negative reception and reputation as an overlooked installment of the James Bond series. However, overall, it serves as a strong farewell for Roger Moore as 007 and is significantly more enjoyable than “Octopussy.

The main concern in the film “View” is that Roger Moore was somewhat too old for the role at this stage, making it uncomfortable to watch him develop a romance with Tanya Roberts, who was significantly younger. Despite “Octopussy” being released only two years earlier, Moore appears noticeably older here. His movements are different, his face is more lined, and he struggles to convincingly portray a superspy. However, ending his tenure with the rather dull “Octopussy” would have been disappointing. Instead, this film offers Christopher Walken, a striking performance by Grace Jones, and an action sequence on the Golden Gate Bridge that ranks among the best in Bond series.

Rent A View to a Kill on Amazon Video.

2) For Your Eyes Only

In simpler terms, “For Your Eyes Only” contrasts significantly with the era of Pierce Brosnan’s James Bond films. Even the relatively subdued “GoldenEye” still maintained the feel of big-budget action movies filled with grand spectacles. However, “For Your Eyes Only” tends to favor a more modest approach, and this works effectively because it’s not trying to be a typical blockbuster.

Following the over-the-top absurdity of Moonraker, For Your Eyes Only aimed to reel in the series by mimicking the more grounded tone of the initial Bond films, as produced by Albert R. Broccoli and United Artists. This shift was unexpected given Moonraker’s significant box office success, but it proved to be a wise decision. This film is primarily about revenge, and it’s not so much Bond’s story as it is Melina Havelock’s (superbly portrayed by Carole Bouquet). If they had eliminated the out-of-place Bond and Blofeld opening scene and the character of Bibi Dahl, For Your Eyes Only could have been the strongest entry in the Moore era.

Rent For Your Eyes Only on Amazon Video.

1) The Spy Who Loved Me

Among the James Bond films from the Moore era, “The Spy Who Loved Me” stands out as particularly cherished for several reasons. In many ways, it rivals the quality of the Connery era at its peak. One of the key factors that set it apart was the need to revamp the portrayal of Bond girls following the character of Mary Goodnight in “The Man with the Golden Gun.” The stereotype of these characters as dim-witted blondes who constantly needed rescuing was neither appealing nor respectable. This film, being Moore’s third, addressed this issue by introducing Barbara Bach’s character, Anya Amasova. Not only is Amasova intellectually on par with Bond, but she is also a formidable spy in her own right. While the script does portray her as an object of desire for Bond and many viewers, her character exhibits more agency than any Bond girl seen before this film.

In simpler terms, the rest of the actors in this movie seem to grasp that it’s more serious than “The Golden Gun.” Roger Moore portrays a more balanced character, fitting the film’s tone which is the most serious among his films during that period. Curt Jurgens plays Karl Stromberg, one of the franchise’s most ruthless and menacing villains, with his underwater lair being an iconic villain hideout. Richard Kiel, often steals scenes without speaking a word, and it was this film that made him a legendary sidekick villain in the Bond series. The movie, “The Spy Who Loved Me,” has good pacing, a strong cast, memorable set pieces, a catchy opening theme song, and amazing gadgets. It’s one of the best Bond films and the best of Roger Moore’s era.

Rent The Spy Who Loved Me on Amazon Video.

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2025-08-10 23:47