Highest rated James Bond film might surprise you – and lowest rated is a classic

For more than 60 years, James Bond fans have argued over which 007 film truly deserves the top spot. From Sean Connery’s cool originals to Daniel Craig’s darker reboot, opinions are fierce. But according to IMDb ratings, the Bond movie sitting at the very top may not be the one many expect – and the film languishing at the bottom is a familiar classic from the franchise’s early years.

Topping the list is Casino Royale (2006), Daniel Craig’s first outing as the British spy, which holds an impressive 8.0 rating on IMDb. The film marked a dramatic shift for the franchise, reintroducing Bond as a tougher, more grounded character after years of gadgets and excess. Directed by Martin Campbell, Casino Royale sees Bond earn his licence to kill before being sent to Montenegro to face terrorist financier Le Chiffre in a high-stakes poker game. Craig’s debut, alongside Eva Green’s Vesper Lynd, was widely praised for its intensity and emotional weight – and fans continue to rank it as the strongest Bond film of all time.

Close behind is Skyfall (2012), which scores 7.8 and remains Craig’s most celebrated sequel. The Sam Mendes-directed film tested Bond’s loyalty to M as MI6 came under attack, delivering one of the franchise’s most personal storylines alongside Javier Bardem’s chilling villain.

Classic-era Bond still performs strongly in the rankings. Goldfinger (1964), starring Sean Connery, sits on 7.7, cementing its reputation as one of the most iconic entries thanks to its Fort Knox plot, unforgettable villain and legendary Aston Martin DB5.

Further down the list, Craig’s final outing, No Time to Die (2021), earns a respectable 7.3, matching From Russia with Love (1963), another Connery favourite that is often cited by critics as one of the most tightly plotted Bond films.

Other well-regarded entries include Dr No (1962) and GoldenEye (1995), both rated 7.2, while Roger Moore’s most popular adventure, The Spy Who Loved Me (1977), lands on 7.0.

However, as the list continues, ratings begin to dip.

Films such as Spectre, You Only Live Twice and On Her Majesty’s Secret Service hover between 6.7 and 6.8, showing how divisive certain eras of Bond remain.

Near the bottom are some of the franchise’s most controversial outings. Quantum of Solace (2008), often criticised for its short runtime and frenetic editing, sits on 6.5, alongside Tomorrow Never Dies and Diamonds Are Forever.

Even lower is Die Another Day (2002), Pierce Brosnan’s final Bond film, which scores 6.1 despite its huge box office success at the time.

But when it comes to the bottom of the official James Bond rankings, one film consistently comes last. Roger Moore’s final outing as 007, A View to a Kill (1985), is the lowest-rated Bond movie on IMDb, sitting at around 6.3.

Despite a hit theme song and a memorable villain, the film has long been criticised for its thin plot and Moore’s age in the role — sealing its place as the franchise’s weakest official entry.