10 REASONS WHY THE JAMES BOND FRANCHISE IS THE BEST FILM SERIES OF ALL TIME

Flaunting a then relatively unknown lead in Sir Sean Connery and a modest budget for a big picture release, the James Bond franchise perhaps over-delivered with its monumental debut in the form of Dr. No. Since the release of the 1962 spy thriller, however, the brand has been entrenched in pop-culture consciousness, with six different actors playing the part of 007 across 25 Eon-produced feature films that have made a huge impression in each decade since the 1960s.

Throughout its storied tenure, the franchise has come to be regarded by many as the greatest and most influential that the medium has ever seen. There is certainly no shortage of reasons why the saga has come to be viewed with such acclaim, with everything from its villains, its action heroics, and even its significant impact on cinema and real-world trends being defining factors in its sustained brilliance.

Global Box Office Success

Having amassed over $7 billion, the Bond franchise is a juggernaut of the film industry.

Money talks, and for decades moviegoers have proven the James Bond franchise is one of the greatest brands in blockbuster cinema through ticket sales alone. When adjusted for inflation, the saga’s 27 films (including 1967’s Casino Royale and 1983’s Never Say Never Again) have grossed in excess of $7 billion, placing it fifth overall in terms of the highest-grossing film franchise of all time according to box office tracking website, the-numbers.com.

Taking into consideration the fact that the franchise has some pretty underwhelming movies in its history, this sustained financial success is a testament to the notion that Bond is the ultimate blockbuster draw card, and that the release of a new 007 film is an event in itself that must be seen. The biggest success the franchise has seen thus far came in the form of 2012’s Skyfall, with the third installment of Daniel Craig’s era earning $1.1 billion at the box office.

Pioneered Action Blockbuster Cinema

It redefined the spectacle of cinematic entertainment.

While the concept of action in cinema does predate the Bond franchise, prior to 1962 it was most common as either combat sequences in war movies or as the dramatic sense of spectacle in many of the period epics of the 1950s. With Dr. No and the ensuing Bond movies of the 60s, however, a new sensation emerged as audiences flocked in the masses to be enchanted and thrilled by the grandiose sense of fun the action in the early Bond movies presented.

The action in those films may seem stilted and tame by modern standards, but it ushered in a whole new tone of cinematic entertainment, a license for audiences to revel in the exuberant and excessive joy of the sheer magnitude and absurdity of what was on display. Gleefully, the Bond franchise has never lost this fervor, and while this appetite for blockbuster thrills has occasionally led the franchise astray, it has ensured it remains one of the most relevant, successful, and exciting cinematic sagas for more than 60 years.

Strong Supporting Characters

From Q to M, 007's side characters have always been A-grade.

So much of the extravagance, engagement, and intrigue of the Bond movies comes in the form of their supporting characters, be it franchise mainstays like Moneypenny, Q, and Felix, or some of the series’ stronger Bond girls like Diana Rigg’s Tracy di Vicenzo or Eva Green’s Vesper Lynd. Such a cohort of secondary characters able to contribute richness, drama, and even comedy to the story only adds depth and nuance to the story world, and its titular character.

It has also been one of the areas where the franchise’s evolution over the years has been most apparent. While the treatment of Bond’s lovers in earlier movies can be a touch awkward to revisit today, the women in more recent Bond films have been granted far greater agency and complexity. Likewise, the Craig era’s endeavor to bring nuance and detail to Dame Judi Dench’s M is one of its most engrossing aspects, particularly in Skyfall.

Influence on the Film Industry

Countless films have been inspired by the Bond franchise's techniques in filmmaking and marketing.

Film is a copycat industry. Ideas or processes that prove to be successful are seized upon instantly. It is a testament to the brilliance of the James Bond franchise, then, that it has had such an enormous influence on the industry. In addition to pioneering blockbuster cinema as we know it today and the popularization of spy thrillers and tropes like larger-than-life villains, the Bond movies have left an indelible mark on trends and techniques in the film industry at large.

For instance, its ongoing success has presented a template for countless film series to not only launch effectively, but to sustain their impact over the course of years and even decades. Perhaps the greatest impact, however, has been in regard to marketing strategies, with the Bond franchise’s use of signature songs and product placement particularly brilliant in this regard. In essence, Bond’s influence spans far beyond the screen, shaping how films are made, marketed, and remembered.

Adaptability and Longevity

Bond has constantly evolved throughout the franchise's 60+ year history.

Since its inception in 1962, the Bond franchise has evolved exponentially, exhibiting a deft ability to maintain resonance with audiences’ shifting sensitivities and interests over the decades. After launching with a heightened sense of espionage intrigue, Sir Roger Moore’s era placed an emphasis on wry wit, before Timothy Dalton’s underrated tenure embraced the excessive action violence of the 80s, Pierce Brosnan’s realized Bond in a post-Cold War era, and Daniel Craig’s completely modernized the character with its grit and intensity.

The franchise’s unique ability to reinvent itself while preserving its essence has been a welcome byproduct of its ability to shift tones and styles as new actors fill the titular role. It doesn’t just prevent the Bond movies from going stale, but, upon reflection, it allows fans to identify and enjoy distinct chapters in the franchise’s history. Other expansive film series, even ones that began much more recently, perhaps haven’t had the luxury of making such striking alterations between releases, resulting in diminishing returns over time.

Consistent Quality

007's standards have remained high since the franchise's launch in 1962.

The James Bond franchise consists of 25 official Eon-produced movies released over the course of 60 years. Despite changes in actors, directors, and creative styles, the series has maintained an overall sense of quality throughout the entirety of this run, delivering thrills and entertainment aplenty and capturing the awe and attention of multiple generations in the process.

Granted, not every Bond movie has necessarily been terrific, but each Bond actor has had at least one genuinely great movie, with many having multiple hits that made an impression on fans and have endured as iconic pictures of the genre ever since. This prolonged excellence over such a vast period of time is a testament to the high standards the series has always set for itself, and its determination to remain in touch with the tastes of its audience.

Unrivaled Cultural Impact

The influence of the Bond saga goes far beyond cinema.

The impact of the franchise’s influence hasn’t been limited just to trends and tastes in cinema, with the image and style of James Bond having a significant effect on interests in everyday culture as well. The character’s suave demeanor, sophisticated sense of style, and his reckless, adventurous spirit have become synonymous with notions of slick coolness and contemporary masculinity, inspiring many imitators and tributes while also being used to commercial effect as well.

As such, the character and the franchise have had a shaping presence in everything from artistic fields like fashion and music, to consumer properties like cars, technology and even alcohol. The character permeates a sense of refinement and excitement that has become not only appealing, but aspirational. To a degree, the films have even inspired lifestyle changes, with their presentation of travel, luxury, and exotic experiences becoming increasingly prevalent in real life throughout the franchise’s tenure.

Memorable Villains

Be they camp or callous, Bond's bad guys have always been brilliant.

While eccentric villains have always been a staple of cinema, the James Bond franchise took this to nefarious new heights in its early days, and has maintained its penchant for an awe-inspiring antagonist right through to the modern day. Ranging from maniacal masterminds hellbent on global domination to sinister psychopaths prospering off the evil in the shadowy corners of the world, each one of Bond’s foes presents a unique challenge to 007, testing his resourcefulness and resolve as he fights to keep the world safe.

What is most impressive about the villains across the entirety of the franchise is how greatly they have changed while still being completely in service of the stories they feature in. For instance, Auric Goldfinger’s (Gert Fröbe) maniacal and camp presentation is completely different to Le Chiffre’s (Mads Mikkelsen) cold and calculating demeanor, yet both villains stand among the franchise’s best for their psychological complexity and their arresting charisma. Essentially, a hero can only be as good as their adversaries allow them to be, and Bond has been blessed with some of the greatest antagonists cinema has ever seen.

Spectacular Action Sequences

From fist fights to car chases, Bond's combativeness has always been entrancing.

With the release of Spectrein 2015, the James Bond franchise houses the biggest stunt explosion cinema has ever seen. Couple this with the pioneering brilliance of the saga’s earliest installments, and it becomes quite apparent that 007 has always been at the cutting edge of blockbuster action. However, it isn’t only the bombast and magnitude of the films’ most intense sequences that defines the grandeur of its spectacle, with the meticulous choreography and astonishing stunt work being just as impactful as its sheer scale.

It is a trait the franchise has intelligently upheld through the continual use of practical effects, with the recent successes of the Craig-era Bond movies maintaining a palpable sense of rawness and urgency, even as many other modern action brands resort to CGI-heavy sequences to their own detriment. Whether it is hand-to-hand combat, high-speed car chases, or death-defying stunts, the action in the Bond franchise has always been as absorbing as it is heart-stopping, keeping audiences on the edge of their seats and engulfed in Bond’s heroics as he strives to save the world.

Iconic Lead Character

From Connery to Craig, 007 is one of cinema's defining icons.

Ever since Connery first lit that cigarette at the baccarat table and uttered that very first “Bond. James Bond.” 007 has been one of cinema’s most iconic and outstanding heroes. In many respects, Connery’s performance set the template not just for the character, but for suave spy heroes in general. However, each actor who has portrayed Bond has brought something new and unique to the character without ever compromising on his innate identity as a smooth, risk-taking secret agent.

The marriage of consistent identifying characteristics and the franchise’s eagerness to adapt to cultural shifts has made Bond a timeless and versatile figure, one uniquely equipped to relish a male fantasy while still being realized with depth and complexity. He stands tall along with the likes of Darth Vader (David Prowse & James Earl Jones) and Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) as the greatest icons in cinematic history, and with his portrayal constantly evolving, is certain to maintain that standing for decades to come.

NEXT: 10 Actors Who Would Be Perfect Casting for Felix Leiter in the Next James Bond Movie

2025-06-16T01:47:02Z