Best to Worst: Ranking the Bond actors

Best to Worst: Ranking the Bond actors

1. Sean Connery
2. Daniel Craig
3. Timothy Dalton
4. Roger Moore
5. Pierce Brosnan
6. George Lazenby

*Note that this is about the actor, not the movies they played in.

Lazenby's one film is arguably one of the best Bond movies, and in the top 5 of many people, whereas Connery has two or three lackluster movies.

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6. George Lazenby

Summary: George Lazenby was the second actor to play James Bond. He inherited the role from Sean Connery. Replacing Connery was no small task. The actor and the character were so firmly linked together that there were doubts that anyone else could play the part. After only one movie, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, Lazenby was replaced by a returning Sean Connery which seemed to suggest that the Australian model was not up to the task.

What’s Good: On Her Majesty’s Secret Service is a very good Bond flick. It’s sandwiched between a couple of weaker efforts from Connery who was basically cashing paychecks in his latter entries. Lazenby has the look to be Bond. And while he’s not a clone of Connery, his take on Bond had different strengths. The Lazenby Bond was more vulnerable than his unflappable predecessor. One wonders how Connery’s Bond would have handled the emotional requirements of On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.

What’s Bad: Unfortunately, audiences weren’t all that interested in a James Bond who could cry. They wanted the charismatic Connery tossing off quips. By comparison, Lazenby feels like a charisma black hole. As an actor, Lazenby was a rookie and his lack of experience showed through.

Verdict: When Timothy Dalton assumed the role of 007, he consulted with the previous actors to play the part. According to Dalton, Lazenby’s advice was “Make more than one movie.” It’s sage advice which Dalton followed. At the end of the day, there is only one single-shot James Bond and that’s Lazenby. Whatever potential the actor may have had would never be fully realized. As a one-timer, Lazenby didn’t get the opportunity to put his stamp on 007. If he had come back for more, he may have grown into the part. But with just one movie, he will probably always be viewed as the guy who couldn’t replace Connery.

5. Pierce Brosnan

Summary: Brosnan was nearly the replacement for longtime James Bond, Roger Moore. But when he couldn’t get out of his commitments to television, Brosnan had to back out. Several years later after Remington Steele had been canceled, opportunity knocked a second time. This time, Brosnan was ready. In the mid-nineties, Brosnan’s Bond made the series relevant again for the Post Cold War era. Each of his four films as 007 was more financially successful than the one before it. But after Die Another Day, the actor found himself unceremoniously replaced. He is the only actor in the series who was unequivocally fired from the franchise.

What’s Good: Brosnan got off to a great start with GoldenEye. At the time of the movie’s release, there were serious doubts that James Bond could be relevant any more. GoldenEye laid those doubts to rest. Brosnan combined the better traits of the previous actors to play the part. He was more realistic than Roger Moore but had more of a sense of humor than Dalton. If you made up a checklist of all of the traits a James Bond actor should have, Brosnan could check off all the boxes.

What’s Bad: A lot of what’s bad about Brosnan’s run isn’t really the actor’s fault. But there’s no escaping the fact that while Brosnan’s movies were progressively more successful, they also got progressively worse. Each movie was a little more over-the-top than the previous entry. By Die Another Day, Brosnan was driving an invisible car and worst of all engaging in poorly rendered CGI.

Verdict: Even the actor classifies his run as Bond as a “failure.” He says he can’t stand to watch himself as Bond because he’s never good enough. While Brosnan may be being hard on himself, he has a pretty poor track record with only one really good movie out of four attempts.

Summary: After Connery finally retired his licence to kill (at least for official Eon Productions), Roger Moore assumed the mantle. If you only count official movies (no Never Say Never Again), Moore holds the record for the most performances as James Bond. Roger Moore’s run spanned twelve years and seven movies. That’s a record that’s not likely to be broken any time soon.

What’s Good: Roger Moore has two movies which rank among the best in the series. The Spy Who Loves Me is a big slice of 70’s cheese right down to its disco-inspired score. It’s the movie that best represents Moore’s light-hearted take on 007. A few years later, Moore starred in the decidedly more down-to-earth For Your Eyes Only which showed that the actor could be semi-serious when the movie required him to be. If you like your Bond with a little more camp and a little less grit, Roger Moore was the guy for you.

What’s Bad: Moore may have made the most Bond movies, but many of them are among the worst in the series. His debut, Live and Let Die, is filled with uncomfortable racial stereotypes. The Man With the Golden Gun, Octopussy and A View to a Kill are terminally dull. And Moonraker takes the cheesiness that was fun in The Spy Who Loved Me and cranks it up several notches.

Verdict: Moore’s Bond is the silliest of the bunch. He scores extra points for having the longest official career as 007, but we’re also deducting points for having made so many lackluster movies.

#3. Timothy Dalton

Summary: When Brosnan was initially unavailable to replace Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton stepped in. He only got to make two movies only one of which was successful at the time of its release. But time has been kind to Dalton’s more grounded 007. Over a decade after his last movie, Dalton’s run has been re-evaluated and he is finally getting the respect he deserves.

What’s Good: Dalton was two-for-two in terms of good Bond movies. Both The Living Daylights and Licence to Kill are solid entries. In The Living Daylights, Dalton showed a sensitive side with one of the more substantial romances in the series. Dalton’s second and final Bond film, Licence to Kill, was arguably ahead of its time. That movie showcased a gritty Bond set on revenge. At the time, audiences didn’t know what to make of Dalton’s gritty 007, but today no one would bat at eye at the violent secret agent.

What’s Bad: Dalton’s weakness was his sense of humor. Most of the previous Bonds seemed like they were having more fun than Dalton was. While Dalton’s output may have doubled that of George Lazenby, he still only made two movies.

Stats: This will come as a surprise given Dalton’s reputation as the dark and gritty Bond, but on average he has fewer kills per movie than any of the other actors. Since he made two movies, he outscores Lazenby overall in all categories. But on average, Dalton’s Bond has the fewest kills.

Verdict: For years, Dalton was the under-rated Bond. But time has finally caught up with the no-nonsense 007. In many ways, Dalton’s Bond paved the way for the modern take on the character. Still, with only two movies you can’t justify ranking him any higher than third place.

#2. Daniel Craig

Summary: The current James Bond rebooted the series after several increasingly over-the-top Brosnan movies. Casino Royale took the character back to its roots in Ian Fleming’s original works. Spectre is Craig’s fourth outing as James Bond and the reviews indicate it is another strong entry. Currently, Quantum of Solace is Craig’s only clunker, and it’s not bad by series standards.

What’s Good: Casino Royale is among the best movies in the Bond series. Many would name it as their favorite. With Spectre and Skyfall, Craig has a very solid batting average. Fleming’s Bond was less of a charmer than a brutish thug. Craig has the imposing physical presence that most of the post-Connery actors lacked. And yet, Craig’s Bond isn’t just a brute. He also has the requisite level of sophistication.

What’s Bad: Occasionally, Craig’s performance can be a bit one-note. This was especially evident in Quantum of Solace where the actor grimaced through the entire movie. Much like Dalton, Craig’s Bond doesn’t appear to be having a great deal of fun. While Craig is the flavor of the day, how well will his movies age? That has yet to be determined.

Verdict: If there is a challenge to Connery, then Craig is it. With each successive Bond movie, I think this might be the one where Daniel Craig takes the top spot. Craig has made comments that indicate that Spectre may be his swan song. If so, he has certainly had an impressive run. But if he wants to take the top spot, I think he needs one more really good Bond movie.

#1. Sean Connery

Summary: Connery originated the role. As such, he was able to define what James Bond should be. Connery played James Bond six times in nine years. And if you count the non-Eon produced Never Say Never Again, he ties with Roger Moore for the most outings as 007. More than 50 years after his debut in Dr. No, Connery still casts a long shadow.

What’s Good: Connery starred in some of the classic entries in the series. Dr. No and From Russia With Love were formative movies in the franchise. Then it all came together with Goldfinger which remains the quintessential Bond movie. There really is no area in which Connery does not deliver. He has more onscreen charisma than any other actor to play the part. He makes being James Bond seem effortless.

What’s Bad: And sometimes, he seems to be making the minimal effort in a bad way. As Connery grew restless with the demands of being James Bond, his lack of enthusiasm started to show in his performance. By Diamonds Are Forever, he may as well have been sitting in his trailer phoning it in. Everything about his later Bonds says “I don’t care anymore.”

Verdict: At his best, nobody does it better. Connery is James Bond, Other actors have made the role their own, but none have fully replaced Connery as the definitive 007. At least not yet. For now, the original still reigns supreme.

I would switch Dalton and Craig, but besides that it's pretty spot on.

>*Note that this is about the actor, not the movies they played in.
>A lot of what’s bad about Brosnan’s run isn’t really the actor’s fault. But there’s no escaping the fact that while Brosnan’s movies were progressively more successful, they also got progressively worse. Each movie was a little more over-the-top than the previous entry. By Die Another Day, Brosnan was driving an invisible car and worst of all engaging in poorly rendered CGI.

10/10 list OP
upboated.

It's really strange how I remember Brosnan being a great Bond, but now looking back he didn't really do so good.

His films haven't aged well, whereas people are appreciating Dalton more.

I think what gave us the illusion that "Brosnan IS Bond" was all the marketing and products like the GoldenEye video game.

Brosnan isn't so much James Bond as he is the "icon" of James Bond for 90s kids.