James Bond movies in order surge back into the spotlight as streaming availability reshapes how fans “start” 007

A long-running franchise usually comes with a barrier to entry: too many films, too many eras, too many opinions about where to begin. The James Bond series just got easier to approach, after a major streaming rollout put most of the 007 catalog in one place and sent viewers searching for the simplest question with the biggest answer: what order should I watch these in? The renewed rush is also pulling Daniel Craig’s arc back to the center, since his five-film run plays like a single, connected story—starting with “Casino Royale” and ending with “No Time to Die.”

The “right” order depends on what you want: a time capsule, or a story that actually continues

For most of Bond’s history, the movies behave like stylish standalone missions. Yes, there are recurring allies and villains, but you can drop into many entries without homework. That’s why the cleanest recommendation for new viewers remains release order: it mirrors how the series evolved, how the tone shifted, and how each actor’s take on Bond responded to its era.

Daniel Craig changes the math. His films are built with continuity in mind—relationships, consequences, even emotional scars carry forward. If you jump into the middle of Craig’s run, you can still enjoy the action, but you’ll miss why certain moments sting.

So the practical takeaway is simple:

• First-timers who want the full franchise experience: watch in release order.

• Viewers who want one cohesive modern saga: watch Craig’s five films in order.

James Bond movies in order (release order), grouped by actor

Sean Connery

1. Dr. No (1962)

2. From Russia with Love (1963)

3. Goldfinger (1964)

4. Thunderball (1965)

5. You Only Live Twice (1967)

6. Diamonds Are Forever (1971)

George Lazenby

7. On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969)

Roger Moore

8. Live and Let Die (1973)

9. The Man with the Golden Gun (1974)

10. The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)

11. Moonraker (1979)

12. For Your Eyes Only (1981)

13. Octopussy (1983)

14. A View to a Kill (1985)

Timothy Dalton

15. The Living Daylights (1987)

16. Licence to Kill (1989)

Pierce Brosnan

17. GoldenEye (1995)

18. Tomorrow Never Dies (1997)

19. The World Is Not Enough (1999)

20. Die Another Day (2002)

Daniel Craig (the connected saga)

21. Casino Royale (2006)

22. Quantum of Solace (2008)

23. Skyfall (2012)

24. Spectre (2015)

25. No Time to Die (2021)

Outside the main film series (optional curiosities)

• Casino Royale (1967)

• Never Say Never Again (1983)

If your focus is Craig specifically, don’t skip “Casino Royale.” It isn’t “Bond as usual.” It’s Bond being built in front of you—confidence, ruthlessness, and the costs that ripple all the way to “No Time to Die.”

Mini timeline of how the viewing “order” problem got bigger — and easier

• 1962: Bond begins as a cool, episodic spy series built for drop-in viewing.

• 2006: “Casino Royale” reboots Bond with a serialized, character-driven arc.

• 2012: “Skyfall” turns the Craig era into a modern benchmark for the franchise’s scale and emotion.

• 2021: “No Time to Die” closes Craig’s run with a true endpoint, rare for Bond.

• Next signal: the next film’s creative direction will determine whether Bond stays serialized—or swings back to standalone adventures.