TheJames Bondfranchise has survived as long as it has because of its great villains, as 007 would not be nearly as compelling of a character if he did not have a strong opponent to face off with. While many of the Bond films are rather interchangeable when it comes to their plots,the strongest entries in the seriestend to have truly interesting antagonists that challenge 007 on an emotional, physical, and psychological level.
The Bond series has drawn in some truly fantastic actorsto appear as Bond villains, as it seems like many of Hollywood’s most acclaimed stars would revel in the opportunity to be a truly menacing opponent. Evensome of the more convoluted entriesin the series are made more entertaining as a result of their supporting cast. Here are ten James Bond movie villain performances that were perfect.
10Jonathan Pryce, ‘Tomorrow Never Dies’ (1997)
Character: Elliot Carver
Tomorrow Never Diesfeatured Academy Award nominated actorJonathan Prycein the role of Elliot Carver, a ruthless media mogul who attempts to use the power of propaganda to start a conflict between the United Kingdom and China by creating false reports. Although Pryce is an acclaimed actor with many great performances on his resume,Tomorrow Never Diesallowed him to chew thescenery as a truly reprehensible character.
Carver succeeds as a character because he feels far more realisticthan the SPECTRE agents and overpowered evil scientists that Bond faced off with in some of the earlier installments in the series. In fact, the notion of a media influencer using “fake news” to spread division feels even more relevant today than it was whenTomorrow Never Dieswas initially released in theaters during the packed summer movie season of 1997.
Tomorrow Never Dies
Watch on Prime Video
9Christopher Walken, ‘A View To A Kill’ (1985)
Character: Max Zorin
A View To A Killis one of the most ridiculous Bond movies ever, but it did feature a delightfully evil performance fromChristopher Walkenas Max Zorin, a deranged product of a Nazi experiment who wants to use a super powered blimp to collapse the United States economy. WhileWalken is known for giving eccentric performances, Zorin may be the single silliest character in the entire Bond franchise.
A View To A Killwould not work without Walken, asRoger Moorebegan to show signs in the film that he was no longer enthusiastic about playing the character. While the campiness might be too overwhelming for those expecting a slightly more grounded spy story, Walken brings such a delightfully ruthless demeanor thatA View To A Killcan be appreciated as a pure work of farce that pokes fun at itself.
A View to a Kill
Rent on Amazon
8Donald Pleasence, ‘You Only Live Twice’ (1967)
Character: Ernst Stavro Blofeld
You Only Live Twicewas the first film to prominently feature the character of Ernst Starvo Blofeld, the head of SPECTRE who was responsible for orchestrating many of the other villains that had appeared in the other films starringSean Connery. The belovedHalloweenstarDonald Pleassencewould get the opportunity to appear as Blofeld in the subsequent films, butYou Only Live Twicecertainlyoffered him the most thrilling role, as the film centers on a climactic battle between MI6 and SPECTRE.
Pleasence is great as a more subtle type of Bond villain, as Blofeld is a villain who prefers pulling the strings as opposed to actually putting himself in harm’s way during the middle of a fight. The performance may be best known as serving as the loose inspiration forMike Myers’ role as Dr. Evil in theAustin Powersfranchise.
You Only Live Twice
7Joseph Wiseman, ‘Dr. No’ (1962)
Character: Julius No
Dr. Nowas the very first Bond film, and thankfully it offered 007 with a truly menacing villain during his first adventure.Joseph Wisemantook on the role of Dr. Julius No, a highly intelligent scientist who was employed by SPECTRE to develop secret weapons thatcould result in violent devastation.
Wiseman’s performance is great because he represents an intellectual superiority complexthat serves as the direct opposite of 007; while Dr. No feels that his intelligence grants him the ability to be cruel, 007 understands that the abilities that he possesses give him a responsibility to help those in need. Wiseman certainly deserves credit for establishing a precedent that all future 007 villains would have to conform to, which may be why the franchise continues to be just as popular as it always was over six decades sinceDr. Nowas first released.
A resourceful British government agent seeks answers in a case involving the disappearance of a colleague and the disruption of the American space program.
6Sean Bean, ‘Goldeneye’ (1995)
Character: Alec Trevelyan
Goldeneyewas a brilliant relaunched for the 007 franchise, as directorMartin Campbellwas able to make the seriesaction-packed and exciting againduring the renaissance of action cinema in the 1990s. Although the scale of the series was certainly enhanced,Goldeneyealso offeredPierce Brosnan’s 007 with a more personal villain, as the villain Alec Trevelyan (Sean Bean) was a former MI6 agent known as “006.”
Goldeneyewas able to tell a more intimate story about the ramifications of duty, as the personal relationship that had existed between Trevelyan and Bond makes it more difficult for them to face off with one another when the former’s evil plan is revealed. Although Bean is a highly decorated actor with many strong performances on his resume,Goldeneyemay be the most terrifying that he has ever been allowed to be on screen.
5Yaphet Kotto, ‘Live and Let Die’ (1973)
Character: Mr. Big
Live and Let Diewas a strong stylistic deviationfrom the rest of the Bond series,as it was deeply inspired by blacksploitation and neo-noir crime cinema of the early 1970s. Moore’s version of Bond was sent to New Orleans to deal with a powerful mafia figure known as “Mr. Big,” played in a standout supporting performance by the legendary character actorYaphet Kotto.
While his credits include everything fromMidnight Runto the originalAlien,Kotto plays a critical role inLive and Let Die, which easily ranks among his best work. While Moore’s Bond films tend to be slightly more comical in nature, Kotto was able to bring a genuine sense of menace and ambiguity to his scenes that made for a slightly scary, unnerving entry that stands as one of the most unique 007 adventures of all-time.
Live and Let Die
Rent on Apple TV
4Robert Shaw, ‘From Russia With Love’ (1964)
Character: Donald Grant
From Russia With Loveis one of themore grounded entries in the Bond series, as it explored a more realistic premise in which 007 was forced to contend with assassins during the height of the Cold War between the United Kingdom and the Soviet Union. Among the enemies that he faces off with is the ruthless hitman Donald Grant, played in a transformative performance byRobert Shaw.
Grant is one of the few villains that is 007’s intellectual and physical equal, resulting in some of the most ruthless hand-to-hand combat scenes in the history of the franchise. AlthoughFrom Russia With Loveis a film that fit very nicely into the trajectory of Connery’s Bond films, it has stood up as a genuinely great Cold War spy thriller in its own right because of how captivating Shaw’s performance as Grant was.
From Russia With Love
3Gert Fröbe, ‘Goldfinger’ (1964)
Character: Auric Goldfinger
Goldfingeris one of the most influential films within the Bond franchise,as the great performancesand clever plot allowed the series to finally come into its own. Although much of the fun ofGoldfingeris seeing Bond utilize different gadgets and visit exotic locations, he also faced off with a truly menacing villain in Auric Goldfinger, the callous billionaire played brilliantly by the German actorGert Fröbe.
Goldfinger works as a character because he is the exact opposite of Bond; he is a liar, cheater, and abuser who wants nothing but to amass power and intimidate people. While there are moments in which Goldfinger’s plan seems like it actually may pan out in his favor, this just makes it even more exciting when Bond finds a way to foil it, and once again saves the day and gets the girl.
Goldfinger
2Mads Mikkelsen, ‘Casino Royale’ (2006)
Character: Le Chiffre
Casino Royaleserved as a total reboot of the Bond franchise,as it told 007’s origin story for the first time withDaniel Craigstepping in to take on the role.The legendary Danish actorMads Mikkelsentook on the role of Le Chiffre, the ruthless terrorist banker who faces off with Bond in a high stakes poker tournament.
Le Chiffre is one of the most intimidating villains in the Bond franchise because he is vulnerable, as he is well aware that any error on his part could result in his employers lashing out at him. In addition to a highly disturbing scene in which he tortures 007, Le Chiffre is also responsible fororchestrating the death of Vesper Lyn (Eva Green), one of the most tragic events in the entire series that fundamentally reshapes Bond’s attitudes and perspective on both long term relationships and the merits of his service to MI6.
Casino Royale
Watch on Paramount Plus
1Javier Bardem, ‘Skyfall’ (2012)
Character: Raoul Silva
Skyfallis a film thatcelebrates the legacy of the Bond franchise, as it merged the darker, more realistic tone that had emerged withCasino Royaleand incorporated elements of classic espionage that felt like a tribute to the Connery era. It would make sense that a film as important asSkyfallwould need a truly ruthless villain, andJavier Bardemcertainly delivered the goods with his terrifying performance as the cyberterrorist Raoul Silva.
Silva is essentially a dark version of what Bond could become, as he was a former MI6 agent that turned against the agency to get revenge on M (Judi Dench),who he feels betrayed him and left him to die in the field. Bardem’s performance was immensely praised, and even earned him Best Supporting Actor nominations at the BAFTA, SAG, and Critic’s Choice Awards.
James Bond’s loyalty to M is tested when her past comes back to haunt her. When MI6 comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost.
