James Bondis regarded as one of the greatest heroes in film history, and for good reason. There aren’t many characters who haveremained relevant for over six decades, but each generation seems to have their favorite actor who they know as the definitive version of 007. While Bond’s adventures have inspired many great films, he is not a superhero like Superman or Spider-Man; Bond is a flawed human being, and is capable of being vulnerable on the big screen.
Many of the best Bond filmsdeal with more psychological issues, and speak to deeper themes than just plots to take over the world. It is this level of intelligence and self-awareness that makes the Bond franchise one that fans have been willing to invest in for such a long time. Here are the ten most psychological James Bond movies, ranked.
10‘Licence to Kill’ (1989)
Directed by John Glen
Licence to Killis a very unique Bond film because it does not feature MI6 as the orchestrator of the plot.After his friend and his fiancee are brutally attacked on their wedding day,Timothy Dalton’s version of Bond went ona brutal mission of revengeto find those responsible and take them out in increasingly ruthless fashion.
Licence to Killexamined what Bond was capable of when he was divorced from British intelligence,and questioned whether or not he was capable of delivering fair and appropriate justice on his own. While Dalton was able to portray a version of the character that was far closer to the way that he had been depicted in the original novels byIan Fleming, it sadly marked his last opportunity to place the role before the recasting process began and the franchise to a six year hiatus.
Licence to Kill
James Bond goes rogue to seek revenge against drug lord Franz Sanchez after his friend Felix Leiter is brutally attacked and left for dead. Stripped of his license to kill, Bond infiltrates Sanchez’s organization, navigating a dangerous world of deception and betrayal. As he gains Sanchez’s trust, Bond meticulously dismantles the drug empire from within.
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9‘Dr. No’ (1962)
Directed by Terence Young
Dr. Nowas the first Bond film ever released,and still holds up as an electrifying thriller based around the nuclear anxieties that were commonwithin the Cold War.It’s easy to forget thatDr. Nofirst debuted in theaters less than two decades after the conclusion of World War II, in which the detonation of the atomic bombs in Japan had opened the world’s eyes to the possibilities of nuclear devastation that could lead to countless casualties and insurmountable destruction.
Dr. Noshows the responsibility that Bond has to end a cataclysmic eventby introducing him to his polar opposite in the form of the titular mad scientist, played in a brilliant performance byJoseph Wiseman.The foreshadowing of future conflicts to come with SPECTRE and its agents helpedDr. Nokeep the suspense high, even after the credits began rolling.
A resourceful British government agent seeks answers in a case involving the disappearance of a colleague and the disruption of the American space program.
8‘GoldenEye’ (1995)
Directed by Martin Campbell
GoldenEyeintroduced a new version of Bond that was far more modernized, as he now had to atone for some of his sexist action whenJudi Dench’s version of M held his feet to the fire. Bond’s past comes back to haunt him inGoldenEye, as it is his former ally in MI6, Alec (Sean Bean), who ends up serving as the main villain of the film.
GoldenEyeshows that Bond is flawed and capable of error, but still willing to push forwardin a way that makes him heroic.WhilePierce Brosnanended up having a more mixed run as Bond due to the negative responses toThe World Is Not EnoughandDie Another Day,GoldenEyewas the rare entry in the series that was able to make him a vulnerable character, whilst still pushing the action to its extreme.
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7‘Live and Let Die’ (1973)
Directed by Guy Hamilton
Live and Let Diemade for a bold reinvention of the franchise, as it markedRoger Moore’s first appearance as Bond after Connery had reprised his role inthe underwhelming sequelDiamonds Are Forever.Connery had always been charismatic, but Moore brought a jovial sense of humor that suggested that Bond used comic relief as a means of distracting himself from the inherent brutality of his profession.
Live and Let Diehints at the supernatural in a way that no other Bond film has, as the film is set in New Orleans and alludes to the use of voodoo. It essentially served as a tribute to the classic blacksploitation films of the era, asLive and Let Dieactually had much more in common withShaftandDolemitethan it did with previous films likeThunderballorYou Only Live Twice.
Live and Let Die
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6‘From Russia With Love’ (1964)
From Russia With Loveis a tightly wound Cold War thrillerthat draws heavily from theinfluence ofAlfred Hitchcock, particularly in the use of a confined train location that he had embodied withStrangers on a TrainandThe Lady Vanishes. While much of the joy of the Bond franchise was seeing the various gadgets that 007 has at his disposal,From Russia With Loveput him in an environment when he had to rely on his wit’s alone.
From Russia With Lovewas also critical in the development of interesting Bond villains, asRobert Shaw’s performance as the ruthless SPECTRE assassin Red Grant proved to be an intellectual and physical equal to 007, and one of the rare antagonists that nearly gets the better of him. Even for non-Bond fans,From Russia With Loveis a downright classic in the espionage genre as a whole.
From Russia With Love
5‘Goldfinger’ (1964)
Goldfingerwas essential in defining the franchise that the Bond series would become, as it set several precedents that were critical to the tone. Although bothDr. NoandFrom Russia With Lovehad their moments of comic relief,Goldfingerpushed the double entendres and self-aware snarkiness even further, particularlyin the naming of Bond’s love interest,Pussy Galore (Honor Blackman). Other hallmarks ofGoldfingerinclude the introduction of Bond’s Aston Martin, several cool gadgets, and a thrilling opening action scene followed by a musical number.
Goldfingeris richly stylized and has a lot of fun setting up Bond’s wacky adventures, but it also resonated with the audience due to the forces that 007 was opposing. Considering that Bond was tasked with taking down a cruel aristocrat like Goldfinger (Guy Frobe) who wants to destroy the economy, there was more than enough reason to root for 007.
Goldfinger
4‘Casino Royale’ (2006)
Casino Royaleserved as a modern reboot that grounded Bond in a post-9/11 erain which international terrorism was even scarier than any point in history. While it is certainly one of themost violent entries in the series,Casino Royaleis also deeply psychological in how it breaks down howDaniel Craig’s version of the character became the grim, nihilistic superspy that the world would know as Bond.
It ends up being a personal tragedy that shapes Bond’s personality, as he ends up returning to his job at MI6 after the brutal execution of the woman Vesper Lyn (Eva Green), one of the few romantic partners to have truly broken his heart. Vesper’s death ended up becoming one of the most defining moments of the character, as it was something that Craig’s version of Bond ended up having to emotionally reckon with up until his final adventure inNo Time To Die.
Casino Royale
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3‘The Spy Who Loved Me’ (1977)
Directed by Lewis Gilbert
The Spy Who Loved Meis one of the few Bond films to reckon with the legitimate brutality of spycraft, as espionage is built on lies, devastation, and secrecy.Roger Moore’s version of Bond is paired with the Russian Secret Service agent known as “XXX” (Barbara Bach), who remains unaware that her new partner was responsible for the death of her former lover.
The Spy Who Loved Meexplores the futility of interpersonal relationships in the spy world, as it is one of the few instances in which Bond seems to be genuinely apologetic for his actions. While Moore isgenerally known for having more comedic rolesin the Bond films that he starred in,The Spy Who Loved Meshowed that he could get serious if the role called for it, as he understood the inherent loneliness that defined the character.
The Spy Who Loved Me
2‘On Her Majesty’s Secret Service’ (1969)
Directed by Peter R. Hunt
On Her Majesty’s Secret Serviceis very much a standalone filmwithin the Bond franchise, as it was the only entry to starGeorge Lazenbyas the character.On Her Majesty’s Secret Serviceexplores the impossibility that Bond faces of ever being able to have a seemingly normal life; despite falling in love with Tracy (Diana Rigg), Bond has to watch as she is brutally murdered on their wedding day in one of the most shocking twists in the franchise’s history.
On Her Majesty’s Secret Serviceleans into some surrealist elements, as Bond faces chemical testing and pseudoscience when he attempts to take down a SPECTRE base in the Swiss Alps with Tract. In more ways than one,On Her Majesty’s Secret Servicefeels like one of the most expensive arthouse films ever made, as it just so happens to feature Bond as a character.
On Her Majesty’s Secret Service
1‘Skyfall’ (2012)
Directed by Sam Mendes
Skyfallwas a Bond film that reckoned with the character’s past, asDaniel Craig’s version of the character has to visit the home in which he experienced significant tragedy as he tries to protect M from the ruthless cybercriminal Raoul Silva (Javier Bardem). In more ways than one, Silva represents a darker version of Bond who chose to act selfishly instead of remaining loyal to his country; Silva was once an MI6 agent, but turned against his employers after feeling betrayed.
Skyfallopenly questioned what the role for MI6 was in the future,as M has to appear in a public inquiry in order to defend the agency and those that serve it.Skyfallcertainly brought Bond into the modern era, but there were also more than enough references to the saga’s history to assure longtime fans that their investment had paid off.
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.
