The Ultimate Ranking of James Bond Actors: From Worst to Best

If you're a James Bond fan, you might be curious about which actor did the best job portraying the iconic character. Here, we rank the actors from worst to best and explore some of the best and worst James Bond movies.

The Ranking of James Bond Actors

George Lazenby - One and done George. He showed up, he left, and we all moved on like that awkward Tinder date. Timothy Dalton - He brought the drama but it's Bond not Hamlet. Ease up on the theatrics, Timmy. Pierce Brosnan - The suave 90s tech lover. Brosnan was more about gadgets than gusto. Plus that tie... really. Roger Moore - Eyebrow acting that deserves its own spin-off. Moore was all cheeky charm but sometimes you just want a bit more... Bond. Daniel Craig - Brought Bond into therapy and realism. We appreciate the layers Dan but where's the laser watch? Sean Connery - The OG, the blueprint, the 'slap some sense into the villain' kinda spy. Classic but could use a modern touch-up on the attitudes.

It's clear that each actor brought their own unique spin to the character of James Bond. However, some critics and viewers have their own opinions on who did the best job. Here's a breakdown:

From Worst to Best

Pierce Brosnan - Was overwhelmingly the worst. Bond is not Remington Steele. Despite both series mixing action and comedy, they are very different. Brosnan was playing Remington Steele dropped into a Bond plot. He failed to play Bond. Daniel Craig - While Craig brought Bond into the modern era, his portrayal was different from Connery's original vision. It wasn't a better or worse portrayal of the character Connery defined. It was a reboot in a different genre. George Lazenby - One and done, George. He showed up, he left, and we all moved on. His portrayal was brief and not well-received. Timothy Dalton - Dalton brought a more dramatic flair, but it felt misplaced in the character of Bond. He also brought a level of seriousness that didn't quite fit the character. Roger Moore - Moore was all cheeky charm but sometimes you just want a bit more... Bond. His performance was entertaining but not as serious as Connery's or Craig's. Sean Connery - The OG, the blueprint. Connery invented the character and the fun mix of action, self-parody, and comedy that made Bond a household name. However, some feel his portrayal could use a modern touch-up.

The Ranking of James Bond Movies

Live and Let Die - The most fun to watch because it also had the best good parts. Despite the bad parts, it was the most enjoyable. View to a Kill - The worst movie. While Bond movie premises are usually stupid, View to a Kill had the worst actor for a Bond villain, destroying the movie even further. Die Another Day, Moonraker, A View to a Kill, The Man with the Golden Gun - These movies were filled with clichéd gadgets and over-the-top action that detracted from the overall experience. Quantum of Solace, Spectre - These movies tried to tie everything together but ended up feeling disjointed and confusing. Skyfall - A strong entry in the series, with a compelling villain and solid performances. From Russia with Love, Goldfinger, Dr. No - These classics are the gold standard of the Bond series. They were grounded in the original mythos and provided the best balance of action and storytelling.

In conclusion, every Bond is like a martini at your favorite bar - some are exactly what you need, and others make you wish you ordered a beer instead. Whether you prefer Connery, Moore, or Craig, each actor has brought their unique flavor to the iconic character of James Bond.