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All six of Connery’s ‘official’ 007 films will be screened in 4K restorations, with big names including Andrea Riseborough, Peter Dinklage and Renée Zellweger also on show

Andrea Riseborough, Peter Dinklage, Renée Zellweger and – inevitably – the late Sean Connery will be among the big names on show at the Edinburgh international film festival, which announced its programme today.

A clutch of world premieres at the festival includes a remake of trash classic The Toxic Avenger, starring Dinklage alongside Kevin Bacon, Elijah Wood and Julia Davis, while Riseborough appears opposite Brenda Blethyn in Paul Andrew Williams’s Tribeca festival hit Dragonfly. Zellweger appears in a behind-the-scenes role, with the world premiere of her directorial debut, an animated short film called They. And in what appears something of a coup, the festival will screen 4K restorations of Connery’s six “official” James Bond films: Dr No, From Russia With Love, Goldfinger, Thunderball,...

The world premiere of a new animated short film directed by Renée Zellweger, called They, six James Bond movies starring the late Sean Connery screened in a special strand, and “In Conversation” events with the likes of Andrew and Kevin Macdonald, Andrea Arnold, Ben Wheatley and Andy Starke, and Nia DaCosta will all be part of this year’s 78th edition of the Edinburgh International Film Festival.

Among the movies in the program this year are the likes of Piotr Winiewicz’s About a Hero with Vicky Krieps, which was written by an AI system trained in Werner Herzog’s works, Eddie Marsan and Sam Claflin-starring “brooding, stylish thriller” All the Devils Are Here from Barnaby Roper, Jan-Ole Gerster’s Islands, “a mysterious and Highsmith-esque existential thriller,” Urška Djukic’s debut feature and coming-of-age film Little Trouble Girls, and Elliot Tuttle’s Blue Film, starring Kieron Moore and Reed Birney.

Can you imagine Dr. No without Sean Connery? Neither can we, but believe it or not, he wasn’t the original pick to play James Bond. That’s right, the role almost went to someone else – an actor who would later take on the iconic role of 007 that fans…well, didn’t exactly love. Yes, before Connery, the makers were actually thinking of casting actor David Niven for the role.

But untimely, it went to Connery, and he kicked off the franchise in a grand manner – something that fans remember even to this day. Even after a plethora of Bond movies, he’s considered one of the best 007s in the history of the movie series. On the other hand, Niven’s role as Bond has somewhat faded into the background.

Sean Connery’s James Bond defined the franchise despite being an unexpected choice

While it may be difficult to process,...

The Sean Connery Collection from Metro Goldwyn Mayer (MGM), a collection of six James Bond films starring Sean Connery as 007, will be available to own on June 10 as a 4K Uhd collection for the first time for the ultimate at home movie-watching experience. The collection includes Dr. No, From Russia With Love, Goldfinger, Thunderball, You Only Live Twice and Diamonds Are Forever. The collection will be available in collectible steelbook packaging and as a standard 4K collection. These six films will also be available on Digital from MGM. The action, the intrigue, the women… The films and The Bond that established the enduring franchise. Experience the spy thrillers ... Read more...

James Bond has become one of the most enduring live-action characters of all time. Few characters can claim the suave secret agent's combination of sheer longevity and the huge amount of actors who have played them. Because of this, every viewer has plenty of potential favorite James Bond actors to choose from. However, this time we're not playing favorites. Instead, we're looking at cold, hard facts in order to find out which Bond actor has made most movie appearances as the character.   

Normally, lists like this are quite straightforward, but since nothing ever comes easy to James Bond, there's one ground rule we need to set. In order to get a comprehensive list and avoid potential issues, the Bond actor who has made more films for the official James Bond film series' production company, Eon Productions, will be awarded the win in case of a tie. With that settled and without any further ado,...

James Bond might be cinema's most enduring franchise, but for anyone who grew up in the era of "GoldenEye 007" on the Nintendo 64 he's had almost just as prestigious a video game run. Video games based on the world-famous spy have been around since the early-'80s when "James Bond 007" was released for the Atari 2600, Atari 5200, Atari 8-bit computers, Commodore 64, and ColecoVision in 1984. But "GoldenEye 007" was, as every '90s kid knows, a watershed moment for James Bond video games and, I think it's fair to say, video games in general.

Ever since, developers have been trying as hard as possible to emulate the success of that 1997 touchstone, with new James Bond shooters cropping up every few years, some of which have actually been quite good ("James Bond 007: Nightfire" and its grappling-hook heavy multiplayer remains a standout). Sadly, we're yet to see a game that can match "GoldenEye 007," though you...

Painter and illustrator Robert E. McGinnis, who created sexy posters for the James Bond franchise as well as numerous other films, magazine illustrations and book covers, died March 10 in Old Greenwich, Conn. He was 99.

McGinnis, whose death was posted on Legacy.com, was known for his swinging sixties pin-up girl-style images of bikini-clad women consorting with manly men. Models including Shere Hite, author of “The Hite Report,” modeled for the idealized figure that became known as “The McGinnis Woman.”

His first movie poster was for “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” featuring the illustration of Audrey Hepburn smoking a cigarette in a long holder with her cat wrapped around her neck. He used his wife and family cat as models. “You didn’t have to do much with her. She’s so perfect,” he reportedly said about Hepburn.

The posters McGinnis designed for James Bond movies included “Thunderball,” “You Only Live Twice,” “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service,...

He's bald, he loves his cat, and he lives in a volcano. Yes, you don't need to be a James Bond aficionado to know we're talking about Ernst Stavro Blofeld, 007's greatest adversary. Bond has faced many megalomaniacs and masterminds over the past 60 years, and some of them are just as memorable: Auric Goldfinger, Scaramanga, and Le Chiffre to name just three. Yet Blofeld remains the greatest Bond villain ever, playing Professor Moriarty to the suave spy's Sherlock Holmes, the Joker to his Batman. Much like the Dark Knight and his arch-enemy, they represent flip sides of the same coin and are likely to face off as long as people make Bond movies (who really thinks that "No Time to Die" will be the last we see of both characters?).

Since his intriguing first appearance in "From Russia With Love," Blofeld has appeared in eight films if you include one...

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The fate of the world’s most famous superspy is up in the air following the decision of the Broccoli family, the long-time producers of the James Bond franchise, to relinquish control to Amazon MGM Studios. Many fans were left concerned about Bond’s future, but those clamoring to revisit Bond’s heyday — and those iconic songs — have a new release to look forward to.

Warner Bros. Home Entertainment...

Late last year, it was announced that a number of Warner Bros. classics would be making their way onto 4K Blu-ray remaster releases. The titles for this year’s releases included Lethal Weapon, Amadeus, Constantine and David Fincher’s Seven. It would also be announced that a collection of the Sean Connery James Bond films was to be sold in a new set. Blu-ray.com has reported that Warner Bros. Home Entertainment will be making the classic Ian Fleming spy movies available to retailers on June 3.

The description reads,

“Complete your James Bond Collection with this 007: Sean Connery Complete 6-film 4K Collection. All Sean Connery films available for the first time on 4K Blu-ray in a beautiful, limited edition exclusive Steelbook Library Case.”

The collection includes 6 Steelbooks featuring unique art, all 6 007: Sean Connery films on 4K Blu-ray and Digital, and all of it is housed in a Steelbook Library Case.

It was the year 1962, when a 32-year-old Scottish actor debuted under the first official Eon Productions film, James Bond, and became forever synonymous with the British Spy—it was none other than the legendary star, Sean Connery. Appearing in a tux, sipping on a “shaken, not stirred” martini, he quickly became the ultimate face of 007.

Sean Connery as James Bond | image: Eon Productions

Across seven Bond flicks, Connery defined the role and made fans swoon. But not all of his films were successful, unlike his missions. Some earned staggering box office success, while others succumbed to brutal critic scores. So today, let’s dissect all of his James Bond films and rank them.

7. Diamonds Are Forever (1971)

Did you know that Sean Connery took a temporary four-year gap between his first five James Bond movies and the last two? Well, after continuously playing the British spy for years, as the actor...

As long as there has been James Bond, there has been Felix Leiter. The character was introduced in the very first Bond novel, "Casino Royale," all the way back in 1953, and was initially written as a CIA agent and former U.S. Marine who allies with Bond while working with NATO's Joint Intelligence Staff. Leiter was a way for the author to dramatize the so-called "special relationship" between the UK and US, though 007 himself was always the dominant agent.

When Bond transitioned to the big screen with 1962's "Dr. No," Leiter came with him. Jack Lord played the character in Bond's first big screen outing, but would be replaced by Cec Linder when the character returned in 1964's "Goldfinger." Still, Leiter remained a part of the 007 movie franchise throughout its six-decade run, with seven actors portraying the character across that time. Most recently, Jeffrey Wright took on the...

Ba-dah, bummm, ba-dah, bummmm, ba-dah, ba-dah-dah! Cue a silhouette of a man adorned in a trilby walking across the screen, outlined by the barrel of a gun. Suddenly, he turns, pointing a Walther Ppk directly at the audience, and fires. The frame turns red, and the barrel drops out of sight. Monty Norman's iconic theme suddenly blares, signaling the rival of cinema's most enduring hero: James Bond. 

Initially portrayed by Sean Connery in classic capers like "Dr. No," "From Russia with Love" and "Goldfinger," Bond eventually fell into the lap of several different actors, namely George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan, and Daniel Craig, resulting in 25 motion pictures -- 27 if you include 1967's "Casino Royale" and 1983's "Never Say Never Again" -- a flurry of iconic James Bond movie theme songs sang by everyone from Shirley Bassey to Billie Eilish, TV shows, spoofs, knockoffs, and popular video games like Nintendo 64's "Goldeneye.

There are certain characters in pop culture who, no matter the actor portraying them, conjure up a particular look and feeling about them when they're thought of or talked about. For instance, the general public image of Batman is someone in a cape and cowl who broods about while fighting crime, a persona that dominates despite the gulf of difference between Adam West and Christian Bale's screen portrayals of the Caped Crusader. James Bond is undoubtedly such a character; while he's only been played by six different actors during his 63 years on cinema screens — and these actors all brought something so unique to their portrayals that they're frequently ranked against each other in order of personal preference — there still exists a consistency to Bond's pop culture persona.

The reason for this is actually a fairly direct one. When Albert R. "Cubby" Broccoli and Harry Saltzman formed Eon Productions in...

Among the various anthology television series of the 1960s, none are better-known or more influential than The Twilight Zone. A mix of science fiction, fantasy and horror, The Twilight Zone was conceived by Rod Serling as a weekly allegory and modern-day morality play. As an anthology, the series became a revolving door for existing stars and up-and-coming actors over its five-season run.

Premiering on October 2, 1959, The Twilight Zone aired for nearly five years and featured numerous actors at various stages of their careers. With 156 episodes, multiple reboots, and the 1983 movie, it's easy to forget some of the famous faces that graced the original series over the years. Most of them appeared on the show before they became famous, and because The Twilight Zone has stood the test of time, those early performances have become delightful Easter eggs for new fans to discover.

Updated on March 20, 2025, by Ajay Aravind: The Twilight Zone...

The 2025 Oscars were shaken (not stirred) by the most famous spy in the world.

Sunday’s 97th annual Academy Awards ceremony featured a tribute to James Bond and the franchise’s long-running history of legendary and Oscar-nominated and -winning theme songs, including winner “Skyfall” (which was performed and cowritten by Adele)

The Bond franchise has received six Oscar nominations for its many indelible songs, including “Live and Let Die” from 1973’s Live and Let Die (performed by Wings and cowritten by Paul and Linda McCartney), “Nobody Does It Better” from 1977’s The Spy Who Loved Me (performed and written by Carly Simon), and “For Your Eyes Only” from 1981’s For Your Eyes Only (performed by Sheena Easton and written by Bill Conti and Mick Leeson). Famous tracks performed by Shirley Bassey (“Goldfinger”), Nancy Sinatra (“You Only Live Twice”), and Duran Duran (“A View to a Kill”) were snubbed by the Academy.

There's an interesting parallel between 1997's "Batman & Robin" and 2002's "Die Another Day." The former almost killed off the Batman cinematic saga before it had even existed for more than a decade, while Pierce Brosnan's swan song as James Bond almost put an end to what had been, ever since 1962's "Dr. No," cinema's most enduring franchise. Then, in 2005, Batman got what became known as a "gritty reboot," with Christopher Nolan reinventing the iconic hero for his "Batman Begins" origin story. The following year, Bond would get the same treatment, with what remains the best Bond movie ever made: "Casino Royale."

Both movies turned around flailing franchises, and both movies took a more grounded approach to their protagonist, ditching much of the traditions that had come to define both franchises in order to introduce something truly fresh. In 007's case, Daniel Craig gave us all a version...

Amazon-MGM now has 100% control over the James Bond franchise, and the possibilities are endless. Could we finally see a fight between Bond and Jack Reacher? That’s a reach, but a spinoff TV show is a major possibility. The immediate concern is who will take over from Daniel Craig as MI6’s greatest fictional spy. Fans aren’t sure, and neither is Bezos, who recently placed an online poll to determine who the majority wishes to see in a tux. Henry Cavill won easily, but would it be wise to cast an already established actor in the role, especially one who has been in four spy-themed movies already? Or would it be better to go with a safer pair of hands, one whose past movies haven’t been subjected to so much pummeling from critics?

For now, Craig and Sean Connery remain the greatest two actors to ever banter with Moneypenny.

Get ready to shake your martinis to the iconic sounds of James Bond theme songs, as the longtime producers of the seminal cinematic franchise are set to be honored with a musical tribute at the 97th annual Academy Awards. According to reports, producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson will be honored on the main stage after receiving their own Honorary Oscars at the Governors Awards.

In a new report from Variety — though the Academy Awards themselves have not yet commented on the matter — it was confirmed that Wicked will not be the only musical moment to take place during Sunday's Oscar ceremony. Though details on specifics remain scarce, Variety had this to say about what they did know about the musical moment:

"It is unclear whether the tribute will focus solely on Oscar-winning and nominated songs or take a broader approach to celebrating all 26 Bond themes. However, according to sources,...

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When James Bond made his big-screen debut in 1962 with "Dr. No," the world was a decidedly different place than it is now. The United States and the Soviet Union were none-too-quietly waging the Cold War (the Cuban Missile Crisis occurred during 007's first month in theaters), the Civil Rights Movement was challenging systemic racism all over America, and women were fighting for equal pay and control over their own bodies. Perhaps "decidedly" is a touch strong.

As the world grappled with massive political and social upheaval, the movies did what they do best and sent a mess of mixed messages. The industry has always taken seriously its role as a beacon of hope and enlightenment, but, this being a business, filmmakers have never shied away from trafficking in hoary, hurtful stereotypes provided they earned a big enough pop from the audience.

Of all the actors to have played James Bond, Timothy Dalton may be the most underrated. Even George Lazenby gets brought up fairly frequently for the novelty of his one-film tenure and its distinct subject matter in the grand scope of the franchise. Despite holding a nearly impeccable reputation as an actor, Dalton entered the franchise at a strange time, caught between the muddy dip of the later Roger Moore years and the modern rejuvenation of "Goldeneye" and Pierce Brosnan's four-film reign.

Dalton only starred in two "Bond" movies — 1987's "The Living Daylights," and 1989's "Licence to Kill." While neither were enormous hits, they both garnered strong reviews. Dalton's 007 was more grounded and serious, and his plots followed suit, both being a bit more Tom Clancy adaptation than the bombastic comic book spy capers of the previous decade. Unfortunately, the world wasn't quite ready for this more muted take on Bond,...

The old adage is that you can’t make a good film out of a bad script. Well, 1967’s “You Only Live Twice,” is one of the only films ever made to disprove that theory. Kind of. By his own admission, author Roald Dahl’s script is a regurgitation of the basic framework of the first Bond screenplay, “Dr No” with the toppling of American spacecraft being replaced with a spaceship eating another spaceship in an effort to kick start Wwiii – and written in mind with set parameters by the producers at EoN production – more beautiful girls, a blonde henchman, and that it be bigger and zanier than the previous four Bond films combined.

The success of “You Only Live Twice” rests almost solely on its filmmaking. The sets by Ken Adam, the direction by Lewis Gilbert, and the stylish and epic scope of the cinematography by “Lawrence of Arabia...

Quick LinksMichael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli Still Own 2/3 of James BondJames Bond Is a Big Franchise With a History of Quality IssuesJames Bond Fans Are Angry About Potential Spinoffs and TV ShowsFans Seem to Want Generational Franchises to Die Rather Than Grow

In July 1961, film producers Albert R. Broccoli and Harry Saltzman formed Eon Productions after securing the rights to adapt Ian Fleming's James Bond novels into films. Since then, the company has overseen the first modern franchise, complete with reboots and recasts of the central character. Over time, Albert's son, Michael G. Wilson, and daughter, Barbara Broccoli, also joined the company. These films have been distributed by MGM Studios, which was purchased by Amazon in 2022.

With the news that both Wilson and Broccoli are stepping back from active producing roles, Bond fans online erupted with outrage. It's fair to have skepticism about a corporation that's already facing...

Now in its 63rd year of existence, the James Bond franchise has experienced its share of turbulence, but though it all has managed to adapt its formula to the ever-changing times without losing its old-school sense of fun. Even when an individual film fails to deliver the goods, fans are still guaranteed the globetrotting exhilaration — be it gripping or goofy — of several major action set pieces jam-packed with practical stunt work. The viewer also knows there will be an array of new gadgets, and they can be fairly certain Bond will team up with a stunning beautiful foil who, now that we live in more enlightened times, will prove every bit his equal in the combat department.

There's also a pleasing sense of continuity with the actors. Starting with Sean Connery, Bond aficionados came to love actors like Bernard Lee as M, Lois Maxwell as Miss Moneypenny, and Desmond Llewelyn...

It turns out they were right to kill off James Bond.

Three years ago, reviewing the final Daniel Craig Bond film, “No Time to Die,” I praised the filmmakers’ decision to end the movie with the death of Craig’s 007. I called it “the send-off he deserves” and wrote, “What happens in the climactic scene feels poetic: Bond, in a strange way, takes on the karma of all the people he has killed.” Of course, the film’s end title also assured us that “James Bond will return.” So he’s dead; and he’s coming back! I rationalized away the slight absurdity of this by figuring that they were killing off Craig’s 007 to make way for a new one — which, in essence, is what happens every time a different actor takes over the role.

Yet in the months after I wrote that review, as I absorbed the mountain...

After Sean Connery had played James Bond in five feature films — "Dr. No," "From Russia with Love," "Goldfinger," "Thunderball," and "You Only Live Twice," he was ready to give the role a rest. The Cold War spy proved lucrative, but many felt it was time to take the series in a new direction. Connery stepped away from the role, and Australian actor George Lazenby inherited it, starring in "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" in 1969.

But the film didn't work out for everyone. Lazenby decided to leave the series after only one film, acting on the advice of his agent. Also, when "Majesty's" was released, it disappointed at the box office, making literally half as much as "You Only Live Twice." If the 007 series was to continue, as the Bond muckety-mucks wanted, they would require yet another new actor to play James Bond. The next planned sequel was to be called "Diamonds Are Forever,...

Playing the role of 007 is a big deal. In fact, just look at how the fans react whenever an actor's name is associated with playing James Bond. It's the same as whenever anyone is linked to the part of Superman, Batman, or Spider-Man, and everyone -- and we mean, everyone -- has an opinion over who would be the best actor for the gig. Needless to say, the hills of the internet become alive with the sound of flame wars.

While the selection of 007s on screen has been terrific across every James Bond movie, there have been a few close calls throughout the years that could have been excellent replacements too. That isn't to say that these picks would be infinitely better than the final actors chosen, but they would have certainly shaken -- not stirred -- the viewer's curiosity at the very least. After all, who wouldn't want to see what Henry Cavill,...

"The name's Bond...James Bond"; a tagline that even those unfamiliar with the novels and films have surely heard at least once in their lives. The level of popularity and success that the fictional James Bond has reached is truly nothing less than iconic. The character, created by Ian Fleming, made his literary debut more than seven decades ago in Fleming's 1953 novel 'Casino Royale'. The novel's protagonist reached higher levels of stardom when he was lifted off pages and inserted onto screens in the 1962 film Dr. No.

Since then, it has only been onwards and upwards for the fictional character. Ian Fleming authored 14 James Bond novels and the character has spawned multiple non-Fleming authored novels, short-stories, films, and spinoffs. Seven actors, ranging from Sean Connery to Daniel Craig, have portrayed the iconic character on screen. Despite the many changes that have affected the Bond-narrative, having switched hands time and time again,...

Hailed by his many admirers and peers as "one of the greatest storytellers for children of the 20th century," celebrated British author Roald Dahl famously penned a slew of beloved novels and short stories, including James and the Giant Peach, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, and The Bfg, with his immersive and spellbinding books having sold more than 300 million copies globally. Though Dahl is famous for being one of the literary world's most brilliant writers, some may not realize that he also dipped his toe in Hollywood and wrote the screenplay for the 1967 James Bond film You Only Live Twice.

Dahl was actually a close friend of fellow writing great Ian Fleming (the genius behind the enduring Bond novels and their subsequent silver screen adaptations), and despite having no previous experience in filmmaking, delivered a fun and wildly entertaining adventure that Sean Connery embarked upon. Let's take a closer...

In 1953, Ian Fleming's novel Casino Royale debuted one of the most recognizable secret agents: James Bond. Since Fleming's thrilling tales began their on-screen adaptations with the release of Dr. No in 1962, Bond headed one of the most successful and long-running franchises in cinema history. Spawning 27 movies and TV shows starring seven generations of actors taking on the classic role, fans young and old are drawn to the character's cool, confident, and charming disposition in the face of danger. Additionally, through increasingly high-stakes action, cutting-edge gadgets, and 007's glamorous lifestyle, the character provides viewers with an intoxicating escapism. Bond's life of consistently overcoming bad guys and living in luxury often seems too good to be true. Well, maybe some of it is.

According to Bond lore, the MI6 operative is a mid-ranking civil servant within the governmental organization and takes home a modest salary. This begs the question: how...

Landing the role of James Bond turned out to be a double-edged sword for Sean Connery. While it launched his career and made him a household name, the actor was the first to experience what would become somewhat of a 007 curse: he felt he couldn't escape the shadow of England's greatest spy. Regardless of how the public viewed him, Connery was at various points seemingly tired of his association with the role, delivering multiple grumpy utterances on the matter throughout his early career, most famously saying (via The Hollywood Reporter) that he had "always hated that damn James Bond" and that he'd "like to kill him."

Of course any fan of the actor will know that his range extended far beyond Commander Bond. In the years after "Dr. No" kick-started cinema's most enduring franchise, Connery demonstrated that range in a slew of films designed to prove his talent. 1965's "The Hill...

A villain can make or break a movie, and some highly anticipated antagonists have dragged down their movies. When big franchises bring back popular villains, it inevitably places extra pressure on the actor and the writers to do the character justice. Some villains simply mean more to fans, like Blofeld in the James Bond franchise and the Joker in Batman movies. Unfortunately, reintroducing these characters doesn't always go to plan.

Another reason that a villain can attract a lot of hype before the release of a movie is if a popular actor has been cast to portray them. For example, fans of the Indiana Jones franchise were excited to see Mads Mikkelsen starring in The Dial of Destiny, given the fact that he has played some outstanding villain roles over the years. High expectations can hamper a villain, and this can affect the entire legacy of a movie.

Lex Luthor...

Sean Connery holds the honor of being the first big screen 007. Connery made his James Bond debut in 1962 with the Terrence Young-directed film Dr. No. Connery went on to star in five more James Bond films — From Russia With Love, Goldfinger, Thunderball, You Only Live Twice and Diamonds Are Forever — even returning to the franchise after a brief interruption by George Lazenby's one-off Bond film and the non-Eon Bond movie Never Say Never Again. Little did he know at the time that the Bond movies would become one of the biggest action franchises to date.

Bond took up the better part of a decade of Connery's career, beginning in 1962 and ending with Diamonds Are Forever in 1971 in the traditional series. Prior to his death in 2020, Connery went on to have a long acting career after ending his Bond tenure. His first 007 follow-up was The Offence...

While 007 often steals the show, it’s the unsung heroes and underrated supporting characters who have elevated the James Bond franchise. Making Bond’s success possible, the saga' supporting characters consistently prove that Bond's adventures are far more than just one man against the world. Over the years, the Bond universe has introduced an eclectic mix of companions, from the best supporting characters in the Sean Connery movies to Daniel Craig's closest allies. Most have stayed in the shadows but still played pivotal roles in Bond’s quests.

It’s not just Bond’s charming enemies and exotic locations. His closest allies and unexpected characters have helped shape the series’ legacy in more ways than one, with James Bond’s closest allies always there to support the spy in moments of peril, providing the backup and expertise to differentiate between life and death. Surprisingly, many of these standout figures...

James Bond villains have not only delighted audiences with their schemes throughout decades but also possessed opulent hideaways-visually stunning at their core. These hidden lairs are as much a part of the Bond lore as the Aston Martin or the martini—each location a shrine to excess, creativity, and villainous ambition spanning across generations of the James Bond franchise. Sometimes, they act as unconventional James Bond moments, but every time, they provide the perfect backdrop for villainy.

The beauty of most Bond villain lairs simply lies within the outrageous personality etched into the architecture. Lairs like Dr. No’s elegant fortress and Blofeld’s bubbly volcano hideout exist as twisted playgrounds of their owners’ wit. Each evil base serves as a statement piece, combining period style, technological innovation, and often, a flair for extravagant flashiness to match James Bond's ridiculous gadgets. Nestled in remote islands or gently hovering in outer space,...

Mike Myers recently told Vulture that rumors claiming Dr. Evil from the “Austin Powers” film franchise is based on “Saturday Night Live” creator Lorne Michaels are simply not true. Myers was a cast member on “SNL” from 1989 to 1995. Considering “Austin Powers” originated as a James Bond spoof, the inspiration for Dr. Evil was always Blofeld actor Donald Pleasance from “You Only Live Twice” and not Myers’ “SNL” boss.

“The Lorne of it is just a little tiny overlay,” Myers explained. “I’m Canadian. He’s Canadian. He had an educated Canadian accent, and I have a Scarborough accent. One time he goes, ‘Mike, do you want to come up to the Hamptons?’ I was like, ‘Am I fired?’ I went, and it was like, ‘That’s Mick’s room, or do you want Keith’s room?’ And I was like, ‘Either’s fine. Couch works! The car works!'”

“So anyway,...

More than 25 years later, Mike Myers is breaking down the basis for one of his most quotable characters.

Although he admitted Lorne Michaels provided some inspiration, the Saturday Night Live alum revealed that the Austin Powers villain Dr. Evil was originally based on another more specific character reference.

“No, it was Donald Pleasence forever,” he told Vulture, referring to the actor’s performance as Ernst Stavro Blofeld in the 1967 James Bond film You Only Live Twice.

Myers said there was “just a little tiny overlay” with the SNL creator, for whom he worked on the NBC sketch comedy show from 1989 to 1995.

“I’m Canadian. He’s Canadian. He had an educated Canadian accent, and I have a Scarborough accent,” he explained. “One time he goes, ‘Mike, do you want to come up to the Hamptons?’ I was like, ‘Am I fired?’ I went, and it was like, ‘That’s Mick’s room,...

The role of James Bond has been one of the most coveted and sought after, ever since Sean Connery donned the famous dinner suit, and left everyone shaken, and stirred in 1962's Dr No. Many great actors have played the iconic British spy, but there have also been numerous actors linked to the character over the years who have starred in identical roles.

The search for Daniel Craig's successor as James Bond has yet to be found, but a breakthrough in casting the next James Bond could be forthcoming. Landing the next Bond is absolutely key for Eon, and it's the toughest call they've had to make yet. Whoever the next Bond is, has to fit into a universe with massive built-in audience expectations, so the best route for any aspiring 007s is arguably to seek out roles that are identical to the suave spy.

Michael Caine As Harry Palmer...

The entire James Bond franchise is known for its stylish opening credits sequences and their original songs, and all 25 can be ranked from worst to best. Regardless of how good the actual movie is, James Bond fans are almost guaranteed to be in for a treat with the franchise's intro credits. Every James Bond actor was ushered into their films with stunning visuals, catchy and moving songs, and mood-setting sequences.

There are quite a few factors that go into making a compelling intro worthy of James Bond. The visuals have to be excellent and invoke both the image and feel of a legendary spy, the music has to be sufficiently moving and grand, and it has to set up and fit with the mood of all the adventures 007 is set to go on. Every title in the franchise, from the worst to the best James Bond movies, excels in at least one of those areas,...

When it comes to Bond, George Lazenby’s one-off performance in the title role was once considered silly, overly melodramatic, and lacking a convincing emotional grounding. This wasn’t helped by the fact that he only starred in one James Bond film, not giving audiences a chance to see more of his range. However, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service is filled with some genuinely great moments, and — from its polar bears and decorated trees to its original December release in 1969 — could even be seen as a sort of James Bond Christmas special, perfect to enjoy over the holiday season.

55 years after its first release, public opinion is finally shifting around this oddity in the 007 canon. Some of the initial negative response was almost certainly down to the fact that this was the first time Bond had been played by anyone other than Sean Connery, and the film’s...

The debate over what is the single best entry in the James Bond franchise is certainly a contentious one, as there are defenders for nearly every single entry in the series. While some fans may appreciate the broad, action-centric sensibilities of The Spy Who Loved Me or GoldenEye, others may enjoy the sillier, more over-the-top version of the character that is best embodied by You Only Live Twice or Live and Let Die. Although there are many film fans obsessed with the series who consider themselves to be experts, the only people who truly know the character like the back of their hand are those who have personally played 007. While he starred in five films that were generally very well received, Daniel Craig stated that Goldfinger is his favorite James Bond movie.

60 years ago, Sean Connery's only James Bond movie that didn't involve his secret agent battling Spectre premiered, and it became his most popular 007 outing. Sean Connery starred in 6 James Bond movies from 1962's Dr. No to 1971's Diamonds Are Forever, although George Lazenby became 007 in 1969's On Her Majesty's Secret Service when Connery quit James Bond. All of those Bond movies involved Spectre as the villainous organization 007 battled, except for 1964's Goldfinger.

Adapted from the seventh James Bond novel written by Ian Fleming, Goldfinger saw 007 face the eponymous Auric Goldfinger (Gert Frobe), a criminal mastermind who sought to control the world's supply of gold. Goldfinger's master plan, Operation Grand Slam, involved breaking into Fort Knox and irradiating the United States' gold reserves, thereby increasing Auric's wealth. Bond battled Goldfinger and his iconic henchman, Odd Job (Harold Sakata), and prevented the madman's scheme with the help of Goldfinger's pilot,...

51 years ago, a James Bond reboot premiered that was more radical in many ways than Daniel Craig's 2006 reboot, Casino Royale. Roger Moore took over for Sean Connery as 007 in 1973's Live and Let Die. Moore was an early favorite to play James Bond, but he was unavailable to star in 1962's Dr. No. Roger finally got his chance to play James Bond after Sean Connery turned 007 into a globally successful box office powerhouse, starring in six James Bond movies from Dr. No to 1971's Diamonds Are Forever.

Sean Connery grew tired of the role of James Bond after 1965's Thunderball and the Scottish leading man decided to quit the iconic role he pioneered during production of 1967's You Only Live Twice. Producers Albert Broccoli and Harry Saltzman chose Australian model George Lazenby to replace Connery in 1969's On Her Majesty's Secret Service. However, Lazenby couldn't adequately fill Conney's tuxedo,...

As anticipation remains high for what the franchise's future holds, 20 James Bond movies have found a new home on streaming platform Pluto TV. Adapted from the novels by British author Ian Fleming, the franchise began in 1962, with Dr. No, and starred Sean Connery in the leading role of the iconic MI6 agent 007. To date, the series has grossed around $7.8 billion, making it one of the most successful franchises of all time, even as six different actors have taken on the role, most recently that of Daniel Craig.

Now, those interested in revisiting the James Bond franchise will now have the opportunity to watch 20 of the titles in the series on the streaming platform Pluto TV. The available titles are Die Another Day, Diamonds Are Forever, Dr. No, For Your Eyes Only, GoldenEye, Licence To Kill, Live and Let Die, The Living Daylights, The Man With The Golden Gun, Moonraker, Octopussy,...

Daniel Craig is an even tougher act to follow as James Bond than Sean Connery was. Craig is the longest-tenured actor to play James Bond, despite only starring in five 007 movies. Craig's first movie was 2006's Casino Royale and his final film as Bond was 2021's No Time To Die. Daniel Craig's run as James Bond grossed a combined $3,958,969,397 at the worldwide box office, with 2012's Skyfall ranking as the highest-grossing Bond movie ever with $1.1-billion worldwide. By every measure, Daniel Craig was an incredible success as James Bond.

One of the reasons Daniel Craig was unique among his fellow James Bond actors is his 007 exists in a rebooted universe. Every previous James Bond movie prior to Casino Royale - from 1962's Dr. No starring Sean Connery to 2002's Die Another Day starring Pierce Brosnan - posited that it was the same James Bond who had all of those adventures.

Generally speaking, the first director Star Wars fans think of when contemplating the franchise is the man who created it, George Lucas. It's pretty safe to say, however, that Lucas's films are far from being the most celebrated in the franchise. That honor belongs to another man named Irvin Kershner, who directed The Empire Strikes Back. In terms of batting record, that's about as good as it gets for Star Wars. However, many fans are not aware that Irvin Kershner also directed a James Bond film starring one of cinema's biggest stars.

1983 was a weird year in the history of James Bond. Not one but two movies starring the suave secret agent hit theaters, Octopussy starring Roger Moore, and Never Say Never Again, which boasted a returning Sean Connery to the role that turned him into a superstar. Neither film wound up leaving much of an impact on the franchise itself,...

Celebrate James Bond Day this October 5th with a martini and all the 007 missions, as all 25 official James Bond films are now available to stream worldwide on Prime Video. The official James Bond X/Twitter account shared the news that every Bond outing, from Connery to Craig, are now on the streaming platform, meaning audiences can immerse themselves in the action-packed world of Britains greatest spy.

You may not have ever heard of James Bond Day, but the celebration takes place later this week on October 5, which marks the date that the first official James Bond movie, Dr. No, premiered way, way back in 1962. Starring Sean Connery, who is still considered by many to be the best iteration of the character, and directed by Terence Young, Dr. No started it all, and finds Bond in Jamaica where is investigating the disappearance of a fellow British agent.

Connerys other outings include From Russia with Love,...

Robert Watts, the British producer and production manager who collaborated with George Lucas on the first three Star Wars films and the first three Indiana Jones movies, has died. He was 86.

Watts died Monday in his sleep at his home in East Sussex, England, his rep, Julian Owen at Alliance Agents, told The Hollywood Reporter. “We were with him for a decade taking him to conventions all over the world, where he could connect with fans and talk about his career,” Owen said.

Watts also worked alongside Indiana Jones director Steven Spielberg on the Spielberg-produced Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988) and An American Tail: Fievel Goes West (1991).

For the extremely challenging first Star Wars film, Watts served as production supervisor under production designer John Barry, and the two traveled to Morocco and Tunisia to scout locations. He then did some third-unit directing.

“We were under a great deal of pressure from 20th Century Fox,...

One of Sean Connery's worst blockbusters gave the screen icon the chance to play his very own James Bond villain. In spite of all the great James Bond actors who have followed in his footsteps, Connery's 007 is still considered the one to beat. His appearance as the British secret agent in Dr. No made him an instant movie star, and Connery's mix of good looks, charisma and brutality would set the template for Bond. Of course, Connery's thoughts on the series itself were mixed.

Disputes with the producers of the James Bond movie franchise over pay and being tied to a strict contract led to him quitting after 1967's You Only Live Twice. He would be lured back to the character twice in the years that followed; once for 1971's Diamonds Are Forever and the unofficial Bond outing Never Say Never Again over a decade later. Connery...

The following discusses sensitive topics including domestic abuse, misogyny, racism, and animal cruelty

Dated elements in Sean Connery's James Bond films include offensive portrayals of women and minorities. Characters in Yellowface, gender violence, and racial stereotypes highlight problematic aspects of early Bond movies. Some scenes from Connery's Bond films would face backlash in modern cinema.

Sean Connery's James Bond films may be iconic pieces of cinematic history, but there are a lot of elements within them that would never fly in a modern-day James Bond movie. Appearing as the character across six films, Connery's version of Bond remains a pop-culture touchstone that has inspired over half a century of film, TV, novels, comics, video games, and beyond. However, those early stories were dated in their views on many subjects, with offensive portrayals of several communities.

Instead of bucking these trends, the harsh realities of Connery's James Bond movies...