The Greatest James Bond Film Ever Made? Ranking 007 by What Matters Most

What is the greatest James Bond film ever made?

That question has been debated for over sixty years, and there is no shortage of answers. Some fans will immediately choose Goldfinger, the movie that defined the classic Bond formula. Others will point to From Russia with Love as the best pure spy thriller in the series. More recent fans may argue for Casino Royale or Skyfall.

But rather than simply picking the most famous Bond film, I wanted to look at the series based on the elements that actually make a great 007 adventure.

After considering all twenty six Bond films, including Never Say Never Again, I used several criteria:

• Best portrayal of James Bond
• Closest to Ian Fleming's original character
• Best Bond girl
• Best villain
• Best story
• Best action sequences
• Best theme song and musical score
• Best opening sequence
• Best locations and cinematography
• Best supporting characters
• Best vehicles and gadgets
• Overall re-watchability
• Cultural impact

When all those factors are considered, one film rises above the rest.

Number One: On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)

Yes, the greatest Bond film may be the one that spent decades being treated as the outsider. You know, the one without Sean Connery.

The one starring George Lazenby, a virtual unknown who replaced the man who created the cinematic version of James Bond.

At the time, the reaction was understandable. Connery had become one of the most iconic screen characters in history, and replacing him was nearly impossible.

But looking back today, On Her Majesty's Secret Service has aged incredibly well and has earned a place among the most respected films in the franchise.

The Best Version of Bond?

Sean Connery created the template. Roger Moore brought charm and humor; the gentleman adventurer as it were. Pierce Brosnan had the classic look and confidence (but in my opinion he was Pierce Brosnan playing Sean Connery playing Bond). Daniel Craig brought a modern intensity.

But George Lazenby may have delivered the most human version of Bond.

Ian Fleming's Bond was not a superhero. He was a government operative, a professional killer, and a man carrying emotional scars beneath a polished exterior.

That is the Bond we see here. Lazenby's Bond is vulnerable. He is capable of love. He can be hurt. He can make mistakes. That humanity separates this film from many others in the series.

Some criticism of Lazenby's performance is fair. He was inexperienced and had the impossible task of following Connery. However, when judged against Fleming's version of the character rather than Connery's performance, Lazenby deserves far more appreciation. He looks the part. He handles the physical demands of the role. His fights feel realistic. Most importantly, he captures the emotional side of Bond better than many people remember. OHMSS isn't bad because its Lazenby, people used to perceive it as "bad" because "he wasn't Connery." Simple as that in my opinion.

A Truly Great Bond Story

Most Bond films are about saving the world. On Her Majesty’s Secret Service is about something more personal. Without giving away too much for those who haven’t seen it, the film explores a side of Bond that few entries ever attempt. It asks what happens when a man who has always kept people at a distance finally lets someone into his life. That emotional weight is a large part of why the film still lands so hard.

The Villain

A great Bond film needs a great villain, and Telly Savalas ("who loves ya, baby!") delivers as Ernst Stavro Blofeld. Donald Pleasence’s version remains iconic, but Savalas brings something different. His Blofeld is more physical, more aggressive, and more personally threatening. He feels like a man who could actually beat Bond.

The Action

The action in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service remains some of the best in the entire franchise. The skiing sequences are spectacular, the car chase is excellent, and the bobsled finale is still unforgettable. One of the main reasons the film has aged so well is that so much of it relies on practical effects and real stunt work. That gives the set pieces a sense of danger many modern action films struggle to recreate.

The Competition

There are several films that come close. From Russia with Love may be the best traditional spy thriller in the series. Goldfinger established much of what people still picture when they think of James Bond, even if I’m not convinced it’s the best entry. Casino Royale gave us Daniel Craig’s striking debut and a modern take that returned Bond closer to his literary roots; Vesper Lynd carries an emotional weight that feels very close to Tracy. Licence to Kill delivered one of the darkest and most personal Bond stories ever put on screen, in some ways it barely feels like a Bond film at all. Skyfall brought stunning cinematography, a memorable villain, and one of the strongest themes in the franchise, helped by Adele’s standout title song.

All of them are worthy contenders. But only one film manages to combine the character development, action, romance, music, and emotional impact that, for me, define the best of Bond.

Final Ranking

1. On Her Majesty's Secret Service
2. Casino Royale
3. From Russia with Love
4. Goldfinger
5. Licence to Kill
6. Skyfall
7. GoldenEye
8. The Spy Who Loved Me
9. Thunderball
10. Dr. No

The greatest Bond film is not necessarily the one with the most famous actor, the biggest explosions, or the most gadgets.

It is the one that best captures who James Bond really is.

And for me, that film is On Her Majesty's Secret Service.

What do you think? Which James Bond film deserves the title of greatest ever?

Let me know in the comments.

On Her Majesty's Secret Service - We Have All the Time in the World

Out of the twenty-six Bond films (yes, I include Never Say Never Again in that), I think the very best is On Her Majesty's Secret Service. And if it isn't number one, it's certainly in the Top Five.

That opinion may surprise some people because it isn't the first film that usually comes to mind. I know... sacrilege, right? How can a Sean Connery Bond movie not be the best?

Interestingly, this opinion has become far less unusual over the last couple of decades. For many years, On Her Majesty's Secret Service was treated as something of an oddity in the Bond canon, a movie remembered mostly for being the one without Connery. However, as audiences and critics have revisited the film, its reputation has grown significantly. Today, many longtime Bond fans rank it alongside classics such as From Russia with Love, Goldfinger, Casino Royale, and License to Kill as one of the strongest entries in the entire series.

So while it may not be the first Bond film many people name, it is no longer a fringe opinion to argue that On Her Majesty's Secret Service belongs among the very best.

While I think Connery was excellent in the role, I'm not convinced he was the best Bond. That honor might actually belong to Timothy Dalton, but that's a discussion for another day.

At the time, George Lazenby had the impossible task of replacing Connery as 007. A near-complete unknown, it would be his only outing as the British super-spy, but what an outing it was.

I won't go too deeply into the story in case anyone reading this hasn't seen the film, but I will say this: On Her Majesty's Secret Service presents perhaps the most human depiction of James Bond in the entire series.

The action has also aged remarkably well. Nearly all of the skiing, car chases, and fight scenes rely on practical effects and real stunt work, giving the film an authenticity that many modern action movies struggle to match.

And then there's the villain.

Blofeld is played by none other than Telly Savalas. "Who loves ya, baby?" Oops... wrong role! But seriously, you can't go wrong with Savalas. His Blofeld is physically imposing, intelligent, and genuinely threatening.

Unlike Connery's effortlessly cool Bond or Roger Moore's more lighthearted and gadget-driven interpretation, Lazenby's Bond feels personal. He gets hurt. He doubts. He falls in love. He feels like a real person instead of an indestructible icon.

Some critics have focused on Lazenby's inexperience as an actor, and there's certainly some truth to that. Unfortunately, every performance was inevitably compared to Connery's, making the transition even more difficult. Looking back today, however, I think Lazenby deserves far more credit than he usually receives. When compared to Ian Fleming's novels, his interpretation is actually one of the closest to the Bond Fleming wrote.

Then there's Diana Rigg.

Contessa Teresa di Vicenzo, aka Tracy Bond

Wow.

Most younger viewers know her as Olenna Tyrell from HBO's Game of Thrones. Fewer realize that during the 1960s she was widely regarded as one of Britain's great screen beauties and style icons.

More importantly, Tracy isn't just another "Bond girl."

She's intelligent, independent, capable in a fight, and never feels like she's simply there to admire Bond. She challenges him emotionally in ways very few characters ever do.

And then... there's the ending.

As Bond says:

"We have all the time in the world."

It's one of the most emotional moments in the franchise and one of the reasons this film has only grown in stature over the decades.

In many ways, Diana Rigg's performance feels effortless because she brought so much of her own wit, confidence, and personality to the role. Anyone familiar with her career: from The Avengers to Game of Thrones, knows she possessed that commanding screen presence throughout her life.

Some readers may be wondering, "Tracy Bond? Who's that?"

If you've never heard of her in connection with the other Bond films, there's a reason. Watch On Her Majesty's Secret Service and you'll find out. The character is referenced in several later Bond movies, but they're subtle enough that many viewers miss them. Because On Her Majesty's Secret Service spent so many years being overlooked within the Bond canon, those references are easy to overlook as well.

So there you have it.

I think On Her Majesty's Secret Service has the strongest claim to being the greatest Bond film ever made; or, at the very least, it belongs comfortably in the Top Five.

Now of course the natural question what does this have to do with anything? Well, once again a gamer of the right age range? Top Secret of course, but even better? Victory games James Bond 007!

In a future article I'll attempt the impossible task of ranking every Bond film to determine which one truly deserves the top spot. Stay tuned.

Are you a Bond fan? If so, which Bond film do you think is the best? Let me know in the comments.