The James Bond Films: According to Guinness World Records, the most profitable film series of all time was "James Bond," although it has been surpassed. See Greatest Film Franchises: Box-Office for other statistics. It is the longest continuing series of English language films. The modern day action-hero - the James Bond '007' character that was employed for Her Majesty's Secret Service - was loosely based on the character in Britisher Ian Fleming's twelve James Bond novels. A number of Fleming's short stories were developed by other writers.

Before the movies, Bond made his first appearance on TV, debuting on CBS in 1954, with Barry Nelson as the American 007 agent named Jimmy Bond in an adaptation of Fleming's first Bond novel Casino Royale. Fleming made his sole cameo appearance in the Bond film From Russia With Love (1963). The only two Bond films with a tragic ending for Bond's romantic partners were On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969) and Casino Royale (2006), and one could also add No Time to Die (2021) - a sad ending for Bond's surviving lover.

Beginning in the Cold War 60s (after restrictions on violence and sex were lifted somewhat), the slick, escapist Bond action/adventure spy films appealed to large audiences with their exotic, travelogue locales, tongue-in-cheek humor and dialogue, nifty gadgets and ingenious toys (provided by Q Branch) to combat evildoers, fast-action suspense and audacious stunts, and gorgeous scantily-clad sexy women. The action-oriented, sophisticated and skillful agent, with a taste for fancy clothes (often tuxedos), dry vodka martinis ('shaken, not stirred') and cars (notably the Aston Martin DB5, the Lotus Esprit, and various BMWs), battled various types of eccentric, deadly and infamous criminals who planned to assault the world. The intriguing superhero lead role has been played by six actors - Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan, and Daniel Craig. Also pictured in the descriptions of each film are the main villains and Bond girls.

As of 2021, the official Bond films have received 18 Academy Awards nominations (with six wins, marked with asterisk):

• * Best Sound Effects, for Goldfinger (1964)
• * Best Visual Effects, for Thunderball (1965)
• Best Sound, for Diamonds Are Forever (1971)
• Best Original Song, "Live and Let Die" in Live and Let Die (1973)
• Best Original Song, "Nobody Does It Better" in The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)
• Best Original Score, for The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)
• Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, for The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)
• Best Visual Effects, for Moonraker (1979)
• Best Original Song, "For Your Eyes Only" in For Your Eyes Only (1981)
• Best Cinematography, for Skyfall (2012)
• Best Original Score, for Skyfall (2012)
• Best Sound Mixing, for Skyfall (2012)
• * Best Original Song, "Skyfall" in Skyfall (2012)
• * Best Sound Editing, for Skyfall (2012)
• * Best Original Song, "Writing's On the Wall" in Spectre (2015)
• * Best Original Song, "No Time to Die" in No Time to Die (2021)
• Best Visual Effects, for No Time to Die (2021)
• Best Sound, for No Time to Die (2021)

Sean Connery made a reluctant comeback as Bond for Never Say Never Again (1983) - a virtual remake of Thunderball (1965). The film was reportedly titled that way since Connery was quoted as saying "Never again!" after making Diamonds Are Forever (1971). Roger Moore was the oldest (he was 46 when he started and 58 when he stepped down). Daniel Craig was the first blonde actor to play Bond and the first to be born after the start of the film series. Just recently, Daniel Craig became the longest continually-serving James Bond actor (with 15 years and 5 films). The 50th Year Anniversary of Bond films coincided with the release of the 23rd official Bond film in 2012.

Also, see all of the James Bond title screens here:
James Bond Title Screens

Bond Statistics