You can skip 2 of the 27 titles in the James Bond franchise and still follow the main story: Casino Royale and Never Say Never Again. The essentials (25 titles) take about 53 hours instead of 58 hours.
- Skippable
- 2
- Essentials
- 25
- Time saved
- 4 hours
Safe to skip
- Casino Royale1967 · Film · 2h 11m · optionalA spy-comedy spoof, outside the official series; optional.
- Never Say Never Again1983 · Film · 2h 14m · optionalConnery's unofficial Thunderball remake; optional.
Why each one is optional
What each skippable title is, what it adds if you do watch it, and who is in it.
No. 01 · 1967 · Film · 2h 11m · optional
Casino Royale
Sir James Bond is called back out of retirement to stop SMERSH. In order to trick SMERSH, James thinks up the ultimate plan - that every agent will be named 'James Bond'. One of the Bonds, whose real name is Evelyn Tremble is sent to take on Le Chiffre in a game of baccarat, but all the Bonds get more than they can handle.
Why it matters: A spy-comedy spoof, outside the official series; optional.
- Starring
- Peter Sellers, Ursula Andress, and David Niven
- Director
- Joseph McGrath, Robert Parrish, Ken Hughes, John Huston, and Val Guest
- Box office
- $42 million on a $12 million budget
- Scores
- IMDb 5 · Rotten Tomatoes 26%
No. 02 · 1983 · Film · 2h 14m · optional
Never Say Never Again
James Bond returns as the secret agent 007 to battle the evil organization SPECTRE. Bond must defeat Largo, who has stolen two atomic warheads for nuclear blackmail. But Bond has an ally in Largo's girlfriend, the willowy Domino, who falls for Bond and seeks revenge.
Why it matters: Connery's unofficial Thunderball remake; optional.
- Starring
- Sean Connery, Klaus Maria Brandauer, and Max von Sydow
- Director
- Irvin Kershner
- Box office
- $160 million on a $36 million budget
- Scores
- IMDb 6.1 · Rotten Tomatoes 71%
The essentials, in release order
- Dr. No1962 · Film · 1h 50mSean Connery's first Bond, 1962.
- From Russia with Love1963 · Film · 1h 55mIntroduces SPECTRE's Blofeld in shadow.
- Goldfinger1964 · Film · 1h 50mThe template for every Bond film after it.
- Thunderball1965 · Film · 2h 10mSPECTRE steals two atomic bombs.
- You Only Live Twice1967 · Film · 1h 57mBlofeld's face is finally seen.
- On Her Majesty's Secret Service1969 · Film · 2h 22mGeorge Lazenby's only Bond; its ending matters to later films.
- Diamonds Are Forever1971 · Film · 2hConnery returns for revenge on Blofeld.
- Live and Let Die1973 · Film · 2h 1mRoger Moore's first Bond.
- The Man with the Golden Gun1974 · Film · 2h 5mChristopher Lee as Scaramanga.
- The Spy Who Loved Me1977 · Film · 2h 5mOften called Moore's best.
- Moonraker1979 · Film · 2h 6mBond in space.
- For Your Eyes Only1981 · Film · 2h 8mA grounded Moore entry.
- Octopussy1983 · Film · 2h 11mMoore in India.
- A View to a Kill1985 · Film · 2h 11mMoore's last Bond.
- The Living Daylights1987 · Film · 2h 10mTimothy Dalton's first Bond.
- Licence to Kill1989 · Film · 2h 13mDalton's darker revenge story.
- GoldenEye1995 · Film · 2h 10mPierce Brosnan's first Bond and Judi Dench's M.
- Tomorrow Never Dies1997 · Film · 1h 59mBrosnan versus a media mogul.
- The World Is Not Enough1999 · Film · 2h 8mBrosnan's third.
- Die Another Day2002 · Film · 2h 13mBrosnan's last Bond.
- Casino Royale2006 · Film · 2h 24mDaniel Craig reboots Bond; starts the one continuous Bond story.
- Quantum of Solace2008 · Film · 1h 46mPicks up an hour after Casino Royale.
- Skyfall2012 · Film · 2h 23mM's past catches up with her.
- Spectre2015 · Film · 2h 28mTies the Craig films together under Blofeld.
- No Time to Die2021 · Film · 2h 43mEnds Craig's Bond and the continuous story.
Common questions
Do I need to watch every James Bond title?
No. You can skip 2 of the 27 titles in the James Bond franchise and still follow the main story: Casino Royale and Never Say Never Again. The essentials (25 titles) take about 53 hours instead of 58 hours.
How long are the James Bond essentials?
About 53 hours for 25 titles, in release order starting with Dr. No.
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