Daniel Craig’s James Bond movies ranked & in order

Daniel Craig’s tenure as 007 gave us a fresh take on the character. Here’s my view on his James Bond movies, ranked from best to worst.

I’ve sometimes been asked how I would rank all the Bond films. It’s never been an easy question to answer — my view can change depending on the day, my mood, or even the weather.

So rather than attempt the impossible by ranking all twenty-five films, I decided to focus on a smaller challenge: the James Bond movies ranked from the Daniel Craig era. With his time as 007 now complete, it feels like the right moment to look back at his five films and consider how they stack up.

Across fifteen years, Craig’s portrayal of Bond took the character in bold new directions. His Bond was harder-edged, more human and, at times, more vulnerable than many of his predecessors. The films themselves varied widely in tone and execution. Some became instant favourites; others divided opinion or have been reassessed over time.

Ranking Daniel Craig’s Bond films isn’t about box office totals or popularity. It’s about rewatch value, coherence, and how well each film actually works as a Bond story today. Some popular favourites fall lower than expected, but there are reasons for that. So, after much thought — and with the caveat that I might well feel differently tomorrow — here’s how I see them, starting with the best.

For where the series goes next, see our guide to Bond 26.

Daniel Craig’s Bond Movies in Chronological Order

Unlike previous eras of the franchise, Daniel Craig’s tenure as 007 follows a single, continuous narrative arc. To follow the story correctly from his origin to his final mission, you should watch  Craig’s James Bond movies in this chronological order:

Now you know the chronological timeline, how do the films actually hold up analytically? Keep reading below for my ranking of Daniel Craig’s James Bond movies.

001 Casino Royale – why it stands apart

When Casino Royale was released in 2006, it marked a turning point for the Bond series. After the excesses of Die Another Day, this was a Bond film that felt grounded in reality. The gadgets were stripped back, the action felt raw, and Daniel Craig’s Bond was a man rather than a superhero.

Expectations weren’t universally high at first. There was scepticism about Craig in the role, and questions about whether the series could still offer anything fresh. But Casino Royale was both a critical and commercial success, surprising many — not least Eon Productions. For me, it was the best experience I’d had watching a Bond film in years. I was fortunate enough to attend the premiere, and I left the cinema feeling that Bond was back where he belonged.

The film succeeded on several levels. It updated the Cold War plot of Ian Fleming’s novel for a post-9/11 world, with a storyline that felt relevant for 2006. The card game was changed from baccarat to poker, but this made it easier for modern audiences to follow. Craig’s Bond was tougher, yet more vulnerable, and the chemistry between Bond and Vesper Lynd, played by Eva Green, was one of the film’s great strengths.

The supporting characters added depth. Mathis brought charm and experience to Bond’s world, and M — once again played by Judi Dench — provided both authority and a hint of warmth. The film’s score was excellent too. David Arnold managed to capture the mood perfectly, holding back the classic Bond theme until the closing moments. That ending, with Bond standing over Mr White, introducing himself with “Bond, James Bond” as the theme swells, was the perfect note to close on.

Casino Royale doesn’t get everything right. Le Chiffre’s bleeding tear duct adds nothing to the plot, and Vesper’s death could have followed the novel more closely. But these are minor points. The film set a gold standard for modern Bond films, and it’s no surprise that it easily ranks in the top spot of my list of Craig’s Bond movies. But despite the film promising a new golden age for 007, none of his other films comes even close.

Casino Royale is the closest the Craig era came to Fleming’s Bond. If you’re revisiting it, this is the one to start with.

Watch Casino Royale (Amazon UK | Amazon US)

If you want to understand what’s actually happening with Bond 26 — not just the headlines — get the monthly briefing.

002 SPECTRE

SPECTRE divided opinion when it was released in 2015, and I can understand why. It’s a film with some big problems, but I’ve always had a soft spot for it. I was at the premiere at the Royal Albert Hall, and I enjoyed it so much that the next morning I went to Leicester Square to see it again in IMAX.

The pre-title sequence is one of the film’s great strengths. Set against the backdrop of Mexico City’s Day of the Dead celebrations, it’s beautifully shot and carefully staged. The long, unbroken opening shot draws you in, and the helicopter fight over the square provides a spectacular finish. Moments like this show what the Bond films can still do when they get it right.

There are other highlights. The scenes in Tangier, where Bond and Madeleine are in the hotel, slow the pace down and allow their relationship to start taking shape. The train sequence is another strong point, though it feels a little rushed — I would have liked more time for the relationship to develop before the fight with Hinx. The fight itself is solid enough, but Hinx is dispatched too easily for a character who seemed to promise more.

Where SPECTRE stumbles is with its villain. The decision to make Blofeld Bond’s foster brother feels forced and unnecessary. Even without that, Christoph Waltz’s Blofeld doesn’t quite work — he lacks the menace and presence the character demands. The Rome car chase is another missed opportunity. What should have been tense and thrilling feels too easy, as Bond juggles high-speed driving with casual phone calls. There’s no real sense of danger.

The finale in London suffers from the same weakness that affects all the post-Casino Royale films: a third act that doesn’t quite deliver. But despite these flaws, I still find myself enjoying SPECTRE. It has moments of style and spectacle that stay with me, and for that reason, it takes second place in my list of Daniel Craig’s Bond movies.
SPECTRE expands the scope, tying Craig’s era together — even if the results are more uneven.

Watch SPECTRE (Amazon UK | Amazon US)

003 Quantum of Solace

Quantum of Solace had a tough act to follow. After the success of Casino Royale, expectations were high. But the production was troubled from the start. The original director chosen for the film, Roger Michell, walked away from the project early on. Then came the writers’ strike, which meant filming began without a finished script. The result was a film that feels rushed and uneven in places.

Director Marc Forster is undoubtedly talented, but he wasn’t a Bond fan and this sometimes shows. The film struggles to find the right tone, and some of the action sequences seem more interested in imitating Jason Bourne than delivering classic Bond style. The fast editing and shaky camera work in the opening car chase, for instance, make it hard to follow what’s happening — a shame, because it had the makings of a great sequence.

Yet there are things Quantum of Solace gets right. David Arnold’s score is one of the film’s strongest elements, perhaps even better than his work on Casino Royale. The character of Mathis stands out too. His scenes with Bond — especially when they fly to Bolivia — add warmth and depth. The exchange about good and evil, borrowed from Fleming’s novel, is a rare moment where the film pauses to reflect.

The eco-plot, focused on controlling Bolivia’s water supply, was ahead of its time. The idea of Quantum manipulating governments for profit felt convincing, and arguably better handled here than SPECTRE’s later attempts to present a global criminal network. But Dominic Greene, the film’s villain, never seems like much of a threat — more like a henchman than a mastermind.

Quantum of Solace is a film I’ve come to appreciate more over the years. Its flaws are clear, but it also has moments that remind you what Bond can be. For these reasons, it takes third place in my ranking of Daniel Craig’s Bond films.
Quantum of Solace picks up directly where Casino Royale ends, pushing Bond forward while he’s still raw and unsettled.

Watch Quantum of Solace (Amazon UK | Amazon US)

Craig’s era didn’t just redefine Bond. It closed a chapter.
→ See what’s actually happening with Bond 26

004 No Time to Die

No Time to Die will always be remembered as the film that killed James Bond. I don’t think many people saw that coming — I certainly didn’t. When the credits rolled, I wasn’t sure what to make of it. Bond dying at the end was a bold choice, but it left me with mixed feelings about the film as a whole.

There’s plenty to like. The Cuba sequence with Paloma is a clear highlight. Ana de Armas lights up the screen, and the set piece strikes just the right balance between action and fun. The Norway chase sequence is another strong moment — tense, well-paced, and visually impressive.

But No Time to Die is far from perfect. At nearly three hours, it’s simply too long. There’s a sense that the film is trying to do too much, and the story could have done with a tighter edit. Safin, the villain, never feels truly menacing — he’s just strange, and his motivations are muddled. The nanobot plot device is unconvincing and over-complicated.

There are other choices that don’t quite land. Bringing Blofeld back only to dispose of him so quickly seems wasteful. Nomi, the new 00 agent, doesn’t feel convincing in the role. And the attempt to build on the Bond-Madeleine relationship from SPECTRE falls flat — their chemistry was never particularly strong to begin with.

In the end, No Time to Die feels like a film trying to be a statement, but not always succeeding in delivering a satisfying Bond adventure. That’s why it takes fourth place in my list of Craig era James Bond movies ranked.

No Time to Die brings Craig’s era to a definitive close, resolving the threads that run through all five films.

Watch No Time to Die (Amazon UK | Amazon US)

005 Skyfall

Skyfall was a huge success at the box office, becoming the first Bond film to take over a billion dollars. MGM’s financial troubles delayed its start and when it finally arrived, it was widely praised by critics and audiences alike. But despite its popularity, it has never really worked for me.

Before seeing the film I attended a pre-premiere party. Great atmosphere, excellent conversation, and everyone left for the Royal Albert Hall buzzing with anticipation. But when I finally sat down to watch it, I was disappointed. That feeling has stayed with me, and Skyfall remains near the bottom of my personal list.

There’s no doubt the film has strengths. The pre-title sequence is superb, full of energy and spectacle. The Macau casino scene stands out too. And visually, it’s stunning. Roger Deakins’ cinematography gives Skyfall a polish that few Bond films can match. It was the first in the series to be shot entirely digitally, and it looks fantastic.

But too much of the film is bogged down by the London setting and the civil service inquiry subplot. Who really wants an inquiry at the heart of a Bond film? Bond needs to be out in the world, not stuck at home. The decision to base so much of the action in the UK makes it feel small when Bond films should feel expansive.

The villain is another issue. Javier Bardem is a great actor, but Silva never really convinces as a great Bond villain. His motives are personal rather than part of a bigger, more interesting scheme. And while Skyfall‘s success is often credited to its supposed quality, I think a large part of it was down to timing. The 2012 Olympics, with the mini Bond film in the opening ceremony, put Bond and London in the global spotlight. When Skyfall came out just months later, it rode that wave of attention — probably far more than most people like to admit.

For all its visual brilliance, Skyfall just doesn’t deliver what I want from a Bond film. That’s why it ranks at the bottom of my list of Craig’s James Bond movies.
Skyfall is the most celebrated of Craig’s films — even if it leans heavily into style over substance.

Watch Skyfall (Amazon UK | Amazon US)

One of the quieter visual details from Craig’s era was Bond’s training shirt in Skyfall. I originally recreated a version for myself before other Bond fans started asking where they could get one. → See the MI6/SIS logo t-shirt

Frequently Asked Questions about Daniel Craig’s James Bond era

What is the correct order to watch Daniel Craig’s Bond movies?

The best way to watch Daniel Craig’s James Bond movies is chronologically by release year: Casino Royale (2006), Quantum of Solace (2008), Skyfall (2012), SPECTRE (2015), and No Time to Die (2021). Unlike previous 007 actors, Craig’s films feature a continuous story arc that benefits from watching them in sequence.

Do you have to watch Daniel Craig’s Bond movies in order?

Absolutely not! But it makes more sense to do that as the Craig era behaves like a five-part serialized drama. Major characters, emotional consequences, and the overarching villain syndicate introduced early on directly impact the definitive conclusion in No Time to Die.

How many James Bond movies did Daniel Craig make?

Daniel Craig made five James Bond movies across a fifteen-year tenure: Casino Royale, Quantum of Solace, Skyfall, SPECTRE, and No Time to Die. This makes him the third longest-serving James Bond actor by film count, behind Roger Moore (7) and Sean Connery (6).

Final thoughts

Looking back over Daniel Craig’s time as 007, it’s clear his films have left a lasting mark on the Bond series. From the raw, grounded energy of Casino Royale to the more uneven entries that followed, this era gave us a Bond who felt more human — tougher, but also more vulnerable.

Craig’s Bond debut stands apart as the gold standard among recent James Bond movies. Ranked way ahead of his other films, it showed what the series could achieve when it stripped back the excess. Instead Casino Royale focused on character, story, and well-crafted action. The films that followed tried different things, with mixed results. Some choices paid off, others didn’t. But even at their weakest, these films kept Bond relevant and ensured he remained at the heart of modern popular culture.

As we look ahead to what Denis Villeneuve might do with Bond 26, I hope he notes of what worked best in Craig’s run. What worked best was a Bond rooted in reality, with a clear sense of purpose and a story that didn’t get lost in unnecessary complications.

Watching the Craig films properly

Bond 26

The Craig era is over. What comes next is less clear — unless you know where to look. Get the Bond 26 monthly briefing.