Actualités

The Sean Connery era of James Bond 007 is heading to 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray disc for the first time. More on the releases here.

Widely rumoured at the end of last year, it’s now been confirmed that six Sean Connery James Bond films are being gathered together for their 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray debut.

The only absentee from the set, as you’d expect, is the ‘unofficial’ James Bond film that Connery made, Never Say Never Again.

Instead, the six that are featured in the upcoming boxset are Dr No, From Russia With Love, Goldfinger, Thunderball, You Only Live Twice and Diamonds Are Forever. They’re not going to be put on sale individually (at least not yet), and as such your options are a 4K boxset, or a Steelbook boxset (which has predictably sold very quickly).

The boxset listing can be found here.

The Steelbook listing can be found here.

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...

If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Rolling Stone may receive an affiliate commission.

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...

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.

The character of James Bond might've made Sean Connery a global movie star, but the actor didn't really enjoy the initial nine years he spent playing the MI6 agent. As Michael Caine once observed, "If you were his friend in these early days, you didn't raise the subject of Bond." A big part of the issue, according to Caine, was that Connery knew he had more to offer as an actor than 007, and thus, he bristled every time someone would identify him as Bond when he was out in public. Connery himself made no bones about his annoyance with the character. "I have always hated that damned James Bond," he once remarked (via The Guardian). "I'd like to kill him."

Producers Harry Saltzman and Albert "Cubby" Broccoli, who were sitting on top of a box office goldmine, had no such desire. They were keen to keep knocking out Bond flicks at a once-every-other-year clip,...

Few James Bond adventures have had as many legal headaches attached to its legacy as "Thunderball." Eon Productions ran a relatively tight ship when it came to maintaining the 007 brand for over six decades, but there was one series creative that gave them a decades-spanning struggle in the name of writer-producer Kevin McClory.

Only a few years before "Dr. No" introduced movie audiences to the suave super spy, McClory collaborated with Bond scribe Ian Fleming, in addition to screenwriter Jack Whittingham, on a potential screen adaptation. Their plans ultimately fell through and all went their separate ways. Things turned contentious, however, when McClory discovered that Fleming had not only taken the meat of the drafts they wrote together to form his novel "Thunderball," but he also didn't credit him.

McClory sued and ultimately won his case, ensuring that anything having to do with "Thunderball" moving forward would have to credit him too.

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.

You can't really have a true 007 adventure without an opening title sequence. They're a seminal piece of the James Bond experience that thematically set the tone for the film you're about to watch. It's difficult to imagine that ever going away even with the creative changing of the guard to Amazon MGM Studios. The ingenuity in their kaleidoscopic imagery has evolved over a number of ways across the franchise's six decade run. But it's ultimately the musical selection that accompanies these visuals that give these sequences their power. The wrong track — even if it's a good song — can offset the mood of the film.

Nearly every Bond film has had to go through the lengthy process of matching the right voice to those opening titles, with "Thunderball" proving to have one of the most interesting developments. Anyone who's marathoned the title sequences — as I have — knows that suave crooner...

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...

Melvins 1983, the alternate configuration of the Buzz Osborne-fronted band, have announced a new album, Thunderball, out April 18th. The lead single “Victory of the Pyramids” can be streamed now.

It marks the third full-length album under the Melvins 1983 moniker, featuring Osborne alongside original Melvins drummer Mike Dillard. Electronic artists Void Manes and Ni Maîtres were also brought in to contribute to the new recordings, adding another sonic layer to the mix.

Get Melvins Tickets Here

Pushing nearly 10 minutes in length, “Victory of the Pyramids” is a minor epic — “a lovely blend of beautiful noise and gut-busting grooves,” as Dillard put it — showcasing the full force of the 1983 lineup.

Dillard’s propulsive drumming lays the bedrock for a winding arrangement that opens with an upbeat punk/power-pop section that Osborne eventually steers into the Melvins’ typically sludgy domain. The contributions of Void Manes and Ni Maîtres can be heard during the latter half,...

The year was 1965, and the world had gone gaga for ultra-lethal secret agents. This craze had its roots in the 1953 publication of Ian Fleming's first James Bond novel, "Casino Royale," which of course set in motion a literary phenomenon that exploded onto the big-screen with 1962's "Dr. No." At the height of the Cold War, Bond exuded a reassuring air of insouciant lethality; he could kill an adversary just as easily as he could light a cigarette, and he looked so very suave while doing either. He was a man's man, a fashion plate and figure of patriotic hope at a time when the fate of the free world hung in the balance between two diametrically opposed superpowers.

The runaway box office success of "Dr. No" and "From Russia with Love" sent rival studios and television networks scrambling to figure out how to capitalize on the public's fervent fascination...

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,...

Sean Connery was a straight talker, sometimes to a fault. He didn't hold back when laying out his low opinion of the literary James Bond. He never restrained himself when discussing how the role that made his career was somewhat of a double-edged sword, at one point claiming that he "always hated that damn James Bond" and that he'd "like to kill him." Plus, as "Goldfinger" director Guy Hamilton revealed on the banned James Bond commentary tracks, Connery didn't stop himself from providing opinions on individual story beats, at one point calling the moment where Oddjob (Harold Sakata) crushes a golf ball with his bare hands "ridiculous" and claiming it would never make the final cut. (It did.)

That last example points to Connery's ongoing distaste for the more fanciful elements of James Bond. Despite "Goldfinger" being responsible for some of the more outlandish Bond trademarks, such as the high-tech...

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...

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...

Since Dr. No introduced the suave British spy to moviegoers in 1962, the James Bond movie series has featured many talented Oscar-winning actors who contributed immensely to the franchise's resounding success. As one franchise that has stood the test of time, James Bond films have garnered numerous award nominations and wins, including two Oscars won by Norman Wanstall and John Stears for their behind-the-camera roles in Goldfinger and Thunderball. Skyfall, Spectre and No Time to Die have also scooped Academy Awards in various categories.

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,...

With comic book adaptations dominating the film industry today, let’s take a trip back to a time when they were neither reputable nor among the most expensive films ever made. For fans of cult movies, Mario Bava hardly needs any introduction. Since his debut directing the gorgeously gothic “Black Sunday,” he innovated several genres, including the Giallo, with “The Girl Who Knew Too Much,” paving the way for the slasher film, the horror anthology with his masterful tryptic “Black Sabbath” (In the process giving the godfathers of heavy metal their moniker), and even science fiction – the fingerprints of his “Planet of the Vampires” are all over Ridley Scott’s “Alien” and “Prometheus.” “Danger: Diabolik” was produced during the height of the James Bond and “Batman 66” craze to cash in on the cult Eurospy genre. But whereas contemporary comic book adaptations center around superheroes, Bava’s world is an altogether different one.

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...

A smattering of well-known classic titles are now on their way to the crisp realm of ultra-high-definition physical media. Bill Hunt of The Digital Bits has just unveiled a number of movies that have been announced to release in 4K Blu-ray early next year. We’ve reported earlier that the Pierce Brosnan/Linda Hamilton volcano film Dante’s Peak is set for a February 11 release, the same day will also see the 4K Uhd release of Howard Deutch’s teen comedy Pretty in Pink (1986). It is said to feature Dolby Vision Hdr and a new “Filmmaker Focus” featurette.

It has also been confirmed that Disney, who is the parent company of the Buena Vista label, has completed a 4K restoration of the Michael Bay 1997 disaster blockbuster Armageddon. On December 6, the Bruce Willis asteroid movie is set to screen in this remaster at the Academy Museum in Los Angeles as part of An Evening with Diane Warren.

Sherlock Holmes investigates Jack the Ripper in Murder By Decree, hitting 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray on January 14 via Kino Lorber.

From Black Christmas director Bob Clark, the 1979 murder-mystery has been newly mastered in 4K by StudioCanal.

Christopher Plummer and James Mason star as as Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson, respectively, alongside David Hemmings, Susan Clark, Anthony Quayle, John Gielgud, Frank Finlay, Donald Sutherland, and Genevieve Bujold.

Disc 1 – 4K Uhd:

Uhd Sdr Master by StudioCanal Audio Commentary by Director Bob Clark Audio Commentary by Film Historians Howard S. Berger and Steve Mitchell Theatrical Trailer 5.1 Surround and Lossless 2.0 Audio

Disc 2 – Blu-ray:

HD Master by StudioCanal Audio Commentary by Director Bob Clark Audio Commentary by Film Historians Howard S. Berger and Steve Mitchell Theatrical Trailer 5.1 Surround and Lossless 2.0 Audio

John Hopkins (Thunderball) penned the script, inspired by Elwyn Jones & John Lloyd‘s 1975 book The Ripper File, Stephen Knight‘s 1976 book Jack the Ripper: The Final Solution,...

With No Time To Die released in 2021, the legendary James Bond franchise hit its 27th film after over six decades. Sean Connery set the pace as the first actor to play James Bond in a theatrical film (1962's Dr. No.), setting off one of the most iconic film franchises in the world. Connery is also one of the actors with the most appearances in the franchise, starring in seven Bond films, including Thunderball, From Russia With Love, and Goldfinger. He finished his run in the franchise with 1983's Never Say Never Again.

Three of the James Bond movies were remakes of previous Bond films, and these remakes include some of the absolute best (and absolute worst) of 007s on-screen adventures. Remaking past Bond movies might start becoming more common in the next couple of iterations of the franchise, because the producers have just about run out of Ian Fleming stories to adapt. Since very few of the Bond movies have actually stuck to the source material that gave them their titles, the next incarnation of the Bond series could see Eon going back and adapting Flemings novels more faithfully.

But Eon (and other producers) have been readapting Flemings works since long before they ran out of new ones to turn into movies. Casino Royale the very first Bond novel has been adapted for the screen a grand total of three times, and each version has been vastly different than the last. When...

Every James Bond movie has separate iconic songs to get listed, but the James Bond Theme has become synonymous with the franchise name. It has been the signature music since Dr. No in 1962. Before Daniel Craig took the legacy baton forward in 2006, every Eon-produced James Bond movie featured Monty Norman’s created theme song. Although Monty Norman wrote several songs for other musical stage plays, including Pinocchio, Stand, and Deliver, he will forever be remembered for composing the iconic James Bond music.

A snippet from Dr. No | Credits: United Artists

Despite his illustrious career, Norman’s association with the “Dum di-di dum dum” guitar que arranged by the John Barry Orchestra will always be iconic. Vic Flick, who used to work with John Barry as a guitarist is popularly known for playing that particular guitar riff, has died. To honor his legacy, let’s look at a few unknown facts about the theme music.

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,...

Charles Bronson, star of action movies, westerns, and war films during the late 20th century, was synonymous with "tough" on and off-screen. Bronson's television and film appearances included numerous spaghetti Westerns, including Red Sun. Released in 1972, Red Sun was directed by Terrence Young and starred Ursula Andress (also in Dr. No), Alain Delon, and Toshir Mifune alongside Bronson. It was based on a true story from the American frontier.

When the Japanese ambassador is robbed en route to meet with the US president, bandit Link Stuart (played by Bronson) is double-crossed by his gang. Link ultimately teams up with samurai bodyguard Kuroda (Mifune) to retrieve the ceremonial sword the rest of the gang has made off with. Considered one of the earliest examples of Asian martial arts movies uniting with Western cowboy adventures, Red Sun offers action, drama, and a bit of levity. It is an underrated movie that showcases...

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,...

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,...

Quick Links Latest News On The 26th James Bond Movie Bond 26 Is Confirmed Who Will Play 007 In The 26th James Bond Movie? Bond 26 Supporting Cast Bond 26 Story Bond 26: Further News & Info

The long-awaited release of No Time to Die marked the end of Daniel Craigs lauded 15-year tenure as 007, sparking questions about who will replace him and what to expect from Bond 26. Craigs era revolutionized the franchise and its lead character in many significant ways, while still holding onto the enduring core of James Bond. With huge hits like Casino Royale and Skyfall, Craig will be a tough act to follow, but there have already been some promising clues about what the next James Bond movie could have in store.

Though few details about Bond 26 have been revealed yet likely because they havent even been figured out its confirmed to be in the works. Rumors of...

Jason and Anna were trapped by Sidwell and believed they were about to die on General Hospital. The two were imprisoned in a cage with Anna starting to fall apart, and hearing guards coming, Jason kissed her. Fans didn’t see that coming, and their reactions were overwhelming.

Anna Was Shaken and Stirred

Never before in the history of Gh have we seen Anna (Finola Hughes) come so unglued as when she thought Sidwell (Carlo Rota) was going to kill her and Jason (Steve Burton). She started banging the bed in their makeshift prison, trying to find anything that could be used to pick the locks. Jason grabbed her to console the former spy, and they got so close that he planted one right on her lips on the September 26 episode. In that scene, he obviously heard the guards coming and kissed her as a distraction. But Anna has been...

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, a production manager on George Lucas’ Star Wars and producer on its first two sequels along with Steven Spielberg’s first three blockbuster Indiana Jones movies and Who Framed Roger Rabbit, died Monday in his sleep at his home in West Sussex, England. He was 88.

His rep Julian Owen of Alliance Media confirmed the news to Deadline, writing: “Goodnight to my wonderful friend and client Robert Watts, Producer of some of the most famous films in cinema history. … Talking about his career was his favourite thing to do. We had some amazing adventures together which I will cherish forever.”

After working on Star Wars, Watts was an associate producer on smash 1980 sequel The Empire Strikes Back, which solidified and furthered the Star Wars galaxy as a cultural touchstone. The next year he served in the same role for Raiders of the Lost Ark, which introduced the world to...

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,...

Never Say Never Again may be the strangest film in the entire James Bond franchise due to some unusual licensing agreements that allowed Warner Bros. to make their own version of the Ian Fleming novel Thunderball, which had already been adapted into a film starring Sean Connery in 1965. While Connery had officially retired from the role of 007 after his role in Diamonds Are Forever, he was lured back to star in Never Say Never Again, which was ironically released the same year that the Roger Moore Bond film Octopussy was also set to debut. Never Say Never Again wasnt much of a comeback for Connery, as there was little that director Irvin Kershner was able to do with the material that hadnt already been done better in Thunderball. That being said, Connery once revealed on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson that an intense underwater scene made him very, very...

Sean Connery was the youngest James Bond actor at 32 when he debuted in Dr. No, with 7 films as 007 tying him with Roger Moore for the Bond with the most appearances. The oldest actor to play Bond was Roger Moore, portraying 007 from 45 to 57 years old, deviating from Ian Fleming's preferred age of mid-thirties. Daniel Craig, at 38 in Casino Royale and 51 in No Time to Die, retired as 007 after 15 years, the longest continuous role as James Bond.

Daniel Craig has officially retired as 007 after 2021's No Time To Die, but here's how old each James Bond actor was when they played the famous super-spy, from the youngest James Bond actor to the oldest. Daniel Craig wrapped up his tenure as James Bond with No Time To Die, bowing out of his role as Britain's most iconic spy at 51 years old. All of the actors who have played James Bond have varied...

Moneypenny, a key character in James Bond films, plays a crucial role as an MI6 agent assisting Bond in the field and office. Moneypenny's character is a combination of several significant female characters from the original book series, adding depth and complexity. Loelia Ponsonby, a character from Fleming's novels, could bring a refreshing twist to the Bond franchise if introduced in Bond 26, challenging predictability.

James Bond's iconic Moneypenny character has become a fixture in the franchise despite her canonical counterpart never appearing in the films. Moneypenny, most recently played by Naomie Harris, is a fellow agent working with MI6 and assisting Bond. Partners in the field and office, Moneypenny and Bond have a complicated relationship that often toes the line between professional and romantic. Like Bond, Moneypenny reports to the agency's head, M, and frequently pulls unseen strings off-screen to help the agents.

The Bond films are filled...

This article is the best at what it does, but what it does is spoil Deadpool & Wolverine.

When it comes to the big screen, there’s only one Wolverine and his name is Hugh Jackman. After Dougray Scott stuck shooting Mission: Impossible II for longer than anticipated and had to drop out of playing Logan in 2000’s X-Men, Jackman has owned the part. Not even a noble and beloved death in Logan can put a stop to Jackman’s reign as cinema’s premiere Canucklehead, as he dons the goofy mask and yellow duds in full for Deadpool & Wolverine.

But while Deadpool & Wolverine does further delay the inevitable recasting of Logan for the MCU, it also gives viewers a look at different types of Wolverine. Sure, these are all still Hugh Jackman—save, of course, for the one played by Henry Cavill—but at least there’s some more flavor.

Over 60 years, the James Bond franchise has produced 27 films, but some projects, like Reunion with Death, remain unmade. Timothy Dalton, the fourth actor to play Bond, almost starred in Reunion with Death, but ultimately left the franchise. Reunion with Death's story would have added new dynamics to the Bond series, but Timothy Dalton's departure led to the project's cancellation, altering Bond's future.

The James Bond franchise has released 27 movies starring the iconic spy, but the franchise could have turned out very different if this unmade Bond film had come to fruition. James Bond has come a long way since its beginnings as a book series by Ian Fleming. Since 1962, the film franchise has expanded massively and continues to grow. The upcoming Bond 26 is actively searching for its new M16 agent, with the film marking a new beginning for the franchise after No Time To Die's ending.

Though James...

The James Bond jetpack sequence in “Thunderball” (1965) was a cheesy-awesome thing that was like, “Whoa! The future will be jetpacks!” “My Spy the Eternal City” opens like a Bond film, or maybe a movie whose goal is to make the “Kingsman” series look weighty. Dave Bautista’s JJ, a former Special Forces soldier turned CIA operative, is on a private plane, where he’s playing bodyguard to a teen idol named Ryan (Bill Barratt). Out of the blue, he’s attacked by the flight attendant. As they go at each other with sharp objects, a helmeted figure zips through the sky in a jetpack, placing a bomb on one of the plane’s windows and blowing a hole in its side; everyone comes tumbling out, and a plunging-to-the-earth scuffle ensues.

The hook? The jetpack flier is Sophie (Chloe Coleman), a 14-year-old spy. While falling through the air and rescuing JJ,...

The ‘unofficial’ James Bond film that met with lots of legal hurdles. And the comedy that sounded different – until The Sopranos came along…

Sean Connery had vowed he was never going to return as James Bond after 1971’s Diamonds Are Forever. Meanwhile, a man called Kevin McClory had agreed not to exercise his screen rights to the story of Thunderball until 1975. Yet the highest profile ‘unofficial’ Bond project would bring them both together, as Never Say Never Again did battle with the official 007 film Octopussy at the 1983 box office.

A different battle played out in 1999, as Robert De Niro took the plunge into comedy with Analyze This. It’d be an early hit in a year that was awash with them – yet the idea of a mob boss seeing a shrink, that seemed original when the film was conceived – was about to slam head-first into a brand new TV show…...

Ranker is a popular place on the Internet where people can rank whatever they want, however, they want, and whenever they want. This is always a fan-focused ranking system, and it is never officially tied to the people behind the projects in question. Recently, a large survey was organized on Ranker, whose goal was to determine the best James Bond films of all time. The list includes 26 titles in total, but in our report, we have decided to list the top ten films from the site to provide you with better insight, combined with our original comments and opinions, which will add flavor to the whole report.

Of course, since this is indeed an important list, we have decided to report on it, so we are going to bring you the results by listing the top 10 movies on this list, from 10th to first place. We hope you’ll enjoy it!

James Bond: a franchise known for its complex web of deceit, high-stakes power struggles, and bitter rivalries. In a world where alliances are easily forged and broken, the players are always looking for an angle to gain the upper hand. A realm where secrets are currency and the truth is only revealed to those who hold power. A landscape marked by twists and turns, where loyalties are tested, and betrayals are commonplace.

And I’m not even talking about the seminal spy’s escapades! Behind the martini-sipping, globe-trotting, and high-octane action, an arguably more intriguing drama has unfolded for decades. Welcome to the battle over James Bond film intellectual rights, where real-life drama might be more thrilling than any fictional plot. Where producers and studios engage in a game of cat and mouse, and the prize is control over the most iconic spy franchise in history.

One of the most...

The James Bond franchise has been a staple of the espionage genre for decades, beginning in 1953 with Ian Fleming's iconic book series starring the British super spy. The character designated 007, became the most famous fictional spy of all time thanks to his appearance in multiple films, beginning with 1962's Dr. No.

Over the last sixty years, seven actors have portrayed James Bond in twenty-five films from Eon Productions. With Daniel Craig now retired from the role and producers on the hunt for the next Bond, the franchise stands at a tipping point. In anticipation of the eighth 007, learn more about the various actors who played James Bond and what their eras brought to the franchise.

James Bond Eras

Bond Actor

Films

Tenure

Sean Connery

Dr. No

1961-1967, 1970-1971, 1982-1983

From Russia With Love

Goldfinger

Thunderball

You Only Live Twice

Diamonds Are Forever

Never Say Never Again (non-Eon)

David Niven...

James Bond movies are based on Ian Fleming's novels, but not all follow the source material closely. Different actors bring their own interpretations to the role of Bond, making each version unique. The future of the franchise looks promising with Aaron Taylor-Johnson rumored to be the next 007.

Watching all the James Bond movies in order is a huge undertaking and requires a little investigating into the franchise's history in order to pull off. Based on the books by Ian Fleming, the MI6 agent was inspired by Flemings time in the British Naval Intelligence Division while serving in World War II. There are 40 Bond books written by six different authors, but Flemings original 14 founded the entire spy-filled universe. The order of the 007 films does not follow the correct order of Flemings novels. Casino Royale was written by Fleming in 1953, followed by Live and Let Die and Moonraker.

However,...