The most recent James Bond movie, No Time to Die, had an ending unlike any its predecessors and opened the way to a whole new approach to the cinematic powerhouse — including, at some point soon, a new James Bond. The film wrapped up Daniel Craig's days as 007, and speculation is running hot about what lies ahead for Ian Fleming's superspy.
The latest twist in the spy saga is this: Amazon MGM Studios is gaining creative control of the Bond franchise in a new arrangement with longtime Bond legacy guardians Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson. (They'll remain co-owners of the franchise through a new joint venture). Amazon founder Jeff Bezos stirred the pot Thursday with a post to Instagram asking all of us, "Who'd you pick as the next Bond?"
It's Amazon MGM Studios that will be setting the mission going forward. If you want a sense of where things might be headed, it'll be good to know how we got to where we are now. Or where to start watching, if you're new to the films and want to catch up that way.
See also: I'm Keeping Max and Prime Video at the Top of My Streaming List for February
You may hear No Time to Die referred to as Bond 25, but that's not quite the whole story. It's the 25th installment in the Bond franchise from Eon Productions, which dates all the way back to 1962 and the debut of Dr. No, a modestly budgeted film that proved a hit and launched Sean Connery in a career-defining role. But there are also two other, unofficial Bond movies — one of them starring Connery himself. (Plot twists aren't limited to the individual film scripts, you know.) So that's 27 in total.
It's a lot to dig into. The James Bond movie franchise is a pop culture institution featuring one of the most indelible movie characters of all time — a suave, stylish secret agent played by six different actors — as well as spectacular stunts, gorgeous locales and arguably the best movie theme music ever. Even if you've never seen a Bond movie, you probably know something about 007: the timeless pose (man in tux, pistol in hand), the cocktail catchphrase ("vodka martini, shaken not stirred"), Blofeld the Bond villain, famously lampooned as Dr. Evil.
Over the years, there have been serious phases and silly phases, and Pierce Brosnan gives you a very different Bond from Connery, Craig or Roger Moore. I got started watching back in the Connery era, so I'm forever, um, bonded to those movies. But for contemporary audiences, I'm going with a different recommendation for which Bond movie to watch first and where to go from there.
Daniel Craig means business as MI6 secret agent James Bond, aka 007. Greg Williams/Getty Images
Start with Daniel Craig in Casino Royale
Daniel Craig's first outing as James Bond is a terrific spy/action movie, period. It's heart-poundingly good. But Casino Royale (2006) also did what no previous Bond movie could do: It completely rebooted the franchise, blowing up a formula that many saw as played out, with far-fetched gimmicks and belabored puns, even as it remained a steady box office draw. It's based on Ian Fleming's very first Bond novel and gives us Bond very much as he was introduced to the world. It stays true to that original story in many essential ways (not a hallmark of Bond movies in general) while at the same time updating it for modern audiences attuned to the Jason Bourne and Mission: Impossible movies.
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