What this chronology covers
This verified timeline presents the chronology of James Bond movies in production order and release year, from the first Eon film to the most recent official entry. It focuses on canonical feature films released by major studios under the Eon Productions banner, omitting stage adaptations, fan projects, and unproduced concepts. Each entry lists the lead actor and the year of first release to clarify continuity for long-term viewers and new audiences alike.
Early era: Dr. No to Goldfinger
The original Eon series launched in the early 1960s, establishing visual style and casting patterns that influenced the franchise for decades. These three films anchored Bond as a globally recognizable icon, pairing modest budgets with international locations and midcentury production design. Although box office results varied, each film expanded the market for action-thrillers and spy cinema worldwide.
Dr. No (1962)
- Starring Sean Connery
- Production: Eon Productions/United Artists
- Released: 1962
From Russia with Love (1963)
- Starring Sean Connery
- Production: Eon Productions/United Artists
- Released: 1963
Goldfinger (1964)
- Starring Sean Connery
- Production: Eon Productions/United Artists
- Released: 1964
The 1970s: Connery returns and the glitz era
After a brief hiatus, the franchise shifted tone with bigger sets and musical numbers. Sean Connery returned for one film amid a mix of established and new leading men. The decade highlighted the tension between spectacle and espionage, influencing later revivals of grittier storytelling.
Thunderball (1965)
- Starring Sean Connery
- Production: Eon Productions/United Artists
- Released: 1965
You Only Live Twice (1967)
- Starring Sean Connery
- Production: Eon Productions/United Artists
- Released: 1967
On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969)
- Starring George Lazenby
- Production: Eon Productions/United Artists
- Released: 1969
Diamonds Are Forever (1971)
- Starring Sean Connery
- Production: Eon Productions/United Artists
- Released: 1971
Live and Let Die (1973)
- Starring Roger Moore
- Production: Eon Productions/United Artists
- Released: 1973
The Man with the Golden Gun (1974)
- Starring Roger Moore
- Production: Eon Productions/United Artists
- Released: 1974
The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)
- Starring Roger Moore
- Production: Eon Productions/United Artists
- Released: 1977
Moonraker (1979)
- Starring Roger Moore
- Production: Eon Productions/United Artists
- Released: 1979
The 1980s: Moore to Dalton
Roger Moore’s tenure brought a distinct mid-80s style, while Timothy Dalton attempted a more serious tone. The era bridged practical effects-driven adventures and early CGI experiments, culminating in the franchise’s first reboot with Brosnan.
For Your Eyes Only (1981)
- Starring Roger Moore
- Production: Eon Productions/United Artists
- Released: 1981
Octopussy (1983)
- Starring Roger Moore
- Production: Eon Productions/United Artists
- Released: 13 May 1983
Never Say Never Again (1983)
- Starring Sean Connery
- Production: Jack Schwartzman/Lorenzo Semple Jr., not Eon; distribution by Warner Bros.
- Released: 1983
A View to a Kill (1985)
- Starring Roger Moore
- Production: Eon Productions/United Artists
- Released: 1985
The Living Daylights (1987)
- Starring Timothy Dalton
- Production: Eon Productions/United Artists
- Released: 1987
Licence to Kill (1989)
- Starring Timothy Dalton
- Production: Eon Productions/United Artists
- Released: 1989
1990s reboot: Brosnan era
Following Dalton’s shorter run, the franchise rebooted with Pierce Brosnan in 1995. This period modernized gadgetry and set pieces while maintaining humor and global locations. The era closed with Brosnan’s final Bond film before Daniel Craig’s grittier reinterpretation.
GoldenEye (1995)
- Starring Pierce Brosnan
- Production: Eon Productions/United Artists
- Released: 1995
GoldenEye (1995)
- Starring Pierce Brosnan
- Production: Eon Productions/United Artists
- Released: 1995
Tomorrow Never Dies (1997)
- Starring Pierce Brosnan
- Production: Eon Productions/United Artists
- Released: 1997
The World Is Not Enough (1999)
- Starring Pierce Brosnan
- Production: Eon Productions/United Artists
- Released: 1999
Die Another Day (2002)
- Starring Pierce Brosnan
- Production: Eon Productions/United Artists
- Released: 2002
2000s–2020s: Craig, Dalton returns, and modern continuity
The 21st century brought darker, grounded storytelling and shared continuity under Eon Productions. Daniel Craig’s tenure emphasized character depth and serialized elements. A brief, ill-fated Dalton return occurred between Brosnan and Craig. The most recent entry concluded the Craig era with a character-focused finale.
Casino Royale (2006)
- Starring Daniel Craig
- Production: Eon Productions/Columbia Pictures
- Released: 2006
Quantum of Solace (2008)
- Starring Daniel Craig
- Production: Eon Productions/Columbia Pictures
- Released: 2008
Skyfall (2012)
- Starring Daniel Craig
- Production: Eon Productions/Columbia Pictures
- Released: 2012
Spectre (20 (2015)
- Starring Daniel Craig
- Production: Eon Productions/Columbia Pictures
- Released: 2015
No Time to Die (2021)
- Starring Daniel Craig
- Production: Eon Productions/Columbia Pictures
- Released: 2021
Comparative overview at a glance
The table below summarizes key data for each canonical Eon Bond film, focusing on the leading actor and release year. This format is intended to support quick orientation across eras and casting periods.
| Release Year | Title | Lead Actor | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 | Dr. No | Sean Connery | First Eon Bond film |
| 1963 | From Russia with Love | Sean Connery | |
| 1964 | Goldfinger | Sean Connery | |
| 1965 | Thunderball | Sean Connery | |
| 1967 | You Only Live Twice | Sean Connery | |
| 1969 | On Her Majesty’s Secret Service | George Lazenby | Only Lazenby film |
| 1971 | Diamonds Are Forever | Sean Connery | |
| 1973 | Live and Let Die | Roger Moore | |
| 1974 | The Man with the Golden Gun | Roger Moore | |
| 1977 | The Spy Who Loved Me | Roger Moore | |
| 1979 | Moonraker | Roger Moore | |
| 1981 | For Your Eyes Only | Roger Moore | |
| 1983 | Octopussy | Roger Moore | |
| 1983 | Never Say Never Again | Sean Connery | Not an Eon production |
| 1985 | A View to a Kill | Roger Moore | |
| 1987 | The Living Daylights | Timothy Dalton | |
| 1989 | Licence to Kill | Timothy Dalton | |
| 1995 | GoldenEye | Pierce Brosnan | Eon reboot |
| 1997 | Tomorrow Never Dies | Pierce Brosnan | |
| 1999 | The World Is Not Enough | Pierce Brosnan | |
| 2002 | Die Another Day | Pierce Brosnan | |
| 2006 | Casino Royale | Daniel Craig | Craig reboot |
| 2008 | Quantum of Solace | Daniel Craig | |
| 2012 | Skyfall | Daniel Craig | |
| 2015 | Spectre | Daniel Craig | |
| 2021 | No Time to Die | Daniel Craig | Most recent Eon release |
Notes on non-Eon and unproduced projects
Outside the Eon series, Kevin McClory produced the film Thunderball and held legal rights that enabled the 1983 project Never Say Never Again, a non-Eon remake of Thunderball starring Sean Connery. As of production notes, no current Eon projects are in development, though the brand and characters remain active under ongoing rights management.
Common questions about the chronology
- Which film started the James Bond movie series? Dr. No (1962) starring Sean Connery.
- Which actor has appeared in the most Eon Bond films? Sean Connery (6 canonical Eon films).
- Is every Bond film produced by Eon Productions? Most are; Never Say Never Again was not an Eon production.
- What is the most recent James Bond movie? No Time to Die (2021).
- How are official James Bond movies defined here? Canonical feature films released under Eon Productions with wide theatrical distribution.
Terms to know
- Eon Productions: The long-running production company behind the majority of official Bond films.
- Canonical: Recognized as part of the official film series continuity for storytelling and attribution.
- Reboot: A film that resets continuity, often with a new actor and origin-focused storytelling (e.g., Casino Royale 2006).
Next steps for viewers
If you are exploring the chronology of James Bond movies, you can watch in release order to observe evolving style and casting, or group by actor to compare performances. The table above helps you quickly locate films by year and lead performer.
Sources and verification notes
Date and attribution details are drawn from publicly available production records and studio archives. Release years, lead cast, and Eon Productions credits are treated as verified for canonical titles. Distributor arrangements for non-Eon exceptions are noted where relevant.