A Bond title must convey many elements of the Bond formula in just a few brief words. Glamour, danger, sexiness, international locations! Try coming up with three words that capture all these.
Some Bond titles have done this amazingly well. Today, the 007 folks took a stab at with just one little word when they unveiled the title of the upcoming 24th installment in the series: “Spectre.” How does the latest name stack up? Here”s our complete ranking of Bond titles through the years:
24. Quantum of Solace
“Placeholder of Something” wasn”t available?
23. Octopussy
There are people who think this is the best named Bond film. We”re very glad we don”t know any of those people.
22. Goldeneye
All that is gold does not glitter. Time for Mr. Bond to get a new favorite color.
21. Tomorrow Never Dies
And I hear the sun will come out then too. And hey, isn”t it always a day away?
20. Skyfall
Did Chicken Little get a license to kill too?
19.. The World is Not Enough
And neither is this name. Where Bond titles crossover into luggage ads
18. Die Another Day
And try another title.
17. The Living Daylights
Nice try but sounds more like a real estate listing than a spy thriller.
16. Thunderball
The silliest named of the Connery classics. Only redeemed by the fact that it also inspired the silliest of Bond theme songs, sung by Tom Jones himself.
15. Licence to Kill
Oh, really, he”s got one of those. You never mentioned that….Yawn..
14. Never Say Never Again
This title makes me want to say “Never Say Never Again” again and again.
14. Spectre
Back to basics, menacing sounding title for back to basics Bond era.
13. The Man With The Golden Gun
Just one guy with a gun? After saving the world a dozen times, we have to make do with that? You can paint a pistol yellow, it”s still no Doomsday device.
12. Goldfinger
The movie and the song are so perfect, one”s tempted not to want to look too closely at this title. Trust that instinct, because when you do it”s darn silly.
11. Moonraker
After two decades, Bond finally was ready for lift off. It”s hard to keep that edge of dangerous glamour in a spacesuit, but this title does it.
10. For Your Eyes Only
When the double meaning fits, wear it. But a bit on the nose.
9. Casino Royale
The dice rolled lucky 7 on this one. This title that summed up Bond”s high stakes, glamorous world was so good they used it twice.
8. On Her Majesty”s Secret Service
Reporting for duty, armed to the teeth – with popcorn.
7. A View To a Kill
Still have no idea what this means, but it”s exciting!
6. Diamonds are Forever
And diamond titles are a spy”s best friend.
5. You Only Live Twice
The first great Bond wordplay title; father to a great tradition.
4. The Spy Who Loved Me
Almost nobody does it better than this title, except the three below.
3. From Russia With Love
The epitome of the exotic glamour of the Bond series
2. Dr. No
The first Bond title got it second best.Doctor yes please!
1. Live and Let Die
The Bond ethos in four words. The song writes itself!