Roger Moore Picks the Goofiest Bond Film as His Favorite — You Won’t Believe Which One It Is!
OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
As speculation intensifies over who will next don the iconic tuxedo, with Theo James currently the bookies’ favorite, fans are reflecting on the legacy left by Bond actors past. But when it comes to the franchise’s best film, what do the six men who have played 007 think? The answers are revealing, nostalgic—and surprisingly, “Casino Royale” is nowhere to be found on their list.
A Clear Favorite Emerges
Sean Connery, Timothy Dalton, and Daniel Craig—three actors from distinctly different Bond eras—have all declared From Russia With Love (1963) as their favorite. For Connery, the choice is deeply personal, as he starred in the film himself. He told the Golden Globes, “On the Bond front, it would be From Russia With Love, because that story worked.” Dalton echoed this sentiment at the franchise’s 40th anniversary, praising the film’s tight storytelling and atmospheric espionage.
Daniel Craig, who closed out his Bond run with No Time to Die, initially also cited From Russia With Love and the very first film, Dr. No, as his favorites. “They’re great, just the best; they’re two of my favorite movies. Sean Connery being physical, scary, complicated, bad—all those things about the character,” he said in a CHUD interview.
Yet, as the years passed, Craig’s perspective evolved. In a GQ interview, he ultimately named Goldfinger (1964) as his top pick, reflecting, “Goldfinger, I think, is my favorite James Bond movie. I love Dr No, but it was sort of where Sean Connery became the James Bond that we know and love.”
Other Bonds, Other Favorites
Roger Moore, who gave the world a wittier, more tongue-in-cheek Bond, chose the film that directly preceded his own debut as 007. Diamonds Are Forever (1971) got his vote, thanks to its playful tone and sharp one-liners—traits that foreshadowed Moore’s own style in the role.
Pierce Brosnan, meanwhile, joined Craig in praising Goldfinger. For Brosnan, seeing the film as a ten-year-old in rural Ireland was a formative experience. “James Bond has been part of my cinematic heritage, as it were, as an actor,” he reflected, noting the film’s lasting impression.
George Lazenby, the only one-and-done Bond, naturally gravitated toward his sole outing, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969). Once overlooked, the film has seen its reputation rise dramatically over the decades, even making it into Rotten Tomatoes’ top 10 Bond movies and receiving high praise from directors like Christopher Nolan.
Casino Royale: A Modern Classic, But Not a Favorite
Strikingly, 2006’s Casino Royale—a film many fans rank among the very best—doesn’t make the cut for any of the actors. Instead, nostalgia reigns, with Connery’s foundational performances and the franchise’s early classics capturing the admiration of the men who embodied Bond.
A Legacy of Personal Favorites
From Connery’s shadowy intrigue to Moore’s humor and Craig’s brute intensity, each Bond brought something unique to the role. But when it comes to their favorite films, the actors’ choices reveal a shared reverence for the franchise’s formative years—a testament to the enduring appeal of classic Bond. And as a new 007 looms on the horizon, the debate over the “best Bond film” is as lively as ever.