This week, we were supposed to be watching the 25th official James Bond movie, No Time To Die, in theaters. Instead, thanks to the coronavirus outbreak, the latest adventure of British superspy 007, played for the fifth time by Daniel Craig, has been delayed until November. However, there are still a ton of great James Bond movies you can stream and binge-watch this week in its absence. Even better, a lot of them are available to watch for free for a limited time.
We have put together our list of the 10 best James Bond movies you can watch for the price of absolutely nothing. You will likely be both shaken and stirred by this list.
Where can I watch James Bond movies for free?
Right now there are two streaming services that offer free James Bond movies. One is Pluto TV, which has its own dedicated James Bond channel which runs through a number of those films 24/7. You can also watch 11 of the movies on demand. Keep in mind that Pluto TV is supported by ads.
The other source is through Epix, the movie cable channel service, via the Apple TV app. If you have that app installed on your iOS device, the Apple TV box, your Roku or Amazon Fire TV stick, set-top box or TV, or on your supported smart TV, you can go to the Epix channel and watch over 20 James Bond movies for free. This will last until May 2 and, best of all, you don’t need to sign up for a “free” trial; The Epix channel is automatically available to watch on the Apple TV app.
Best James Bond movies
1. Dr. No
The movie that started the longest running film franchise of all time was released in 1962. Producers Harry Saltzman and Albert R. Broccoli bought the rights to most of the James Bond spy novels written by Ian Fleming. However, after having actors like Cary Grant, David Niven, and James Mason pass on the role, the producers picked relative unknown Sean Connery to play 007. In retrospect, it’s hard to see anyone else in this role at this time. Connery was suave, but he was also tough as James Bond. He has to be in his first cinematic adventure as he takes on a plot to destroy America’s space program.
2. Goldfinger
The third James Bond movie in 1964 firmly establishes the formula for these films for a number of decades. That includes having a super-rich, but evil villain who wants to commit a huge crime. In this case, it’s Auric Goldfinger, played perfectly by Gert Fröbe, who wants to increase his gold supply by any means necessary. Connery is back in full force as 007, and he has to stop Goldfinger, and his dangerous henchmen Oddjob, from accomplishing this caper. He gets some help from his Aston-Martin DB5 “with modifications” like machine guns, oil slicks and more. It’s definitely one of the best James Bond movies. It also has the first truly memorable James Bond song, sung by Shirley Bassey
3. You Only Live Twice
Connery was getting tired of being James Bond by the time his fifth outing as 007 came about in 1967. However, that didn’t stop this movie from being very entertaining, and more than a little over the top. US and Soviet space capsules are being stolen in orbit, and each country blames the other. However, it’s the evil organization Spectre that’s to blame, and Bond has to stop the terrorist group from causing World War III. The finale of this movie takes place in Spectre’s volcano lair in Japan, and it’s spectacular. We also get the first full appearance of Spectre’s leader, Blofeld, played by Donald Pleasence .
4. On Her Majesty’s Secret Service
This is one of the best James Bond movies, but it sometimes gets short changed by even big 007 fans. That’s mainly due to the somewhat wooden performance by the “one-and-done” 007 actor George Lazenby. However, this film takes some risks in having Bond actually fall in love with one of his conquests, Tracy, played by Diana Rigg. The plot 007 has to foil this time is a threat against the world’s food supply. This movie also has an ending that might make you cry.
5. Live and Let Die
Roger Moore debuts as 007 in style in this 1973 movie. His version of Bond is more quick-witted than Connery, but that doesn’t mean Moore is a pushover. He has to deal with a small island nation’s leader who wants to flood the US with drugs. There are some great action sequences in this movie, and Yaphet Kotto is terrific as the main villain, Dr. Kanaga. We also get yet another terrific song by Paul McCartney and Wings.
6. The Spy Who Loved Me
We will skip over the fact that this movie’s plot, in which US and Soviet submarines are being stolen, is basically a remake of You Only Live Twice. This 1977 movie is Roger Moore’s best in the role as he has to stop a nuclear holocaust prepped by a rich megalomaniac who wants to instead live under the sea. Once again, there are some great action and stunt sequences including one of the franchise’s best at the beginning of this movie. We also get introduced to one of the movie’s most popular henchmen, Jaws, who comes back in 1979’s Moonraker.
7. The Living Daylights
Like Lazenby, Timothy Dalton doesn’t get as much respect as the other actors on this list for his work as James Bond. However, his debut in this 1987 entry is still entertaining, as he brings a tougher performance as Bond. This time, he has to deal with a Soviet general who says he wants to defect, but may not be as honest as he seems. There’s a great concluding action sequence in Afghanistan as well.
8. License to Kill
Dalton’s second and last run as 007 in 1989 takes a few risks with the standard James Bond movie formula. For much of the film Bond is no longer part of MI-6 as he goes on a personal vendetta against the South American drug lord who nearly killed his long time friend Felix Leiter, and did kill Leiter’s new bride. This film was also one of the most violent James Bond movies, but it still has an awesome final action sequence that’s still fun to watch.
9. Goldeneye
Six years after License to Kill, James Bond finally returned to movies. Pierce Brosnan looks like he was born to play 007. Thankfully he also has the acting chops to play both thought, like Connery and Dalton, but also as suave as Moore. This 1995 entry has Bond dealing with the after effects of the Cold War, as he has to fight off a villain who has stolen an orbiting EMP device, called Goldeneye. It’s without a doubt one of the best James Bond movies.
10. Tomorrow Never Dies
This 1995 entry has Bond, once again played by Brosnan, going up against a mad media tycoon. Jonathan Pryce’s Elliot Carver wants to engineer a war between China and the UK for his own purposes. Bond, of course, has to make sure Carver’s news organization doesn’t make a real war happen. There are some nice action sequences, including one where Bond remotely drives a car to take out enemies, and a final sequence on board Carver’s stealth boat.
Those are the best James Bond movies you can stream now for free. Which one will you watch first?