This was supposed to be a significant time for James Bond fans. No Time To Die would not only be the official 25th Bond movie but the swan song for Daniel Craig in the role of the super-spy. Sadly, the coronavirus pandemic has put the film's release off a bit. That's led to embarrassment by several magazines who'd been doing "Bond retrospectives." But, it also gives fans more time to look back at past Bond movies and see how they work.

It's tricky as some folks have a different view on which actor is the best Bond or which movies work better than others. Some films have not aged well in either the action or the tone. Others are genuinely timeless in how well they work. All show how Bond has a vibe no other movie franchise can touch. Here is how the past 25 Bond movies rank to explain why 007 has such a passionate fanbase.

25 Die Another Day Is Like A Cartoon

Madonna In Die Another Day Fencing
via: pinterest

The beginning of this movie is excellent, with Bond recovering from captivity. Halle Berry is also terrific as Jinx. Then it goes off the rails with an ice palace, a laser satellite, a Madonna cameo, and an invisible car.

The CGI is horrendous, and the villain is one of the lamest ever. It's no wonder the franchise had to reboot with Craig to escape the stench of this film.

24 Never Say Never Again Is Just A Retread

Sean Connery as Bond in Never Say Never Again
via: The Decider

Technically not part of the real series, this 1983 movie was pushed by Connery reprising his iconic role. Sadly, he was stuck in a retread of Thunderball rather than something fun. It also goes too far "modernizing" Bond with him playing a video game at one point.

Kim Basinger is fun as his lady, but Connery's age hampered his attempt at a comeback in the part.

23 Quantum Of Solace Is Just Boring

Daniel Craig and Olga Kurlenkyo in Quantum Of Solace
via: The Guardian

Daniel Craig's second outing as Bond nearly killed the franchise. The plot is way too complicated with water rights and a secret organization while the villain is downright lame.

The fact is, the movie is just plain dull without any major set pieces to push the action. Even Craig himself seems bored.

22 The Man With The Golden Gun Wastes Its Potential

James Bond vs Christopher Lee Man With Golden Gun
via: Den Of Geek

This movie should have worked. It has a great Thailand setting, and Christopher Lee as a Bond villain should be spectacular. Instead, we get rough action, and the bits of Bond engaging in kung-fu are painful.

Lee hunting Bond would have been fine without the "giant laser" plot thrown in. It's not a terrible film, but wastes the potential to be a great one.

21 Moonraker Is Too Sci-Fi

James Bond in Moonraker Space Station scene
via: The Action Elite

Influenced by the success of Star Wars, this movie goes too overboard. Hugo Drax is a compelling villain, but it also turns the imposing Jaws into a lovestruck sympathetic figure. There's great scenery, but the story doesn't flow well.

Even by Bond standards, the fight on a space station is over-the-top, and the final scene is dumb. It shows Bond always works much better grounded to Earth.

Related: 15 Surprising Facts About James Bond We Never Knew

20 Diamonds Are Forever Overuses Its American Influence

James Bond and Plenty O'Toole At casino
via: metacritic

On paper, Bond in Las Vegas should be an intriguing sight. But the movie falters with a bad take on Blofeld and a nonsensical plot. There are also cartoonish bits of the weird assassins and 007 seems more like a cop than a secret agent.

It shows how Bond works better in more exotic settings, and Sean Connery deserved a better send-off in the official films.

19 Octopussy Is As Wild As Its Title

Roger Moore As A Clown Defusing a Bomb
via: Den of Geek

The movie does boast a gorgeous Indian setting, and some intriguing turns in its plot. Also, Maud Adams is fantastic as the titular character who wonderfully clicks with Moore and some intriguing villains.

But, it's also a movie where Bond defuses a nuclear bomb while dressed like a clown and too many bad gags make it a near parody of a Bond film.

18 The World Is Not Enough Doesn't Have Much Fun

Denise Richards as Christmas Jones meeting James Bond
via: medium.com

The plot of the movie is okay, but it just doesn't click enough on screen. Denise Richards as a nuclear scientist is ludicrous casting, but Sophie Marceau is fun as the cunning Elektra. However, the film doesn't do enough with Robert Carlyle's supposedly tough villain.

It has an excellent farewell to Desmond Llewelyn's Q, but ends with a groaner of a joke for a weaker effort without much fun.

17 Spectre Is A Huge Letdown

Daniel Craig as Bond in Spectre party scene
via: Vox.com

The opening is great with a long Steadicam shot of Bond in a Mexican celebration than a helicopter fight. But it goes downhill with a predictable plot line and a blender turn by Craig as Bond.

The film wastes the casting of Christopher Waltz as the villain, and the action lags. It's not that it's bad so much that it had the potential to be something great, but never reached that level

16 Live And Let Die Is Too Exploitive

Roger Moore Live And Let Die voodoo ceremony scene
via: macintoshandmaud.com

Roger Moore's first turn as Bond is pretty offbeat. It's more like the "Blacksploitation" films of the 1970s as Bond tangles with a drug lord in New Orleans, and the voodoo aspects are truly bizarre.

Jane Seymour is compelling as the mysterious Solitaire, and there's a fantastic boat chase, yet it doesn't feel like a "true" Bond movie.

Related: 20 Actors Who Can Play A Better James Bond Than Daniel Craig

15 A View To A Kill Shows Moore Should Have Quit Earlier

Christopher Walken and Grace as Max and May Day, A View To A Kill
Via: imdb.com

Even Roger Moore admitted he should have quit the role earlier. His age is distracting as it's harder to buy Bond in chases or hanging from a runaway zeppelin. Also, Tanya Roberts may be one of the worst Bond girls ever.

However, the film boasts the inspired casting of Christopher Walken and Grace Jones as the villains to help it stand out and end Moore's tenure nicely.

14 The Living Daylights Proves Dalton Should Have Lasted Longer

Timothy Dalton as Bond climbing a cliff
via: We LIve Entertainment

It's a shame Timothy Dalton didn't last longer as 007, as he fit the role perfectly. The plot can be convoluted with Bond tracking an arms dealer, but Dalton gives the character a fresh dark edge.

The scene of Bond aiding Afghan fighters is rougher to watch today, but Dalton shows the charm and danger that made a compelling Bond.

13 Tomorrow Never Dies Is Overblown

James Bond
via: twitter.com

Brosnan's second outing doesn't click as well as it should. Jonathan Pryce is too over the top as a media mogul trying to start a war, and some of the action scenes don't click either. It also wastes players like Teri Hatcher.

Yet Michelle Yeoh is terrific as Chinese agent Wai Lin to spark up an otherwise rough Bond entry.

12 You Only Live Twice Has An Exotic Charm

James Bond And Blofeld Cat in You Only Live Twice
via: 24/7wallst.com

Okay, the part where Bond poses as a "Japanese" man is laughable. However, this movie does have a lot going for it with Tiger Tanaka a fine aide. Also, Donald Pleasance is superb as master villain Blofeld.

The plot is solid, and the final battle inside a volcano base is a show-stealer as only the Bond movies can pull off.

11 License To Kill Offers A Darker Bond Tale

Timothy Dalton As Rogue Bond firing spear gun
via: collectors.com

Dalton's last turn is a much darker 007 adventure. When a good friend is attacked by a drug lord, Bond quits MI-6 and goes on a quest for revenge. Seeing Bond cut loose is intriguing as he plays a game of cat and mouse with Robert Davi's villain.

It may be a darker adventure, but it shows how dangerous Bond truly is.

Related: 14 Things You Didn't Know About James Bond's Aston Martins

10 Casino Royale Gave Us A New Take On Bond

Daniel Craig As Bond in Casino Royale
via: Empire Magazine

Taking obvious inspiration from the Bourne movies, Daniel Craig's first outing had a different 007. Gone were the crazy gadgets and world-conquering plots as we get a rough Bond engaging in a card game to take down an arms dealer.

The action is more gripping, and Eva Green and Mads Mikkelsen are standouts. It pays off to prove Bond still works in today's world.

9 For Your Eyes Only Is A Grounded But Fun Adventure

Roger Moore As Bond rock climbing
via: cinefilesmoviereviews.com

The most grounded of the Moore movies, the plot is simple as Bond has to recover a stolen computer. Yet it works nicely with a fine supporting turn from Topol. Also, Carole Bouquet is one of the most stunning Bond Girls ever.

Moore shows a darker side to his Bond, and the ending is a great payoff to a restrained but still terrific outing.

8 Dr. No: The First Is Still One Of The Best

Sean Connery and Ursula Andress in Dr No beach meeting
via: readitandweep.com

It may seem low-key compared to future entries, but the first Bond movie is still one of the best. Connery proved he had the role in hand from the start with his charm and style. Ursula Andress also became an icon as the first Bond Girl, Honey Ryder.

The plot is perfectly over-the-top, yet still nuanced with action and shows how it began the longest-running franchise in movie history.

7 On Her Majesty's Secret Service Is The Most Moving Of The Movies

James Bond George Lanzby confronts Teddy Savalas as Blofeld
via: nerdist.com

George Lazenby gets flack for having to follow Connery, but his sole outing as 007 is still fabulous to watch. Telly Savalas got an Oscar nomination as Blofeld while Diana Rigg is sensational as the feisty Tracy.

The plot is wild and the ending the most tragic in the franchise to make this the most personal of all the Bond movies and proves how Lazenby deserves more respect.

6 Skyfall Was A Great Anniversary Celebration

Daniel Craig and Javier Bardem confrontation in Skyfall
via: pinterest.com

007 celebrated his 50th anniversary in style with the best of the Craig movies. The idea of a broken Bond is compelling, and Craig handles it well. It helps he has a great supporting cast with Ralph Fiennes and Ben Whishaw as the new Q.

Javier Bardem chews up the scenery as the baddie with a fun dynamic with Bond. The climax being a low-key house attack is interesting as it closes one chapter of the franchise but opens up another.

Related: 17 Actors Who Almost Played James Bond