Every Sean Connery Bond movie - RANKED

For many James Bond fans, the best incarnation of 007 will always be Sean Connery.

Connery was the first man to don the tuxedo to play Bond all the way back in 1962 with Dr. No.

Recent films that turn the gaming table into a pressure cooker

Monday 19 October 2026, 13:48

Why Casinos Remain a Popular Setting in Crime Dramas

Thursday 15 October 2026, 11:53

The most successful movie in the Bond franchise is Skyfall which grossed an astonishing $1.1 billion at the box office. However, when adjusted for inflation, the most successful is actually the Connery-led Goldfinger which, if released at today's ticket prices, would have grossed $1.2bn.

Interestingly, Connery stepped away from the franchise for one movie which led to George Lazenby taking on the role for On Her Majesty's Secret Service. When Lazenby didn't return for the next movie, producers paid Connery a record $1.25 million to return as 007 for Diamonds Are Forever.

In 1983, the Scot returned as Bond in Never Say Never Again, but that movie was not produced by Eon and is not recognised as an official James Bond movie.

Within our MovieMeter community, there are naturally various James Bond movies that have received hugely positive responses. By subscribing to become a member of the MovieMeter community HERE, you can rate all of your favourite movies - and some of your least favourite ones.

According to our community, the best Bond movie with Connery playing the character is Goldfinger. That movie featured arguably the most famous Bond scene of all time in which 007 is at the mercy of a fatal laser which is steadily making its way towards him.

"Do you expect me to talk?"

"No, Mister Bond, I expect you to die!"

From Russia With Love is second, while the first ever Bond movie, Dr. No, is third. Our community believes Diamonds Are Forever is Connery's worst official Bond film.

Best Sean Connery Bond film

1. Goldfinger

3.58 (2076)

Goldfinger (1964)

The Bank of England has discovered that someone has stolen large stocks of gold and they suspect trader Auric Goldfinger as involved. The bank hires James Bond to unravel the mystery.

Directed by: Guy Hamilton
Stars: Sean Connery, Honor Blackman and Gert Fröbe

2. From Russia With Love

3.42 (1785)

From Russia with Love (1963)

British secret agent James Bond is sent to Istanbul by his employer to try to get his hands on the Russian decryption machine Lektor with the help of Russian embassy employee Tatiana Romanova. The Russians know nothing about this, however, and it appears to be a trap for the secretive and criminal organization SPECTER to kill Bond, in revenge for the death of their prominent associate Dr. no.

Directed by: Terence Young
Stars: Sean Connery, Daniela Bianchi and Lotte Lenya

3. Dr. No

3.4 (1985)

Dr. No (1962)

British secret agent James Bond arrives in Jamaica to investigate the puzzling murders of his colleague and secretary. Aided by CIA agent Felix Leiter and his local aide and boatswain Quarrel, Bond discovers a connection between the murders and Dr. Julius No, called Crab Key. Bond and Quarrel make it undetected to the beach of Krab Key and meet the attractive shell collector Honey Rider. She tells them about a fire-breathing monster that appears on Krab Key from time to time.

Directed by: Terence Young
Stars: Sean Connery, Ursula Andress and Joseph Wiseman

4. You Only Live Twice

3.21 (1465)

You Only Live Twice (1967)

James Bond takes action when a manned space flight is hijacked, threatening a nuclear war. In Japan, he tracks down the perpetrators, the global crime organization SPECTRE, where Bond's nemesis, Ernst Stavro Blofeld, is in control. With the help of the Japanese secret service, Bond does everything he can to prevent World War III.

Directed by: Lewis Gilbert
Stars: Sean Connery, Akiko Wakabayashi and Donald Pleasence

5. Thunderball

3.2 (1459)

Thunderball (1965)

When a British bomber is stolen with two atomic bombs on board, James Bond is called in to track down the plane. The perpetrators announce that they have the plane in their possession and will use the bombs if they do not receive 100 million in polished diamonds within a short time. As the clock ticks, Bond finds a trail that leads to the Bahamas.

Directed by: Terence Young
Stars: Sean Connery, Claudine Auger and Adolfo Celi

6. Diamonds Are Forever

3.03 (1563)

Diamonds Are Forever (1971)

James Bond tracks down an extensive diamond smuggling operation in Amsterdam. There he also meets the seductive Tiffany Case, who turns out to be as beautiful as he is dangerous. The trail then leads to Las Vegas, where Bond has to endure some very inventive assassination attempts. Slowly but surely, Bond learns that his nemesis Ernst Blofeld has a hand in both the diamond smuggling and assassination attempts.

Directed by: Guy Hamilton
Stars: Sean Connery, Jill St. John and Charles Gray