All 6 James Bond actors ranked from worst to best

2. Sean Connery

I have a feeling a lot of people are going to disagree with this selection. Sean Connery is James Bond. There’s no doubt about it. The man is 007.

Connery was the first to play the womanizing super spy created by Ian Fleming. This is an iconic performance and an iconic character. There’s no debate that Connery’s James Bond is up there with Luke Skywalker, Indiana Jones, Rocky, Batman, and more among the best characters of all time in film history. Connery set the tone for the character to be continued by so many great actors.

For me, it comes down to the depth of the character and what they stand for. Daniel Craig, who takes the top spot as the best James Bond ever, is much more interesting than Connery’s James Bond. He’s almost too handsome, too smooth, and too larger-than-life. It works in many of the older Bond movies, but there’s no way that vibe would work right now.

There’s nothing wrong with Connery’s Bond. I think it’s more about how versatile Craig is and the depth he brings to the character that makes him the better James Bond than Connery.

Sean Connery’s James Bond movies: 

• Dr. No (1962)
• From Russia With Love (1963)
• Goldfinger (1964)
• Thunderball (1965)
• You Only Live Twice (1967)
• Diamonds Are Forever (1971)
• Never Say Never Again (1983)