All 5 of Daniel Craig’s James Bond movies ranked from worst to best

1. Casino Royale

• Release Date: Nov. 17, 2006
• Director: Martin Campbell
• Writer: Neal Purvis, Robert Wade, and Paul Haggis
• Cast: Daniel Craig, Eva Green, Mads Mikkelsen, Giancarlo Giannini, Jeffrey Wright, Judi Dench, Tobias Menzies, Isaach de Bankolé, and more 
• Where to stream: Amazon Prime Video, FuboTV, and MGM+
• Where to rent or buy: Apple TV+, Amazon Video, Google Play, VUDU, Redbox, and more

Casino Royale is Craig’s first James Bond movie, and it’s also his best James Bond movie. It’s not that I don’t love where the story goes with Craig and 007 following Casino Royale (I do!), but there’s something great about a lower stakes Bond movie than what we get in Quantum of Solace, Skyfall, Spectre, and No Time to Die.

In Casino Royale, Bond thwarts a terrorist attack, which leads him to a high-stakes poker game in Montenegro to stop the man behind the terrorist attack, Le Chiffre, to win his money. Le Chiffre also has ties to Spectre among other criminals and their organizations from the world of Bond. Bond tries to stay one step ahead of Le Chiffre and other adversaries.

Overall, Casino Royale is one of the best-rated of Craig’s Bond movies, as well. The events of Casino Royale shape the person Bond is and who becomes throughout the five-movie series. There are clear threads that connect this story, and as a Bond fan, I definitely appreciate that storytelling.

Casino Royale also introduces fans to a much more emotionally invested Bond. Craig is incredible in the role, and he gives a level of acting prowess and range unmatched by any of the other Bond actors.