Moore’s peak. A perfect Bond film featuring the submarine-catching Liparus tanker, the henchman Jaws, and the iconic Lotus Esprit that turns into a submarine.

Roger Moore’s last ride. He was 57; his co-star, Grace Jones, was 37. Features Christopher Walken as a psychotic microchip mogul and a fantastic Duran Duran theme song. The Dalton Era (The Dark Realist) 15. The Living Daylights (1987) Timothy Dalton brings the edge back. A tense cold-war thriller involving sniper double-crosses and cello cases.

A gritty, violent revenge flick. Bond goes rogue to avenge his friend’s maiming by a drug lord (Robert Davi). It felt like Miami Vice on steroids. The Brosnan Era (The 90s Comeback) 17. GoldenEye (1995) The reboot before reboots were cool. Pierce Brosnan arrives with the BMW Z3, Xenia Onatopp (the best henchman name ever), and a tank chase through St. Petersburg.

The template for every blockbuster that followed. The Aston Martin DB5, the laser beam, the golden man himself, and Pussy Galore. Essential viewing.

A back-to-basics approach after Moonraker . Less gadgets, more realistic skiing and climbing. Bond seeks revenge for the murder of a marine biologist.

The "Bond in Space" entry. Trying to cash in on Star Wars . It is absurd (laser guns, pigeons doing double-takes), but visually stunning.

The first time we see Blofeld’s face (sort of). Bond fakes his death and goes to Japan. Features the classic "Little Nellie" autogyro scene.