James Bond was always the ultimate suave spy, but when Daniel Craig stepped into the role with Casino Royale (2006), he shook not just the martini but the whole franchise. Across five movies, Craig reimagined 007 as a more human, emotionally richer character, marking a new era of Bond that still oozed vulnerability without compromising on the tough edge.
But not all missions were a bullseye. Let’s take a look at all five of Craig’s Bond films and rank them from worst to best—from the misses to the classics.
5. Quantum of Solace (2008)
At the bottom of the list is Quantum of Solace, a film that never quite found its footing. Struck by the 2008 Writers Guild of America strike, the movie was shot with an unfinished script, leading to a story that feels rushed, fragmented, and overly reliant on action sequences.
Craig continues to deliver a commanding performance as a bereaved Bond out for revenge for the happenings of Casino Royale, and Judi Dench’s M is still an authoritative presence. But the bad guy, Dominic Greene (Mathieu Amalric), isn’t menacing, and the story relies too much on generic spy thriller clichés. Although its lower running time prevents it from being bloated, Quantum feels more like an asterisk than a properly fleshed-out chapter in Craig’s Bond series.
4. Spectre (2015)
Spectre opens strongly with a stunning Day of the Dead sequence in Mexico City—one of the series’ most beautiful openings. Sam Mendes is back at the helm and tries to bookend the entire Craig era by connecting everything through the return of Blofeld (Christoph Waltz), Bond’s traditional arch-nemesis.
Sadly, the reward doesn’t match the hype. Even with standout moments—such as the train battle with Dave Bautista’s mute henchman and the stylish camerawork—Spectre languishes with pacing, and its middle is plodding, especially during the desert hideout sequences. The film teases greater emotional stakes for Bond, but doesn’t revisit them in a way that pays off. It’s slick, but fails short of the acute storytelling present in Craig’s better efforts.
3. No Time to Die (2021)
As Daniel Craig’s goodbye to the character, No Time to Die takes its best shot—and succeeds for the most part. It’s the most emotionally resonant Bond movie so far, threading together high-octane action with humor, pathos, and an unexpected vulnerability. From the heart-pumping opening in Matera to the fireworks-lit finale, the movie is filled with memorable set pieces and stylish direction from Cary Joji Fukunaga.
Rami Malek’s Safin doesn’t quite have the same impact as those who came before him, but the rest of the cast—Lashana Lynch’s delightful Nomi and Ana de Armas in a scene-stealing cameo among them—prevents things from getting stale. At close to three hours, it’s an endurance test, but the third act rewards it with a sweeping, tearful conclusion. Craig’s Bond exits not with a wink, but with emotion—and it will stay with you.
2. Casino Royale (2006)
Casino Royale was the reboot that no one realized they needed. People were dubious when Craig was signed, but he gave a gritty, hard-hitting, and intensely human Bond that brought the series back down to earth. The gadgets and wisecracks were gone—only grit, moral complexity, and a lot of unexpected emotional depth remained.
The centerpiece of the film isn’t the high-stakes poker game or the gruesome fight scenes—it’s the romantic love affair between Bond and Vesper Lynd (Eva Green), which grounds the whole film in tragedy and depth. Mads Mikkelsen’s Le Chiffre is a great villain, and Martin Campbell’s direction maintains tension at every turn. Casino Royale didn’t merely reboot Bond—it reframed him for the modern age.
1. Skyfall (2012)
Number one on the list is Skyfall, a movie that does something very few of the franchise installments ever do: it pays tribute to the past while going boldly forward with the story. Bond is injured, tired, and behind the times in Craig’s Bond. But Skyfall turns that weakness into a virtue, delivering a rich, self-reflection-filled story that’s as emotionally satisfying as it is breathtakingly beautiful.
Javier Bardem’s Silva, Bond’s nemesis, is a terrifying villain with an intimate connection to M, played superbly for the final time by Judi Dench. Legacy, duty, and identity are all themes explored within, building towards an atmospheric confrontation at Bond’s childhood home in the Scottish Highlands. Roger Deakins’s photography is stunning, Adele’s title song is one of the greatest title songs ever, and every acting performance rings true. Skyfall is not only Craig’s best Bond movie—it’s one of the finest spy movies ever made.
Daniel Craig’s eight-year run as 007 provided something the franchise previously didn’t have: James Bond with scars, physical and emotional. Throughout five movies, his Bond transformed from a blunt tool to a deeply human hero. And although not all the movies ascended to the same level, the journey itself was groundbreaking.
From Montenegro’s poker tables to the bittersweet conclusion in No Time to Die, Craig’s Bond tenure demonstrated that revival can be as exciting as convention—and that the world’s greatest spy has even more tales to share.