If you’re a dedicated James Bond fan with fierce opinions about the character portrayals, you’d definitely want to see our list of the 6 most successful James Bond actors ranked.
The famous character first came into being in 1953, when writer Ian Fleming’s first James Bond novel, Casino Royale, was published. After that, Fleming penned a whole series starring the famous undercover agent, and since his death, a number of authors, like John Gardner and Raymond Benson, have also written books featuring Bond. The character’s numerous exploits have spawned an entire film franchise, two independent films, a cartoon series, radio broadcasts, comic strips, and even video games.
James Bond is no ordinary character; he is a Secret Service agent active in international missions, famously known by his code number 007. His cars, guns, and incredible Q-branch supplied gadgets are all important elements in his suspenseful escapades, and, coupled with his romantic endeavors, make for highly engaging tales. His customized cigarettes, characteristic beverages, and choice of gourmet food have made him a unique character. He also blurs the lines of morality and is considered to be neither a hero nor a villain. Perhaps that’s why, decades later, his popularity is still on the surge and refuses to die down. If you feel that this is far too intense a genre for you to indulge in, take a look at our list of the 20 highest rated comedy movies of all time and have a good laugh!
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To compile our list of most successful James Bond actors ranked, we selected only the actors who have portrayed James Bond in feature-length films distributed by Eon Productions. We added the gross earnings, in the United States, of each James Bond film the actor had been in, and then divided the total by the number of Bond movies of the actor. The resulting average box office earnings per film formed the basis for the ranking of our list. The gross earnings of each movie, adjusted for inflation, have all been taken from Box Office Mojo. The reason we took just the earnings in America is because these figures were the only ones available after inflation adjustment which had a huge impact on the number. Furthermore, the highest percentage of money came from the US.
Now let’s go through different portrayals of James Bond and judge them accordingly.
6. Timothy Dalton
Average Box Office Earnings: $94.49 million per movie
Number of James Bond Movies Released: 2
Highest Grossing Film: The Living Daylights
Timothy Dalton, in his depiction of James Bond, emphasized the darker and more serious side of his persona. His portrayal imbibed the true essence of the character as described by Fleming and hence was more in accordance with the Bond of the original novels. The role had been offered to him a few times before he took it up, but he initially kept refusing it due to the legacy left by Sean Connery. His debut film as James Bond, The Living Daylights, was highly successful, and well received.
5. George Lazenby
Average Box Office Earnings: $138.89 million per movie
Number of James Bond Movies Released: 1
Highest Grossing Film: On Her Majesty’s Secret Service
George Lazenby ranks 5th in our list of most successful James Bond actors ranked. He brought an allure to the character which distinguished his portrayal from the rest. His sole Bond film, as well as his portrayal, is found by many to be highly faithful to Fleming’s original novel. Reception of both is greatly variable; some criticize his performance, whereas others believe it was the perfect representation of the spy. Nonetheless, his movie grossed an impressive $139 million (adjusted for inflation).
4. Roger Moore
Average Box Office Earnings: $167.84 million per movie
Number of James Bond Movies Released: 7
Highest Grossing Film: Moonraker
Although Moore’s portrayal greatly diverged from the original, it was critically acclaimed and propelled him to great heights of fame. He retained the role for an astounding twelve years, and during that period, starred in seven Bond films like Live and Let Die (his debut), The Spy Who Loved Me and Octopussy. His defining personalized trait as James Bond was his quirkiness and his humor, which made him well liked by the audience.
3. Pierce Brosnan
Average Box Office Earnings: $224.63 million per movie
Number of James Bond Movies Released: 4
Highest Grossing Film: Die Another Day
Up next on our list of most successful James Bond actors ranked is Pierce Brosnan and his depiction of the agent has been met with much acclaim. His Bond was declared to be “more sensitive, more vulnerable, more psychologically complete” by critic Roger Ebert, and he was generally appreciated for the charm and panache he brought to the character. Though his fourth film Die Another Day was met with mixed reviews, his first three received worldwide praise. He has thrice been nominated for the Saturn Award for Best Actor, winning once, and he also bagged the Empire Award for Best Actor.
2. Daniel Craig
Average Box Office Earnings: $237.55 million per movie
Number of James Bond Movies Released: 4
Highest Grossing Film: Skyfall
Daniel Craig revealed an emotional side to Bond that fans were previously unaccustomed to and assumed an “anti-hero” approach, as described by him. The decision to cast him as Bond was originally criticized, but upon release, his movies, namely Casino Royale, Quantum of Solace, Skyfall, and Spectre, were all well received. The awards won by him include the Critics’ Choice Award for Best Actor in an Action Movie, the Empire Award for Best Actor. He also has a number of other nominations to his name, including the prestigious BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role. Daniel Craig’s personal Bond favorite has made the number 1 spot on our list of the 6 most successful James Bond actors ranked, so keep reading!
1. Sean Connery
Average Box Office Earnings: $359.57 million per movie
Number of James Bond Movies Released: 6
Highest Grossing Film: Thunderball
For many, the ultimate image of Bond was portrayed by Sean Connery and no other. James Bond, under his depiction, has been termed the third-greatest hero in cinema history by the American Film Institute. Being 6’2″, his large structural build was the perfect fit for playing the secret agent, and his charisma and appeal accurately reflected the Bond’s personality. The success of his first Bond film, Dr. No, was so unexpected for the author, Ian Fleming, who originally disapproved his casting, that he incorporated Connery’s Scottish heritage into the character’s background. Connery went on to act in five other James Bond movies, and in an independent Bond film, Never Say Never Again, made in 1983. His legacy is so influential that it is unparalleled by any other James Bond actor to date, which is why he is number one on our list of the 6 most successful James Bond actors ranked.
