S Poddar
Fans of James Bond have something to cheer about, even as they eagerly await news about the next actor to take on the iconic 007 role. This week brought exciting news for those who’ve followed the suave spy for decades: all 25 official James Bond films have landed on Amazon Prime Video, making it the first time the entire franchise is available to stream in one place.
The legendary Bond series, since Ian Fleming’s novels started with Dr. No back in October 1962, starring the debonair Sean Connery as the dashing MI6 operative. In subsequent years there has been six Bonds: Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan, and Daniel Craig that featured across 25 films. From the early days of Connery’s Bond to the grittier modern interpretation by Craig, every era of the evolution of the character can be streamed today on Prime Video.
This leaves everyone guessing about the future of James Bond. Meanwhile, true fans can revisit the moments that made Bond a legend-from his debut, “Bond, James Bond,” in Dr. No, to the emotional finale in No Time to Die, released in 2021. A treat for those who grew up with Bond or just now discovering the British agent’s adventures.
Still, while Amazon lists 25 Bond films, two key titles are absent. This lack may be frustrating for a completist holding his breath for a suitably exhaustive Bond marathon.
One of the films in the list is missing is 1967 Casino Royale. Far from the tense, high-stakes thriller most fans have come to associate with the Bond name, this 1967 take on Casino Royale is instead a spy parody in which David Niven plays James Bond. Unlike Eon Productions, which ran the official series, this was a Columbia Pictures production; it was those different producers who gave the film such a far lighter, comedic take on the character that it deviated wildly from the tone audiences had come to expect. While the film was soundly rejected by critics at its release and remains one of the more polarizing installments in the Bond franchise, the results in terms of performance are excellent. And yet, despite what could have reasonably been understood as the trainwreck that this film was deemed at the box office, it still managed to succeed in theaters. It has an odd niche in Bond completists’ hearts: It is not part of the official Eon canon, and its existence provides another perspective on what the franchise might have become if it had followed a more comedic, farcical path. In fact, some fans consider it necessary, if near surreal, Bondiana.
Another film missing from the list is Never Say Never Again (1983), in which Sean Connery returned for his final appearance as 007. Made by a competitor production, unlike the 25 films officially produced under the Eon banner, Never Say Never Again is an unofficial sequel, more of a loose remake, of the earlier Bond film, Thunderball.
Though not an official production of the team of Bond, the return of Connery to the role had much hype attached to it, making it quite interesting for those who loved the actor playing the role of the legendary spy. While these two are not part of the packages offered via Prime Video, in absentia, they don’t dilute the overall success of what is there. Prime offers subscribers a Bond cinematic history that one can view: whether it’s Connery’s original charm style, Roger Moore’s campy humor, or the emotional complexity from Daniel Craig. There’s something for every type of Bond fan in the collection. Those looking to plug the gaps left by Casino Royale and Never Say Never Again will have to look elsewhere, but Amazon’s decision not to include those films in its original lineup sheds a little light into the complexly complicated, historically charged rights conundrums that have dogged the series for its entire history.
As the fans sit around the water cooler to hear what unfolds next with Bond-be-it a reboot, a continuation, or something brand new-the legions of fans have enough to keep them busy. From iconic villains to stunning stunts and legendary one-liners, the Bond heritage has perhaps never been so accessible as it has today.
So, while the future of 007 remains uncertain, it’s safe to say that Bond’s past—complete with shaken martinis, fast cars, and stylish espionage—is here to be enjoyed with a few clicks of a button.
