I’ve been a huge fan of The Hunt for Red October ever since I saw it in theaters when I was 14-years-old. The movie has since become what I would call a “remote dropper,” meaning if I happen to scroll by it on my TV looking for something to watch, there’s a better-than-excellent chance I’ll settle on watching the Sean Connery-led submarine movie again. I just learned that Connery almost turned down the role of Soviet sub captain Marko Ramius, and a fax machine was to blame. Boy, that takes me back.

Connery Argued The Plot Made No Sense In The Context Of The Time

The Film Almost Looked Completely Different

The reason Connery was even offered the part was that Austrian actor Klaus Maria Brandauer (who co-starred with the Scot in Connery’s final Bond movie, Never Say Never Again, and later in The Russia House) had a conflict and had to drop out of production after he was initially cast as Ramius. That would have made for a very different movie. That wasn’t the only difference that could have been.

According to producers, they initially reached out to Kevin Costner to play Jack Ryan, a role that would eventually go to Alec Baldwin. Costner was in the midst of getting Dances With Wolves off the ground and didn’t have time. They also wanted Harrison Ford in the role, but he turned them down. Of course, Ford would later replace Baldwin in the role in Patriot Games and Clear and Present Danger. As much as I love Ford in the role, I’m actually partial to Baldwin, so I’m happy about this eventual choice, as well.

For the generations who have come after the invention of email, fax machines are a bygone relic of the past, no different than rotary telephones and buggy whips. The fact that a cover sheet didn’t get transmitted isn’t surprising, but thankfully it was all a misunderstanding. The Hunt for Red October isn’t nearly as good without Connery.

Few celebrations of Steven Spielberg's career are complete without bringing up the Indiana Jones franchise, as the initial trilogy of action-adventure classics have inspired generations. Everyone has a favorite film, and moments they either love or dislike, including the actors who starred in the movies. Harrison Ford recently dished about the Indiana Jones scene that Sean Connery not only disliked, but that made him a ‘little grumpy.’

When Ford sat down to discuss Spielberg’s works with Vulture, the topic obviously came around to all of the Indiana Jones movies. Connery played Ford's father in the third film, The Last Crusade, so when that movie came up, the actor happily shared some BTS scoop, saying:

This world has remained popular, with an additional two films, such as the nostalgic Dial of Destiny. But it all started when Spielberg told his good friend George Lucas about his dream project: a James Bond film with Sean Connery. The iconic actor passed away in 2020, and was well-known for his portrayal of Bond, James Bond.

While Lucas couldn’t make that particular dream come true, he did have an idea for an archeologist that was set in the 1930s. Initially, the studio didn’t want to deal with Spielberg who had a reputation for going over budget. But they relented, and it was right choice. I couldn’t imagine the franchise having gone into anyone else’s hands. He directed the first four films in the franchise, each of which can be watched can be watched with a Disney+ subscription.

And Spielberg did - sort of - live out his dream with the third film, The Last Crusade. The father-son relationship was created after screenwriter Menno Meyjes pitched the idea of the holy grail to Lucas. The scribe shared:

No conversation about Indiana Jones can happen without bringing up The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, which received mixed feelings from critics and fans. Several weren’t sure about the concept of Indie with ‘aliens.’ Though the film had a dimension bent on this that was a little different. However, many still enjoyed it and have defended the film, saying there aren’t any bad Indiana Jones films.

Even Ford reportedly struggled during The Last Crusade, as he and Spielberg weren’t fully on board with doing another sci-fi movie. However, without the fourth, fans wouldn’t have gotten a fifth, which gave Ford the ending he wanted. He didn’t want Crystal Skull to be the last of Indie’s adventures.

While the marketing of the fifth presented as the ending, we also thought Indiana Jones was going to be a trilogy. If the franchise ever did return, I'd immediately sign up if Ke Huy Quan were to return. The actor has recently gone full Short Round by taking the 'character' to the Disneyland ride.

This gave us a minor taste of what Indiana Jones would be like if we saw Indie’s former protege putting on his hat. And I am fully obsessed with the idea. But is there any real chance we'll see the franchise return?

Okay, so I know we’re all excited about the new Highlander, right? It was stuck in development hell for years, but now that we’re seeing real progress on it (with Karen Gillan even sharing set pics), now is definitely the time to get hyped.

However, as somebody who has always been a fan of the original Highlander movies (and yes, I know, Highlander II sucks, I’m with you), I just want to make sure that we don’t forget about the first movie. Because even though I know it has its faults, I still think it’s one of the coolest movies of all time.

So, if you’ll permit me, I’d just like to gush over the 1986 original, okay? Because I can already feel the quickening coming on.

It Has The Greatest Queen Song Ever Written, And I Will Die On That Hill

A while ago, I wrote about Flash Gordon, and the thing about that movie is that it’s pretty much impossible to separate the film from its awesome Queen soundtrack, namely the title song, “Flash’s Theme”. Honestly, if you ask a lot of people in the know, they’ll tell you that it’s one of Queen’s finest songs. In fact, I personally think it could go toe-to-toe with other famous Queen songs like “Bohemian Rhapsody”, “We Are the Champions”, and “Don’t Stop Me Now”.

However, what if I were to tell you that Queen’s best song wasn’t any of the aforementioned titles, but rather, their song, “Princes of the Universe” from the movie Highlander? Yes, I’m dead serious. It might be because I can’t disassociate the Highlander series - which I adore - from this amazing track.

For example, it wasn’t just in the first movie, as it was also the theme song for the television series starring Adrian Paul. Not only that, but it’s also used whenever the movies want to show how badass these “princes of the universe” can actually be.

That’s just it. So few movies - especially these days - have memorable themes, and Highlander does. I know you might find this hyperbolic, but I actually feel like this song is just as iconic as the main theme from Superman, or “The Imperial March” from Star Wars. And we wouldn't have it without the original movie.

The Concept Of The First Movie Is Still So Badass, It Makes Me Want To Cry

Do you want to know something I love? Ridiculous lore. Now, I know today's generation is all about “the lore” for pretty much every story that exists these days (for example, my kids were once trying to regale me with the lore of Garten of Banban, and they were talking to me for about ten minutes straight), but lore never really seemed all that important - at least to me - when it came to stories back in the day. Highlander was different.

Within this small film, you had a story of immortals who have been waging battle for centuries. The story starts in a parking garage, and two men WITH SWORDS battle each other to the death, running atop car hoods and doing backflips! Like, what is going on? Once the one in the trenchcoat (Christopher Lambert) decapitates the other, he absorbs his energy, and it’s pretty much the coolest thing of all time (I mean, I think so at least).

We then learn through flashbacks that the man in the trenchcoat is named Connor MacLeod from the Clan MacLeod. He’s a Highlander who learns that he’s immortal once he survives a fatal blow from a knight. He gets exiled rather than executed, and then meets another immortal played by Sean Connery (who’s flamboyantly dressed, though not as flamboyant as he was in Zardoz).

It’s through Connery’s character that we learn about things like “the Quickening,” and “The Prize,” and all matters of nonsensical lore, and I love every second of it.

Christopher Lambert Is Just Like, The Coolest Dude

The first time I saw Christopher Lambert wasn’t through Highlander, but rather through one of the greatest video game movies of all time, 1995’s Mortal Kombat. In fact, one reason why its abysmal sequel, Mortal Kombat Annihilation, sucks so much is that it has 100% less Christopher Lambert. I mean, come on. How could you not love a Lord Raiden who says, "I don’t think so…heh, heh, heh."?

However, I went from Mortal Kombat to Highlander, and man oh man, is Lambert so cool here. I think what really sells it is that he’s a character trapped in two different worlds. On one end, you have the Highlander who doesn’t know he’s an immortal yet. Lambert plays this role convincingly, and we root for him to learn the truth about who he really is in this strange world of immortals and lightning.

And then, you have Lambert living in the modern age as an immortal. He’s constantly being challenged to battle, and he’s brave in the face of adversity, especially when he’s up against a massive man known as The Kurgan (Clancy Brown). When Lambert says, “There can be only one,” and windows explode behind him, you believe it, man.

Lambert is just the coolest dude in this movie, and he’s yet another reason why this first film is aces. But, he’s not alone…

And Sean Connery As Our Mentor Type? Does It Get Any Better Than This?

When it comes to the hero’s journey, there’s a character we often see again and again in stories, and that’s the wise old man archetype. In Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope, it’s Obi-Wan Kenobi. In Avatar: The Last Airbender, it’s the previous Avatars…or Uncle Iroh. In Harry Potter, it’s Albus Dumbledore. The point is that in many stories, there's a sage-like character who’s a source of knowledge and wisdom that the hero can rely on for part of their journey. Highlander has that character, too, and Sean Connery plays it.

Not only that, but he isn’t like the old men you typically see wearing threadbare robes in a cave. Instead, this dude has drip for days, and he’s probably the coolest character in the entire movie. Going by the name Juan Sanchez-Villalobos Ramirez, Connery’s character is known as The Spaniard, but he’s actually an Egyptian who’s lived in Japan and Spain for centuries.

He teaches Connor all about the world of the immortals, and also how to be a better swordsman. An adept fighter himself, he helps guide Connor and teaches him.

Connery is a bright spot in an already badass movie, and one of the coolest mentor types ever.

In The End, I’m Pumped For This Reboot, Too, But Let’s Not Forget The Kickass Original

So, yes, I’m super pumped for this Highlander reboot, too. I love Henry Cavill, I love the prospect of it feeling like John Wick with blades, and I love the idea of a new audience falling in love with this franchise.

But, please! Let’s not forget about the awesome original!

I think people who haven’t seen it before should watch it now, and I also think that anybody who has seen it should watch it again.

It’s the kind of movie that was wholly original when it debuted back in 1986, and it’s a cult classic for a reason. So, even though we’re getting a reboot…THERE CAN BE ONLY ONE!

I had no idea that Sean Connery starred as the legendary Robin Hood in a 1976 movie called Robin and Marian. It has a stacked cast that includes Audrey Hepburn as Marian, Robert Shaw as the Sheriff of Nottingham, and Richard Harris as King Richard the Lionhearted, among others. King Richard, of course, is who Connery cameoed as in 1991’s Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, and until recently, that was the only Robin Hood movie I thought Connery appeared in. I just had to watch this ‘70s version of the story, directed by Richard Lester, so I rented it using my Prime subscription. Here are my spoiler-free thoughts.

It’s An Epic Love Story

At the heart of Robin and Marian is the love story between…well… Robin and Marian. This is an older version of both characters than most Robin Hood stories. Robin has returned from the Third Crusade, just as he does in Prince of Thieves, and he wants to rekindle his romance with Marian. That is harder said than done for a few reasons, not the least of which is his long-running feud with the Sheriff of Nottingham.

The love story is a little frustrating. Marian has good reason not to revive her previous love with Robin, even if he is desperate to do the same. She isn’t sure Robin will ever be there for her like she wants him to be, and Robin makes it clear that he won’t be. Yet, they continue to fall for each other again. I get it, love is blind, and we don’t always allow for rational reasons to interfere with it, but that is really stretched to the limit here. Connery and Hepburn do have excellent chemistry, which helps the audience along, but it still felt forced.

It Feels More Like A ‘60s Epic Than A Film From The Mid-’70s

I’ve been watching a lot of movies from 1976 this year, and this one feels like a throwback. It’s not as gritty as one might expect from a movie of the era. By 1976, New Hollywood and directors like Martin Scorsese and Sam Peckinpah had taken over, but Robin and Marian is a throwback. It has much more in common with the epics of the ‘60s like Lawrence of Arabia and another Robin Hood movie from that era, Sword of Sherwood Forest, than it does the graphic rawness of Taxi Driver (which also turned 50 this year) or Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid.

As much as I love a good ‘60s epic (The Great Escape is a movie I can watch over and over), it threw me for a little bit of a loop when I went into Robin and Marian expecting something closer to Ridley Scott’s The Duelist, and getting something more like Spartacus. The violence is surprisingly chaste for a ‘70s movie, and the scope is much broader than what was common in the era. It doesn’t feel like a ‘70s epic, like A Bridge Too Far (another great Connery film from the time) or Patton either. It really is a throwback.

The Cast Is Phenomenal

Like any great epic, the cast is stacked. At the top of the billing, you have two of the biggest stars in any era, in Connery and Hepburn. Robert Shaw as the Sheriff of Nottingham is perfect casting. Shaw had such a great ability to be menacing even when doing simple, everyday things, like eating breakfast. In fact, one reason I think that I felt like this was an older movie than it is is because of how young Shaw looks in it. Despite coming one year after his legendary performance in Jaws, he looks 10 years younger here. He looks even younger than he did in another one of my favorite movies, The Sting, which came out a half a decade before Robin and Marian.

Richard Harris, although not one of the main characters (just like Connery wasn’t as King Richard in Prince of Thieves), is, as always, wonderful in his moments. Ian Holm, who plays King John, also plays a smaller supporting role, yet is as great, too. Denholm Elliott plays one of Robin’s most famous Merry Men, Will Scarlet (played by Christian Slater in Prince of Thieves), and the always under-appreciated Nicol Williamson plays Robin’s right-hand man, Little John. All in all, it’s an impressive cast worthy of making an epic film.

I Still Don’t Think There Has Been A Perfect Robin Hood Movie

There have been many movies based on the legend of Robin Hood. Prince of Thieves and the 1938 classic The Adventures of Robin Hood, starring Errol Flynn, are probably the two most famous (along with the Disney animated version, of course). The Flynn version is still my favorite, but none of them are perfect. It’s fair to say the Flynn-led film is pretty dated and feels out of place even among the other movies of its era. The Kevin Costner-led Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves has a bunch of problems, like Costner’s accent and that terrible Bryan Adams song.

In fact, I still don’t think there has been a truly great Robin Hood movie yet. It seems like a story ripe for a truly grand and fantastic adaptation. Instead, we’ve mostly gotten movies like the forgettable Robin Hood from 2010, directed by Ridley Scott and starring Russell Crowe in the titular role, or the even more forgettable movie with the same bland name from 2018 starring Taron Egerton as Robin.

That hasn’t stopped Hollywood from trying, however. Later this year, the upcoming A24 film The Death of Robin Hood, starring Hugh Jackman as the famous thief, will be released on the 2026 movie schedule. I have to say, I do have high hopes, but tempered expectations, given how hard it has been to adapt these old folktales.

If you look at any list of the best sci-fi movies of all time, I’d wager that 1974’s Zardoz is not on there. It’s just too weird for a mainstream audience.

However, weird does not necessarily mean “bad,” and I’d argue that Zardoz, which was directed by John Boorman (who directed the worst Exorcist movie of all time, Exorcist II: The Heretic) is arguably more interesting than widely accepted sci-fi movies like Oblivion, Elysium, and Steven Spielberg’s adaptation of War of the Worlds (Ouch, I just realized that I mentioned TWO middling Tom Cruise movies).

Well, anyway, Zardoz is a fascinating, albeit maddening, movie that stars a post-James Bond Sean Connery, and I need to introduce you to it if you’ve never heard of it before.

Zardoz Is Unlike Any Other Post-Apocalyptic Film Out There

People often tend to like post-apocalyptic movies because they can envision a world they wouldn’t want to live in. Zombies are often a staple of this vision, but there are many other end-of-the-world scenarios that have played out in film and television. The Mad Max movies are an example of a dystopia, as it’s a world where people are fighting over resources. In fact, a nuclear holocaust is another popular dystopian setting, which we sometimes see in a lighthearted manner, such as in the Fallout series, or even the oddball movie, A Boy and His Dog.

However, there is NO post-apocalyptic story like Zardoz (except for MAYBE The Time Machine). The year is 2293, and the story concerns a group of mortals called “Brutals” who wear these red diapers and pack massive firepower. Now, there are regular Brutals, and then there are the Brutal Exterminators, and they kill other Brutals and grow food for an enlightened race of immortals called Eternals (No, not those Eternals).

So, sort of simple, right? Okay, but here’s the weird part. The Brutal Exterminators are given weapons by a massive, floating stone head called Zardoz, which they consider their god. And one of the Brutal Exterminators actually sneaks into the stone head, and then incapacitates the Eternal within, which leads him to being a participant in a coup, as some of the Eternals are bored with their indolent lives.

There are a lot of trippy effects, and some philosophical discussions, and it’s legitimately one of the strangest movies I’ve ever seen, which says a lot, since I’m a massive fan of David Lynch (RIP). Luckily, it has a stable lead actor to help the audience make sense of all of this madness.

Sean Connery Is Truly At His Best In This Gonzo Movie

Let me give you some interesting trivia: John Boorman once tried to make a Lord of the Rings movie, but he couldn’t get it off the ground. Instead, he made Zardoz. Boorman also originally wanted Burt Reynolds to play the main Brutal, Zed, but Reynolds became ill, so he had to bow out, which is where Sean Connery comes in.

Connery, as you may or may not know, was later offered the role of Gandalf in Peter Jackson’s adaptation of The Lord of the Rings, but he declined…and later went on to do The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. What’s my point? Well, I guess it’s that there’s probably a parallel dimension where Sean Connery got to be in two Lord of the Rings movies, but we live in this dimension where we got him in two absolutely ridiculous movies instead, those being Zardoz and League.

Well, the better of the two is definitely Zardoz, where Connery is totally game for this oddball adventure. The movie is probably most known for Connery wearing a red diaper, but he’s actually a commanding presence in this strange story. As a Brutal who stands out for being curious, Connery does a fine job of moving the story along.

Other Eternals see something in him, and they want to take down their government from the inside, with Zed as their catalyst. But, like The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Connery doesn’t just phone it in. He’s committed to the role of Zed, which sells this bizarre world, which I’ll get into next.

The Set Designs Are Honestly Quite Arresting

Shot entirely in the Republic of Ireland, Zardoz almost feels like two separate movies, but it’s intentional. On one end, you have the dreary wasteland where the Brutals live and harvest food for the Eternals. The fog sweeps in, and you get a real sense of the agricultural aspect of the film.

On the other end of the spectrum is where the Eternals live, which is called “the Vortex,” which looks very sci-fi. The Eternals wear outlandish, colorful clothes, and do weird things with their fingers to showcase their otherness. Technology (archaic as it looks) is prevalent in “the Vortex,” and it’s a sharp difference from what the Brutals experience.

But I love this contrast. Unlike a lot of other sci-fi movies that have a more consistent tone, the contrast of the setting between those with power and those without it is stark and heavy. And, in a lot of ways, I think what makes Zardoz so interesting is just how these colors clash. It certainly LOOKS dated, and I’m sure it likely looked dated even back in the ‘70s when it was first released (As a comparison, Star Wars: A New Hope came out only a few years later, and it looks MUCH better).

However, I find the look to be charming and distinct, which helps when it comes to the film’s major twist…

The Twist Is Actually Pretty Unique

I don’t feel like I’m spoiling anything here since this movie is from 1974, and you’ve likely had your entire life to watch this, but Zardoz is short for The Wizard of Oz, making this the strangest Oz-(semi) related movie ever. I’ll explain.

Throughout the film, Zed is taught to read, and he learns that their whole society is based on the book, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, which makes sense when you think about it, as the giant stone head called Zardoz is really just a sham. It’s not a god. It’s not all-powerful. It’s a humbug, just like the Wizard himself. And, once Zed realizes that everything he’s ever been taught to believe is a lie, he gets more on board with the rebellion.

He’s being used, though, as many of the Eternals, who are immortal and tired of their boring existences, actually wish to be murdered, and Zed is the one they use to lead them to their ultimate demise

It’s actually really clever, and it again sets this movie apart from other sci-fi films at the time. Now, if it could just get over its incessant weirdness, then maybe it would have actually been a genuine classic.

Overall, Zardoz Is A Weird Watch, But A Rewarding One

In the end, I don’t know if I would recommend Zardoz to everyone. For example, there’s this horror movie from the ‘70s called The Sentinel, and it’s so different from other horror movies (even from that era) that I think only a tiny segment of people would actually enjoy it, and I feel the same way about Zardoz.

In fact, I’m not sure I would even recommend it to sci-fi fans, since I think they might be bored. I also wouldn’t recommend it to fans of Sean Connery, since they might be weirded out.

But, if you want a weird watch unlike anything else you’ve ever seen, then Zardoz is that movie. It’s a bizarre but rewarding film, and one that I enjoy a great deal.

That said, what do you think? Have you ever seen Zardoz? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Acting is a tough profession. Sure, those who enter the field aren’t exactly digging ditches for a living, but they also are usually without steady jobs and even if they do hit what most of us would consider the big time and end up starring in, say, films on the 2026 movie schedule or new TV premieres, there’s always the pressure of choosing the right projects for their future career hopes. In fact, history has shown that lots of actors have left gigs in movies or shows that went on to become long-running franchises, and fans have been calling out the ones who “stupidly” left eventually beloved parts.

Actors Fans Are Calling Out For Leaving Hit Franchises

Obviously, whether an actor is well-established or new to the business, they’re going to have thoughts about how they like to work, their particular talents, and how those things should coincide with the projects they appear in. Sometimes, this means saying no when offered a part, or deciding not to return to a role for future movies or seasons of a television show.

Well, fans are now taking to Reddit to throw some shade at the actors and actresses who, seemingly, had it made, but turned down or left what went on to become major franchises. The question posed to those in the AskReddit group was, “What actor or actress stupidly left a movie franchise or tv series thinking they were too good for it, only to be never popular again?” And, man, people had a lot of answers:

• Ja Rule was offered $500,000 to reprise his role as Edwin in 2 Fast 2 Furious but turned it down.
• The original actor for the Mountain in GoT left to be the lead Orc in the Hobbit trilogy, then they replaced him last minute with a shitty CGI character
• Mike Butters was originally going to play Jigsaw in Saw, but turned it down because the role was too small. He was then cast to be the first victim, Paul Leahy, with an accumulative screentime of 10 seconds in the first film.
• Stuart Townsend was originally cast as Aragorn in LOTR. He didn't want to play nice with the cast and refused to learn how to ride horses and train with sword, etc. They fired him and replaced him with Viggo Mortensen, and the rest is history.

From what I can see, all of these tales are basically true. Ja Rule did turn down the chance to reprise his role, but when he spoke with 7PM in Brooklyn with Carmelo Anthony last year, he said that there was a period of time where The Fast and the Furious sequel was in flux, because both the director of that original and Vin Diesel had stepped away. During that time, the rapper set up a tour which was set to make him $14 million, and that’s why he turned down 2 Fast.

As for Stuart Townsend’s part in Lord of the Rings, he was fired, with most reports noting that Peter Jackson simply decided late in the pre-production process that he looked too young for Aragorn. Sean Astin had a very different take in his autobiography (via SlashFilm), where he said that while he and his family liked Townsend, he clearly had a lot of trouble figuring out what he needed to do in the all-important role, and ended up as “a black hole of negative creative energy.”

There is one more tale of an actor turning things down, which might be one of my favorites just for the wild ripple effect it had, and it involves the legendary original star of the James Bond movies, the late Sean Connery. Look at this exchange between Redditors:

• I remember hearing that Sean Connery had been the first choice for Gandalf, but he turned down the role because he didn’t understand it.
• You're half right. It's true that Connery had that reaction to the script for Lord of the Rings. But it was not understanding the script to The Matrix (he was offered Morpheus) and then seeing how successful it was that made him think, ‘Okay, I clearly don't know what's successful anymore, I'll just say yes to things I don't understand,’ and then he signed onto League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. And then when nobody liked that film, he said, ‘Okay, I clearly don't understand this industry anymore,’ and he retired.

Yes, Connery turned down Gandalf in LOTR, but he did the same with Morpheus/the Architect (some reports note he was offered both). While that might seem bad enough, his confusion over what might actually become successful led him to sign on for The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, which was a huge flop and also reportedly not great to film (he eventually said he hated the movie), so he retired afterward.

There is no shortage of actors who’ve left franchise roles, and whether we understand the reasons or not, sometimes it’s for the best.

When they aren't catching up on upcoming 2025 movies, movie lovers are always keen to spend a moment appreciating the medium's past. With each year, Hollywood continues to showcase movie magic and the incredible stars who carry the story, but along with it comes some sad and unexpected goodbyes. Online, fans are taking the time to reminisce about big-hitting stars' last movies, like Jimmy Stewart and Robin Williams, and, more specifically, their fitting and impactful last lines.

The conversation took root in a Reddit post whose OP said they were inspired to create the thread because of Robin Williams’ last major Hollywood role, Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb, which featured his poignant, comforting closing line. Meanwhile, his actual final film, Boulevard, reveals the heartbreaking duality of the beloved late A-lister’s mental health struggles. Check out the comedian who passed too soon's dual last lines:

• "Smile, my boy. It's sunrise." - Robin Williams as Teddy Roosevelt in Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb
• “I drove down a street one night. A street I didn't know. It's the way your life goes sometimes. I'll drive down this one and another. And now, another.” - Robin Williams as Nolan Mack in Boulevard

How fitting were Williams’ last words in that double entry of films? While the sweet family blockbuster’s line was what audiences viewed him as, the adventurous, aimless driving voiceover from the 2014 drama mirrored him off-camera more.

From Robin Williams to An American Tail: Fievel Goes West and another pair of Hollywood royals we go:

• "I don't know what's beyond those hills, but if you ride yonder, head up, eyes steady, heart open, I think one day you'll find that you're the hero you've been looking for.” - Jimmy Stewart as Wylie Burp in An American Tail: Fievel Goes West
• “How do you find your way back in the dark?” - Marilyn Monroe as Roslyn’s in The Misfits:
• "Just head for that big star straight on. The highway's under it. It'll take us right home.” - Clark Gable as Gay in The Misfits

Jimmy Stewart, arguably most well-known for the complex holiday tale It's a Wonderful Life, still managed to deliver a grandiose, hopeful message as an animated dog. Truly on par with George Bailey and the actor behind him, even in an animated sequel.

And as for Gable and Monroe, The Misfits was both of their last movies shot before they passed. The King of Hollywood’s matter-of-fact response to the Blonde Bombshell’s dark and mysterious question is almost too much. The small back and forth eerily suits both of their public personas as a femme fatale and the leading man all too well.

Along with the iconic but crew above, other greats’ parting sentences also hit as close to home as the heartbreakers above. The grouping of the next trio is lighter in their on-screen finales, but the lines themselves are still unexpectedly fitting in ways. The list includes the 007 actor who set the tone for the James Bond franchise, one of the most influential women for TV history and a recently deceased cult-favorite experimental director.

• “May this new century be yours, son, as the old one was mine.” - Sean Connery as Allan Quartermain in The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen
• "My pleasure!" - David Lynch as John Ford in The Fabelmans
• “I have some sad news. I bit the big one. I've cashed in my chips. I'm dead.” - Betty White as Mrs. Sarah Vanderwhoozie in Trouble (also known as Dog Gone Trouble)

Not nearly as tragic as the ones above (and I didn’t even include the saddest!), but still suits them just as well. Connery’s line is as cool and intelligent as ever, fit for the Dr. No actor. Lynch, as we know, has one hell of a body of work, but also took the time as a director to appear in another director's movie, The Fableman’s. And playing a legendary filmmaker in another filmmaker’s movie and being the wacky but loved filmmaker he is, no notes here.

Then, of course, to close the quick dive into these creative giants, none other than Betty White. Naturally, there are animals involved and an immaculately crafted joke reflecting death. A true comedy queen through and through.

Needless to say, the conversation and unearthing of beloved actors' on-screen last lines go deep. There are plenty more poignant words from top-tier celebs that span from Stewart’s era to Williams’ one and beyond. Just be ready for what you may find!

Often considered one of the best action movies of all time, The Rock was something I watched way too much as a kid, be it at home with my brother or at a friend’s sleepover. But unlike other great Nicholas Cage films, I haven’t revisited this 1996 blockbuster in years (I think the last time I watched it was on the way home from my honeymoon). Well, that changed recently, and I honestly forgot that Cage’s Stanely Goodspeed was an absolute madman.

No, not “let’s switch faces and get all crazy” Nic Cage from Face/Off the following year, but close. The FBI chemical weapons specialist has the same chaotic energy as Castor Troy, he’s just on the good side of the coin. But I digress… I was blown away by Cage’s wide-eyed, fast-talking, Beatles-obsessed hero, and this performance is just something I HAVE to talk about.

First Off, I Honestly Forgot How Much I Love The Rock

Though I will always have a soft spot for the first two Bad Boys movies, it’s safe to say that The Rock is Michael Bay’s best movie. Between his first stint in South Florida hanging out with Will Smith and Martin Lawrence’s Miami detectives and his time sending a group of oil-drillers into space to save the world, Bay perfected his craft with this star-studded, and action-packed cinematic spectacle. I don’t like using the term “masterpiece” all that often, but there’s a case to be made here.

The story, the setting, the characters, the lethal VX gas that’s pretty much “one of those things we wish we could disinvent,” all of it works together to create this intense, exciting, and iconic tour de force. Chases, explosions, the signature shots – all of Bay’s hallmarks – are either created or perfected here.

Stanley Goodspeed Is Quite Possibly One Of Nicolas Cage's Wildest Characters

Nicolas Cage won an Oscar for his performance in Leaving Las Vegas and immediately followed it with The Rock. I point this out because Cage, a bonafide star at this point in his career, went to great lengths to make Stanley Goodspeed not only a character that doesn’t get lost in the shuffle of great supporting characters played by Ed Harris, Sean Connery, and Michael Biehn but also one that has since become one of his most memorable and beloved. I don’t know if he felt like he had something to prove, or just wanted to have fun, but Cage goes all out here and looks to be having the time of his life.

Goodspeed may not be the craziest Nic Cage character, a distinction reserved for Castor Troy or maybe Peter Loew in Vampire’s Kiss, but he’s certainly one of the wildest to date. And that’s saying something. I mean, in the stretch of a few minutes, we see him going on about a rare Beatles record to preventing a mass-casualty event to playing guitar in his boxers to being tasked with saving San Francisco from a rogue Brigadier General and his team of pissed-off Marines. I honestly think he has every right to be a nut for much of the movie.

Cage's Line Delivery And Chemistry With Sean Connery Is Off The Charts

One thing I loved most about revisiting The Rock was the fact that it was an action movie way funnier than I remembered. Sure, some serious stuff goes down before everything is said and done, but Nicolas Cage’s line delivery and humor really help the movie stand out after all these years. The way Stanley Goodspeed says things like, “But what I'm dealing with here is one of the most deadly substances the earth has ever known, so what say you cut me some FRIGGIN' SLACK?” is just amazing.

And then there’s Cage’s chemistry with the late Sean Connery. I don’t think Michael Bay or producer Jerry Bruckheimer could have found a better person to pair with the legendary James Bond actor. From the contentious early stages of their relationship to finally trusting one another, these two unlikely scene partners knocked it out of the park and made The Rock at least 29% better.

It Is Not Lost On Me That Cage Followed This Up With Con Air, Making This A Killer One-Two Punch

I recently went back and rewatched Con Air, and I couldn’t get over the fact that Nicolas Cage made two of the biggest ‘90s action movies back-to-back (and I guess back-to-back-to-back if Face/Off is your thing, which is crazy to think about. I mean, two of my favorite R-rated movies of my childhood came out in subsequent years and both featured Nic Cage in leading roles.

While Stanley Goodspeed is far more energized than Cameron Poe on his quest to get home and meet his daughter after a multi-year prison sentence, these two both have great lines, kick a whole lot of ass, and save the day in the end. And you know how Cage was in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse? Well, I’d love to have a movie where his various characters – Goodspeed and Poe included – have to team up. You could call it Bunnies & Beatles or something like that.

I'm Not Going To Lie, I Miss '90s Action Movies With Unconventional Leading Men

While the ‘80s gave us massive, muscle-bound big-screen heroes played by the likes of Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone, and Dolph Lundgren, Hollywood took a different approach in the ‘90s. Sure, Arnie and Sly were still cranking out hits in the early part of the decade, but we also got unconventional heroes like Nic Cage’s Stanley Goodspeed and Jeff Goldblum’s David Levinson in Independence Day.

In the summer of 1996, it felt like the nerds had finally gotten revenge on the world and become the biggest heroes of the silver screen. And while the portrayal of heroes has become more varied and nuanced in the nearly 30 years since both movies came out, I do miss those simpler and oftentimes funnier times when we didn’t have so many self-serious good guys.

All of this is to say that Nicolas Cage’s Stanley Goodspeed in The Rock is one of the wildest and most enjoyable performances in the actor’s prolific career, and one I’m glad I got to revisit.

James Bond is undergoing some major changes behind the scenes and will soon be doing the same on screen. Daniel Craig has played Bond for the final time, and now the Broccoli family is stepping back from producing the iconic franchise, having sold to Amazon MGM. This is a unique moment and the perfect opportunity to take 007 back to his origins as a hard-drinking, cigarette-smoking, Cold War-fighting super spy. Amazon, if you're listening, let’s see a period piece.

The Cold War Is A Goldmine For Spy Stories

Over and over you see it, people rank Sean Connery as the best James Bond, even now, nearly 55 years after playing the legendary British spy for the final time in Diamonds Are Forever in 1971. It’s not just that Connery defined the character first, but because Connery Bond movies were contemporary with the heating up of the Cold War in the 1960s, they have a classic adversary: the USSR.

Bond doesn’t go head-to-head with the Soviets much, but the Cold War is still ever-present. That presence was also felt through all of the Roger Moore Bond era, as well. It’s time Bond goes back to that era with a story (or a series of stories) set in the 1960s, where Bond will be free again to smoke cigarettes, shag women, drink, and gamble with impunity. M, played by Judi Dench, calls Bond "a relic of the Cold War," in Goldeneye, so let's dust that relic off.

There Would Still Need To Be Some Updates

While the 1960s would make for a very cool backdrop, complete with awesome gadgets and everything else we love about the early movies, it’s clear we can’t have a hero act like Bond did then all the time. Obviously the one area that would still need a more modern touch would be how Bond behaves with women. It’s frankly pretty gross how poorly he treats most of the Bond Girls in the Connery era and it simply wouldn’t work (and shouldn’t work) for a modern audience. Everything else, though, is fair game.

Bond gracefully lighting a smoke as he stands at the bar waiting for his martini oozes class and sophistication. While most of us deplore smoking these days, it still seems like the epitome of “cool” to many. Bond smoking in the 2020s would seem out of character, but setting the movies in a decade when everyone and their grandmother (almost literally) smoked, well, it’s just too perfect. Losing some modern sensibilities would be fun as hell.

Now Is The Time To Go Back To The Past

There has never been a more perfect time in the history of the franchise to get back to Bond’s movie and literary roots. The Daniel Craig era brought back the stone-cold ruthlessness of the character Ian Fleming created in the books, but it lost a lot of the charm and class of the character. All jerk, no playboy. There’s no reason we can’t get both, especially by setting the movie in the spy’s heyday when West and East faced off across the globe. Plus, the fashion and the cars were just so much better. Amazon, we’re excited to see where the Bond franchise could go, so please consider this idea.

Think of your favorite movie character of all time. There is a good chance that the actor who ended up playing that part is not the first actor the studio approached. See for yourself by taking a look at this list of celebrities who decided to pass on a movie role that would turn out to make cinematic history.

Will Smith (Neo In The Matrix)

It is actually pretty easy for us to picture what the Matrix movies might have been like with Will Smith as Neo. However, the Academy Award winner seems to believe that Keanu Reeves was the better choice to play the chosen one in the mind-bending, dystopian sci-fi movie classic, claiming in a video on his YouTube channel that he would have "ruined it."

Jodie Foster (Princess Leia in Star Wars)

Fresh off her Academy Award-nominated breakthrough role in 1976's Taxi Driver, a teenage Jodie Foster was offered the chance to be a part of the Star Wars movies as Princess Leia Organa. As she revealed to Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show, the two-time Oscar winner had a contractual obligation to an unnamed Disney movie, allowing Carrie Fisher to win the role.

Tom Hanks (Jerry Maguire In Jerry Maguire)

Tom Hanks was on top of the world with two Oscar wins (for Philadelphia and Forrest Gump) when he was offered to play a sports agent down on his luck in Jerry Maguire. He ended up passing on the eponymous role from Cameron Crowe's 1996 dramedy and later told Access Hollywood (via FandomWire), "I think you look at it now and it couldn’t have been anybody other than Tom Cruise," who would receive a nod from the Academy for his performance.

Leonardo DiCaprio (Patrick Bateman In American Psycho)

Christian Bale once told GQ that every one of his roles was first offered to Leonardo DiCaprio and one confirmed example is Patrick Bateman in 2000's American Psycho. The future Oscar winner told The Morning Call that he passed on playing the sadistic yuppie because he felt the script “didn’t mean anything in the end," but rumor has it Bale's stepmom, Gloria Steinem, convinced DiCaprio that it would be bad for his post-Titanic, romantic heartthrob reputation at the time.

Jean-Claude Van Damme (The Predator In Predator)

The titular terrifying alien enemy from 1987's Predator looked a lot different when Jean-Claude Van Damme was still in the role, according to THR's oral history. The Belgian actor star actually shot some footage in the original insect-like suit before deciding he would rather not be hidden in his own movie, leading to a redesign of the costume and the casting of 7'2" Kevin Peter Hall.

Jack Nicholson (Michael Corleone In The Godfather)

While we cannot imagine anyone other than Al Pacino as Michael Corleone, Jack Nicholson probably would have been great in the Godfather movies. However, the three-time Oscar winner refused the offer, explaining to Movieline in 2004 (via ScreenRant) that he believed "Italians should play Italians."

John Travolta (Forrest Gump In Forrest Gump)

When speaking with MTV News (via Collider), John Travolta revealed that he had no regrets about turning down the title role of the Best Picture Oscar winner Forrest Gump and it is no wonder why. Not only did Tom Hanks embody the role to Oscar-winning acclaim but Travolta found career-rejuvenating success with Pulp Fiction in 1994 instead.

Burt Reynolds (James Bond In Live And Let Die)

In 2015, Burt Reynolds told USA Today that, when approached to be Sean Connery's replacement in the James Bond films, he believed the public would not accept a 007 with an American accent. However, he would later come to believe that, "It was a stupid thing to say. I could've done it and I could've done it well."

Eddie Murphy (Winston Zeddemore In Ghostbusters)

While appearing on The Tonight Show in 2019, Eddie Murphy was asked by Jimmy Fallon if it is true that he passed on playing Winston Zeddemore in Ghostbusters. The comedian confirmed that it was true but added that it allowed him the opportunity to lead an even bigger hit from 1984: Beverly Hills Cop.

John Lithgow (Seth Brundle In The Fly)

Jeff Goldblum's iconic role from David Cronenberg's 1986 remake of The Fly was previously offered to John Lithgow, who told IndieWire that he said no, not wanting to play "something so grotesque.” Having witnessed Seth Brundle's transformation into a half-human, half-insect in the intense body horror movie, we cannot say we blame him.

Tom Selleck (Indiana Jones In Raiders Of The Lost Ark)

Having already worked with Harrison Ford three times before, George Lucas was reluctant to cast the Han Solo actor as Indiana Jones, opening up the opportunity for a rotation of actors, including Tom Selleck. As he recalled on Today, the actor was forced to pass on 1981's Raiders of the Lost Ark, due to his commitment to the CBS crime drama, Magnum P.I.

Christopher Lee (Dr. Loomis In Halloween)

While already a horror movie icon at the time for his acclaimed portrayal of Dracula and role in 1973's The Wicker Man, Christopher Lee could have added one of the all-time best horror movies, 1978's Halloween, to his resume. According to The Digital Fix, he would come to regret the decision to pass on the role of Michael Myers' psychiatrist, Dr. Sam Loomis, who was immortalized by Donald Pleasance instead.

Christina Applegate (Elle Woods In Legally Blonde)

Before Reese Witherspoon made Elle Woods an icon among fictional lawyers in Legally Blonde and among fictional politicians in the sequel, Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde, the role was offered to Christina Applegate. The former Married... with Children star later explained to Entertainment Tonight that she was afraid of repeating the ditzy blonde but jokes it was a "stupid move."

Emily Blunt (Black Widow In Iron Man 2)

Scarlett Johansson was perfect as Natasha Romanoff but Emily Blunt would have made a killing as the Avenger also called Black Widow. The English actor explained to Howard Stern that she could not originate the role for the MCU in 2010's Iron Man 2 because she was contractually obligated to appear in that year's adaptation of Gulliver's Travels.

Emma Watson (Mia In La La Land)

Playing Mia in 2016's La La Land earned Emma Stone her first Oscar win but the role of the aspiring actor had originally gone to another Emma: Emma Watson. The Harry Potter movies star said in a SiriusXM Town Hall interview (via Us Weekly) that her commitment to Beauty and the Beast and the hard work required to star in the musical led her to pull out.

Gwyneth Paltrow (Rollergirl In Boogie Nights)

Heather Graham made her mainstream breakthrough in 1998's Boogie Nights as "Rollergirl" – a role that was previously offered to Gwyneth Paltrow. The future Oscar winner told Howard Stern (via Us Weekly) that she passed because she feared the role, which required her to completely disrobe and simulate lewd acts on camera, would "kill" her conservative grandfather.

Jennifer Hudson (Precious In Precious)

Jennifer Hudson had previously said in her memoir, I Got This: How I Changed My Ways And Lost What Weighed Me Down, that she turned down the title role of Precious because she did not want to take a role that involved her weight. The Oscar winner later retracted that statement when speaking to The Huffington Post, explaining that Was not interested in what the role, which ultimately went to Gabourey Sibide, would have required her to do at that point in her career.

Matt Damon (Jake Sully In Avatar)

Sam Worthington became a household name when he led James Cameron's astonishingly successful sci-fi epic, Avatar, as Jake Sully – a role previously offered to Matt Damon. The Oscar winner once joked to Access Hollywood that not participating in the 2009 film cost the movie "a lot."

Ian McKellan (Albus Dumbledore In Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban)

The Lord of the Rings movies' Gandalf actor, Sir Ian McKellan, could have added another famous wizard to his resume and become the Harry Potter franchise's new Albus Dumbledore. Instead, the part went to Michael Gambon after, as he told BBC News, McKellan turned it down because he couldn’t “take over the part from an actor who I’d known didn’t approve of me,” referring to the late Richard Harris who was a vocal critic of the actor.

Drew Barrymore (Sidney Prescott In Scream)

Given Drew Barrymore's A-list status in 1996, audiences assumed that she was the lead of Wes Craven's Scream, which could have been the case, as she confirmed on Hot Ones. However, she requested to be killed off in the beginning as Casey Becker, knowing it would shock the audience, paving the way for Neve Campbell to become a Scream Queen in the role of Sidney Prescott.

Angela Bassett (Leticia Musgrove In Monster’s Ball)

Halle Berry became the first Black Best Actress Oscar winner for her performance in Monster's Ball as Leticia Musgrove – a role that was offered to Angela Bassett. According to EW, the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever star felt the part of a Black call girl was too stereotypical.

Sean Connery (Gandalf In The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring)

Sir Ian McKellan mentions in an oral history about the Lord of the Rings series for The Independent that an earlier choice to play Gandalf the Grey was Sir Sean Connery. New Line Cinema executive Mark Ordesky notes that the former James Bond actor passed on the role of the wizard simply because he "did not get it."

Bette Midler (Annie Wilkes In Misery)

Despite having no qualms about playing an actual evil witch in 1993's Hocus Pocus, Bette Midler did have some reservations about playing Annie Wilkes in Rob Reiner's adaptation of Stephen King's Misery from 1990. The actor and singer told Variety that was interested in playing the sadistic nurse because of her violent, unfunny, and irredeemable qualities.

Warren Beatty (Bill In Kill Bill)

In 2003, Quentin Tarantino told BBC that he originally started writing the title role of Kill Bill with Warren Beatty in mind because he wanted to work with him and the Oscar winner was set to play the target of Uma Thurman's vengeful Bride for a bit. However, after realizing that David Carradine was a better fit, followed by consideration of the time commitment and martial arts training involved, the actor and filmmaker amicably agreed to part ways.

Michelle Pfeiffer (Clarice Starling In The Silence Of The Lambs)

Michelle Pfeiffer once told Today's Hoda Kotb (via People) that her reasons for passing on roles in the likes of Pretty Woman and Basic Instinct typically had to do with scheduling conflicts. However, she told The New Yorker she passed on playing Clarice Starling (which ultimately went to Jodie Foster) in 1991's The Silence of the Lambs because the “evil” in the film made her nervous.

Al Pacino (Han Solo In Star Wars)

In his memoir, Sonny Boy, Al Pacino reveals that, before Harrison Ford was cast in Star Wars, he was offered the role of Han Solo. The Oscar winner explains that he could not "make anything out of" George Lucas' script and chose not to play the pilot of the Millennium Falcon.

Bela Lugosi (The Creature In Frankenstein)

According to the book, The Immortal Count: The Life and Films of Bela Lugosi by Arthur Lennig (via SlashFilm), the star of 1931's Dracula had the opportunity to play two Universal Monsters in the same year, having also been offered to play The Creature in Frankenstein. However, the actor believed such a role was "beneath him," paving the way for Boris Karloff to rise up in the ranks of horror royalty as Dr. Victor Frankenstein’s creation.

Haley Lu Richardson (Dani Ardor In Midsommar)

Haley Lu Richardson, known for one of the best M. Night Shyamalan movies, Split, passed on the role of Dani Ardor in Ari Aster's 2019 sophomore effort, Midsommar. The A24 horror masterpiece was ultimately led by Florence Pugh, whom Richardson told Backstage she has nothing but praise for, despite not yet having the courage to watch the movie.

Julia Roberts (Annie Reed In Sleepless In Seattle)

The two most prestigious queens of the rom-com genre would have to be Julia Roberts and Meg Ryan but only one could play Annie Reed in Sleepless in Seattle. Roberts told InStyle (via ABC News) that she was offered the part but could not do it, adding that Ryan and Tom Hanks "are just such a jewel of a fit in that."

Jamie Lee Curtis (Regan MacNeil In The Exorcist)

Jamie Lee Curtis became horror royalty with her feature film debut in 1978's Halloween but her reign could have begun earlier if not for one thing: her mother, Janet Leigh. Curtis told EW that, when she was asked to audition for Regan MacNeil in 1973's The Exorcist (which would go to Linda Blair), the Psycho star spoke on the then-13-year-old's behalf and refused the offer.

Lee Marvin (Quint In Jaws)

Robert Shaw's performance as Quint in Jaws is nearly as famous as the man-eating shark itself but the English actor was actually not Steven Spielberg's first choice. The filmmaker told Vanity Fair that he previously approached Lee Marvin but the Dirty Dozen star was not interested.

Sarah Michelle Gellar (Amber In Clueless)

Elisa Donovan's character in Clueless, Amber, very nearly went to the future star of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Sarah Michelle Gellar. Adam Schroeder, the co-producer of the 1995 high school movie classic, told Vanity Fair that the actor's commitment to the soap opera All My Children at the time forced her to recede from consideration.

On October 5, 1962, the James Bond movies exploded onto the scene with the decisive victory of Dr. No, and it's a date that is now known to fans as Global James Bond Day. But it wasn’t until 1964’s Goldfinger that Ian Fleming’s literary creation really stepped into the cinematic form that’s been parodied for decades to come.

In fact, the Guy Hamilton-directed entry in Sean Connery’s James Bond run, which premiered on September 18th in its native UK, solidified several of the key hallmarks that have heralded a Bond movie throughout the classic era. In celebration of Global James Bond Day, I’d like to raise my martini to the movie that really defined the world of 007.

With that in mind, allow me to run through how Goldfinger solidified the classic James Bond formula for decades to come.

Goldfinger Gave Us The First Proper ‘Bond Opening’

Among the list of the best James Bond theme songs is none other than the title track to Goldfinger, sung by the legendary Dame Shirley Bassey. But in addition to that position of honor, the hit single that heralded the arrival of 007’s nemesis of the moment was also the first song to be presented with the traditional Bond opening.

Taking the vague notion of beautiful women with material related to the film projected on their bodies, Goldfinger replicated what From Russia with Love would introduce in 1962. While music played an important role in the James Bond legacy from its very beginning, this was the first time the title song would be front and center, setting the tone for what was to come.

Pussy Galore’s Name Is A Double Entendre That Landed The Formula

In the history of Bond women who are 007’s equal, Honor Blackman’s portrayal of Pussy Galore is still one of the all-timers. At the same time, her pulpy moniker drips of the sort of double entendres that Mike Myers and other comedians would be lampooning for decades after Goldfinger’s release.

The James Bond series certainly made it easy, as Bond Girls to come would have names like Diamonds are Forever’s Plenty O’Toole (Lana Wood), Moonraker’s Dr. Holly Goodhead (Lois Chiles) and even Quantum of Solace’s Strawberry Fields (Gemma Arterton). Even more punny entries like Die Another Day’s henchman Mr. Kil (Lawrence Makoare) have Ms. Galore to thank for landing such memorable names.

Auric Goldfinger Cements The World Dominating Bond Villain Archetype

Goldeneye director Martin Campbell rejected further Pierce Brosnan movies for one reason above all: he was tired of the stereotypical “nutcase trying to take over the world.” Yes, Dr. No’s titular menace (Joseph Wise) may have had a leg up when it came to having a control room and designs on world domination, but Goldfinger nailed that into the fabric of James Bond’s more immediate future.

Auric Goldfinger (Gert Fröbe) has everything the conquering Bond baddie would embody for several decades: an uncontrollable obsession, a vicious right hand henchman and a want to hold the world hostage. When your villain not only inspires your series’ future antagonists, but also a character like infamous Simpsons villain Hank Scorpio (Albert Brooks), you know you’re doing something memorable.

The Aston Martin DB5 Finally Arrived In James Bond History

Let’s take a moment to really appreciate the Aston Martin DB5. James Bond’s iconic signature automobile, most recently seen in Daniel Craig’s No Time To Die, is a legendary stunner, and still occupies a meaningful place in the ranks of movie automobiles. According to one of the preeminent 007 history texts, Some Kind of Hero: The Remarkable Story of the James Bond Films, by Matthew Field and Ajay Chowdhury (via Slashfilm), that took a lot of pitching.

It was worth it though, as Aston Martin would then become the brand for Bond (save for a couple years where Pierce Brosnan was driving BMWs) and actually made a handful of replicas in 2020. It’s not hard to see why. 60 years later, Commander Bond’s impressive wheels are still the object of the affections of 007 fans, which only made the British auto brand synonymous with the man behind the wheel.

Goldfinger’s Gadgets Push The Series Into More Fantastic Weaponry

I’m as obsessed with the Aston Martin DB5 as the rest of you, so why don’t we stay on the topic of Goldfinger’s charismatic car? I have a good reason for that, as Sean Connery’s legendary mode of transportation helped push forward another important James Bond hallmark: the gadgets of Q Branch!

With a bunch of bells and whistles that include (but are not limited to) a retractable shield by the trunk, a GPS unit and, yes, the ejector seat, this was the movie that helped people identify 007 with high tech toys. Even the villains started to get some fantastic toys in Goldfinger, as Auric Goldfinger threatened our hero’s literal manhood with his infamous laser cannon!

Also, that killer “metal brimmed bowler hat” that belongs to Oddjob (Harold Sakata) is officially considered a gadget by the official 007 website. As we saw with Die Another Day director Lee Tamahori’s defense of the “invisible” Aston Martin Vanquish, what may seem ridiculous to the audience at large is usually not too far behind the actual science of today.

Oddjob Paved The Way For Imposing Henchpeople Of The Future

We’ll end with a tip of our own, non-lethal hats to Oddjob: a man of few words, but deadly aim. Imposing in stature and in the command of his horrific hat, Goldfinger’s henchman was a template for future associates that would make James Bond’s day a living hell. Though he would eventually see James Bond defeating him with a positively shocking death, Oddjob threw his hat in the ring of death, so that future successors could run, or in some cases chomp, his way into the hearts of Bond fans.

Without Oddjob taking the world by storm, we would have never gotten Jaws (Richard Kiel) taking a bite out of life, May Day (Grace Jones) providing the sort of threats that Max Zorin (Christopher Walken) couldn’t deliver, or Mr. Hinx (Dave Bautista) helping dissatisfying SPECTRE agents see things a bit less clearly. The henchperson became an important part to any James Bond villains’ plans, and that trend still pops up in the Daniel Craig run of Bond movies.

If you look close enough at Goldfinger and its place in the history of 007, there’s bound to be even more connections that found a lasting foothold after this picture’s release. So much of the James Bond legacy’s identity comes from what the team behind this picture nailed into place, as its box office performance proved once and for all that its main villain’s rule of threes was, in its own way, proven to be correct.

60 years of Goldfinger is just the start of what you can celebrate when it comes to Global James Bond Day. It just so happens you can stream that movie, as well as every other Bond adventure (minus 2006's Casino Royale) through access to a Prime Video subscription. Happy anniversary, Commander Bond, and here’s to the occasion of whenever your cinematic resurgence may be. Because as we’ve come to learn over 62 years of movie history… James Bond will return.

Actors make good movies and actors make bad movies. It’s just the law of averages and part of the game. However, sometimes an actor shows up in a movie so repugnant that it becomes a detriment to their career or ruins it entirely. One day you’re winning the Oscar for Best Picture, the next you’re taking home some Razzies.

Come with us as we break down 32 movies that ruined an actor’s career and what made them so bad. The perennial A-listers who ran out of steam and up-and-comers whose rise to fame was cut short on this list are wild, to say the least.

The Love Guru (Mike Myers)

Mike Myers had a stellar career on Saturday Night Live and was one of the funniest movie stars of the latter part of the 20th century thanks to ‘90s comedy movies like Wayne’s World and Austin Powers franchises, but the 2000s weren’t as kind to the comedian. After a string of duds, Myers starred in 2008’s The Love Guru, a “comedy” so bad, so tasteless, and so unfunny that Myers never really rebounded outside of voice roles.

Showgirls (Elizabeth Berkley)

Elizabeth Berkley seemed like a star on the rise after ending her run on Saved by the Bell in the early ‘90s, but that all came crashing down after taking the lead role in Paul Verhoeven’s erotic drama, Showgirls. Sure, the movie about a young drifter finding her place in Las Vegas’ showgirl scene is considered a cult classic years later, but there’s a reason we didn’t see too much of Berkley on the big screen after this one.

Batman & Robin (Alicia Silverstone)

Alicia Silverstone was one of the “it” girls of ‘90s cinema thanks to iconic performances in the likes of Clueless, The Crush, and all those Aerosmith videos, so it only seemed natural for her to land one of the lead roles in Batman & Robin. Unfortunately for Silverstone, and everyone else involved, the movie was abysmal and resulted in a complete reboot of the franchise, one that wouldn’t arrive until Christopher Nolan’s Batman Begins debuted nearly a decade later.

The Master Of Disguise (Dana Carvey)

Both before and after his SNL run, Dana Carvey appeared in classics like This Is Spinal Tap and Wayne’s World. That success would run dry with the 2002 release of The Master of Disguise, a movie that showcased Carvey’s zany characters, but not much else. 

Rollerball (Chris Klein)

Remember when Chris Klein seemed like a star in the making after great performances in Election and American Pie? Well, that was all ruined with the 2002 release of Rollerball, a remake of a better and more cohesive ‘70s movie of the same name. 

Norbit (Eddie Murphy)

Some of Eddie Murphy’s best movies were those where he played multiple characters, but Norbit is no Coming to America or The Nutty Professor. This 2007 comedy saw Murphy play an unhappily married couple and was received so poorly that people are still not convinced it didn't cost him an Oscar for his Dreamgirls performance.

Superman Returns (Brandon Routh)

It’s not like Brandon Routh never acted again after playing the titular hero in Superman Returns, but it’s safe to say his career never reached great heights after the 2006 movie either. He was great as Todd Ingram in Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, but Routh hasn’t had a remarkable go of it after having such a grand start.

Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (Ahmed Best)

It’s not Ahmed Best’s fault Star Wars Episode I – The Phantom Menace was so bad. It’s not Ahmed Best’s fault Jar Jar Binks has become one of the most detested characters in the galaxy far, far away. And it’s not Ahmed Best’s fault his career was ruined by the 1999 prequel film. 

In The Cut (Meg Ryan)

Meg Ryan was coming off a string of appearing in some of the best romantic comedies of all time when she took on a more dramatic role in the 2003 thriller, In the Cut. But for some reason, Jane Campion’s thriller about a woman getting wrapped up in a series of murders just didn’t work.

Battlefield Earth (John Travolta)

Battlefield Earth, with all of its Dutch angles, terrible lines, and over-the-top performances was so bad that it canceled out all the goodwill John Travolta earned with Pulp Fiction not even a decade earlier.

Soul Man (C. Thomas Howell)

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, The Outsiders, and  Red Dawn all made C. Thomas Howell one of the brightest young Hollywood stars in the early-to-mid ‘80s, but then came Soul Man, a movie in which he wore blackface. Howell’s been in scores of movies since, but most are direct-to-video or bargain bin material.

Son Of The Mask (Jamie Kennedy)

A sequel no one wanted, Son of the Mask brought in Jamie Kennedy to try and recapture the energy of Jim Carrey more than a decade earlier. Despite his best efforts, the Malibu’s Most Wanted and Scream star just couldn’t do it (maybe the script is to blame), and he never really rebounded. 

Sahara (Matthew McConaughey)

Though not Matthew McConaughey’s worst movie, Sahara is far from being his best. Released nearly a decade before the Dallas Buyers Club and True Detective star won all kinds of awards during the peak of the “McConaissance,” this 2005 dud was one of the straws that broke the camel’s back.

Abduction (Taylor Lautner)

Remember when Taylor Lautner seemed like one of the biggest stars on the planet and then abruptly disappeared? Well, we probably have Abduction, his 2011 action thriller to blame for that. Though he would have a few movies after the Twilight saga ended the next year, but Grown Ups 2 and The Ridiculous 6 finished off what Abduction started.

John Carter (Taylor Kitsch)

John Carter was supposed to be the biggest movie and Taylor Kitsch was going to become the biggest action star, but neither happened after this 2012 box office disaster happened. The Friday Night Lights star would show up some more on the small screen in the years that followed with True Detective Season 2 and the bonkers Waco limited series.

The Godfather Part III (Sofia Coppola)

Before becoming one of the big filmmakers of her time and crafting movies like Lost in Translation, Marie Antoinette, and Priscilla, Sofia Coppola began as an actress, appearing in many films by her father, Francis Ford Coppola. But that acting career pretty much came to an end following the release of The Godfather Part III, in which she replaced Winona Ryder and was then torn apart by critics.

Josie And The Pussycats (Rachael Leigh Cook)

In the late ‘90s, Rachael Leigh Cook became a massive star thanks to her take on Laney Boggs in She’s All That. But then came the 2001 adaptation of Josie and the Pussycats, a movie so bad that no one was safe from its fallout outside of Rosario Dawson and Parker Posey.

The Postman (Kevin Costner)

Kevin Costner was on top of the world when he decided to direct and star in The Postman. But unlike Dances with Wolves, which earned him multiple Oscars and a ton of praise, this 1997 sci-fi epic didn’t impress anyone and set the actor back a bit. He’s since rebounded, but it’s not hard to imagine “what if” in this case.

After Earth (Jaden Smith)

With memorable performances in The Pursuit of Happyness and The Karate Kid, Jaden Smith seemed like the next second-generation star to take over Hollywood. But then came After Earth, a forgettable (at best) sci-fi thriller alongside his dad, Will Smith. 

Pinocchio (Roberto Benigni)

For a while there, it seemed like Roberto Benigni couldn’t do anything wrong as both an actor and filmmaker. Well, that all changed with his 2002 adaptation of Pinocchio, specifically the English dub, which earned a stunning 0% score on Rotten Tomatoes. He’s only appeared in a handful of movies since, including the 2019 adaptation of Carlo Collodi’s classic tale.

The Passion Of The Christ (Jim Caviezel)

Though he’ll always be recognizable thanks to his portrayal of Jesus in Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ, Jim Caviezel’s career was never the same after this historic film. He’s still making movies, but not on the same level as The Thin Red Line, The Rock, or G.I. Jane, though his run on Person of Interest was impressive.

Cutthroat Island (Matthew Modine)

A few years before the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise took the pirate genre to new heights, Matthew Modine starred in 1995’s Cutthroat Island, a movie that would prove to be detrimental to his career for years to come. Modine would later find success again after working on shows like Weeds and Stranger Things, but it would take many years to get there.

Catwoman (Halle Berry)

Halle Berry was an Oscar-winning actress when she took on the lead role in Catwoman, which is often considered one of the worst superhero movies of all time. And while it would take a few years for the stink to wash off, Berry did have some fun with the experience and even accepted her own Razzy.

The Lone Ranger (Johnny Depp)

The Lone Ranger somehow received an Oscar nomination, which doesn’t make sense considering it stopped Armie Hammer from becoming a massive action star and cooled off Johnny Depp’s incredible box office run. Aside from Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Depp hasn’t had a whole lot of success since.

The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen (Sean Connery)

Sean Connery famously retired from acting after appearing in The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, which is a shame because the late James Bond actor’s swan song was out of tune and off-key, to say the least. This abysmal book-to-screen adaptation of one of the best graphic novels of the 20th century is often forgotten 20-plus years after its release, and it’s probably for the better.

Welcome To Mooseport (Gene Hackman)

Gene Hackman has had one of the best careers in Hollywood history, but that all came to an end after the release of Welcome to Mooseport. Hackman, who seems to be living a quiet and reclusive life these days, hasn’t been on screen since this 2004 comedy starring Ray Romano. Though not the worst movie ever made, this box office and critical dud didn’t do anyone any favors.

Howard The Duck (Lea Thompson)

An ‘80s movie that has not stood the test of time, Howard the Duck is one of those comic book movies that came out before Hollywood figured things out when it came to the genre. Though Robin Williams jumped ship and salvaged his career, Lea Thompson wasn’t as lucky and went through a tough stage before finally rebounding.

Freddy Got Fingered (Tom Green)

Freddy Got Fingered was never supposed to be a good movie, but Tom Green’s bonkers big-screen gross-fest was enough to turn people off to the idea of the MTV personality and prankster ever getting a large sum of cash ever again. Those who have seen it know why, and those who haven’t should be warned.

Chairman Of The Board (Carrot Top)

Carrot Top is still making the rounds as a prop comedian, but the eccentric showman has not been given the lead role in a movie since the disaster of Chairman of the Board. Forgettable even by ‘90s standards, this movie was made for an audience of one: its star.

Boat Trip (Cuba Gooding Jr.)

Cuba Gooding Jr. in the ‘90s: Boyz n the Hood, A Few Good Men, Jerry Maguire, As Good as It Gets. Cuba Gooding Jr. in the 2000s: Rat Race, Snow Dogs, Boat Trip. That last film was tasteless, awkward, and just about killed the Oscar winner’s career.

Corky Ramano (Chris Katan)

Though not everyone from SNL can become a Will Ferrell, Kristen Wiig, or Bill Murray, it at least seemed like Chris Katan would find some success outside of Studio 8H. However, he had to go make Corky Ramano, which is probably the worst comedy to come from the group.

The Great Dictator (Charlie Chaplin)

The Great Dictator is a great movie, and perhaps one of the best of Charlie Chaplin’s career. However, it now has a legacy of poking fun at Adolf Hitler during a time in which the Nazi leader was systematically exterminating tens of millions of innocent souls across the Atlantic.

Hollywood has a long history with the military. During World War II many actors and directors served and aided in the war effort in different ways. It goes way beyond that, however. Here is a list of actors who have served in the military, either in the US or in other countries. 

Drew Carey

Funnyman Drew Carey is not someone you expect would be a marine, but that's exactly what he was before making it big on television. The Price Is Right host served six years as a field radio operator in the Marine Reserves in his home state of Ohio after dropping out of college. You have to imagine being a radio operator would be a good experience for talking into a microphone, right?

Bea Arthur

During World War II, an entire generation of men were expected to do their part in the war effort. Women, on the other hand, were not expected to join the service. Bea Arthur thought differently and enlisted in the Marines. Of course, the world being what it was at the time, meant she served stateside, doing jobs like typing and later working in the motor pool. 

Jamie Farr

Though he is most famous for playing a corporal in MASH who did all he could to undermine the authority of his superiors, Jamie Farr served with distinction in the 1950s after being drafted in 1957. He was already in show business at the time, so much of his work involved USO shows. 

Mel Brooks

EGOT winner Mel Brooks served in the US Army during World War II and participated in the Battle of the Bulge. He joined almost straight out of high school in 1943 and was sent to Europe at the end of '44. He was honorably discharged in '46 and embarked on one of the most legendary careers of all time. 

Adam Driver

Like many in his generation, Adam Driver was inspired to join the military in the wake of the 9/11 attacks in 2001. Shortly after the attack, Driver signed up for the Marine Corps. The Star Wars actor is very proud of his service, though it was cut short after he injured himself off-duty and was medically discharged due to his injury. 

Robert Duvall

One of Robert Duvall's most famous roles was as the psychopathic Colonel Kilgore who loved the smell of napalm in the morning in 1978's Apocalypse Now. He probably drew on his experience in the United States Army, where he served for a year in the 1950s, just after the Korean War. 

Don Knotts

Don Knotts might be most famous for goofballs on The Andy Griffith Show and Three's Company, but his time in the army was anything but goofy. Knotts served three years in the army during World War II and earned a slew of medals for his service in the Pacific theater. After the war, he embarked on what would become a legendary career in Hollywood. 

Morgan Freeman

It took a long time for Morgan Freeman to get famous, but once he did, he's been an ever-present voice in everyone's head. After high school Freeman enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, where he served for four years in the 1950s. After leaving the service, he moved to LA and got into acting, though it would really be another couple of decades of hard work before he found fame. 

Paul Newman

Few actors define "movie star" like Paul Newman. As one of the biggest stars of his generation, he is beloved for all of his roles over the years. Before heading to Hollywood, Newman served in the Navy during the Second World War, mostly on the aircraft carrier Bunker Hill. 

Richard Pryor

Comedy legend Richard Pryor made his business to ruffle feathers whenever and wherever he could. That includes during the two years he served in the army in the late 1950s. According to The New Yorker, he spent much of those two years incarcerated in a military jail after he and other soldiers stabbed a white soldier for a racial incident. 

Rob Riggle

Comedian Rob Riggle is one of the most dedicated Marines in Hollywood history. He joined in 1990 and served overseas multiple times throughout his 23-year career, including his time in the reserves. While most stints in the military were only a few years for the people on this list, Riggle served well enough and long enough to retire as a lieutenant colonel.

Jennifer Marshall

Jennifer Marshall might not be a household name yet, but fans of Stranger Things, know her as Max's mom Susan. Before becoming an actress, Marshall served five years in the Navy, including on the USS Theodore Roosevelt during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Jimmy Stewart

Jimmy Stewart was already one of the biggest stars in the world, having won an Oscar for The Philadelphia Story before he joined the army after the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941. Unlike some actors like Ronald Reagan, Stewart was in the thick of the fighting as a member of the Army Air Force and was well-decorated for it, including winning the Distinguished Flying Cross. He remained in the reserves until well after the war, retiring in 1968 with the rank of brigadier general. 

Ice-T

Ice-T is not only an actor but one of the pioneers of hip-hop. He first got interested in music in the late '70s, while serving in the army. His time in the army wasn't exactly filled with glory, however. He was charged with theft while serving and eventually was found in dereliction of duty as a result. He cut his time short because he was already a single father and was honorably discharged in 1979. 

Gal Gadot

In Israel, most citizens are required to serve in the Israeli Defense Force and Gal Gadot was no different when she was drafted at age 20. She served her mandatory two years in the army as a combat fitness instructor. She was famously part of a Maxim Magazine spread of female Israeli soldiers during her time in the service before trying her hand at acting and landing her breakthrough role in Fast & Furious. 

Bob Ross

Famous for his calm demeanor and his big hair (a hairstyle he came to hate), Bob Ross doesn't seem like the military type. For most people, Ross is all about vegging out and destressing while watching him paint like magic on TV. Before all that though, he was a master sergeant in the Air Force. 

Robin Quivers

Robin Quivers is most famous for being Howard Stern's sidekick on his notorious radio show and co-starring with him in Private Parts, but long before she became a key part of Stern's team, she was an officer in the Air Force. She joined after college in 1975 and eventually rose to the rank of captain before leaving the military and starting her radio career. 

Arnold Schwarzenegger

Like a few actors, Arnold Schwarzenegger's time in the army was somewhat undistinguished. He, of course, served in his native Austria, which required one year of service from all young men. During his time, he was already a rising star in the bodybuilding world and he even went AWOL to compete. After he was discharged, he entered his first Mr. Universe competition, placing second, and the rest is history. 

Sean Connery

Though he just missed World War II, Sean Connery joined the Royal Navy in 1946 at just age 16. No, he didn't serve on a submarine, and the James Bond star wasn't a spy. His time in the service was somewhat short-lived as he was discharged for a medical issue less than three years later. He remained proud of his service for the rest of his life, however. 

Caitlin Bassett

Quantum Leap star Caitlin Bassett is a rarity in Hollywood, a female combat veteran. Bassett served for seven years in the army, including three overseas deployments to Afghanistan before being honorably discharged in 2017 and embarking on her acting career. 

Gene Hackman

Hollywood legend Gene Hackman enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1947 at just age 16. He served for almost five years as a radio operator, including for a year in China. After he was honorably discharged, he went to college and finally at age 30 started acting. it was a long road, but Hackman couldn't have imagined the success he'd find as one of the most beloved actors of his generation. 

Tom Selleck

Tom Selleck served for six years in the California Army National Guard during the height of the Vietnam War. By serving in the National Guard, it meant he didn't end up going overseas to fight, but that should diminish his service. The Blue Bloods star began his career with bit parts on TV shows and in commercials while serving, though it was years before he famously had to turn down the role of Indiana Jones. 

Marlene Dietrich

Though she never formally served in the armed services, we could not make this list without Marlene Dietrich's fascinating story. The German-born actress renounced her German citizenship in 1939 when World War II began and she worked vigorously for the USO during the war years, supporting American GIs. Later in the war, she was recruited by the OSS to record songs used for propaganda against German soldiers. After the war, Dietrich was awarded the Medal Of Freedom for her service. 

Gregory Gadson

Battleship star Gregory Gadson is more famous for his service than his acting, which is unique on this list. Gadson is a West Point graduate who was injured by a roadside bomb in Iraq in 2007. He lost both legs but learned to walk again using cutting-edge prosthetics and later, incorporating his injury into his character in Battleship. 

James Doohan

Star Trek legend James Doohan served bravely with the Canadian army during World War II and participated in the Normandy invasion on D-Day in 1944. He collected a number of medals for bravery during his time in the war and was even shot six times in the battle on Juno Beach on that fateful day. He later flew planes during the war as well. 

Charles Bronson

One of Charles Bronson's most beloved roles is that of an officer in one of the best war movies ever, The Great Escape. Though he was Polish in the movie, he served in the US Army Air Force during World War II as a gunner on a bomber. He served with distinction, flying on 25 missions in the Pacific during the war and earning a Purple Heart. 

Kris Kristofferson

As a singer-songwriter and actor, Kris Kristofferson has usually been connected to the counterculture, but it wasn't always that way. Kristofferson grew up an army brat and despite being a Rhodes scholar in college, he was pressured by his proud military family to join the service. He was commissioned as an officer and served in Germany after completing Ranger training. He left the army in '65 and moved to Nashville, and the rest is history.

Mark Valley

Fox's Human Target was a short-lived, underrated TV show with an all-star that included  Chi McBride, Jackie Earle Haley, Indira Varma, and Janet Montgomery. It was led by Mark Valley, who played Christopher Chance, based on a DC comic character from a book also called Human Target. Valley himself is a graduate of West Point who saw combat in the first Gulf War.  

Jake McLaughlin

One of the more interesting stories on this list belongs to Quantico star Jake McLaughlin. McLaughlin joined the army after high school and served in the Iraq war, seeing combat in the earliest days of the invasion. After getting out, he worked a few odd jobs before landing a role in In the Valley of Elah. From there, he's never looked back, landing roles in multiple TV shows and movies. 

Jesse Ventura

While Jesse Ventura, star of the wrestling squared circle and movies like Predator, never saw combat in Vietnam, he did have an impressive service career. He completed BUD/S school, which is SEAL training, and served as part of an Underwater Demolition Team, the predecessors to the SEALs. Later he would become a politician and a member of the WWE Hall of Fame. 

J.W. Cortés

Fans of the Fox Batman prequel show Gotham will recognize J.W. Cortés as Detective Carlos Alvarez, who works with Jim Gordon in the Gotham PD. Cortés served for 13 years in the Marine Corps, including during Operation Iraqi Freedom. 

Remi Adeleke

2023's Plane is somewhat under-appreciated because it's a great action flick. Part of what makes it great is the breakout performance from Remi Adeleke. Adeleke plays part of a private military unit charged with rescuing passengers in a disabled plane stuck in the Philippines. Adeleke plays the part well because, well, he's a former SEAL in real life. 

Yes, I'm well aware that Father's Day is still a ways off. But, as a father myself, and as somebody who is enamored with the best action movies of all time (and projecting myself into said movies), I'm always a sucker for good dads in action flicks.

Unsurprisingly, I'm not alone, as there are a multitude of fighting fathers at the multiplexes, which just proves that ass-kicking daddy is a popular sub-genre, and definitely wish fulfillment. 

Sure, it's cool to imagine yourself on the big screen (or in an action movie that went right to streaming), being an ass kicking ladies man, a la all those James Bond movies. But, it's even cooler imagining yourself as a papa who could also whoop some ass. So, here are some of the best dads in action movies. Oh, and son. Hold my beer.  

John McClane (Die Hard Series) 

We don’t learn much about John McClane’s children until Parts 4 and 5, which are Live Free or Die Hard, and A Good Day to Die Hard, respectively. But, they’re very interesting relationships, nonetheless. 

His daughter, Lucy (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), is not a fan of her father in Part 4, even going so far as to change her last name. But, when she gets taken hostage by a cyberterrorist, you know Papa John is coming to the rescue. And rescue her he does! They’re back on speaking terms after these heroic events. 

In Part 5, which is my LEAST favorite movie of the Die Hard series, we get introduced to his son, John, or Jack, played by Jai Courtney. John is actually as badass as his father, who fights with him in Russia. But, one thing is certain about John McClane, played by the incomparable Bruce Willis (Who our very own Sean O’Connell wrote a whole book about!): Whoever you are, you do not mess with his kids.  

John Matrix (Commando) 

In the greatest action movie of all time (I said what I said), Arnold Schwarzenegger plays John Matrix, a mountain of a man who will stop at nothing to rescue his daughter, Jenny (Alyssa Milano). Here’s the plot: A dictator wants to use John in order to get back into power, and he’s going to kidnap Matrix’s daughter as a means to fulfill his goal. But, he messed with the wrong dude.

Because you just can’t stop John Matrix! Sure, you can try to take him hostage on an airplane, but he’s the kind of man who will break the guy’s neck next to him, and then get off the plane from the wheel compartment. Hell, you’re going to need a small army to keep him from his daughter, and not even that will help you.  

Bryan Mills (Taken Series)  

We all know this, but Bryan Mills’ victims might not be aware that he has “a very particular set of skills.”  But, they soon learn as such when they kidnap his daughter, Kim, played by Maggie Grace. It sets Mills (Liam Neeson) off on a trek to kill the people who kidnapped her.

Mills is the kind of dad you don’t want to bring your boyfriend home to. He seems pleasant enough, but he’s also so protective of his daughter, that you would be walking on eggshells anytime you’re around him, especially if you’re in a kitchen full of knives. Funnily (or stupidly) enough, another bad guy attempted to take his daughter in Taken 3. But, we all know how that ended, and it definitely wasn’t in the bad guy’s favor.  

President James Marshall (Air Force One) 

You wanna talk about fathers? Well, how about our founding fathers, with one of them being George Washington. Known for his bravery and cunning, many Americans consider Washington to be one of America’s greatest presidents, and (check out this segue), one could argue that James Marshall, played by Harrison Ford, is one of America’s greatest movie presidents. 

Quite frankly, Marshall does not negotiate with terrorists. Which is bad news for Egor Korshunov (Gary Oldman), as Marshall isn’t just some pushover president. Nah. He fought in Vietnam and even won the Medal of Honor for his duties. So, mistake #1 was hijacking the plane, but mistake #2 (and this was the even bigger mistake), was taking his wife and daughter hostage. Because that’s what really set him off. Of course the bad guys lose and the good guy wins, because America. Amirite?  

Cameron Poe (Con Air) 

Since we’re already on the topic of planes, let’s talk about Cameron Poe (Nicolas Cage), in the awesome (but sometimes nonsensical) ‘90s movie, Con Air. Poe, who went to jail for defending his wife, is the kind of father who will make sure you die if you even dare tamper with the bunny (Just put it back in the box!) that he got for his daughter. 

In a lot of ways, everything he does here is to be back home with his family. Because he was locked up for eight years, he’s going to be coming home to a daughter he didn’t really get to watch grow up. So, that’s why there’s nobody on earth (Or in the air!) who’s going to stop him from seeing his daughter.  

Sean Archer (Face/Off)  

Since we’re on the topic of Nicolas Cage, who I’m always happy to talk about, why not transition over to another ‘90s classic, Face/Off, starring Nic Cage and John Travolta? 

Now, this is going to be a tricky one to describe if you’ve never seen the movie, but John Travolta plays Sean Archer, whose son dies early on, due to Castor Troy, a terrorist played by Cage. Due to a series of events, though, Travolta’s face gets swapped with Cage’s so their roles flip. Now, Cage becomes “the good guy,” and Travolta is bad.

No matter whose face he has, Sean is a good dad (even though he’d been neglecting his wife and daughter while going after Troy). When he realizes how he’s been so single-minded in his pursuit, he learns the true value of being a parent. So much so, that he’s even willing to adopt his rival’s son just to keep him from a life of crime. What a mensch! 

Roger Murtaugh (Lethal Weapon Series)  

Okay, enough of the ‘90s. Let’s talk about the ‘80s, and Lethal Weapon! Roger Murtaugh, played by Danny Glover, is a family man, through-and-through. He’s a Vietnam vet, and will do anything for his kids, such as try to rescue his daughter, Rianne (Traci Wolfe), who gets kidnapped in the first movie by a cartel.

Or, how about how awful he feels in Lethal Weapon 3, when he kills his son’s friend, and then declines mentally due to his guilt? In every way, Murtaugh is the kind of dad who isn’t perfect, but tries his damn best each and every day. And, I can relate as a parent. Because just like Murtaugh, I’m getting too old for this ish.  

Ogami Itto (Lone Wolf And Cub Series) 

On the surface, Ogami Itto (Tomisaburo Wakayama) seems like he might actually be a bad parent. I mean, what kind of dad brings his child into combat where he could die at any point? But, Itto actually presented his baby with an ultimatum: Choose the sword, and he could come with him. Choose the ball, and he would die at his father’s hand. 

Yeah, that still sounds pretty bad, but at the same time, bringing a baby carriage into combat is certainly a hindrance. Itto is ride or die now that he’s committed to taking his son along on his quest for vengeance. Hey, his kid even contributes, killing along the way as well. You know what they say! The family that slays together, stays together. That is what they say, don’t they? 

Dr. Henry Jones Sr. (Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade)  

While I’ll debate with you all day which is the better Indy sequel–Last Crusade or Temple (It’s Temple!), what I won’t debate with you is what a fascinating father Dr. Henry Jones (Sean Connery) is to Indy (Which was the dog’s name!). At first, he seems aloof to his child, as they don’t quite see eye-to-eye. But, throughout their journey together for the Holy Grail, we learn just how similar they actually are to each other. 

It’s also worth noting that Senior truly loves his son, and that it was hard for him to deal with his wife’s death. In turn, Indy truly loves his dad. But, like many contentious families, they’re more alike than they’re ever willing to admit. 

 Who’s your favorite dad in an action movie?  

Anyone who has seen Sofia Coppola’s Lost in Translation must wonder for at least a second if there is truth in Bill Murray’s character of a famous American actor in Japan to film a commercial. Well, there definitely is. Huge American and European stars have been hawking products in Japanese commercials for decades. 

Some of the biggest names in Hollywood, some of whom you’d never expect to be selling cars and shampoo in the States, are happy to do it in Japan. While there was a time those stars may have been labeled as “sell-outs” in the U.S. for doing commercials, it was very lucrative to appear in ads in Japan, without the baggage. Here are just a few of the celebrities who have made those Japanese ads. 

Natalie Portman

Natalie Portman is known in the U.S. for her Miss Dior perfume commercials, but in Japan, she’s better known for selling Lux shampoo. The commercial we found is a pretty standard shampoo commercial, very similar to one you’d see in the States with long, flowing locks being flung to and fro. 

Jodie Foster

Two-time Oscar winner Jodie Foster is one of those actors you’d least expect to see in a commercial, but in the ‘90s, Foster starred in a campaign for Honda Civics. The commercials are pretty bland, with lots of shots of a smiling Foster standing near the Hondas she was selling. 

George Clooney

He may be one of the biggest movie stars of all time, but George Clooney isn’t above slinging coffee in Europe or doing extensive voice-over work on American commercials. In Japan, he’s the face of Kirin Beer in at least a couple of commercials, co-starring with some CGI songbirds. 

Keanu Reeves

Keanu Reeves has developed a reputation for being one of the nicest guys in Hollywood. It makes sense that a product would be interested in having him as a spokesman. In the United States, he occasionally does a commercial or two, most notably for Squarespace. In Japan, he’s also popular. Like a lot of Western celebs, he’s been hired by the whiskey maker Suntory to do commercials. As always, he looks cool doing it. 

Madonna

At the height of Madonna’s fame in the ‘80s and ‘90s, it would’ve been very rare to see her endorse a product on TV in the United States, but in Japan, she was part of a big campaign for Takara, a whiskey made by Blanton’s for the Japanese market. The commercials don’t look like they took up much of the Material Girl’s time, however, as they are just cuts from her music videos spliced with buzzwords and shots of the bourbon. 

Arnold Schwarzenegger

Lately, Arnold Schwarzenegger has been showing up in more and more commercials. At the 2024 Super Bowl, he was in a State Farm ad, for example. It seems the former Governator likes the idea of picking up a nice paycheck for a minimal amount of work, and who can blame him? It’s something he’s been doing in Japan for decades, going back to the pinnacle of his fame in the ‘90s when he endorsed an energy drink called Alinamin V. These might be the strangest of all the commercials too, featuring Schwarzenegger’s giant head popping out the bottle and other over-the-top images. 

Miles Davis

No one defines “cool” quite like Miles Davis did. The late jazz legend had a reputation for being prickly, but fans still wanted to be him. His sound on trumpet was unique, as was his style, and it all oozes authenticity. Endorsing products in the U.S. might have branded him a “sell-out” to his fans, but in the ‘80s, he could go to Japan, where he was also a big star, and shoot commercials for Honda Scooters, and no one would be the wiser in North America. 

Britney Spears

Britney Spears might be the least surprising person on this list. At the height of her fame in the late ‘90s, she’s exactly the kind of celebrity that would be huge in Japan. Spears took advantage of that fame, starring in a series of commercials for Go Go Tea. The pop star also appeared in an ad for Mikakuto Gummy Candies as well. 

Harrison Ford

Back in 1996, Entertainment Weekly reported that Hollywood stars could make anywhere from $500K to $2 million for a couple of days’ work on a Japanese commercial. It explains why actors like Harrison Ford, who no one would have expected to see in an ad in the ‘90s in America, would spend a few days in Japan shooting commercials for Kirin beer. We don’t know how much he made, but it’s safe to assume the Star Wars star made enough to pay Jabba back and then some. 

Cameron Diaz

SoftBank is one of the largest holding companies in Japan and it loves to bring over American stars to promote its services. One such star was Cameron Diaz, who in the mid-’00s starred in commercials and print ads all over Tokyo for the cell phone giant. No doubt such a campaign made it possible for the actress to semi-retire in 2014. 

Brad Pitt

Coffee, specifically canned coffee, seems to be one of the more lucrative areas of advertising for Western stars in Japan. None other than Brad Pitt even showed up in one in the ‘90s. Pitt stars as an office worker getting more work done after drinking a can of Roots Coffee. 

Bruce Willis

Bruce Willis is big in Japan. He’s been spotted selling everything from cars to financial services. Daihatsu and SoftBank have both hired the Die Hard legend to hawk their wares. He even learned a phrase or two in Japanese for the spots. 

Sharon Stone

Just as in America and Europe, Japanese beauty brands love to hire a famous actress to taut their product’s ability to make everyone as beautiful as they are. Sharon Stone was a major spokeswoman for Vernal soaps, for example. Stone also appeared in commercials for jewelry and other luxury wares. 

Ben Stiller

When you watch the Kirin ad Ben Stiller did back in the late ‘90s, it makes you wonder if it was the main inspiration for Zoolander. It feels like an outtake from the movie about a male model, it’s so goofy. Don’t get it wrong, it’s supposed to be over-the-top and funny, so it fits the character of Derek Zoolander perfectly, even if Stiller wasn’t actually playing the role. It’s also better than Zoolander 2.

Francis Ford Coppola

Of course, the most famous example in the West of a star doing Japanese commercials is the fictional Bob Harris (Bill Murray) doing Suntory ads in Lost In Translation. The inspiration for the film, or part of it, had to be Sofia Coppola’s father, Francis Ford Coppola doing ads in Japan in the ‘80s and ‘90s. Including one for Fuji Cassettes, and yes, Suntory whiskey. 

Sylvester Stallone

Rocky star Sylvester Stallone got on the Japanese advertising train back in the mid-’90s, including doing some very strange commercials for Bayern Sausages. An Italian-American doing ads for German sausages in Japan. It’s the UN of commercials! 

Brooke Shields

Back in the ‘80s, Brooke Shields was huge. For much of the decade, she found a lot of work in Japan in ads for everything from tissues to coffee to stereos. No doubt that helped her pay for her Princeton education, where she studied during a break from her career in the mid-’80s. 

Richard Gere

In 2009, Japanese company Suntory bought Orangina, the sparking orange beverage from France. Almost immediately, Suntory did what they had done so often in the past, they hired an American actor for an ad campaign. Richard Gere starred in a few commercials for the brand at the dawn of the 2010s, playing a classic Japanese comedy character from the ‘60s and ‘70s named Tora-san.  

Audrey Hepburn

By the early 1970s, Hollywood legend Audrey Hepburn had already semi-retired from acting, starring only sporadically in a few movies in the ‘70s before bowing out completely. Still, she did work in Japan occasionally in commercials, including one for wigs from 1970, which seems pretty odd, but hey, it’s Audrey Hepburn, so who are we to question it?

Leonardo DiCaprio

Even the great Leonardo DiCaprio has gotten in on the Japanese ad business, hawking credit cards in the ‘90s and Jim Beam more recently. You might expect the latter, but definitely not the former, in the United States. 

Anne Hathaway

Anne Hathaway is another glamorous actress who has been known to pop up in luxury and beauty ads in Japan. One product, Lux Shampoo, is well known for using American stars in its ads for its products. The rom-com star pitched for the company a few times in the mid-’00s. 

Sammy Davis, Jr.

Suntory Whiskey definitely takes the win for grabbing some of the biggest stars from the U.S. to sell its products. Even way back in the ‘70s, it was paying Sammy Davis, Jr. to do commercials for them. They even got him to scat for one of them, and it’s a gem. 

Tommy Lee Jones

Tommy Lee Jones has been a regular in Japanese commercials for a long time, and watching some of the more bizarre ones, he’s clearly having a lot of fun. It definitely references his role in the Men in Black series, but beyond that, it’s hard to pin what they are about, exactly, except that he’s selling coffee. 

Nicolas Cage

It’s no surprise to find Nicolas Cage on this list, now is it? Going back a couple of decades, the actor did a series of commercials for Pachinko games, which are Japanese slot machines and pinball machines.

Kyle MacLachlan

In what might be the absolute best and most bizarre entry on this list, Kyle MacLachlan starred in a whole series of commercials for Georgia Coffee as Dale Cooper from Twin Peaks. The commercials played out like a bizarre mystery, just like the show, and also featured other characters from the show, and the famous intro. It’s truly awesome… and weird… and awesome.

Sean Connery

If you want someone elegant and cool to advertise your whiskey, why not hire James Bond himself, Sean Connery? That’s exactly what Suntory did in the early ‘90s and he’s everything you want him to be in the ad. 

Hugh Jackman

When you have the talents of a true song-and-dance man like Hugh Jackman, it’s smart to take advantage of that. It’s what Lipton Ice Tea did in 2010 to amazing results with the Deadpool & Wolverine star dancing around a Japanese hotel. 

Cindy Crawford

Cindy Crawford was the most famous model in the world in the ‘80s and ‘90s, so it’s no surprise she’d been seen on Japanese TV selling lots of stuff, as she was virtually everywhere else in the world. For example, in Japan, she hawked a sports drink called Pocari Sweat. Sweat seems like an odd thing to name your drink, but Crawford could sell anything in those days. 

John Travolta

Canned drinks are huge in Japan and the competition for customers is intense, which has led to a lot of American stars getting lucrative gigs. John Travolta is one such star, who was hired to appear in an ad for Tokyo Drink. Naturally, he danced his way through it. 

Hulk Hogan

Professional wrestling has long been hugely popular in Japan. American wrestling stars like Hulk Hogan have been traveling to Japan to work for decades. With that fame, came commercials for the Hulkster, like one in the early ‘90s hawking Hitachi Air Conditioners. 

Quentin Tarantino

It’s not always just actors either. Quentin Tarantino, whose Kill Bill movies are a tribute to Japanese culture, popped up in an ad for SoftBank’s cell phone service. The director looks like he had a blast making the spots, too. 

Kiefer Sutherland

When 24 debuted, it instantly became one of the biggest hits on TV, and that success translated to Japanese TV as well. So much so, that Kiefer Sutherland was hired by the energy drink Calorie Mate to star in a series of commercials in the style of the spy show. 

There was a time when “selling out” was a real concern for artists and their fans. It’s far more common today to see big stars in commercials. Before it became okay to be seen selling stuff on TV, those big names could head to Japan for a nice paycheck, without retribution from hardcore fans. Until the internet, it was rare for an American or European to even know the stars had done it. Now with the internet, we get to see all these great commercials they were doing. 

Stories about Kings, Queens, Princes, and Princesses have long been a Hollywood favorite. Sure, there are amazing fictional kings and queens like T’Challa in Black Panther and Abe Froman, the Sausage King of Chicago in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, but this list is about the real ones. Historical depictions of some of the greatest, and worst, monarchs in world history. Kings like Henry VIII and Louis XIV. Queens like Elizabeth II and Victoria. Sure, the movies they appear in are not always the most historically accurate, but that doesn’t diminish the portrayals of royalty by these fine actors. 

Patrick McGoohan As King Edward I - Braveheart

Braveheart is far from the most historically accurate movie of all time, but one character that Mel Gibson and company at least got close to correct is Edward I, or Edward Longshanks, as he was known in the movie and at the time. He was a brutal, remorseless leader, and fought with the Scots for most of his reign. Patrick McGoohan’s performance of Edward is great, one of the real highlights of the movie. 

Judi Dench As Queen Elizabeth I - Shakespeare In Love

To be sure, Shakespeare In Love isn’t as loved today as it was when it was released in 1998. Its upset win for Best Picture at the 1999 Oscars over Saving Private Ryan is still questioned and the movie is often maligned unfairly. One reason it's unfair is Judi Dench’s fantastic performance as Queen Elizabeth I. 

Emily Blunt As Queen Victoria - The Young Victoria

Most of the images we see of Queen Victoria come from later her in her long reign, after Prince Albert died and the older queen was seen wearing black and looking dour. The Young Victoria is a fresh take, showing the queen, played by Emily Blunt, as young and vibrant. It wasn’t a huge hit in the United States, but it’s a really good movie, with a great performance by Blunt. 

Kenneth Branagh As King Henry V - Henry V

Kenneth Branagh has done more for Shakespeare in the modern age than anyone in Hollywood and the prime example is his portrayal of the titular king in Henry V. His delivery of the famous St. Crispin's Day speech is worth the price of admission alone. 

Colin Firth As King George VI - The King's Speech

Colin Firth’s performance and King George VI in The King’s Speech is as close to perfect as possible and well deserving of the Oscar he was awarded for it. Firth brilliantly plays both the reluctant king’s vulnerability and his strength. It’s a fine line to walk, as both are completely necessary to understand King George VI in full. 

Kirsten Dunst As Marie Antoinette - Marie Antoinette

Marie Antoinette is one of the most infamous royals of all time. The French queen is notorious in history for her aloof attitude towards the revolting French peasants during the French Revolution. The film Marie Antoinette starring Kirsten Dunst as the titular queen, did wow audiences at first, but has since become one of Sofia Coppola’s most respected films, and with good reason. It’s a very modern movie telling an old story and Dunst’s performance enhances that perfectly. 

Elizabeth Taylor As Cleopatra - Cleopatra

Elizabeth Taylor’s performance in Cleopatra is one of the most iconic in Hollywood history. Though it deserves some criticism from more enlightened modern audiences, it doesn’t diminish the performance. Taylor is amazing and only a star like her could carry a movie on the scale and scope of Cleopatra. It’s a true Hollywood epic from the Golden Age of Hollywood and Taylor is as glamorous as any actor could be. 

Timothée Chalamet As King Henry V - The King

It’s not easy for any actor to step into one of Shakespeare’s best characters like Henry V in Henry V. This is a character that Laurence Olivier played on the silver screen for goodness sake!  Timothée Chalamet took the risk and it paid off for the actor and audiences in The King. The movie is a new take on Shakespeare’s plays,  taken from his four plays about historical English kings, so the pressure was on. Chalamet kills it in the movie, playing the role quite differently as others have, but it works for the updated version. 

Cate Blanchett As Queen Elizabeth I - Elizabeth

Elizabeth is a wonderful movie, anchored by a wonderful performance by Cate Blanchett as Queen Elizabeth I. Blanchett returned for a sequel, Elizabeth: A Golden Age which was a less-than-wonderful movie, but Blanchett was once again great. The performances in both set a new standard for the historical figure who has been portrayed often on film. 

Janet Suzman As Tsarina Alexandra - Nicholas And Alexandra

One of the most pivotal moments of the 20th Century was the overthrow and execution of Tsar Nicolas of Russia and his family by the Bolsheviks during the Russian Revolution. It’s a story that has rarely been told on film in the West, but Nicholas And Alexandra is the rare exception. It’s a good movie, with a great Oscar-nominated performance by Janet Suzman.

Chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi As King Cetshwayo - Zulu

Chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi is not a professional actor, and the great 1964 film Zulu is his only appearance. His role as King Cetshwayo is also not a large one, but he makes this list because one, he was an actual Zulu chief in South Africa, and two, he was the son of the man he plays. King Cetshwayo who led the Zulu Kingdom at the time of the war depicted in the movie, so while the part was not big, it’s important to have it on this list. 

Jonathan Rhys Meyers As King Henry VIII - The Tudors

One of the most popular depictions of royalty on screen in the last couple of decades has to be Jonathan Rhys Meyers As King Henry VIII in The Tudors. Meyers plays a young, dashing version of the king that most people know from his later portraits, looking less healthy than the king was as a young man. Henry VIII is one of the most notorious kings in English history and Meyers shows why, but also plays him as anti-hero we all kind of love. 

Helen Mirren As Queen Elizabeth II - The Queen

Helen Mirren's performance as Queen Elizabeth in the Queen is everything you would expect, as the The Dame plays the role with respect, but with with a toughness that the queen was known for behind closed doors. 

Sean Connery As King Richard - Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves

We couldn’t make this list without one of the most famous cameos of all time. It’s one of the shorter roles on the list, but Sean Connery’s surprise appearance as King Richard at the end of Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves shocked and delighted audiences. In real life, King Richard spent almost none of his time on the island of Great Britain, preferring to remain in Aquitaine in France, so it’s a bit of a stretch that he would be at a wedding in England, but no matter, he makes everyone smile. 

Trine Dyrholm As Queen Margrete - Margrete: Queen Of The North

Margaret I of Denmark is one of the most important monarchs in European history, to say nothing of her being a woman in power in the Middle Ages, which was very rare. Her story is well known in Scandinavia, but less known in the United States. That’s even more reason to watch the Danish movie Margrete: Queen Of The North, along with Trine Dyrholm’s performance of the queen. 

Claire Foy, Olivia Colman, and Imelda Staunton As Queen Elizabeth II - The Crown

How do you put only one of the three women who played Queen Elizabeth II on The Crown with such aplomb on this list? You can’t, so all three, Claire Foy, Olivia Colman, and Imelda Staunton all make it. Each one brought their own panache to the role of the now-legendary queen who we lost in 2022. Foy and Coleman both won Emmys for the role and Staunton was nominated in 2023. It’s three fantastic performances by three wonderful actresses. They even got to act together at the end. 

Nigel Hawthorne As King George III - The Madness Of King George

King George III is most famous in the United States for being the king we fought a revolution against. While he is considered one of the greatest kings in English history, he also had a severe undiagnosed mental illness that affected him later in life. It’s that part of his life that The Madness Of King George is about. It’s a hard role to play, but Nigel Hawthorne nails the role. 

Leonardo DiCaprio As King Louis XIV - The Man In The Iron Mask

There are surprisingly few portrayals of King Louis XIV of France in English-language cinema, despite the Sun King being one of the most consequential monarchs in European history. The most notable one is a fictionalized version of King Louis by Leonardo DiCaprio in The Man In The Iron Mask.

Vanessa Kirby, Helena Bonham Carter, and Lesley Manville As Princess Margaret - The Crown

One of the best achievements of The Crown (among many) was the show’s casting. The three actors who played Princess Margaret, Vanessa Kirby, Helena Bonham Carter, and Lesley Manville, all did an amazing job. You can’t pick one of the next because they all simply nailed the tragedy and triumph of the princess in the shadow of her older sister, Queen Elizabeth II. 

Olivia Coleman As Queen Anne - The Favourite

Olivia Coleman is great at playing royalty on screen, even when it’s a wildly fictionalized and weird version of Queen Anne like she does in The Favourite. The movie is very loosely based on history but is very much representative of director Yorgos Lanthimos’ style. So while Coleman may not be playing Queen Anne exactly as she was, it’s still a downright amazing performance. 

Natalie Dormer As Anne Boleyn - The Tudors

Natalie Dormer is perfectly cast as Anne Boleyn in The Tudors. She’s beautiful, yet vulnerable, coy, yet determined, and sweet, yet conniving. Boleyn is one of the most tragic queens in English history and it’s hard to picture anyone but Dormer playing her after she starred in this show. 

Richard Harris As King Arthur - Camelot

We could argue all day about how “real” King Arthur was. More myth than man in English folklore, there isn’t even consensus on whether he existed at all. But no matter, Richard Harris’ portrayal of the legend in Camelot is still worthy of mention on this list because it’s so darn good and so darn iconic. 

Oliver Dimsdale As King Edward VIII - Downton Abbey

In the finale of Season 4 of Downton Abbey, audiences meet Edward VIII when he is still Prince of Wales, before becoming king and before his abdication shocked the world. Though it’s not the biggest role, Oliver Dimsdale instantly gives you a sense of exactly who the future Duke of Windsor was, a conniving womanizer who really wasn't fit to be king. 

Katharine Hepburn As Eleanor Of Aquitaine - The Lion In Winter

It’s hard to understand why The Lion In Winter isn’t as remembered as other movies from the late ‘60s, because Katharine Hepburn's performance as Eleanor Of Aquitaine, the queen of England in the 12th Century, is amazing. She even took home an Oscar for it. 

Sean Bean as Odysseus - Troy

In the original theatrical version of Troy, Odysseus, the King of Ithaca, played by Sean Bean, doesn’t have all that big of a role. He’s a scene-stealer though. In the director’s cut, which makes for a much better movie, the role is expanded. Plus, it's a rare movie that Sean Bean doesn’t die in. 

Sigourney Weaver as Queen Isabella I - 1492: Conquest Of Paradise

There’s no way around this: 1492: Conquest Of Paradise is not a good movie. It’s historically inaccurate and celebrates Christopher Columbus a little too much while ignoring a lot of his atrocities. Still, Sigourney Weaver, while slightly miscast, does a phenomenal job with what she’s given to do as Queen Isabella I of Spain, Columbus’ benefactor. 

Tadanobu Asano As Genghis Khan - Mongol

If this was a list of the worst performances of royalty, John Wayne’s offensive and terrible version of Genghis Khan in The Conqueror would be at the top of the list. On the flip side, we have the Japanese actor Tadanobu Asano as the Mongolian king in Mongol. It’s not the most widely-known movie, as it’s a Russian production in Mandarin and Mongolian. It’s worth your time and effort to seek it out though, it’s fantastic. 

Judi Dench As Queen Victoria - Mrs. Brown

Is there a role out there that Dame Judi Dench doesn’t nail? That’s a rhetorical question, of course, and her performance as Queen Victoria in Mrs. Brown is certainly no exception. Though the actual history in the movie is dubious at best, putting that aside and enjoying the movie is easy with Dench as the recently widowed queen. 

Gerard Butler As Leonidas - 300

Of all the movies in this movie that stretch the true stories to their max, 300 wins in that category. Still, Gerard Butler’s portrayal of Leonidas is a fan-favorite for good reason. Sure, it’s mostly because he looks so darn good, but the movie is fun, exciting, and completely unique, so we’ll allow for a little historical nonsense. 

Richard Harris As Marcus Aurelius - Gladiator

Another movie on this list that takes a lot of liberties with its historical accuracy, Gladiator basically changes everything about Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris) and Commodus’ (Joaquin Phoenix) real-life father/son relationship. But both Phoenix and Harris are fantastic in their roles, so again, we’ll allow it. 

Peter O'Toole As Henry II - The Lion In Winter

The Lion in Winter has a few excellent portrayals of royalty. Katherine Hepburn as Eleanor of Aquitaine, Timothy Dalton as King Philip of France, and Anthony Hopkins as a young Richard The Lionhearted. Of course, the lead in the film, Peter O’Toole as Henry II is the lead for a reason. In a career filled with amazing performances, this is one of O’Toole’s best and resulted in one of his eight Best Actor nominations. 

Chris Pine As Robert The Bruce - Outlaw King

Robert The Bruce has been portrayed in a few films, probably most famously by Angus Macfadyen in Braveheart. While that performance is great, Outlaw King, with Chris Pine in the lead role, is a more historically accurate version of the story of Robert fighting the English and rising to King of the Scots. 

Audiences have always been fascinated by the lives of monarchs worldwide, and that is not likely to change anytime soon. We’ll continue to see great portrayals of royalty in entertainment for a long time to come. 

007 isn’t just a man known for his slick trigger finger for her majesty, he’s also got his own way with words. As the James Bond movies have offered many quotable lines for fans to throw out at the right time, it’d be a shame not to celebrate that fact. So let’s take some time and discuss the lines that best sum up the wit and wisdom of Commander Bond.

“Bond. James Bond.” - Dr. No (1962)

Introducing himself to the world in the 1962 classic Dr. No, Sean Connery’s initial iteration of 007 dropped the perfect calling card. Introducing himself to Sylvia Trench (Eunice Gayson) over a game of Baccarat, and with his theme music playing during the said moment, James Bond made quite the first impression with his easily identifiable catchphrase.

“Red wine with fish. Well, that should have told me something.” - From Russia With Love (1963)

Even some of the best James Bond villains have those moments where Commander Bond has gotten the upper hand. In From Russia with Love, a prime example came out of our hero deducing that heavy Red Grant (Robert Shaw) was actually an agent for S.P.E.C.T.R.E., simply by paying attention to his drink order at dinner. 

“Shaken, not stirred.” - Goldfinger (1964)

It’s the drink that 007 made famous, and supposedly for his own reasons. But while author Ian Fleming’s creation had become known for drinking this from day one, the first time we actually heard him order it came in 1964’s Goldfinger. The rest was well-mixed history.

“I think he got the point.” - Thunderball (1965)

The art of the one-liner is one James Bond has practiced for quite some time. And one of the best examples of that skill at work is in Thunderball, when a day on the beach with Domino (Claudine Auger/Nikki van der Zyl) sees our hero dispatching an enemy agent with a spear gun as sharp as his wit. 

“Bon appetit.” - You Only Live Twice (1967)

What more is there to say when you feed a henchman trying to take you out to a pool of piranhas? Sean Connery delivers this line so brilliantly in You Only Live Twice, which almost hints at the even campier history of one-liners such as this coming in Roger Moore’s James Bond movies.

“We have all the time in the world.” - On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969)

One of the greatest upsets in the 007 franchise is how George Lazenby had only one James Bond movie. But the upside is that one film happens to be On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, quite possibly the most influential Bond adventure ever. This heartbreaking final line is part of the proof, to the point where its use in No Time To Die was appropriately devastating.

“Exceptionally fine shot.” - Diamonds Are Forever (1971)

The ‘70s were the era of the punchline for 007. Even before Roger Moore would charmingly ham it up with his Commander Bond, the final official entry for Sean Connery’s James Bond began to prepare the world for a more humorous James. Setting up a punchline delivered by Marc Lawrence’s henchman in Diamonds are Forever, it’s admittedly a perfectly deadpan gag that (almost) kills. 

“Well he always did have an inflated opinion of himself.” - Live And Let Die (1973)

While Roger Moore’s interpretation of James Bond was less cold-hearted and more devil may care, his legacy as a well-timed comedy machine will always be welcomed. Even in one of his most serious entries, 1973’s Live and Let Die, the then-freshman 007 actor started building that foundation early, and with great impact.

“There's a useful four letter word, and you're full of it.” - The Man With The Golden Gun (1975)

Deflating a villain’s ego is something that James Bond can call one of his great skills in trade. That said, James outdid himself in The Man with the Golden Gun, as he turns an intended toast of compliment from Francisco Scaramanga (Christopher Lee) into a doorway to slam the competition for being a hired killer.

“Keeping the British end up, sir.” - The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)

Double entendres became a stock in trade for Roger Moore’s 007, and The Spy Who Loved Me is arguably the best one from his arsenal. After finally cozying up to opposing agent Col. Anya Amasova (Barbara Bach), one of the Bond Women who were equal to 007, the only explanation James had for his superiors was this short but sweet retort.

“His name’s Jaws. He kills people” - Moonraker (1979)

Reintroducing Richard Kiel’s iconic entry in the history of James Bond villains and henchmen, this bon mot from Moonraker had Roger Moore summing up his foe from The Spy Who Loved Me in six simple, but hilarious words. Delivering this line with a dry wit while preparing for hand-to-hand combat on a cable car very high up just seals the deal even further.

“He had no head for heights.” - For Your Eyes Only (1981)

Perhaps the most deadly serious Roger Moore James Bond movie, For Your Eyes Only still saw some room for well-placed instances of humor. Moore’s most cold-blooded moment, which saw 007 dispatching the villainous Loque (Michael Gothard) by pushing his car off a ledge, Sir Roger’s delivery walks a fine line between taunt and punchline; leaving us with a truly iconic scene.

“Fill ‘er up, please.” - Octopussy (1983)

Timing is everything, both for James Bond and Sir Roger Moore. After a daring pre-credits sequence that culminates in an impressive escape, thanks to a rather compact jet plane, we’re sent straight to Octopussy’s credits with a smile, and a polite request for fuel.

“Rest and recreation, my darling. The trip back from Siberia took a lot out of me.” - A View To A Kill (1985)

Moneypenny (Lois Maxwell) and James Bond historically have a flirtation that sees them bantering with only the most affectionate dialogue. A View to a Kill showed just that, when James’ return from the field saw the English spy referencing his business/pleasure cruise with a female agent, after retrieving an important microchip in the Russian ice.

“Whoever she was, I must have scared the living daylights out of her.” - The Living Daylights (1987)

As the 007 movies moved into the era of Timothy Dalton’s James Bond, the wit of the Roger Moore days didn’t simply fade away. Though The Living Daylights was one of the more grounded, Ian Fleming-influenced entries, Dalton still got to smile and crack a title-dropping gag that oozed that trademark Bond charm.

“Don’t you want to know why?” - License To Kill (1989)

While The Living Daylights was more of a traditional James Bond movie, License to Kill played itself as a grittier, more action-influenced picture. Timothy Dalton got to show a harder edge to the good Commander that directly connected to Daniel Craig’s 007; and this taunting question to the nefarious Sanchez (Robert Davi) set up a Bond villain death that’s still one of the best, and most brutal.

“No. For me.” - Goldeneye (1995)

If James Bond feels truly betrayed, the party on the other end better have a good excuse. Former spy turned villain Alec Trevelyan (Sean Bean) learned that the hard way at the end of Goldeneye, right as he dared to ask his former best friend, “For England, James?” Pierce Brosnan’s 007 cemented himself in history with this answer, and the explosive finale that followed.

“You forgot the first rule of mass media, Elliot: give the people what they want!” - Tomorrow Never Dies (1997)

There are admittedly two types of James Bond one-liners: cold-blooded retorts and sly, almost comical comebacks. And yet there are moments like when 007 prepared to end vicious media mogul Elliot Carver (Jonathan Pryce) in Tomorrow Never Dies when a healthy intersection arrives.

“I never miss.” - The World Is Not Enough (1999)

When taking his parting shot at surprise villain Elektra King (Sophie Marceau), the oil heiress made the mistake of presuming she was safe from 007, with a poor choice of last words: “You wouldn’t kill me. You’d miss me.” Cue The World Is Not Enough’s ice-cold takedown, which is still a legendary contribution to Pierce Brosnan’s James Bond.

“Time to face gravity.” - Die Another Day (2002)

Die Another Day will always be a silly, campy watch in the annals of Bond history. That doesn’t mean it’s without its moments though, as Gustav Graves (Toby Stephens) gets this sardonic wake-up call, right before being thrown out of a plane by James Bond himself. Some villains just walk right into these things.

“I’m sorry. That last hand nearly killed me.” - Casino Royale (2006)

The era of Daniel Craig’s James Bond was one of reinvention, as Casino Royale acted as a soft reboot to the saga. That didn’t mean everything was being revamped though, as while Martin Campbell’s second 007 directing gig was one of the leanest and meanest, Bond still had his cracking wit to dish out to enemies like Le Chiffre (Mads Mikkelsen). 

“I never left.” - Quantum of Solace (2008)

The relationship between M (Dame Judi Dench) and James Bond constantly feels like a tense family affair. But there are moments of tenderness, like when Quantum of Solace saw James avenge the death of Vesper Lynd (Eva Green). Welcoming him back into active service, the formerly rogue Bond dropped three words to show where his loyalties always lay.

“What makes you think this is my first time?” - Skyfall (2012)

For a moment in time, Skyfall’s interrogation between Raoul Silva and James Bond was almost cut. If that decision had held up, one of Daniel Craig’s best 007 lines would have gone with it. Thanks to producer Barbara Broccoli fighting to keep it, this entry in 00-history still lives, and it still hits with perfection each time it plays.

“Visionaries? Psychiatric wards are full of them.” - Spectre (2015)

James Bond teasing Ernst Stavro Blofeld (Christoph Waltz) is basically a sport at this point. So when 2015’s Spectre finally revived Bond’s arch-nemesis, after a 007 rights battle that carried on for decades, seeing Daniel Craig mouth off against his reinvented foe was another tradition that was gladly welcomed back.

“Had to show someone your watch. Really blew their mind.” - No Time To Die (2021)

Normally, James Bond gets to make witty comments about his gadgets in the same room as Q (Ben Whishaw). No Time To Die broke that format, along with setting some other historical precedents, in a way that honored the past. 

“That’s a Smith and Wesson. And you’ve had your six.” - Dr. No (1962)

Trying to get the drop on James Bond is like trying to outwit him in conversation. Professor Dent (Anthony Dawson) failed at both of these tasks, leading to Sean Connery taking him down after dropping this hard knowledge in Dr. No. Poor guy never had a shot.

“Shocking. Positively shocking.” - Goldfinger (1964)

A good 007 fight scene flows like dialogue. The action is well-paced and fierce, and when the moment calls for it, James Bond gets to lay down a one-liner that says it all. Goldfinger had this formula down to a tee, as a henchman zapped with a heat lamp in a bathtub gave Sean Connery this electrifying comeback.

“This never happened to the other feller.” - On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969)

Introducing a new James Bond actor is a sacred moment, right down to the first time it happened in 1969’s On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. With a slight breaking of the fourth wall, George Lazenby’s first and only time out as 007 got off to a brutal but cheeky start.

“Alright. Keep your hair on.” - You Only Live Twice (1981)

James Bond and Blofeld are an iconic hero/villain pair in the movie world, with their frequent encounters allowing many insults to be hurled between them. While his appearance is technically an unofficial cameo in You Only Live Twice, Roger Moore got his chance to deliver his cutting humor with the series’ dastardly evil-doer.

“I’m more of a problem eliminator.” - License To Kill (1989)

With a tagline like “His bad side is a dangerous place to be.”, how could you not expect License To Kill to go this hard with its dialogue? Offering his services to the harsh Franz Sanchez (Robert Davi), in hopes of taking down his organization from the inside, Commander Bond provided this pretty solid job description in his defense.

“Life’s full of small challenges.” - The World Is Not Enough (1999)

Trying to defuse a nuclear bomb is tough enough as it is. But having to do so while rocketing through a pipeline, in close quarters with James Bond, was something that Dr. Christmas Jones (Denise Richards) actually did in The World is Not Enough. And in an odd way of encouragement, he provided this bit of wisdom when discussing the tense situation.

“I know.” - No Time To Die (2021)

The heartbreaking No Time To Die ending gave the world something it never thought it would see: the death of James Bond. Turning the moment into a truly tragic affair, Daniel Craig’s final words in character was this sorrowful sign-off with his beloved Madeleine (Léa Seydoux).

Whether it’s a withering rejoinder or a good-natured dose of cheek, James Bond will always be a quotable character that stands as a cinematic titan. So if you’re ever in need of momentary wisdom, take a moment and think of what Commander Bond would say. 

A lot of great speeches come from sports movies, but that's not the only genre that can make us want to run through walls. Some speeches are so good it has us rooting for the bad guys. Most are by the good guys though, and we'll follow those good guys anywhere. Here is our list of the most inspiring speeches in film history. 

Independence Day - President Witmore

President Thomas J. Whitmore's (Bill Pullman) speech in Independence Day has become one of the most iconic film moments of the last 50 years. While the movie can be polarizing, some people can't get enough of it, others hope to never see it again. Still, it's hard to find anyone who truly hates the speech and that moment in the film. If you ever find yourself fighting against annihilation by a bunch of E.T.s, this is the speech for you. 

The Hunt For Red October - Captain Ramius

If you thought you could never get fired up about the Soviet Union picking a fight on the United States during the Cold War, check it out. When Captain Marko Ramius (Sean Connery) tells his crew that the salad days of the Cold War are not behind them, and the United States will "tremble again - at the sound of our silence," it makes you want to stand up and fight for communism. At least for a brief moment. 

Any Given Sunday (Coach D'Amato)

It's used at almost every professional football game in America, almost every Sunday, because in Any Given Sunday, Coach D'Amato implores his team and the rest of us to claw for every inch we can. It might not be Pacino's most award-winning role, but that scene... that scene is some of his finest and most enduring work. 

Gladiator (Maximus)

"My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius." If those words don't immediately fire you up, it's time to check for a pulse. Audiences spend most of Gladiator waiting for Maximus (Russell Crowe) to finally get his revenge on that conniving Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix) and finally we get it. Maximus will have his vengeance, in this life or the next.

Friday Night Lights (Coach Gaines)

In Friday Night Lights, Coach Gaines (Billy Bob Thornton) tells us how to be perfect. It has nothing to do with the final score, or winning. It's about how we treat each other and ourselves. It's about telling the truth and not letting anyone down. Live in the moment, "with joy in your heart." That's what makes us perfect. The swelling music by Explosions in the Sky only adds to the drama of the moment. 

While he doesn't say "Clear Eyes, Full Hearts, Can't Lose," (that comes from the TV show), he does mention his clear eyes and his full heart and afterward, none of us lose. 

Henry V (Henry V)

It's not just one of the most inspiring speeches in film history, it's one of the most famous speeches in human history. When William Shakespeare wrote the words to the famous St. Crispin's Day Speech in Henry V, he could not have known that it would be used for centuries afterward to inspire men. For we few, we lucky few, we can watch the speech brilliantly delivered by Kenneth Branagh in one of his finest roles, in his film version from 1989. 

Animal House (Bluto)

"Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?" Of course it wasn't! Bluto (John Belushi) does a lot to inspire the brothers of the Delta house in Animal House but nothing more so than his speech after "Wormer dropped the big one" and suspended the fraternity. Instead of wallowing in self-pity, the men of Delta are inspired to have the best time of their lives, and Wormer? He's a dead man! Marmalard? Dead! Niedermeyer...

Gone With The Wind (Scarlett O'Hara)

Scarlett O'Hara (Vivien Leigh) is not the most sympathetic movie character of all time. In fact, she ranks close to the bottom in that category, but you can't deny the power of her speech just before the end of the first part of the movie. Her family's plantation, Tara, is in shambles, her mother is dead, and her father has lost his mind. When all hope is lost, she promises herself she will fix it, and she will "never be hungry again."

Barbie (Gloria)

It's truly a show-stopping moment in Barbie when Gloria (America Ferrera) lays out what it's like to be a woman in today's world. The entire essence of the movie's message is summed up in that brilliant speech. It makes everyone want to jump up on their feet and applaud. It's a moment that will forever live in cinema history. 

Good Will Hunting (Sean Maguire)

It's not just the words that matter. It takes a special actor to deliver a speech like Sean Maguire's in Good Will Hunting. Thankfully there was the great Robin Williams. In a speech that is meant to devastate and inspire Will (Matt Damon), Williams tells him everything he is doing wrong but manages to show him how he can fix it, and open up an entirely new world for himself. It's cutting and loving. And brilliant. "Your move, chief."

Lord Of The Rings: Return Of The King (Aragorn)

Like so many other battle scenes in movies, Aragorn's (Viggo Mortensen) speech at the Black Gates in Lord Of The Rings: Return Of The King has us willing to fight to the death with our fellow soldiers. There is nothing like a leader riding back and forth on horse inspiring his troops. 

Braveheart (William Wallace)

Always remember, that no matter how badly you are treated by a tyrannical English king, he can never take your freedom! William Wallace (Mel Gibson) brilliantly reminds us of that in Braveheart. While it's easy to mock the poor history telling in the movie (and we argue if it was really one of the best movies of 1995), you can never say that the speech Wallace gives before the biggest battle in the movie won't have you ready to take on the entire British Empire. 

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (Elizabeth)

Speeches made by leaders to inspire men in battle aren't unique in movies. What makes the speech unique in Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End is that the speech is made by a woman. Elizabeth's (Keira Knightly) speech isn't a lot different than a lot of its ilk, but it's more inspiring to hear it from a woman because we've never heard that before. So hoist the colors! 

Stripes (John Winger)

John Winger (Bill Murray) is the biggest misfit in a platoon filled with them in Stripes. He's the least likely to inspire the rest with a razzle-dazzle speech firing them up, yet that's exactly what he does before their graduation from boot camp. Bill Murray has some of the best lines in movie history, and this speech is near the top of them. 

Miracle (Herb Brooks)

"Great moments are born from great opportunity." That is something we can all stand to remember. In Miracle, Herb Brooks inspires his rag-tag team of college kids to defeat maybe the greatest hockey team ever assembled in the Soviet National Team at the 1980 Winter Olympics. The movie is based on a true story and while it's impossible to know exactly with the real Brooks said, if it was anywhere close to what Russell delivers, it's no surprise we all believe in miracles today. 

Rocky IV (Rocky Balboa)

The Cold War inspired a lot of movies, even sports movies like Rocky IV. Early in the Rocky series, Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) wasn't a man of many words, but at the end of Rocky IV, he finds some of the most inspiring words of the whole series, imploring all of us to get along, despite our differences. 

Swingers (Trent)

What's a good friend if not someone to pep you up when you're feeling low? That's exactly who Trent (Vince Vaughn) is to Mike (Jon Favreau) in Swingers. Not only does he take him to Vegas for a night of fun, on the way home, after the trip doesn't pep Mike up as much as it should, Trent explains exactly why Mike is so money, and he doesn't even know it. 

Network (Howard Beale)

It's scary just how much a movie like Network, released almost 50 years ago is still so relevant. We don't need Howard Beale (Peter Finch) to tell us just how bad things are, we just need to him to inspire us to go to the window, open the window and yell to the world that we're not going to take it anymore! 

The Goonies (Mikey)

"The Goonies never say die!" When all seems lost in the Goonies quest to rescue their neighborhood from developers, Mikey (Sean Astin) reminds them all exactly how far they've come in the quest for One-Eyed Willie's gold. We don't get a lot of inspirational speeches from kids, but when we do, we love them. 

Clueless (Cher)

When Cher (Alicia Silverstone) compares her garden party to a refugee crisis, your inclination is to think she's an airhead. But like so many before and after her, there is kind of a subtle brilliance to her thought process. She takes what she knows and uses that to find the emotion we should all feel for her side of the argument. 

Milk (Harvey Milk)

Milk, based on the true story of Harvey Milk (Sean Penn), is inspiring in and of itself, but Milk's speech on the steps of San Fransisco City Hall at the Gay Pride Rally is a masterpiece. 

Troy (Achilles)

In another classic example of a military leader inspiring his troops, Achilles' (Brad Pitt) speech reminding his men that they are lions, is enough to get anyone to storm the beaches of Troy. There's a reason the story has been told for thousands of years. 

Norma Rae (Norma Rae)

The best thing about Norma Rae's (Sally Field, in one of her best roles) speech in Norma Rae is that the most important word isn't spoken at all. She simply holds up a sign that says "Union" in the middle of her sweatshop. That's all she needs to "say" to get everyone in the textile mill to agree. It's brilliant. 

We Are Marshall (Jack Lengyel)

We Are Marshall tells the tragic and heroic story of the 1971 Marshall University football team. At the end of the 1970 season, a plane carrying most of the team and its coaches crashed in North Carolina. Before the start of the next season, the new coach, Jack Lengyel (Matthew McConaughey) makes a speech at a memorial for some of the lost players and what he says about never forgetting the past but looking to the future will bring a tear to anyone's eyes.

Legally Blonde (Elle Woods)

More than 20 years after the first Legally Blonde movie was released Elle Woods (Reese Witherspoon) continues to inspire us. With an address like the one she makes at the end of the movie, as she's graduating, it's easy to see why. "You must always have faith in people. And most importantly, you must always have faith in yourself."

Avengers: Endgame (Captain America)

In a room full of superheroes, leave it to Captain America to make the hype speech. In Avengers: Endgame, that's exactly when Cap (Chris Evans) psyches the cadre up for their mission to reverse the Snap. "Whatever it takes."

Hoosiers (Norman Dale)

When tiny Hickman High School makes it to the Indiana State Basketball Finals, they are facing a huge school, in a huge arena. Coach Norman Dale (Gene Hackman) takes only a minute or so to lay out what will make them successful, and a minute is all he needs. It's why Hoosiers one of the best sports movies ever made. 

Rudy (Rudy)

The speech in Rudy is a little different. Rudy really has no audience, save for one person, but that doesn't stop him from delivering a first-rate speech that any Notre Dame alum gets goosebumps when they hear it, including the parts he lifted from the great Knute Rockne.

Juno (Mac MacGuff)

When Juno MacGuff (Elliot Page) is wondering what her future holds, her father Mac MacGuff (J.K. Simmons) explains simply and succinctly, "The best thing you can do is find a person who loves you for exactly what you are." We couldn't have said it better ourselves. 

Stand And Deliver (Jaime Escalante) 

Jaime Escalante (Edward James Olmos) is a no-nonsense math teacher who is determined to get the most from his students. He decides he needs to raise the level of expectations inside and outside of the classroom and he starts by breaking down when he is going to be so hard on his students, to get the most out of them. All they need is ganas – motivation. 

Rocky Balboa (Rocky)

Leave it to Rocky to make a speech in 2006's Rocky Balboa meant to inspire his son to inspire all of us together. It's pure Rocky, leave it all out, don't accept things you don't like, and never make excuses, no matter how hard it is. And it seems like this was advice he took to heart when it became a struggle to make the film. 

300 (Dilios)

Dilios (David Wenham) fires up the Spartans like no other person could. It's truly one of the great hype speeches in film history. It's exactly what you would expect from a civilization of warriors. Whether it really happened or not is irrelevant. The message is the same, "Remember us."

From sports to war, love to education, and beyond, a great speech raises goosebumps like nothing else in film can. These examples are some of the best speeches we've used to inspire us. 

While there is no one currently cast as James Bond, there are over 60 years of history regarding 007s, including the many actors who almost played Bond over the years. While an American has never played James Bond in one of 007's movies, many Hollywood actors like Cary Grant, Clint Eastwood and Mel Gibson were once in the running to play the British spy. Even Dick Van Dyke was once pursued for the suave secret agent, and he responded to the offer in the best way. 

In 1968, Dick Van Dyke famously starred in the fantasy musical Chitty Chitty Bang Bang which was produced by James Bond filmmaker Albert R. Broccoli and based on a children’s novel by 007 creator Ian Fleming. Here’s how the actor recalled being asked to play the role: 

At the time, Dick Van Dyke had just led a critically-acclaimed and commercial hit for Broccoli with Chitty Chitty Bang Bang just as Sean Connery decided to leave the role the first time after 1967’s You Only Live Twice (before later returning for one more with 1971’s Diamonds Are Forever). Van Dyke was a bankable star of course, but it sounds like he was rather self-aware about his infamous Mary Poppins accent in the 1964 Disney movie. 

Per the 98-year-old actor’s recent words to CBS News, the conversation between himself and Albert R. Broccoli was a quick one that pretty much started and ended with him pointing out his Cockney accent in Mary Poppins, which is still regarded as the worst British accent in a movie. The actor even apologized for his choices for Bert at the BAFTAs in 2017, calling it the “most atrocious Cockney accent in the history of cinema.” 

Sean Connery would instead go on to be briefly replaced by Aussie actor George Lazenby for 1969’s On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, and Van Dyke would go on to make three back-to-back comedy movies with Some Kind of Nut, The Comic and Cold Turkey. After Connery’s final bow as the first big-screen James Bond in 1971, Roger Moore took up the mantle in 1973 with Live and Let Die, and he played 007 for over a decade. 

While Dick Van Dyke’s James Bond was never to be, it’s kind of fun to imagine the actor in the role and learn about his personal reaction to being offered it. Van Dyke spoke about James Bond starring in Dick Van Dyke: 98 Years of Magic on the network. The new television special is now available to stream with a Paramount+ subscription. 

Outside of the lush locations, beautiful companions, and awesome cars that the James Bond movies show off, everyone’s always up to see what ridiculous gadgets that 007 and/or his enemies have in their arsenals this time out. While there are some pretty cool entries to love and cherish, others are just as iconic as they are questionable. That very fact has given us this list of 32 head-scratchers we need to discuss, for king and country. 

The Dragon Tank - Dr. No

There are quite a few gadgets from Sean Connery’s James Bond movies that are well known and loved. Considering how clunky this Dr. No gadget looked, and its limited armaments consisting of merely a flamethrower, the ridiculousness comes from the seemingly easy potential to take this thing out.

Rosa Klebb’s Shoe Blade - From Russia With Love

Is the shoe blade that Rosa Klebb (Lotta Lenye) uses in the final fight of From Russia with Love cool? Of course it is! But that doesn’t make it any less ridiculous as a weapon, thanks to both its ineffective nature and the more grounded tone of the rest of the film.

Tear Gas Parking Meter - Goldfinger

Concealing your weaponry is a great advantage when trying to combat the enemy in the field. However, with Goldfinger’s tear gas-loaded parking meters, one has to wonder how many times random civilians would accidentally set these off on a trip to get a coffee.

Homing Pill - Thunderball

Homing devices are cool, so Thunderball wasn’t wrong in developing one in pill form for James Bond to use. Two problems though: it’s harmlessly radioactive, which could mess with the Geiger counters needed to track stolen nuclear bombs; and the unofficial James Bond spoof of Casino Royale '67 eventually riffed on this concept oh so easily.

Explosive Lipstick - You Only Live Twice

There are two big reasons You Only Live Twice’s exploding lipstick can be considered among the most ridiculous gadgets the series has to offer. Strike one is the fact that the button activating this explosive device is probably easy to trigger if you’re not careful enough. Strike two is that even when it does explode as a measure of distraction, it’s not all that distracting to a seasoned field agent.

Radioactive Lint - On Her Majesty’s Secret Service

Concealed tracking devices are like the Bond franchise’s variant of socks on Christmas: you can count on them to pop up randomly, and frequently. So the fact that this device was used in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, aka “the James Bond Christmas movie,” is as fitting as it is ridiculous. Seriously, you expect lint to stay in one place without being thrown out?

Electromagnetic RPM Controller Ring - Diamonds Are Forever

Now if Q (Desmond Llewellyn) had shown off his “Electromagnetic RPM Controller Ring” from Diamonds are Forever as a safecracker or a strategic device, I might not have knocked it. But as it’s used to merely game the slot machines at Willard Whyte’s Whyte House, this definitely feels like a bit of an abuse of the Q Branch budget.

The "Felix Lighter" - Live And Let Die

Communication is important when working on a case like that of Live and Let Die. With Commander Bond traveling to New York, a car cigarette lighter turned out to be his direct line to friend and ally Felix Leiter (David Hedison). Imagine randomly seeing someone talking to their car lighter, potentially sitting next to someone who doesn’t bat an eye at this sort of thing.

Solex Agitator - The Man With The Golden Gun

Sometimes the James Bond movies need to go big and bad with their gadgets, and the solar power plant that the Solex Agitator unlocks in The Man with the Golden Gun is one such case. However, if you know anything about solar power, think about how long you’d need these batteries to charge in order to use that killer laser cannon Francisco Scaramanga (Christopher Lee) threw into the package.

The Killer Tea Tray - The Spy Who Loved Me

A tea tray that can accelerate to the point where someone might literally lose their head? Sounds tempting, up until the point where you think about serving your closest friend/boss/dignitaries from the royal family, and you don’t know if the tray you’re using is this The Spy Who Loved Me gadget or not.

Laser Weaponry - Moonraker

Laser weaponry sounds like a lot of fun, especially with the portable canons that Moonraker used to spice things up with a touch of Star Wars. But considering the energy used needs to strike its target several times before it’s effective, you might think twice before pulling one of these with you into battle. Unless you’re fighting the world’s most stationary army.

Spiked Umbrella - For Your Eyes Only

An umbrella that could disable your enemy, simply by closing over their heads? Technically, For Your Eyes Only had the kernel of a good idea with this Bond gadget. However, the perfect storm of having to wait until it’s raining, and hoping you don’t pull this umbrella by accident, are the reasons why this tool is considered ridiculous.

Yo-yo Saw - Octopussy

Do you consider yourself a pro with a yo-yo? Then Octopussy’s yo-yo saw might be a gadget for you. Are you useless with a yo-yo, like most of the world probably happens to be? Then you may want to leave this one on the shelf and pick up something a little less ridiculous from Q-Branch.

Snooper the Robot - A View To A Kill

If you’re a series that involves cutting-edge gadgets, funny robots are almost always going to pop up in your arsenal. Q-Branch wasn’t immune to this law, thanks to the very conspicuous, and absurdly cartoony Snooper the Robot, as seen in A View to a Kill. Then again, with a beautifully over-the-top Bond villain played by Christopher Walken in the mix, I could see why Snooper felt like it fit right in.

The Revolving Couch - The Living Daylights

Even Timothy Dalton Bond movies as serious as The Living Daylights have their share of ridiculous 007 gadgets. Being tested during Dalton’s initial outing, the revolving couch was posed as a menace to rogue agents looking to take a nap. You have to wonder how much air is in that couch, and how anyone would know that it’s trapped a baddie before sitting down for a spell.

Dentonite Toothpaste - Licence To Kill

Whether someone accidentally misuses the explosive Dentonite toothpaste from Licence to Kill, or you don’t handle it properly yourself, this is a mess that’s not going to be fun to clean up. And there’s a pretty big chance that either of those scenarios could potentially happen; as this stuff is pretty convincingly branded.

Smothering Phone Box - Goldeneye

The element of surprise is always a good thing to have when taking care of enemy operatives. But even in that respect Goldeneye’s Q-Branch gadget in testing still feels rather outrageous; especially when you consider just how long it’ll take for someone to reset and dispose of the target once the job is complete.

Killer Dart Fan - Tomorrow Never Dies

Concealed darts firing out of a fan are the beginnings of a good idea for a weapon. That being said, Tomorrow Never Dies executes this concept with a bit of absurdity, while 007 plays around with the toys present in the safehouse of Colonel Wai Lin (Michelle Yeoh). The James Bond movies of Pierce Brosnan ride the line between the serious and the silly rather well, with this device showing a little more of the latter half.

Weaponized Bagpipe - The World Is Not Enough

Bagpipes have always garnered a mixed reaction from fans of music and entertainment. The World is Not Enough may have divided the crowd even more, thanks to this set of pipes that acts as a two-in-one weapon. Though the flamethrower could make for one smart Burns Night s’mores roast.

Virtual Reality Simulator - Die Another Day

In theory, Die Another Day’s VR Simulator would make for an interesting training exercise for agents like James Bond. But as the film sees this tool abused to exercise personal grudges and crushes, it’s back to the drawing board for 007’s version of Star Trek: The Next Generation’s Holodeck.

Portable Defibrillator - Casino Royale

Could having a portable defibrillator come in handy? It obviously could. But if your unit is like the one that Daniel Craig’s James Bond had in Casino Royale, the fact that it’s so easy to sabotage cancels out the medical efficacy. Plus, what if you accidentally set it off while reaching for your car registration and insurance papers?

Nothing - Quantum of Solace

Brace yourselves, folks: there aren't really any field gadgets in Quantum of Solace. Unless you count Bond using a can of motor oil that Dominic Greene (Mathieu Amalric) is given for hydration as 007 leaves him to trek the desert. In which case...yeah, there's still nothing.

Radio Transmitter - Skyfall

Having a way to keep tabs on James Bond’s location at all times is a smart move; so Skyfall’s radio transmitter gets points for practicality. Up until the point you realize that Commander Bond was already microchipped, and painfully so, in Casino Royale. One can sympathize when 007 (Daniel Craig) quips to Q (Ben Whishaw) that it's "not exactly Christmas" when receiving this "gadget" upon returning to active duty.

Laser Microphone - Spectre

How can a Q-Branch device be so smart and yet so ill-advised? Spectre kind of answers that question, as James Bond’s laser microphone mounted to a weapon is smart…until you realize it’s going to wreck someone’s ears, unless you remember to deactivate it before firing! Also, the telltale blue tracking laser is cool, up until your target notices it in a random cloud of smoke.

Project Heracles - No Time To Die

Project Heracles was a smart weapon that was so deadly it should never fall into the wrong hands. And sure enough, these genetically targeted nanobots did exactly that, causing No Time To Die’s explosive finale.

The Gigantic Safe Cracker - On Her Majesty’s Secret Service

The James Bond series loves its safe crackers. Several movies, including On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, use this device to make for some tight situations. Considering this gigantic version came after a much smaller variant was used in You Only Live Twice, this piece of tech feels obsolete out of the box.

Drysuit With A Bird Disguise - Goldfinger

It’s always a good idea to pack tactical gear that allows you to keep dry in slippery situations. But did Goldfinger’s drysuit really need that ridiculous bird on the headpiece? It’s a clear decoy, and when you question just how that bird is swimming while looking so still, the illusion falls apart.

Wet Nellie - Spy Who Loved Me

Sometimes ridiculous rides on the edge of cool, making for something I’d like to call “ridiculously cool.” The Lotus Esprit submersible from The Spy Who Loved Me, known as “Wet Nellie,” definitely fits that bill. Is it realistic? Not quite. Does that stop me from wanting one? Absolutely not.

Pocket Snap Trap - Diamonds Are Forever

I’m not saying the MI6 equivalent of a gag from Who Framed Roger Rabbit isn’t a good idea. But the Pocket Snap Trap from Diamonds Are Forever is a gag that matches the slightly cartoony tone of that precursor to the Roger Moore era of shenanigans. Measured against the rest of the arsenal, it’s definitely a ridiculous addition.

Exploding Bolas - Moonraker

The good news about Moonraker’s exploding bolas is that they aren’t so explosive that you need to use them from a significant distance. On the other hand: good luck finding someone who knows how to use bolas, or trying to learn such skills yourself; especially if you forget which pair is the practice set.

A Weaponized Compressed Gas Pellet - Live And Let Die

Live and Let Die does get style points for taking out big bad Ross Kananga (Yaphet Kotto) with this weapon meant to dispose of sharks. And yet having this gadget on hand still feels rather ridiculous, as the scene that was supposed to prove its use was, according to Writing Bond, cut before it was filmed.

Perfume Flamethrower - Moonraker

The point of a perfectly innocuous gadget like Moonraker’s perfume flamethrower is, in fact, to conceal the true nature of this weaponized object. Even glossing over the potential for accidental usage, it’s highly doubtful that when frisked, an enemy henchman is going to just let you walk away with it on your person. 

While we’ve highlighted some ridiculous James Bond gadgets in our time discussing the tools of the trade above, that doesn’t make them any less cool or exciting. They may be head scratchers, but as we’ve seen time and again, the line between ridiculous and ridiculously cool is a thin one that this iconic franchise walks with much aplomb. So here’s to the future of both halves of that concept revisiting the world, as the world of 007 continues to expand. 

We watch the James Bond movies for a lot of reasons. The action scenes, the quippy dialog, and the gadgets, all make for great moments. Another reason we love the movies is all of the locations the superspy visits in the movies, like the ones on this list. 

From Europe to Asia to The USA, you never know where a Bond film is going to take viewers, but here are some of our favorite and most exotic places he's traveled in the series. 

Jamaica

Jamaica will always have a special place in the hearts of James Bond fans. The very first Bond film starring Sean Connery as 007, Dr. No, takes place almost entirely on the Caribbean island. Dr. Julius No’s house is set on “Crab Key”, a fictional island near Jamaica, but all the filming for that location and most of the movie was done in Jamaica. Daniel Craig's Bond even retires to Jamaica, where he's found at the beginning of No Time To Die.

Turkey

James Bond finds himself in Turkey a couple of times in the series. First, in From Russia With Love 007 finds him in Istanbul after having been lured to the Soviet embassy there in a trick that Bond foils. His most notable trip to Turkey is the epic motorcycle chase scene on the roof of the famous bazaar in Istanbul in Skyfall.

Switzerland

James Bond has visited Switzerland twice in the series. The first time he traveled to the mountainous country was in the lone movie starring George Lazenby, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service in 1969, when he discovered his arch-enemy Blofeld in a mountaintop hideout. The real location is Piz Gloria, which is a restaurant. He also followed the titular character in Goldfinger there, following him on some dramatic mountain roads.

Miami

Is there anything cooler than the Fontainebleau Hotel on South Beach in Miami in the 1960s? Playing cards while sitting by the pool at one of the most luxurious hotels of its day was certainly exotic for most people at the time, and still is today! Bond getting one over on the cheating Auric Goldfinger in Goldfinger makes it that much cooler! 007 returned briefly in Casino Royale, but only made it as far as the airport. 

Macau

Macau has been an exotic location for hundreds of years. The gambling mecca was established as a Portuguese colony in the 16th Century and is still a very popular place for gamblers, it’s even bigger than Las Vegas. Roger Moore's version of James Bond first visited Macau in The Man With The Golden Gun and later returned to a fictional island near the Chinese city in Skyfall, to the hideout of one of the best villains in the series, Raoul Silva (Javier Bardem), in the series, though it was filmed on Hashima Island in Japan.

Venice

Italy is a very common location for James Bond to find himself in. So far, he’s been to Italy eight times in the film series. Two of those visits were to Venice. His most dramatic trip to Venice occurred in Casino Royale where Vesper tragically meets her demise in a collapsing mansion. Bond had previously been to Venice in Moonraker. 

Corfu

The Greek island of Corfu is one of the great vacation spots in the world. Famous for its beaches and its nightlife, it’s a natural location for a James Bond film. Bond travels to Corfu to find Milos Columbo (Chaim Topol) there in For Your Eyes Only. It is, to date, the only time 007 has been seen in Greece. If you're in it for the travel, For Your Eyes Only is a great movie to watch, as Bond is really all over the place in it, from the beaches here to the Alps and beyond.  

India

Even though India was part of the British Empire for many years, it gained independence before James Bond went to work for Her Majesty’s Secret Service. Still, he finds himself on the subcontinent in Octopussy, as he chases down the titular character (Maud Adams) and villain Kamal Khan (Louis Jourdan). Octopussy’s home is one of the coolest locations in the series, The Lake Palace in Udaipur, which is a hotel today. 

Rio de Janeiro

Moonraker is not generally thought of as the best of the Roger Moore James Bond films, but it sure has some exotic locations. One of those, Rio de Janeiro, is one of the rare times Bond visits South America. The most famous scene in Rio is on the cable car up Sugarloaf Mountain when the henchman Jaws (Richard Keil) bites through the cable. Yeah, maybe that’s one of the reasons it’s not as fondly remembered. 

Shanghai

It’s a little surprising to learn that James Bond didn’t travel to Shanghai until 2012’s Skyfall, but given the political climate of China in the late 20th century, it makes sense. 007 follows an assassin to the top of a building and they engage in a great fight that is beautifully shot with the many lights of Shanghai flashing in the background. 

Gibraltar

A lot of hardcore Bond fans will argue that the Timothy Dalton-era The Living Daylight is two of the truly underrated films in the series. One reason is the intense opening scene that sees James Bond skydiving onto the Rock of Gibraltar on what he thinks is a training exercise but learns quickly that things have changed. It’s one of the best opening sequences in the series, and who gets to travel to Gibraltar? 

Tangier, Morocco

Morocco is a natural for this list. Few places in the world evoke a sense of the exotic like the north African country. Bond has been to Tangiers twice, first in The Living Daylights and then later in the Daniel Craig era in Spectre.

Key West

The second, and final, Timothy Dalton Bond film, Licence To Kill,  opens at a wedding for Felix Leiter in Key West, Florida. The self-proclaimed “Conch Republic” is the end of the road in America in a lot of ways, but it’s also one of the most interesting places in the country. 

Monaco

The tiny principality of Monaco is a no-brainer for this list. Famous for its fancy casino and for being a playground of the rich and famous, you’d expect it to be a frequent location for 007, but it’s not. To date, the legendary spy has only worked in Monaco once, during Pierce Brosnan's run as Bond. Of course, he did play baccarat at the casino. 

Cuba

Few places close to the United States are still as exotic as Cuba. Due to political tensions since the 1960s, the communist nation is notorious for being hard to visit for Americans, but of course, that’s no problem for a British spy. James Bond has traveled to the island nation three times, first in GoldenEye in the Pierce Brosnan-era, then again in Die Another Day, and finally in the Craig era in No Time To Die in the memorable scene with Ana de Armas.

Bahamas

The Bahamas are a popular destination for James Bond. Three different versions of of 007, Sean Connery, Timothy Dalton, and Daniel Craig have all visited the British protectorate. He traveled there first as far back as From Russia From Love, later in Licence To Kill, and then again in Casino Royale. 

Space

Space may be the final frontier for Elon Musk and his fellow billionaires, but for James Bond, he visited space, the ultimate exotic locations way back in the 1970s. Hoping to cash in on the Star Wars craze, the James Bond series tried out a little science fiction in Moonraker, with mixed results. 

Hong Kong

Given that Hong Kong was a British Colony and Protectorate for most of the 20th Century, it makes sense that a British spy would spend a fair amount of time there. Bond certainly has, traveling there in three films, You Only Live Twice, The Man With The Golden Gun, and Die Another Day.

Bangkok

You would think that Bangkok would be a regular destination for a British super spy, but James Bond has only traveled there once in the film series. Bond heads to Thailand in The Man With The Golden Gun, searching for the villain Francisco Scaramanga (Christopher Lee) and the trip produces some great humor and one of the best action sequences in the series with the corkscrew jump in a car over a river. 

Las Vegas

Las Vegas is a gambling mecca for any serious gambler in the world. James Bond, being a serious card player, baccarat, mostly, would be right at home there. Interestingly, he's only been there once. Pretty early in the series too, before the strip was even built. The scenes in Vegas feature Bond at the craps table and in a great car chase around the old downtown, on Freemont Street. 

Egypt

On the rare occasions that Bond finds himself on the continent of Africa, it's usually in North Africa. The Spy Who Loved Me is no exception as 007 travels to the pyramids in Cairo where he looks for the plans for a secret submarine. He meets Major Anya Amasova, played by Ringo Starr's wife, Barbara Bach, there and has his first encounter with the henchman Jaws. 

Japan

You Only Live Twice is a rarity in the Bond canon in that almost the whole movie takes place in one country. Instead of galavanting around the globe like he usually does, 007 spends most of the film in Japan. Like many of the early Connery-led films, it's pretty dated and very un-PC, but it is still a very cool look into 1960s Japan as it was emerging from the decades after World War II as a global financial powerhouse. 

Cortina d'Ampezzo

It's hard to narrow down the coolest spots James Bond has hit in Italy over the years. He goes back again and again, from the beaches to the cities, and every in between. In For Your Eyes Only, he hilariously drives a Lotus on the icy roads in the Alps to the ski town of Cortina d'Ampezzo. It's a stunning backdrop to some amazing action and one of the most beautiful places he's been in the series.  

Paris

For a man that loves all the finer things in life that France has to offer, the super spy doesn't spend a lot of time in that part of Europe. A rare exception is in A View To A Kill when he travels to Paris and dines at the famous Jules Verne Restaurant in the Eiffel Tower. There he and a French detective are attacked by May Day (Grace Jones). Bond manages to escape, but his dining partner is not as lucky. 

Sardinia

The Spy Who Loved Me has Bond all over the Mediterranean, first in Egypt, then later on the island of Sardinia. It's in Sardinia that he discovers one of the more outlandish villain hideouts of the entire series. The evil Karl Stromberg (Curd Jürgens) lives and does his business in a weird, alien-looking contraption that seems to be underwater most of the time but can emerge from the depths and sit above the waves as well.  

Siena

If you've never read up on the city of Siena in Italy, you should. The walled city is divided into 17 districts, called the Contrade of Siena. Twice a year, those districts compete against each other in a horse race in the town's square. It's a spectacle that has to be seen to be believed and in Quantum Of Solace, you can see it. Not only is Bond in Siena for work (and some light torture), he's there during one of the two times a year the races are held. It's a magnificent scene in an otherwise polarizing movie. 

Vietnam

For decades, Vietnam was off-limits to Americans in the wake of the war. It’s opened up in recent decades, but James Bond first visited there in Tomorrow Never Dies. The war still affected Bond though, the scenes were meant to be the first shot in the country since the war, but the permits were pulled by the government and ended up being shot in Bangkok. 

Iceland

The Ice Palace in Die Another Day is super cool looking. Ultramodern, yet completely frozen. Its location in Iceland only makes it that much more exotic. It’s the only time James Bond has ever traveled to the small northern island. Unfortunately, the set was not actually in Iceland, as it was filmed in England. 

Madagascar

There is no question that one of the best opening sequences – maybe the best  – is the parkour chance that happens early on in Casino Royale. The scene was shot on the remote island of Madagascar. It’s one of the very few times Bond has traveled to Sub-Saharan Africa, but it was definitely worth it.  

Lake Como

There aren’t many more beautiful places in the world than Lake Como, Italy. There’s a reason George Clooney chooses to live there. It’s also why someone chose to shoot one of the final scenes of Casino Royale there, in one of the trademark villas right on the lake. 

Mexico City

Most tourists, when they travel to Mexico, are likely to head to Cancun or Cabo, but Mexico City is amazing. The opening scene of Spectre, with the incredible tracking shot and dramatic fight in the helicopter, was shot there and the scene shows off how incredible the scenery of the city is. 

The Faroe Islands

The Daniel Craig era came to an end in one of the most remote places on earth. The Faroe Islands are part of Denmark, but they are located in the North Sea, north of Great Britain. It’s a fitting place for the scene that takes place there, that’ll we’ll avoid spoiling too much here. 

As long as they are making James Bond movies, everyone's favorite spy will be traveling to far-flung, exotic locations and we'll keep watching for all those places, as they've become one of the hallmarks of the unstoppable series. 

While there have been a great number of Hollywood stars that never made it to 40, there are just as many, if not more, famous actors and entertainers that lived longer than 90 years. In fact, several eclipsed the century mark before crossing over into the great unknown. These titans of the movie industry, actors and directors behind Best Picture winners, and staples of the small screen all have one thing in common, besides being beloved by millions, their longevity.

Here are 32 Hollywood stars that lived to be more than 90. 

Sean Connery

Sean Connery, the iconic actor best known for playing James Bond in several of the best 007 movies, lived to the age of 90 years, two months, and six days before passing away on Halloween in 2020. Upon his death, the BBC said he left behind a tremendous body of work and a vacancy for the title of “Greatest Living Scot.”

Betty White 

Trailblazing comedian and cherished American treasure Betty White passed away on December 31, 2021, just a few weeks before the Golden Girls star and recurring guest on The Carol Burnett Show would have turned 100, per CNN. In her 99 years on the Earth, White lived life to the fullest to say the very least.

Carl Reiner

Carl Reiner, one of the most well-known and successful names in all of show business, lived to the age of 98 before dying in June 2020, leaving behind a massive body of work stretching decades, according to the New York Times. From creating shows like The Dick Van Dyke Show to a long-lasting partnership with Mel Brooks to stealing scenes in the Ocean’s movies, he had quite a legacy.

Cicely Tyson 

Cicely Tyson, the dynamic actress that won a Tony, multiple Emmys, an honorary Oscar, and dozens of other accolades, was 96 years old when she died in January 2021, according to the New York Times. Over the course of a seven-decade career, Tyson gave commanding performances in film, television, and on Broadway.

Tony Bennett

Though known mostly for his decades-long music career that saw him earn countless awards, honors, and other accolades, Tony Benett made several film and TV appearances throughout his life. Sadly, the legendary crooner passed away at the age of 98 in July 2023, per the New York Times.

Kirk Douglas

Kirk Douglas, the star of classics like Paths of Glory, The Bad and the Beautiful, and most famously, Spartacus, passed away in February 2020, per the New York Times. The Hollywood star lived to the age of 103. 

Mickey Rooney

One of the brilliant Hollywood stars lost in 2014, Mickey Rooney was 93 years old at the time of his death, which marked the end to one of the most prolific and tumultuous careers in all of show business, according to the New York Times. Throughout his 88-year career, Rooney appeared in more than 300 movies and reinvented himself time and time again.

Katharine Hepburn

Katharine Hepburn, who won a record four Academy Awards throughout her career, and was 96 years old at the time of her death in June 2003. At that time, the Washington Post described her as an actress of breathtaking talent and unsurpassed durability. 

Sidney Poitier 

Trailblazing actor Sidney Poitier, who became the first Black performer to win an Oscar for Best Actor, lived to the age of 94 years old before passing away in June 2022, per the New York Times. Throughout his career, Poitier appeared in films like Lillies of the Field, Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, and In the Heat of the Night to name only a few. Several of Poitier’s best movies could also be considered touchstones of American cinema.

Bob Hope

After spending decades entertaining millions upon millions with his various Broadway, radio, television, and movies, not to mention his tireless efforts bringing laughter to troops stationed around the world, Bob Hope passed away in July 2003. According to the Los Angeles Times, the later entertainer was 100 years old at the time of his passing.

Gloria Stuart

Gloria Stuart, the older Rose from James Cameron’s 1997 romantic epic, Titanic, passed away in July 2010. According to the Los Angeles Times, the veteran actress died just two days after her 100th birthday.

Zsa Zsa Gabor 

Hollywood legend Zsa Zsa Gabor, known for her work in For the First Time, Moulin Rouge, Lovely to Look At, We’re Not Married, and dozens upon dozens of other projects, passed away in December 2016. According to Variety, the actress, who dazzled on the silver screen for 60 years, was 99 years old at the time of her death.

Angela Lansbury

Angela Lansbury, best known for starring roles in Beauty and the Beast and Murder, She Wrote among others, was 96 years old at the time of her death in October 2022, according to the Guardian. Following her death, Lansbury’s legacy and influence was remembered by multiple celebrities, including Hugh Jackman, Josh Gad, and Judd Apatow.

George Burns 

After 93 years in show business, George Burns lived to be 100 before he passed away in March 1999. In his obituary published by the New York Times, Burns was described as a cigar-smoking comedian considered to be the best “straight man” in the world of comedy. Over the course of his decades-spanning career, Burns performed on TV, in sold out clubs and theaters, and pretty much anywhere else where audiences would watch his trademark routines.

Bob Barker 

Bob Barker, the longtime host of The Price is Right, Happy Gilmore star, and advocate for spaying and neutering your pets, lived to be 99 years old before he passed away in August 2023, per TMZ. The TV and Hollywood icon was just four months shy of his 100th birthday at the time of his death, a passing that was met with an emotional response from his fans. Dozens of celebrities took to social media in the wake of his passing to share stories about working with the iconic figure, including Adam Sandler with whom he had a funny ongoing feud.

Ed Asner 

Ed Asner, who starred on shows like The Mary Tyler Moore Show and Roots, as well as movies like Up and Elf, was 91 at the time of his passing in August 2021, per The Hollywood Reporter. The late actor left behind a massive body of work and lasting legacy we’ll feel for years, if not decades, to come.

Doris Day

American actress and singer Doris Day passed away in May 2019 just weeks after her 97th birthday, per the New York Times. The star of Alfred Hitchcock thrillers (The Man Who Knew Too Much), all-time great romantic comedies (Pillow Talk), and her own sitcom (The Doris Day Show), Day was one of the most talented and prolific Hollywood stars of her time.

Billy Wilder

Billy Wilder, one of the most iconic and impactful directors in the history of Hollywood, lived to the age of 95 before passing away in March 2002, according to CNN. Known for movies like Some Like It Hot, Double Indemnity, Sabrina, and most famously, Sunset Boulevard, the late filmmaker gave moviegoers some of the most unforgettable moments throughout his career.

Harry Dean Stanton

Harry Dean Stanton, one of the greatest character actors of all time, passed away in September 2017, according to the New York Times. He was 91 years old at the time of his passing. Stanton, whose work ranged from Alien to Paris, Texas, and dozens upon dozens of other great films, was one of a kind.

Ennio Morricone

After spending decades crafting some of the most well-known film scores in the history of Hollywood, composer Ennio Morricone passed away at the age of 91 in July 2020, per the New York Times. Throughout his unparalleled career, Morricone created unforgettable moments in everything from The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly to Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, and so much in between.

Joan Fontaine

Joan Fontaine, who appeared in classics like Rebecca and Suspicion and so much more, passed away in December 2013. According to The Hollywood Reporter, she was 96 at the time of her death.

Harry Morgan

Best known for his portrayal of Col. Sherman T. Potter on the long-running sitcom M*A*S*H, Emmy Award-winning actor Harry Morgan lived to be 96 years of age before he passed away in December 2011, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Christopher Plummer

Following a decades-spanning career that saw him take major roles in The Sound of Music, Beginners, and Knives Out, passed away in February 2021. According to Variety, the multi-talented actor and Oscar winner was 91 years old at the time of his death.

Jerry Lewis

A comedian that was great in dramatic roles, Jerry Lewis lived to be 91 years old before his death in August 2021, according to Variety. Throughout his career, Lewis appeared in everything from The Nutty Professor to The King of Comedy, and so much more.

Phyllis Diller

After spending most of her life serving as one of the funniest, sassiest, and most prolific comedians in show business, Phyllis Diller passed away in August 2012. In her obituary published by the New York Times, Phyllis was credited with inspiring two generations of female comedians by breaking through doors, ceilings, and just about everything else to make her voice heard. She was 95 years old at the time of her passing.

Hal Holbrook

Hal Holbrook, who spent decades perfecting his craft in film, television, and his long-running one-man stage show about Mark Twain, lived to the age of 95, before passing away in February 2021, according to the New York Times. Throughout his career, he appeared in movies like All the President’s Men, Into the Wild, and Lincoln, to name just a few.

Ernest Borgnine

Ernest Borgnine lived to be 95 years of age, until his death in July 2012, per The Hollywood Reporter. The legendary actor appeared in countless film and television projects throughout his career and even won an Oscar for his performance in Delbert Mann’s 1955 romantic drama, Marty.

Maureen O'Hara

After spending a career dazzling audiences in movies like Miracle on 34th Street, How Green Was My Valley, and The Foxes of Harrow, Maureen O’Hara passed away in October 2014 when she was 95, according to USA Today.

Jerry Stiller

Jerry Stiller passed away in May 2020 -- the beloved comedian, Seinfeld star, and father of actor Ben Stiller was 92. Over the course of his legendary career in show business, Stiller found success with his wife, Anne Meara, appeared in movies like Hairspray and The Taking of Pelham One, Two, Three, and did so much more, as covered in his New York Times obituary.

Stan Lee

Stan Lee, the man behind some of the most recognized and influential Marvel Comics characters, as well as a great cameo actor in several of the best Marvel movies, lived to be 95 years old before passing away in November 2018. Described by the New York Times as a man who revolutionized the comic book world, Lee’s impact continues to be felt today.

Joss Ackland 

Joss Ackland, who appeared in more than 100 movies and TV shows ranging from Lethal Weapon 2 to White Mischief, passed away in November 2023. According to the BBC, the legendary and prolific actor was 95 years old at the time of his death.

Hugh Hefner

Though he wasn’t an actor or director, Hugh Hefner was just as much a part of the Hollywood scene as anyone else throughout the second half of the 20th century and beyond, thanks to his groundbreaking Playboy publication. The party came to an end for the media trailblazer in September 2019 when he passed away at the age of 91. According to the New York Times, Hefner died at his longtime home, the Playboy Mansion.

While we are sad that some of these beloved Hollywood stars have passed away, we can take solace in knowing they all lived long and fulfilling lives, each having an incredible impact on the entertainment industry and culture as a whole. Five, ten, and even fifty years from now, it's hard to imagine a Hollywood, or world, where these icons aren't just as impactful as they are today.

Typically, actors will work their hardest to promote a film to the best of their ability... at first, that is. Sometimes, years (or months) after said movie releases, the stars will not hold back on their true feelings. See for yourself by taking a look at some of the, so-called, worst movies starring famous actors who would admit that even they agree with the most brutal critiques.

Ben Affleck (Daredevil)

Most would agree that he is one of the best live-action Batman actors, but Ben Affleck’s first stab at playing a superhero in 2003 was not very well received. The actor himself wasn't pleased either, as he told EW (via E!) that he agrees Daredevil “didn’t work, at all.” However, he later explained that what he appreciates about DD is that his commitment to accurately portraying Matt Murdock’s blindness paid off, at least.

Christian Bale (Newsies)

Newsies — a musical retelling of the 1899 New York newsboy strike — was a flop for Disney in 1992 but gained a cult following that star Christian Bale is not a part of. He told EW that the “wounds” he feels he suffered from starring in it healed over time. We suppose leading some great live-action Batman movies and winning an Oscar for The Fighter helped him as well. 

Halle Berry (Catwoman) 

When Halle Berry accepted her Razzie for Worst Actress of 2004 for Catwoman in person, she was one of the few actors to do so and thanked Warner Bros. for putting her in such a “god-awful movie.” At least the actor — who also has an Oscar for Monster’s Ball and a few well-received comic book movies under her belt (the X-Men movies) — has a sense of humor about starring in a DC movie that even John Rogers, one of its writers, thinks is bad.

Josh Brolin (Jonah Hex)

Future MCU and Deadpool 2 star Josh Brolin made his comic book movie debut in 2010 as the titular character in the DC Comics-inspired Western, Jonah Hex. The actor (and star of one of the best Neo-Westerns and, simply, best movies of the 2000s, No Country for Old Men) later told CBR (via CinemaBlend) that he would remake it if he had the chance, as he was not happy with how it turned out.

Sandra Bullock (Speed 2: Cruise Control)

Speed is considered one of the best action movies of all time, but Speed 2: Cruise Control is not remembered so fondly by most, including star Sandra Bullock. The Oscar winner brought up the 1997 sequel — which is set on a cruise ship — when asked by TooFab about movies she was initially embarrassed by before coming around later. However she never actually changed her tune on this one.

George Clooney (Batman & Robin)

While there are some people who actually do enjoy Batman & Robin, George Clooney — who played Bruce Wayne in the 1997 flop — is not one of them. On The Graham Norton Show, the Oscar winner talked about his propensity to constantly apologize for, as he believed at the time, ruining the Dark Knight’s big screen legacy forever, before Christopher Nolan saved it.

Sean Connery (The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen)

It's a shame to learn that an actor is not proud of their final live-action acting credit and such is the case with the late Sean Connery and The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. The former James Bond actor recalled in a 2007 interview unearthed by Heat Vision (via THR) how he tried to salvage the 2003 Alan Moore adaptation in the editing room and described director Stephen Norrington as insane.

David Cross (Alvin And The Chipmunks: Chipwrecked)

According to The Washington Post, David Cross once felt the need to defend his participation in 2007’s Alvin and the Chipmunks, but he wasn't so kind about its 2011 threequel. During an appearance on Conan, the comedian recalled his “miserable” experience making Chipwrecked and recommended that the audience that was present not see the family film.

Viola Davis (The Help)

Even though her performance as 1960s Mississippi maid Abilene expanded her notoriety and earned her an Oscar nomination, Viola Davis regrets starring in 2011’s The Help. As she told Vanity Fair, “there’s a part of me that feels like I betrayed myself, and my people, because I was in a movie that wasn’t ready to [tell the whole truth]” and was “created in the filter and the cesspool of systemic racism.” 

Colin Farrell (Miami Vice)

When Michael Mann brought Miami Vice to the big screen in 2006, the action flick did not get the best reviews, based on its Rotten Tomatoes score of 47%. Lead actor Colin Farrell wasn’t too hot on it either, revealing to Total Film (via Far Out) that he “didn’t like it so much,” adding he felt it was “style over substance." Additionally, he even accepts some of the responsibility for that.

Crispin Glover (Back To The Future)

How could anyone dislike one of the best time travel movies ever made, 1985's Back to the Future? Well, George McFly actor Crispin Glover told AV Club that he felt the ending — which saw Michael J. Fox’s Marty McFly return to an alternate present in which his family is rich — sent a misguided message, which is why he opted not to appear in the sequels.

Alec Guinness (Star Wars)

The Force was not strong with the Star Wars movies’ original Obi-Wan Kenobi actor, Alec Guinness, apparently. In 1975, the Oscar winner wrote a letter to his friend, Anne Kaufman — which was quoted in his biography and republished by Business Insider in 2013 — describing George Lucas’ script as “fairy-tale rubbish.”

Katherine Heigl (Knocked Up)

In 2008, Knocked Up cast member Katherine Heigl told Vanity Fair that it was “hard for [her] to love the movie,” as she believed it portrayed women in an unfavorable light. While the 2007 comedy is still remembered as one of the best Judd Apatow movies, the former Grey’s Anatomy cast member’s honest comments about sexism would have a negative impact on her career, unfortunately.

Bob Hoskins (Super Mario Bros.)

In 2011, the late Bob Hoskins was asked by The Guardian about his worst job, biggest disappointment, and element he would edit out from his past? His answer to each question was the infamous video game movie adaptation, Super Mario Bros., from 1993.

Jennifer Lawrence (Passengers)

Academy Award winner Jennifer Lawrence revealed to The New York Times that Adele actually recommended she should say “no” to 2016’s Passengers — in which she and Chris Pratt's characters wake up from a commercial interplanetary journey way too early. Lawrence then said she wished she hadn't ignored the advice from the Grammy-winning singer-songwriter.

Lindsay Lohan (I Know Who Killed Me)

According to a 2013 report by The Daily Mail, Lindsay Lohan was once tweeted at by a fan who told her she had watched I Know Who Killed Me twice the night before. The Parent Trap star replied by saying this fan had watched the 2007 psychological thriller “two times too many.”

Bill Murray (Garfield)

When Bill Murray said he regretted making Garfield during his iconic Zombieland cameo, that was not just a joke. In fact, it was during an interview with GQ that Murray said the only reason he agreed to voice the 2004 live-action movie’s titular cat was because he thought one of the Coen Brothers was writing it, only to learn too late that the scribe was Joel Cohen.

Paul Newman (The Silver Chalice)

According to the Irish Film Institute, Paul Newman’s choice for the “worst motion picture produced during the 1950s” was his screen acting debut: The Silver Chalice. Despite his feelings about it, the late, legendary actor actually received a “Most Promising Newcomer” Golden Globe nomination for playing the Holy Grail’s sculptor in the 1954 drama.

Robert Pattinson (Twilight)

There's no denying that playing Edward Cullen in the Twilight movies made Robert Pattinson the star he is now, but that doesn't change the fact that he's not big on the films. His 2011 interview with Vanity Fair, in which he says “representing something you don’t particularly like” is “weird” in reference to the teen vampire romance stories, is just one of many times the Batman actor has admitted to this.

Christopher Plummer (The Sound Of Music)

When asked about his most challenging role during a roundtable interview with THR, Christopher Plummer’s answer was Captain von Trapp in The Sound of Music. His reasoning was nothing akin to Julie Andrews’ rough time shooting the iconic hill sequence, but was that he found the beloved 1965 musical itself to be “so awful and sentimental and gooey.”

Ryan Reynolds (Green Lantern)

Has an actor ever been more shamelessly and frequently vocal about their disdain for their own work than Ryan Reynolds with Green Lantern? Most recently, Reynolds shared his horrified reaction to the 2009 DC flick at London’s Just for Laughs festival in 2023 (according to The Independent). But his most public and unapologetic expression of disappointment can be seen in both Deadpool movies.

Arnold Schwarzenegger (Red Sonja)

While recognized as a cult favorite today, Red Sonja — which is being rebooted — is certainly not a film Arnold Schwarzenegger would call one of his best movies. In fact, the former California governor is quoted in Far Out as saying that he used to punish his children by forcing them to watch the 1985 comic book adaptation, which stars Brigette Nielsen as the titular warrior.

Sylvester Stallone (Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot) 

Apparently, Sylvester Stallone has Arnold Schwarzenegger to blame for his decision to star in Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot, which the Rocky star later told Ain’t It Cool News was “one of the worst movies in the entire solar system.” According to SlashFilm, the Terminator star revealed he tricked his then-rival, Stallone, into signing on for the panned 1992 comedy by feigning interest in the script.

Channing Tatum (G.I. Joe: The Rise Of Cobra)

Radio host Howard Stern once named G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra as guest Channing Tatum’s star-making moment. In turn, Tatum bluntly admitted he hates the 2009 cinematic adaptation of the action figure line, claiming he was “pushed into” making it by Paramount. That explains why he requested to be killed off in the 2013 sequel, G.I. Joe: Retaliation.

Charlize Theron (Reindeer Games)

Academy Award winner Charlize Theron did not hold back when telling Esquire that she believes 2000’s Reindeer Games is a “bad, bad, bad movie.” However, she does not regret starring in the Ben Affleck-led Christmas action flick, as it a gave her the chance to work with director John Frankenheimer.

Mark Wahlberg (The Happening)

On a ranked list of M. Night Shyamalan movies, most people might put The Happening at a pretty low spot, including one of its stars. During a press conference for The Fighter, Mark Wahlberg admitted that he does not like The Happening either in an expletive-filled tirade. This came after he revealed that Amy Adams was up for Zooey Deschanel’s part in the unintentionally hilarious 2009 disaster thriller.

Sam Worthington (Clash Of The Titans)

Despite the fact that 2010's Clash of the Titans remake is one of his bigger hits outside of the Avatar movies, Sam Worthington is not a fan. He revealed to IndieWire that he put the blame on his “bland performance” as Perseus and promised to make up for it with the 2012 sequel, Wrath of the Titans.

Gwyneth Paltrow (Shallow Hal)

When Gwyneth Paltrow tested her friend and assistant Kevin Keating’s knowledge of her for a video on Netflix’s X account, he (almost) correctly names her least favorite performance of hers as Rosemary in Shallow Hal. The Academy Award winner and MCU star then describes the Farrelly Brothers’ 2001 fantasy rom-com, which also stars Jack Black, as a “disaster.”

Nicole Kidman (Australia)

Nicole Kidman revealed in an interview with a Sydney radio station (via Daily Mail) that she rarely watches her own movies but did attend the premiere of Australia, which reunited her with Moulin Rouge director Baz Luhrmann. However, she found herself squirming in her seat over her performance in the 2009 romantic period drama, which paired her with Hugh Jackman.

Alec Baldwin (Rock Of Ages)

His fondness for director Adam Shankman and admiration for the all-star cast, including Tom Cruise and Catherine Zeta-Jones, convinced Alec Baldwin to star in Rock of Ages. However, as he revealed in a 2013 interview with American Magazine Media Conference in New York (via The Wrap), the 2012 movie based on a Broadway hit featuring ’80s rock tunes was a “complete disaster” in his eyes.

Brad Pitt (The Devil’s Own)

An action movie starring Harrison Ford and Brad Pitt sounds like a surefire success by those details alone but, as Pitt would share with Newsweek, The Devil’s Own is not all it's cracked up to be. Apparently, the 1997 thriller was a disaster from behind the scenes with the cast and crew being forced to make up the story as they went along after the previous “great script” was “tossed for various reasons.” In addition, Pitt and Ford couldn't get on the same page.

James Franco (Your Highness)

When James Franco jokes about not wanting to do a homemade sequel to 2011’s Your Highness in This is the End, he wasn't exactly kidding. The actor told GQ in 2013 that he thinks the medieval stoner comedy from director David Gordon Green “sucks."

Whether or not you agree with these celebrities’ opinion of their own films, you cannot deny that it takes guts for an actor to admit when one of their own films missed the mark in their eyes.

Getting cast as the lead of the James Bond movies is a competitive race that we’re currently watching play out, yet again, in real time. While the pressure’s on to find the successor for Daniel Craig’s 007, the history of this storied franchise has seen quite a few stories of “what if” and “what could have been.” 

However, in the case of the legendary Sean Connery, he found himself in high demand to slip on the tuxedo not one, but two more times in his career. With a tale of wheeling, dealing and a little bit of spite added into the mix, here’s how Sir Sean found himself bonded back to Bond after leaving the series for the first time.

Why Sean Connery Quit The James Bond Movies After You Only Live Twice

Sean Connery was ready to leave the role of Commander Bond for several reasons (via TCM). Between dissatisfaction with his salary when compared to the success of the 007 adventures, as well as fears of typecasting and weariness towards the demands of shooting and promoting each entry, Connery found himself ready to hang up the tuxedo. 

However, he did entertain one supposedly “final” offer from series producers Harry Saltzman and Albert “Cubby” Broccoli. Setting 1967’s You Only Live Twice as his James Bond swan song, Sean Connery closed out the first age of Ian Fleming’s literary creation on the screen. Yet despite quitting the series with a non-speaking grudge against Broccoli, Sir Sean would be lured back to the role he helped make famous in two quite different contexts.

How The 007 Producers Won Sean Connery Back For Diamonds Are Forever

Thanks to George Lazenby quitting after On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, and passing up a massive deal to remain in the role of James Bond, the fledgling series was in a bit of a bind. Another round of 00-recasting was in the works, which almost resulted in Roger Moore entering the role earlier, saw Connery won over by an offer that seemed to make up for the ills of previous dealings. 

As noted by Express, Sean Connery accepted a salary of $1.25 million to slip into the world of Bond yet again for 1971's Diamonds Are Forever. As a sweetener, the Hunt for Red October star was also given a two-picture deal where he could choose the projects. For reference, the publication specified that when leaving after You Only Live Twice, Connery’s agreement was for “$750,000, with 25% of merchandise profits.” 

Returning in Diamonds Are Forever, the original Bond was back and people were excited! As for Sean Connery, his then-record-setting payday went towards creating the Scottish International Education Trust. With that film in the books, Connery infamously vowed to never to make another 007 movie, which would only come back to haunt him in the title for his second and final cinematic return to the role he put on the map. 

The Reasons Sean Connery Returned To The Role Of 007 In An Unofficial Production

The complicated rights issues that made SPECTRE unavailable for usage in the EON Productions canon created a loophole that writer Kevin McClory continued to abuse in the decades that followed Thunderball’s release. One such attempt even saw Sean Connery co-writing an unused 007 script entitled Warhead. But the common thread that links all of McClory’s aspirations to create a competing Bond franchise was the fact that he was attempting to remake 1965’s Thunderball. 

With McClory and Connery aligned in their feelings against Albert R. Broccoli, and the O.G. James Bond in a tight spot professionally and financially, Never Say Never Again was born. It's an effort that can be considered the cinematic equivalent of a spite house, and the title of the movie reflected those remarks that Sean had made about “never” playing 007 ever again. It also created an unofficial battle of the Bonds, as 1983 turned into Never Say Never Again vs. Octopussy; with Roger Moore’s official entry released on June 10th, and Connery’s series spoiler landing on October 7th.

A write-up from Yahoo highlighted some of the conditions that lured Connery back for director Irvin Kershner’s competing production. With “$5 million, casting and script approval, and a share of the profits” built into his agreement, Sean Connery played Bond in the only remake of Thunderball that managed to get off the ground.

How Sean Connery Almost Didn’t Land His Role In Never Say Never Again

Believe it or not, Sean Connery almost wasn’t cast as Never Say Never Again’s lead. Much as he competed with Sir Roger Moore at the box office, the Octopussy star almost left the official James Bond movies upon being offered the role himself. Without a long term contract binding him to the franchise, the scenario left an opening for a new 007.

If Roger Moore had accepted the lead role in Never Say Never Again, James Brolin’s insanely close Bond casting would have seen him as the presumptive replacement in the main canon. However, Sir Roger and Sir Sean coordinated their efforts, as Moore admitted he was primed to grab the opportunity Connery wasn’t invested in. Only two Bonds could exist in this scenario, and when all was said and done, Brolin was the one left out in the cold.

For someone who made such a pronounced departure from the James Bond legacy, Sean Connery's connection only became stronger as a result of fate's various twists. While he'd reprise the role one last time in the 2005 video game adaptation of From Russia with Love, his cinematic efforts alone can attest to the sort of excitement that can be had when the fate of a franchise is on the line.

Though you probably won't see Daniel Craig being offered a sum so great he'd think of returning, as not even the most princely sum could wake the dead. As a fresh 007 is out there, waiting to be found and recruited, looking to the past is a fun way to pass the time until the future's arrival. And with plenty other stories hiding in plain sight throughout this IP's history, this might not be the last time we look back in preparation to look forward.

Some of the biggest stars in Hollywood are also some of the most often snubbed by the Oscars when it comes to Best Actor and Actress Academy Awards. Legends like Harrison Ford, Jamie Lee Curtis, and many others have somehow had some of the most successful careers in film, but have only been nominated for one Academy Award in the acting categories. 

Harrison Ford - Nominated For Best Actor (Witness)

Harrison Ford is a national treasure, most everyone will agree. Everyone, it seems, except The Academy, as he has only ever nominated once, for 1985’s Witness. This actor has been in two of the biggest franchises in history, plus the two Jack Ryan movies and so much more. He should’ve been nominated for The Fugitive at least. 

Eddie Murphy - Nominated For Best Supporting Actor (Dreamgirls)

Another icon of the late 20th Century and early 21st Century is Eddie Murphy, who has only been nominated once, for Dreamgirls in 2007. This is probably more testament to the Academy's apparent lack of appreciation for some of his best comedic performances because I dare you to find better ones in history than Murphy in Beverly Hills Cop or Coming To America. 

Gwyneth Paltrow - Nominated For Best Actress (Shakespeare In Love)

Gwyneth Paltrow will likely be a polarizing name on this list because the actor herself tends to be, but she’s had a number of wonderful performances over the years. Roles in The Talented Mr. Ripley, Emma, and The Royal Tenenbaums are all worthy of more consideration than she’s received over the years. She's earned just one nomination for Shakespeare in Love, for which she also won. 

Taraji P. Henson - Nominated For Best Supporting Actress (The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button)

Taraji P. Henson has been nominated for more than thirty acting awards across her sterling career. Somehow, only one of those was for an Academy Award. Her lone Oscar nomination was for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button in 2008, and it’s frankly astounding that’s the only one. At a minimum, she should have been nominated for Hidden Figures alongside her cast-mate Octavia Spencer. Hopefully, this changes with her role in the upcoming remake of The Color Purple. 

Hugh Jackman - Nominated For Best Actor (Les Misérables)

Hugh Jackman is one award away from achieving EGOT status. The “O” is missing and shockingly he’s only been nominated once for an Oscar, for his performance in Les Misérables. The multi-talented Jackman has won so many awards, but is shut out yearly at the Academy Awards. The Oscars may not show much respect to comic book films, but everyone else does, and saying he should have been nominated for Logan isn’t a stretch, nor is saying it about his performance in The Greatest Showman.

Jamie Lee Curtis - Nominated For Best Supporting Actress (Everything Everywhere All At Once)

Jamie Lee Curtis is one of the most versatile actors of her generation. Horror, comedy, drama, she does it all. And yet, she has little to show for it in terms of Oscar nominations. She finally was nominated (and won) for Everything Everywhere All At Once but where were the nominations for My Girl and A Fish Called Wanda?

Salma Hayek - Nominated For Best Actress (Frida)

It’s been more than two decades since Salma Hayek was first nominated for an Oscar, for 2001’s Frida and she’s not been nominated since. Hayek is an icon and one of the most beloved actors today, yet never seems to get the attention of the Academy. This is likely in part due to the discounting of action films, which have become Hayek’s bread and butter, but that doesn’t mean her performances in movies like Traffic and Beatriz at Dinner weren't worthy of attention.

Matthew McConaughey - Nominated For Best Actor (Dallas Buyers Club)

When Matthew McConaughey won the Oscar for Dallas Buyers Club after being nominated for the first and only time, he led his speech with his trademark “Alright, alright, alright” and while his role in Dazed and Confused is a classic, he certainly deserved nominations for other roles, like how about a nod for his supporting role in The Wolf Of Wall Street or his performance in the vastly underrated Mud?

Samuel L. Jackson - Nominated For Best Supporting Actor (Pulp Fiction)

If there is anyone on the list that should be a perennial nominee, it’s Samuel L. Jackson. His lone nomination came from his unforgettable and meme-able turn in Pulp Fiction, but he’s an actor who steals every scene he's in, in a good way. Just his roles in Quentin Tarantino films alone, like Django Unchained and The Hateful Eight, are worthy of nominations, but it hasn’t happened, sadly. Thankfully for all of us, Jackson was given an honorary Oscar in 2021 for his contributions to film, which is some consolation. 

Uma Thurman - Nominated For Best Supporting Actress (Pulp Fiction)

Speaking of Pulp Fiction, the Tarantino classic also led to Uma Thurman’s one and only Academy Award nomination. Despite being one of the biggest stars on the planet, Thurman seems to have no luck getting the attention of the Academy. One role that really stands out is in the under-appreciated Prime. 

Benedict Cumberbatch - Nominated For Best Actor (The Imitation Game)

One has to believe that more nominations will be coming for Benedict Cumberbatch. Thus far, his only acknowledgment from the Oscars was for his wonderful performance as Alan Turing in The Imitation Game. There are plenty of other roles he could have been nominated for, especially as William Bulger in Black Mass and Julian Assange in The Fifth Estate and that’s just the roles in which he’s played real people! 

Mark Wahlberg - Nominated For Best Supporting Actor (The Departed)

In 1990, no one would have expected “Marky” Mark Wahlberg to appear on any kind of list like that, but almost 35 years later, it’s astounding his only Oscar nomination has been for The Departed (one of our picks for the 100 best movies of the 2000s). You have to question why he was ignored for Boogie Nights, for sure. The Fighter is another clear snub, though he was technically nominated for Best Picture as a producer of the film. 

Halle Berry - Nominated For Beat Actress (Monster's Ball)

When Halle Berry earned her one Oscar nomination for 2001’s Monster’s Ball, she was the odds-on favorite to win. She had become one of the biggest stars of the 1990s and now was her time to shine. She won, of course, but sadly, it would be the last time Berry would be nominated, so far, at least. It’s a shame because there are plenty of roles she’d be deserving of a nomination, like Frankie & Alice, for which she was nominated for a Golden Globe.

Laurence Fishburne - Nominated For Best Actor (What's Love Got To Do With It)

This could be the most shocking on the list. At first thought, you might guess Laurence Fishburne was nominated for his amazing work as Furious Styles in Boyz n the Hood or Professor Phipps in John Singleton’s other masterpiece, Higher Learning. Alas, the Matrix star has only one nomination, for playing Ike Turner in What’s Love Got To Do With It, and he didn’t win. 

Josh Brolin  - Nominated For Best Supporting Actor (Milk)

Josh Brolin has been a favorite since he was a teenager in The Goonies. He’s also starred in some powerhouse movies, like Sicario and, most of all, No Country For Old Men. No Country won a slew of Oscars including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Supporting Actor for Javier Barden, and yet Brolin wasn’t even nominated. It frankly doesn’t make sense. Brolin’s lone nomination came from his wonderful performance in Milk, but that was the year that the late Heath Ledger won for The Dark Knight.

Sharon Stone - Nominated For Best Actress (Casino)

You could argue that while Sharon Stone was brilliant in Casino, it wasn’t even her best performance, though it’s the only time she’s been nominated. She wasn’t nominated for Basic Instinct, despite winning the Golden Globe for the role, nor for the underrated The Muse in 2000. At least we have Casino. 

Tilda Swinton - Nominated For For Best Supporting Actress (Michael Clayton)

2007's Michael Clayton was awash in acting nominations, including George Clooney for Best Actor and Tom Wilkinson for Best Supporting Actor. The only winner of the night, though, was Tilda Swinton for Best Supporting Actress. Over her incredible career, Swinton has been honored for other roles, like her parts in The Deep End, We Need to Talk About Kevin, and even Snowpiercer, but this remains her only Oscar nod. 

Liam Neeson - Nominated For Best Actor (Schindler’s List)

Long before Liam Neeson re-invented himself as an action star in summer blockbusters, he was a character actor carving out a nice career in film. Then came the epic Schindler's List. He was nominated for the Oscar for Best Actor in a movie, though he lost out to Tom Hanks for Philadelphia. In the 30 years since, Neeson has not been nominated, not even for fantastic turns in The Gangs of New York, Michael Collins, or Rob Roy. For shame.  

Lupita Nyong'o - Nominated For Best Actress (12 Years A Slave)

Lupita Nyong'o burst onto the Hollywood scene with her heartbreakingly beautiful performance in 12 Years A Slave. She won the Academy Award for Best Actress and has since been racking up the accolades everywhere... except the Oscars. Despite well-received turns in Us and Queen of Katwe, not to mention her roles in the Black Panther films, she hasn't again been nominated. 

Sean Connery - Nominated For Best Supporting Actors (The Untouchables)

Sean Connery was one of the biggest movie stars in the world, and yet he was virtually ignored by the Academy for his whole career. Setting aside his brilliance as James Bond, Connery should’ve earned nods for The Hunt For Red October, and The Name Of The Rose, at least. Instead, his only nomination came for The Untouchables, which, thankfully, he won. 

Alec Baldwin - Nominated For Best Supporting Actor (The Cooler)

Another fantastic performance in The Hunt for Red October that didn’t get recognition is Alec Baldwin’s as Jack Ryan. Baldwin could’ve been nominated for either of his two on-screen performances in 1992, Glengarry Glen Ross, and Prelude To A Kiss, but again he was snubbed. His only nomination came for his role in The Cooler.

Diane Lane - Nominated For Best Actress (Unfaithful)

Diane Lane found her footing in film in the late 1990s with outstanding performances in movies like A Walk on the Moon and The Perfect Storm, either of which could've been award-winning. Instead, it wasn't until 2002's Unfaithful that she got the recognition she deserved when she was nominated for Best Actress. 

Bill Murray - Nominated For Best Actor (Lost in Translation)

The Academy has missed out on great performances by one of the best comedic actors the world has ever seen in Bill Murray. Stripes, Ghostbusters, What About Bob?, and Groundhog's Day are some of the most beloved comedies of all time, and Murray was never recognized. Nor was he for his brilliant turns in Rushmore and The Royal Tenenbaums. Murray's sole nomination came, deservingly, for 2003's Lost In Translation. 

Jennifer Connelly - Nominated For Best Supporting Actress (A Beautiful Mind)

Jennifer Connelly has been wowing audiences for decades, including in 2022's massive hit Top Gun: Maverick. It appears though, that she has not been wowing the Academy, as she's only ever been nominated for one Oscar, which she won, for her role in 2001's A Beautiful Mind. Other roles have earned her other awards, like her parts in Requiem For A Dream and The House of Sand and Fog, but to date, nothing from the Academy Awards. 

Kathleen Turner - Nominated For Best Actress (Peggy Sue Got Married)

Despite massive hits like Body Heat, Serial Mom, and of course, Romancing The Stone, Kathleen Turner has only earned one Oscar nomination, for the vastly underrated Francis Ford Coppola film from 1986, Peggy Sue Got Married. Surely this icon of the screen deserves more. 

Robert Redford - Nominated For Best Actor (The Sting)

It’s astounding that the great Robert Redford has only one acting nomination in his whole career, for The Sting. Though he defined what a movie star is, Redford never received Oscar attention for roles in All The President’s Men, All Is Lost, Out Of Africa, and Three Days of the Condor, among many others. The list is endless here. He has been nominated twice for Best Director, for Ordinary People and Quiz Show, and won for the former. Redford also received an Honorary Oscar in 2002.

Catherine Zeta-Jones - Nominated For Best Actress (Chicago)

At the 75th Academy Awards, Chicago was the biggest winner of the night, garnering 13 nominations and winning six of them, including Catherine Zeta-Jones for Best Actress. Alas, this, so far, is the only time the Welsh actress has even been nominated, despite powerhouse roles in Traffic and Entrapment. At least she shares this dubious distinction with her husband Michael Douglas. 

Micheal Douglas - Nominated For Best Actor (Wall Street)

Gordon Gekko in Wall Street is one of the all-time great cinema villains and Michael Douglas richly deserved the Academy Award he won for playing the part in 1988. An actor with a slew of amazing performances from Falling Down, to Traffic, to Fatal Attraction and more, with only one acting nomination. He was also nominated/won for Best Picture in 1976 as the producer of One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest. 

Lauren Bacall - Nominated For Best Supporting Actress (The Mirror Has Two Faces)

Lauren Bacall was one of the true icons of the Golden Age of Hollywood, starring in such films as The Big Sleep, Key Largo, and many, many more over her career. Shockingly, it took until 1997 for the Academy to recognize her work when she was finally nominated for a Best Supporting Actress role for The Mirror Has Two Faces. She did finally receive a well-deserved honorary Oscar in 2000. 

Kevin Costner - Nominated For Best Actor (Dances With Wolves)

Dances With Wolves was the darling of the Oscars in 1991. It was nominated for 12 awards, winning seven, including Best Director for Kevin Costner and Best Picture, which Costner won as a producer. It was also the one and only time Costner has been nominated for an acting Academy Award. There are so many other iconic parts he should’ve gotten more credit for, like JFK, Bull Durham, The Untouchables, and Hidden Figures, just to name a few. 

It just goes to show that even being a huge box office draw, and a megastar doesn't mean you'll get recognition from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Oscars are incredibly hard to win and even being nominated is an honor, they say. Still, for everyone on the list, you'd think they'd have more than one.  

The Highlander franchise is a strange one, and it’s more than a little shocking that it even became a franchise. Even the original 1986 movie is, still today, more a cult classic than an actual classic, and the various sequels and spinoffs haven’t been much better received. However, while the series of films and TV have their high points, it doesn't get much lower than Highlander 2: The Quickening. The first movie sequel was absolutely terrible, though one cannot entirely blame the cast or the crew for that, as they were all less involved in what the movie became than you might think.

We’ve seen recent examples of what happens when a movie is taken out of the control of its director. Zack Snyder’s Justice League came after years of fans asking for the “Snyder Cut,” hoping to one day see the movie the director had actually intended to make before he was forced to step away. To this day, fans of the first Suicide Squad hope to eventually see the film that David Ayer intended to make. But before those movies, there was the story of Highlander 2, a movie whose director lost control of it not to another director or even a studio, but to an insurance company, and how something like the movie it was supposed to be did eventually see the light of day. 

What Happened During Highlander 2’s Production? 

The original Highlander, which is about a Scottish man who is blessed (or perhaps cursed) with immortality for unknown reasons and must fight other immortals to the death (for there can be only one), wasn’t much of a box office hit, but it found enough success in the growing world of home video that a sequel was given the green light. Stars Christopher Lambert and Sean Connery were set to return, despite the latter actor’s character dying in the first film, as did the first film’s director, Russell Mulcahy. Everything seemed to be in place for more fantasy sword-wielding action.

Unfortunately, one fateful decision was made which inadvertently doomed the entire production. Argentina was chosen as the place to film the Highlander sequel. While the movie would be set in America like the first one, filming in Argentina was going to be a great deal cheaper... until it became incredibly expensive.

In the middle of production, the Argentine economy collapsed. The government had borrowed massive sums of money, which led to hyperinflation of Argentina’s currency. Suddenly, everything the production wanted became incredibly expensive, and the odds of any of the film’s investors actually making any money started to evaporate. This was a serious problem because, according to producer Peter Davis in the documentary film Seduced by Argentina, it was the foreign investment that pushed to make the sequel at all. He said…

The result was that the bonding company took over production on Highlander 2. Production ceased, but before filming was actually completed. The final cut of the film was decided on by the company, nor director Russell Mulcahy. Visual FX Supervisor Sam Nicholson explained...

The final result was a movie so far from what director Russell Mulcahy was happy with that he reportedly walked out of the premiere after about 15 minutes.

What Was Highlander 2: The Quickening? 

So what was the problem with Highlander 2: The Quickening? The original film introduces a world where some people are born as immortals. When they die, they return to life, and once that happens, they become part of an ongoing battle among all other immortals, each trying to kill the others in the only way they can be killed, by beheading. The original film suggests that nobody knows how or why all this happening.

The sequel attempts to answer the how and why by revealing that the immortals are, in fact, aliens. On a faraway world called Zeist, there has been an ongoing civil war, and Lambert and Connery’s Maclaoud and Ramirez are among its leaders. Captured by their enemy, they are banished to the planet Earth, where they will be immortal and must battle with all other banished citizens until only one remains.

Needless to say that the alien answer went over as well in 1991 for Highlander fans as it would a couple of decades later for viewers of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Fans hated it, but ultimately this was never the movie that the filmmakers had wanted. The movie they wanted simply couldn't be released because they had never shot all of it.

How Highlander 2: The Renegade Version Tries To Fix Things? 

wDespite its terrible reception by everybody, including die-hard fans, The Quickening would not be the end of the Highlander franchise. 1992 would see the launch of a Highlander TV series that would effectively act as a reboot with a new lead character. A third theatrical film starring Christopher Lambert, which was also bad, would be released in 1994. However, after all that, Highlander 2 would see new life.

Highlander 2: The Renegade Version was released in 1995, and it would see director Russell Mulcahy attempt to reconstruct the film into something at least closer to what he had originally intended. The Renegade Version resulted in some scenes being deleted, others added and existing scenes changed radically to the point that the two films are almost as different as the two versions of Justice League.

Gone are any references to alien worlds. Now, the war is taking place thousands of years in Earth’s lost, technologically-advanced past, and our heroes are banished into the future. Immortality is also not a side effect of this, but something that Connor and Ramirez have naturally, for a still unknown reason. 

Highlander 2: The Renegade Cut isn’t a good movie. It is, however, superior to the version that came before it, and almost certainly the best version of this movie that could exist. The fact that some portion of the planned production was never shot makes it ultimately impossible to truly make the movie the director intended. Even Zack Snyder couldn't make his Justice League without reshoots, but that was never going to happen here. Ironically, The Renegade Version is the only version of Highlander 2 you’re likely to find if you go looking today. It’s the only one to be released on Blu-ray or on digital platforms. The original cut is largely lost to time.

There has been a Highlander reboot in various stages of development in the last few years. John Wick's Chad Stahelski is set to direct, as far as we still know, and last we heard, Henry Caill was going to star as the new Highlander, though it's unclear if he will play the same character as Christopher Lambert, or somebody new. As a fan of this admittedly bonkers franchise, I am hopeful we see more one day. Hopefully, if it does happen, everybody involved will at least be proud of what eventually gets put on screen.

Technically 2022 was the 60th anniversary of the James Bond movies, as Dr. No made its UK theatrical premiere on October 5th, 1962. That’s the day that’s widely recognized as “James Bond Day” throughout the world, with many different celebrations taking place in the past on that very date. However, there’s another important date celebrating the humble beginnings of 007, and some Bond fans, myself included, are raising a martini to another red letter day honoring those 60 years.

Today in 1963 was the beginning of Commander Bond’s U.S. charm offensive. With a very limited release kicking things off, Sean Connery’s James Bond movies started to spread stateside with May 8th’s release of Dr. No. As such, I noted the occasion with the following Twitter post, which led to me finding other intriguing tributes to the 00-legacy: 

Noting the occasion is a good way to start things off, though if I’m totally honest, I might take myself up on that martini later tonight. However, there are other fans who have shared some interesting facts and clips from the contemporary market that saw Dr. No make such a cinematic splash. For instance, here’s a great post that showed the teaser trailer that first peeked behind the curtain on the cinematic incarnation of Ian Fleming’s literary success: 

I’d previously mentioned that Dr. No was in pretty limited release when it was released into theaters of the United States, and I wasn’t kidding. This next tweet lays out just how long it took for James Bond to get around in the former colonies, and by today’s standards, this is a pretty slow crawl:

Imagine No Time To Die taking that tactic for release in the modern marketplace. The explosive end to Daniel Craig’s James Bond movies would have been spoiled faster than you can say “Madeleine,” and the discourse could have been spicier. Although speaking of heated words, this next tweet discusses just how “friendly” Sean Connery and Ian Fleming were back when he was first cast as 007:

Wrapping things with a more modern touch, another fellow Bond fan took the time to celebrate the franchise with a scene from Skyfall. They didn’t just choose any scene, mind you, but they selected the Javier Bardem seduction scene that almost wasn’t. Feeding into a meme of best character introductions, this is the post that resulted: 

When you can build up this much history over 60 years, you’re clearly dealing with a franchise that’s forever. As we wait to see who the next James Bond will be, Dr. No and the 24 other official EON Productions adventures are still around to remind us that no matter who the next fellow is, they’re going to be in good company. 

If you’re looking to celebrate the anniversary of Bond, James Bond’s first appearance in U.S. theaters, an HBO Max subscription is all you'll need to stream Dr. No. Though there's also a handful of other 007 adventures to enjoy, shaken or stirred, in the comfort of your own home. Here's to another milestone in James Bond history, and to all that will arrive in the months and years to come!

James Bond fans, we’ve arrived. The 60th anniversary extravaganza recently arrived with the release of both the documentary The Sound of 007, and its companion concert highlights, on Prime Video. But why should the celebration stop there? If the world is not enough, then surely there doesn’t need to be an end to the 007 fanfare. 

With music still lingering in the air, ranking the many theme songs in the James Bond movies that have pleased our ears is how we’ll keep the party going. Starting in the most logical place, we'll begin by evaluating those deadly beats from the late Sir Sean Connery’s 007 adventures. Before we get started, there are some caveats we must put into play. 

First, this new series will be a ranking of official theme songs only. So don’t go asking where Never Say Never Again’s song would fit into the ranking, as it’s one of the handful of unofficial 007 movies. It's not an EON Productions entry, and as such it doesn't get a slot in this ranking. 

Second, Dr. No is missing from this list of rankings for a specific reason. That's because I'm not counting the actual James Bond Theme, “Kingston Calypso,” or "Underneath The Mango Tree" as an overarching theme tune for that first film. It’s kind of unfair to throw in the song that’s become 007’s sonic signature into the mix, and neither of those other two songs technically count as title songs. 

With the playing field set, it’s time to strike up the band and start the countdown. Here’s how Sean Connery’s James Bond theme songs rank in my corner of the CinemaBlend jukebox.

5. You Only Live Twice (1967)

I need to open this first entry with the acknowledgement that after watching The Sound of 007 on Prime Video, my heart goes out to Nancy Sinatra for her work on “You Only Live Twice.” At this point in the James Bond franchise, the formula was set for what one could expect from a theme tune; and Ms. Sinatra was a nervous wreck recording the 1967 film’s signature song. 

That being said, this is the bottom entry in my ranking of Sean Connery themes. The tune itself is catchy, and anyone who loves Robbie Williams’ “Millennium” still has a soft spot for its usage of the hook. Not to mention that this song’s appearance in Mad Men was also a poignant moment in the life and times of Don Draper. 

As a James Bond theme, “You Only Live Twice” is an outlier that sounds more appropriate for a beachfront luau and not in a hollowed-out volcano lair. It’s certainly a weird song to cut to after we’re supposed to think we’ve seen 007 killed in the line of duty, so that also factors into the awkwardness in play. 

4. From Russia with Love (1963)

From Russia with Love is the first movie-specific James Bond theme tune that exists in the franchise canon. Obviously there was some room for experimentation, especially when this song doesn’t even come into play until after Sean Connery and Daniella Bianchi have set sail for romance in the finale. While the tune itself appears in the midst of John Barry's opening sonic masterpiece "Opening Titles: James Bond Is Back/From Russia with Love/James Bond Theme," this is the version that you hear on all the compilation albums officially released. 

Though it may be another one of “the slow ones” Bond fans may have qualms with, it’s certainly one of the better ballads. Matt Munro’s singing definitely sells the romance and yearning, which totally fits the ending of From Russia with Love’s caper. There’s definitely a beautiful style to composer Lionel Bart’s romantic interlude, and it’s a gorgeous song in its own right. 

The problem is From Russia with Love's song is too much of an outlier in comparison to the style that we’d become accustomed to in later films. Eventually longtime series composer John Barry would work more closely with the artists brought in to open the films, and eventually the results would tie the theme and the score for each movie together in a more connected manner.  That practice came along at the right time, with the third Sean Connery movie defining this piece of the Bond legacy.

3. Goldfinger (1964)

Here it is: the one that set it all in stone. Dame Shirley Bassey’s first of three James Bond song was always going to be higher up in the rankings, as the power of Goldfinger cannot be denied. If you’re looking for the origin story of the Bond theme on the whole, you need not look further. 

And yet, as diehard fans are probably realizing at this very moment, it’s not in the top spot, nor is it Dame Shirley’s higher ranking entry. I love Goldfinger’s theme and understand what it did for the 007 franchise at large. However, considering how far these songs would go even in the span of the Sean Connery films alone, it’s right in the middle of the pack. 

Goldfinger was the first time we saw the images really married to the music of a Bond film, and its effect on history will always be felt because of it. However, I’d say that Shirley Bassey’s other tune from this era is the superior entry. 

2. Diamonds Are Forever (1971)

As far as the films are concerned, Diamonds Are Forever definitely craters at the bottom of my Sean Connery 007 rankings. I won’t rehash that whole scenario here, but the campiness and total ignorance of On Her Majesty’s Secret Service doesn’t do the movie any favors. 

Yet when it comes to theme songs, Dame Shirley Bassey trumps gold with her diamond-cut voice, making for an experience that outshines the movie it comes from. Legendary lyricist Don Black teamed with Bassey on this song, and the difference is astounding. 

The confidence that her previous experience with Goldfinger brought is a huge part of why Diamonds Are Forever ranks above that other song. When the James Bond movies were poised to go sillier in tone, Dame Shirley Bassey anchored this film down with a deadly, but sensual ode to those gems that never lied to her. Goldfinger walked so that Diamonds Are Forever could soar.

1. Thunderball (1965)

Ok folks, this might be the controversial choice of this rundown. Right at the top of the heap in the Sean Connery era of theme songs is Sir Tom Jones and his rendition of Thunderball. Keep in mind, this is a movie where in alternate timelines, there would be a theme sung by Johnny Cash or even Dame Shirley Bassey. In our universe, it’s lyricist Don Black’s first 007 song credit, and it packs a wallop. And yet, even if you removed the lyrics, this song would still be considered an all-timer.

Bold lyrics about men who “always run, while others walk” and “act, while other men just talk” paint a huge picture that could be perceived to be about either James Bond or any of his villains. However, it’s John Barry’s tune, and Sir Tom’s swaggering delivery, that really send Thunderball’s theme skyrocketing to the top; as if it were strapped to a jetpack. 

Much like Shirley Bassey ended Goldfinger’s tune with a large belting note, Tom Jones punches the sky with his mighty voice in this grand finale. While he didn’t pass out, as urban legend would have you believe, he did come pretty close. 

The Sean Connery run of James Bond movies laid down the bedrock for so much of what was to come in the 007 saga. Just as the actor made an impression on how the role should be played to this very day, John Barry’s musical prowess still reigns in the minds of composers like No Time To Die’s Hans Zimmer. And to think that the songs we’ve just discussed, as sterling and sensational as they all are, were only the beginning of what was to come.

Our next chat in the world of James Bond theme tunes will take us on a slight diversion. While sequential order would lead us to On Her Majesty’s Secret Service and its rich musical history, we’re going to save that for another day and dive into the Roger Moore era of 007. If you thought the Connery run was a wild ride, wait until you see the styles and genres that Moore’s tenure covers.

Prime Video subscribers who are ready to jump into the world of the 007 theme songs can do so in numerous ways. In addition to having all 25 James Bond movies available for streaming, there’s also The Sound of 007 documentary and concert highlights recording to enjoy.

As the 60th anniversary of the James Bond movies gave its fans something to celebrate last week, many notable figures within the franchise have tipped their hats to what’s made those films a continued success. Without Dr. No successfully kicking off Sean Connery’s 007 run, we may have never seen a franchise built out of that first cinematic endeavor. No one would know that better than the writing duo of Neal Purvis and Robert Wade, who know what makes Bond special.

The James Bond writers, who've been part of the franchise since The World is Not Enough, recently spilled the beans at a BFI event (via Deadline) held in honor of this milestone anniversary. Robert Wade, in particular, weighed in on just what separated Terence Young’s 1962 spy thriller from the cinematic franchise at large, citing one key aspect as a start: 

As much as author Ian Fleming made an imprint on the world with his stories of espionage and deceit, the features adapted from the James Bond books helped change the world of cinema. As Robert Wade mentioned above, factors like the editing of Dr. No put the flick in a separate class of adventures. That legacy has only evolved through six decades of production, as 007 is always on the move to keep up with the politics and filmmaking of a given time period.

Just like Bond’s Walther PPK, the movie delivered thrills and excitement like a brick through the plate glass window of cinema. That tradition continues, especially through the pulse-pounding series of big-screen installments that make up the Daniel Craig's run of James Bond movies. Expounding on that claim, Robert Wade further explained how editing pulled together the following rich elements that would eventually become series hallmarks: 

Opinions on who makes for an ideal James Bond have always varied wildly throughout the fandom, and will continue to do so. What doesn’t change is that when it comes to the best 007 installments, it doesn’t matter when they were made, so long as they were made right. It’s a conversation we wouldn’t be having if Sean Connery's Dr. No stage fright hadn't been banished and in the process, allowed the movie to set the table so brilliantly 60 years ago. 

Dr. No, and the rest of the James Bond movie canon, are currently streaming in one convenient place. Yes, that includes No Time To Die, Spectre, and even the sometimes hard to stream For Your Eyes Only.  While you don’t need a tropical lair to watch 007 in action, you should definitely have a Prime Video subscription, as that’s where the action is. 

Bond, James Bond. A man who usually doesn’t need introduction, yet always finds his way into the right conversations. Created by Ian Fleming, and unveiled to the world with 1953’s Casino Royale, the original stories would eventually trigger a cinematic legacy that would lead to Daniel Craig becoming the most recent actor to embody the role.

But how does one watch the James Bond movies in order, especially since the lack of a 007 adventure on the 2024 movie schedule leaves us with all the time in the world to catch up? For some, this is a trivia question that kills every single time, especially whenever a new entry is added to the mix. 

With others, it’s a bit of a chore to remember whether Moonraker goes before or after The Spy Who Loved Me. As the world continues to wonder if Henry Cavill's Argylle gig affects his 007 chances, there's plenty of time to enlighten anyone who needs a refresher. No matter which group you fall into, let this handy guide help keep you on the straight and narrow, as you watch all of the 007 movies in order.

Where To Start With The James Bond Movies

Before we go through the entire James Bond legacy in order, it’s time to decide how you want to start your 007 journey. It's not like you can just jump into No Time To Die with your Prime Video subscription, and expect to know what's going on. The answer will depend on whether you’ve never seen a Bond movie before, or if you’re already familiar, but want a new experience. 

If You’ve Never Seen A James Bond Movie

Congratulations on deciding to watch the James Bond movies! Your first viewing experience can happen in one of two ways, and it all comes down to one factor: time. 

If you’re on a shortened schedule, or want to sample something closer to home before diving deeper, it’s recommended that you watch the entire Daniel Craig era of 007, from start to finish. However, if you have all the time in the world, then the obvious answer is to start from Dr. No and take the entire ride through No Time To Die. 

If You’ve Seen The James Bond Movies Already

Here’s where the fun really begins! Should you have already taken a spin in the James Bond universe, we’ve got a couple of special runs of 007 movies that tell a story. Further on down the line, you’ll be able to read about two special playlists, The SPECTRE Run and The Tracy Run, that tell their own stories throughout Bond history. 

We’ll save that fun for later, as right now all you need is the following rundown to dig into the complete history of James Bond. Let’s start driving down the path of every 007 adventure in order, starting with the era of Sean Connery! 

The Sean Connery James Bond Era (1962 - 1967)

The first actor to play the official EON Productions incarnation of James Bond, Sean Connery would occupy the tuxedo for the first five consecutive films. While he’d return for one more down the line, here’s what Connery’s original run consisted of:

Dr. No (1962)

Our cinematic introduction to James Bond. Dr. No sees the 007 investigating some strange events on a remote island in Jamaica, which could turn the tide of the space race.

From Russia With Love (1963)

On assignment in Istanbul, James must navigate what’s assuredly a SPECTRE trap. The prize is a Soviet encoding device known as the Lektor, with the lovely Tatiana Romanova (Daniella Bianchi) being used as bait, and the brutish Red Grant (Robert Shaw) poised to snap the trap and kill Bond. 

Goldfinger (1964)

When a gold obsessed madman (Gert Fröbe) plans an act of terrorism that’ll unbalance the world economy, it’s up to 007 to save the day. Teamed with unwilling partner Pussy Galore (Honor Blackman), James Bond will have to keep his head on straight if he means to keep it.

Thunderball (1965)

After hijacking two atomic bombs in the name of SPECTRE, bon vivant Emilio Largo (Adolfo Celi) helps his organization hold the world hostage. The Bahamas are soon the home to the showdown between Largo and James, with Emilio’s mistress Domino (Claudine Auger) playing her own part in the balance.

You Only Live Twice (1967)

James Bond is dead, long live James Bond! Faking his death to investigate the disappearance of several spacecraft, 007 finally meets his archnemesis: Ernst Stavro Blofeld (Donald Pleasence). 

If the James Bond series was the MCU, you could consider You Only Live Twice the Avengers: Infinity War of its day. Which only makes the next chapter even more exciting, as this first batch of serialized films leads to what’s arguably one of the best Bond movie ever…as well as one of the most debated entries. 

The George Lazenby James Bond Era/Sean Connery’s Return (1969 - 1971)

After Sean Connery left the role of James Bond during the production of You Only Live Twice, the hunt was on for a new 007. That search led to Australian model George Lazenby, who picked up the Wather PPK in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. 

On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969)

James Bond (George Lazenby) is in love! James Bond is in trouble! James Bond is in over his head, as his mission to foil another plot for world domination by Blofeld (Telly Savalas) intersects with a chance meeting with the love of his life, Countess Teresa ‘Tracy’ di Vicenzo (Dame Diana Rigg).

Diamonds Are Forever (1971)

After seemingly getting revenge against SPECTRE and its vicious Number One man, Bond (Sean Connery) uncovers a diamond smuggling ring that takes him from the canals of Amsterdam to the glitz of Las Vegas. But a past danger resurfaces, spelling danger for James and his companion, Tiffany Case (Jill St. John).

As you can see, a bump in the road between On Her Majesty’s Secret Service and Diamonds Are Forever led to a bit of a change up in leading men. With George Lazenby being convinced to leave the series after one movie, and Connery only returning for one last official go-around, the stage was set for the longest consecutive run any actor has ever had in the role.

The Roger Moore James Bond Era (1973 - 1985)

Previously known to the world as The Saint, Roger Moore’s era as James Bond ushered in a new dynamic. Gone was the cold blooded killer, and in his place was the Moore variant, who loved his quips as much as his clothes. 

Live And Let Die (1973)

Running afoul of a powerful drug kingpin (Yaphet Kotto) and romancing the clairvoyant who assists him (Jane Seymour), death might be in the cards for Commander Bond (Roger Moore) as he investigates the murder of several MI6 agents.

The Man With The Golden Gun (1974)

Francisco Scaramanga (Christopher Lee) is the best hired gun in the world. He can kill with one shot, thanks to his weapon of choice: a golden pistol. His latest target of choice: James Bond, 007. 

The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)

A shipping magnate (Curt Jürgens) wants to reboot humanity in his own, underwater utopia. It’s a plot so deadly, James Bond is forced to team up with an unexpected ally: Soviet operative Major Anya “XXX” Amasova (Barbara Bach).

Moonraker (1979)

Hugo Drax (Michael Lonsdale) has plans for the human race, and he’s putting things in motion among the stars. 007 goes above and beyond the atmosphere in an attempt to save the planet. 

For Your Eyes Only (1981)

A powerful missile system is about to be offered to the highest bidder by a shady smuggler (Julian Glover). A young woman (Caroline Munro) seeks vengeance for the death of her parents. In the midst of it all is James Bond, who must do what he can to prevent this dangerous sale, while mentoring his companion on the ways of revenge.

Octopussy (1983)

A nuclear bomb is being smuggled past the Iron Curtain and into the start of World War III. There’s no time to clown around, as 007 has to fend off a vicious prince in exile (Louis Jourdan), while trying to decide if he can trust the alluring smuggler known as Octopussy (Maud Adams).

A View To A Kill (1985)

Silicon Valley is in for a rude awakening, thanks to a charismatic baddie (Christopher Walken) and his right hand woman (Grace Jones) targeting the area for destruction. 

Despite taking his final few assignments at leisure, and scrapping the casting of James Brolin and Pierce Brosnan in the process, Sir Roger Moore is still the 007 with the most movies under his belt. His departure set a pretty high bar to beat for that record, and opened the door for a past candidate to return.

The Timothy Dalton James Bond Era (1987 - 1989)

If history had shaken out a bit differently, Timothy Dalton could have starred in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. Turning down the role because he felt too young, he would eventually land the gig when Pierce Brosnan’s all but announced casting was cancelled at the last minute. Instead, we got the Dalton duology of experimental Bond movies.

The Living Daylights (1987)

The defection of a KGB general (Jeroen Krabbé) to the West sends James Bond (Timothy Dalton) on the run with a beautiful cellist (Maryam d'Abo). Constantly questioning who he can trust in this dangerous game, no one is who they seem. 

License To Kill (1989)

A personal vendetta sees 007 resigning from active service, in order to get closer to a shrewd but nefarious drug dealer (Robert Davi).

Legal woes from the sale of MGM led to a delay in James Bond films so long, it saw Timothy Dalton’s contract expire. Declining to renew his license to kill, Dalton would exit the franchise with a couple unmade irons in the fire. As it turns out, that was the least of the worries for the higher ups.

The Pierce Brosnan James Bond Era (1995 - 2002)

The hunt for a new Bond, and the fall of the Soviet Union posed two large obstacles that this storied franchise would have to overcome. Thankfully, Pierce Brosnan’s 007 era was just about to kick off, and in grand fashion.  

Goldeneye (1995)

The theft of a top secret EMP satellite system threatens to plunge England into the dark ages. In order to win this battle, James Bond 007 (Pierce Brosnan) must match wits with the one person who knows him best: Alec Trevelyan 006 (Sean Bean).

Tomorrow Never Dies (1997)

War threatens to erupt between England and China, all thanks to a greedy newspaper baron (Jonathan Pryce) stirring the pot. The best agents from both sides must team together to save both of their governments, as James Bond teams with Colonel Wai Lin (Michelle Yeoh) to put an end to this deadly developing story.

The World Is Not Enough (1999)

Renard (Robert Carlyle) has a personal vendetta with Elektra King (Sophie Marceau), the daughter of an oil magnate he previously crossed paths with. 007 must dig into the past of M (Dame Judi Dench) to figure out why this madman has it out for Ms. King, and how he can beat a man who feels no pain. 

Die Another Day (2002)

Captured and interrogated by North Korea after a mission gone wrong, James Bond is determined to get to the bottom of a scheme that’ll shift the balance of power in the region. Working in the orbit of a CIA agent (Halle Berry), a fellow MI6 operative (Rosamund Pike), and a dangerously ambitious businessman (Toby Stephens), James is about to steal the shine off of some dangerous diamonds.

Pierce Brosnan’s four James Bond movies helped revitalize the legendary spy for a new era. Unfortunately, as Die Another Day’s reputation took a drubbing, and films like The Bourne Identity started to generate competition, producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson decided it was time for a reboot.

The Daniel Craig James Bond Era (2006 - 2021)

After Pierce Brosnan’s James Bond exit, a 007 for the 21st century needed to be found. With one of the most interesting Bond casting hunts ever, including candidates like Henry Cavill in the mix, Daniel Craig eventually found himself slipping on the tuxedo and throwing down for Queen and country. 

Casino Royale (2006)

Newly minted 00 agent James Bond (Daniel Craig) enters a high stakes game against a cruel card shark (Mads Mikkelsen) with deep pockets. While Bond loses his heart to a treasury agent (Eva Green), he also risks losing his life, and the cost is financial terrorism.

Quantum Of Solace (2008)

Shortly after the events of Casino Royale, 007 follows a trail of corruption and domination to a slimy businessman (Mathieu Amalric) with a secret. Teamed with a woman (Olga Kurylenko) bent on killing this man for vengeance, a greater game is revealed. 

Skyfall (2012)

The sins of M’s past come back to haunt her, as a disavowed MI6 asset (Javier Bardem) is looking to get a long awaited payback. James Bond’s most personal mission awaits, and not everyone is going to make it home alive.

Spectre (2015)

In the wake of Skyfall’s major finale, Bond continues to unravel the organization known as Quantum. The only problem is, what looked like a smaller scale operation is actually a world-spanning evil, run by James Bond’s most dangerous foe yet (Christoph Waltz).

No Time To Die (2021)

Seemingly retired after falling for Dr. Madeleine Swann (Léa Seydoux), James Bond is ready to let the past go. Such dangerous notions are never easy, especially when a new foe (Rami Malek) sets the stage for the explosive finale to the Daniel Craig era. 

The SPECTRE Run

As promised, we have two specialized playlists of Commander Bond’s adventures, which will come in handy for those who want a special experience. The SPECTRE Run is the first, as the following classic installments see 007 taking the fight to that shadowy organization.

A quick note before we begin: Goldfinger is omitted, as Auric Goldfinger has not been officially confirmed as a member of SPECTRE in the films. That in mind, here's the SPECTRE run of James Bond films: 

• Dr. No
• From Russia With Love
• Thunderball
• You Only Live Twice
• On Her Majesty's Secret Service
• Diamonds Are Forever
• For Your Eyes Only

If you want to extend this experience, you can also include the entire Daniel Craig era; but that’s optional as Casino Royale (2006) rebooted the continuity. Those newer movies don't even start out as following SPECTRE, and include a new version of the organization once it's folded in. That being said, since there’s a rough line of character history up until Pierce Brosnan’s era ends, this makes for an interesting viewing order.

The Tracy Run

Named after James Bond’s late wife Countess Teresa ‘Tracy’ di Vicenzo, The Tracy Run is proof that On Her Majesty’s Secret Service truly is one of the most influential entries. Starting with the courtship that brought the lovers together, and eventually tore them apart, this lineup is made up of movies that reference and draw upon that watershed heartbreak.

• On Her Majesty’s Secret Service
• For Your Eyes Only
• License To Kill
• Tomorrow Never Dies

At the time of this writing, we’re current with the 25 films and almost 60 years of James Bond history on the books. With Daniel Craig’s time as 007 officially ended, Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson are taking the time to decide where this next reinvention of the Bond legacy will go. 

Whenever that key decision is made, we’ll more than likely see a rocket sled of action fall into place. The next tuxedoed super spy to save the day will be introduced to the world, and a new chapter of Bond history will begin. No matter what happens, newcomers and veterans alike shouldn’t be too worried; because as always, James Bond will return. 

As we’re currently seeing in the world of James Bond movies, the road to casting the next 007 isn’t always smooth. Plenty of candidates tend to come into and fly out of frame, leaving tons of possible “what if” scenarios to discuss over time, long after a winner has been selected. Thanks to some recent remarks, another long-past piece of Bond history has come back into frame. This time it's all about Mel Gibson, and how Sean Connery was part of the reason he passed on playing Ian Fleming’s literary super spy. 

While promoting his latest film Bandit, Mel Gibson spoke with JoBlo about how he had the opportunity to step into 007’s legendary tuxedo. The world already knew that Gibson was previously considered for the role of James Bond, so that’s not really the shock here. Rather, as you’re about to read, the surprise was the reason that the Mad Max actor turned the part down: 

Strangely enough, this recent explanation varies from what Mel Gibson has said in the past. As one of the actors who almost played James Bond, previous interviews have seen Gibson state that he just wasn’t that interested in fighting for queen and country on the big screen. However, that tune has changed a bit it seems, with the eventual co-lead of the Lethal Weapon franchise looking at Sean Connery’s post-Bond career as a cautionary tale of sorts.

Making that point absurdly clear, the director of such films as Hacksaw Ridge further fleshed out his point of view. Adding some more historical context of where Sean Connery’s career was in the mid to late ‘80s, the Braveheart alum's choice seemed to include these factors as well:

At the time this offer seems to have been made, it looks like Peter Weir and Mel Gibson were hard at work making the 1981 film Gallipoli. With that time frame in mind, that means we could have seen him starting his hypothetical tenure, more than likely, with 1983’s Octopussy. This was the same movie that saw James Brolin cast as 007, as Roger Moore wasn’t under your typical long-haul Bond contract, and the hunt was supposedly on. 

Thinking back to that very story, it’s probably a good thing that the Oscar winner didn’t have his heart set on becoming James Bond. Just when the Roger Moore era of 007 looked like it was coming to an end, the actor returned for two more installments, leaving Brolin in the cold as he was about to move to London. 

While it may have looked like passing up a golden opportunity in its time, Mel Gibson’s rejection of the Bond mantle saved him some heartbreak. Then free for the iconic roles he’d eventually make his own, it wouldn't be long before he'd make his mark on the history of action spectacles. Eventually, both Lethal Weapon and Mad Max would become his signature franchises. All of which may not have happened, had he chosen to take on the role of 007.

History shook out the way that it did, and it’s part of why we can tell you that if you’re a Mel Gibson fan, you can catch his latest movie Bandit in theaters and on VOD. Should all of this James Bond talk inspire a need to go back to the classic adventures, or even Daniel Craig’s swan song No Time To Die, a good number of those movies are currently streaming. The only catch is, you’ll need a Prime Video subscription to really take advantage of such offerings.

Sir Sean Connery’s impact on the history of James Bond movies cannot be understated. The late actor originated the role of 007 himself, and to some, the Connery era of Bond is still the best incarnation of Ian Fleming’s character. It’s because of this contribution that the late actor has just received a massive James Bond honor, just in time for his birthday. 

Celebrating what would have been Sir Sean Connery’s 92nd birthday, it’s been unveiled that the Sean Connery Stage is being build over at Pinewood Studios. The announcement was reported through the 007 website, where news was unveiled that five new soundstages are being constructed on the studio’s lot. On hand to comment were two of Sean Connery’s children: his son, Jason, and his stepson, Stephane. Their statement read as follows: 

A legendary fixture in the James Bond legacy, Pinewood Studios was where Sean Connery shot all six of his outings as the suave spy. In addition to that location housing the 007 Stage that once held the record for the largest soundstage ever, almost all of the films in the franchise have filmed at one point or another at the studio. Just as Connery is an identifiable figure in the history of James Bond, Pinewood Studios is just as important when it comes to crafting those very films. 

Several key moments, like Sean Connery’s nerve-wracking introduction as James Bond in Dr. No, were committed to film on this very backlot. However, in the more modern era of 007 filmmaking, there have been incidents where the 007 stage has been damaged. One of the most recent cases happened when No Time To Die’s laboratory explosion left a crew member injured, in addition to the property damage. 

Whether these new soundstages are being built merely to add capacity to the lot or in a bid to perhaps give the 007 Stage some time to be refurbished before Bond 26’s 2024 shoot is unclear. No matter the reason, having a permanent fixture on the Pinewood Studios lot that honors Sir Sean Connery is something to celebrate. Many will surely be excited to see what film is the first to use this space to its advantage, whenever construction is complete. 

In the meantime, you can revisit all six of Sean Connery’s James Bond adventures, if you’re an Amazon Prime subscriber. Not only that, but almost all of the 007 films are available for streaming as well, should the mood strike you to enjoy even more of Commander Bond’s adventures.

Hindsight shows that the history of James Bond movies Sean Connery’s inaugural tenure as 007 was the shadow that would hang over all others that would follow. To this day, the first Bond is the best Bond to some fans, and those who’d argue against that can at least understand why it would be said. However, it wasn’t like the actor just showed up in a tuxedo and said, “Bond, James Bond” with no notes. 

How A Couple Of Drinks Helped Sean Connery Get Into 007 Character

The Express has newly resurfaced some remarks from past interviews with two of Connery’s Dr. No co-stars, which paints the picture of a very nervous actor. It was apparently up to actor Eunice Gayson, best known as Sylvia Trench in the first two 007 adventures, to remedy this stage fright. She revealed as much in the following story, from one of her final interviews in 2018: 

The cinematic incarnation of Ian Fleming’s James Bond was still a new prospect 60 years ago, even though Fleming had tried to adapt Moonraker before it would truly take off. The words “Bond, James Bond” set the tone for decades of movie magic, and by time Sean Connery got into the swing, the 007 fandom heated up accordingly. Which, according to another famous Bond co-star, was the furthest thing from the first impression Connery had made before filming.

Why Sean Connery Was Probably So Nervous While Filming Dr. No

There’s a pretty good reason why even Sean Connery had the living daylights scared out of him while making Dr. No. Lois Maxwell, the original Moneypenny herself, said as much in a 1986 interview with the Sydney Morning Herald. Recounting her first meeting with the legendary actor, and how he’d changed over the years, here’s how Maxwell measured Connery’s progression: 

Indeed, by the time the third Bond movie had arrived, the formula found its first major stride. Gadgets, girls, and gulps of martinis would permeate the films that followed the Sean Connery era of 007; along with those three iconic words.  More importantly, Sir Connery would find his voice as an actor, and go on to use it in the many iconic non-Bond roles he'd go on to play throughout his career.

Reading stories like this only puts a finer point on just how the James Bond series has changed over the decades. By the time Daniel Craig accepted the offer to play Bond, standard operating procedure had changed to the point where Craig got his drinks in before filming his introduction. While people criticize Commander Bond’s drinking, we should all toast the liquid refreshment of our choice to the fact that without Eunice Gayson taking Sean Connery out for drinks, we may never have had a reason to celebrate in the first place.

As the current word on the hunt for a new James Bond is non-existent, we’ll be waiting for some time to find out who gets to have the 007 experience next. In the meantime, there’s still plenty of upcoming spy movies and shows to keep things entertaining.  

If you’re a fan of Starz’s long-running series Outlander, you may look at Sam Heughan as the man born to play and perfectly embody the novel's Jamie Fraser. That may indeed be the truth of the matter now, but when author Diana Gabaldon was first writing the novels that the TV series is based on, she had some other famous actors in mind who could portray the leading man of the fantasy series if and when it went to live-action. Instead of keeping fans in the dark about such things, Gabaldon has now revealed some of the non-Heughan actors she had in mind. 

While Outlander has been a hit drama for Starz since 2014, the book series has been around a lot longer. The first book in the franchise, simply titled Outlander, was published in 1991 and had been shopped around as a potential film project long before a small-screen series was finally created for Starz. In an interview with Parade, Diana Gabaldon reveals that she had a young Sean Connery and Liam Neeson in mind for the role now played by Sam Heughan. Here’s how she put it:

Liam Neeson is obviously too old to portray Jamie Fraser now, even though the character does age up by quite a bit in his and Claire’s time apart, and Neeson is still quite spry. He would have been pretty close in age to what Sam Heughan is now at the time. But Sean Connery, who passed away last year, probably would have still been on the older side for Jamie, even 25 years ago. 

Sean Connery was 90 years old when he died, and the actor was portraying older characters with full heads of grey hair in the ‘90s, albeit with his acting chops certainly remaining fully intact. As dreamy as Connery was, I just can’t imagine him or Liam Neeson in Sam Heughan’s place within even the cinematic world of Outlander, even if Neeson was handling some prime rom-coms around that time (and may even be returning to the genre soon). 

What is interesting about Diana Gabaldon’s pick of Sir Sean Connery, though, is the perhaps obvious James Bond connection that actually has a decent chance at happening between Connery and current Outlander star Sam Heughan. Heughan is near the top of the list of potential replacements for Daniel Craig's Bond, so if he does end up nabbing the title of 007, he’ll be following in Connery’s footsteps as a Scottish James Bond. 

As great as all three of the actors look in a kilt, I’m certainly happy with the fact that an Outlander film never happened and we were graced with Sam Heughan as our Jamie Fraser, even if the actor himself may have thought twice about the role. Season 6 of Outlander will premiere on Starz in March. It will be a shortened season, but honestly I’d be happy with any bone Outlander wants to throw me.

At this time in the history of James Bond, celebration is in order, as No Time To Die has been released around the world. The fifth and final film for Daniel Craig’s Bond, the movie has been the primary focus of producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson, as well as everyone else over at Bond HQ. We’re still going to have to wait some time for the next 007 to be selected, but in the wake of the new film's release, today is the perfect time to celebrate the first time Sean Connery stepped into those cinematic shoes. 

It was this day, November 3, in 1961 that Bond producers Albert R. Broccoli and Harry Saltzman announced that Dr. No would star Sean Connery as the very first big screen version of Ian Fleming's James Bond. Though others were considered for the role before Connery's casting, and a 1953 television adaptation of Casino Royale technically marks the very first Bond depiction in filmed media, today was the day that cinema’s 007 landed his first actor. A reminder of this historic date came from the official 007 Twitter, as you’ll see below: 

The total history of the James Bond franchise is absolutely wild, especially considering some of the earlier pitches to kick things off. Initially, one of the most intriguing ideas was to adapt Thunderball with Alfred Hitchcock directing and Cary Grant starring as 007. But history would see that plan scrapped, making way for Dr. No with Sean Connery and director Terence Young starting things off.

As the success of the James Bond franchise grew through Sean Connery’s first five films, it was clear the man was going to be a hard act to follow. Leaving the franchise before 1969’s On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, Connery would be enticed back to the role of 007 three more times throughout his life. Due to the public reception of George Lazenby's only entry being quite disastrous at the time, the door was open for Sir Connery to make several appearances as Bond once again.

Sean Connery's final official entry was 1971’s Diamonds Are Forever, which saw the actor bid a fond farewell to 007 in the EON Productions canon. Later, he would play James Bond in 1983’s unofficial remake of Thunderball, entitled Never Say Never Again, marking his final cinematic outing in the fabled tuxedo. Connery's final “final performance” as James Bond came when EA Games brought him in as the voice of James Bond for 2005's official video game adaptation of From Russia, With Love. 

2022 marks the 60th anniversary of the UK release of Dr. No, which means that this is literally the beginning of the festivities. There will be more chances to raise your cocktail of choice (martinis encouraged) to the history of 007, especially with a new book on the way from author Anthony Horowitz. And according to Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson, the music of the franchise is the first topic of celebration that the folks at EON Productions have in mind for their official commemoration.

But, of course, even with his literary fame preceding his cinematic glory, James Bond probably wouldn’t be as big of a deal without Sean Connery. Laying the foundation for the character to become a fixture in all sorts of media, there’s a good number of fans that still claim nobody’s done it better. So for today, let’s toast the late Sir Sean Connery and his vital role in making Bond, James Bond a household name.

Meanwhile, for those of you who haven’t seen No Time To Die, and have gracefully avoided the twists, the movie is more than likely in a theater near you. But if you’re looking to enjoy some spoiler-free fun with the cast, that can be arranged as well. Last but not least, if you’re looking to the future, you can seek out the remainder of the 2021 movies that await you in between now and the end of December.

The following contains MAJOR SPOILERS for No Time to Die.

No Time to Die is finally here, and with it, Daniel Craig’s tenure as James Bond has come to an end. It’s a bittersweet moment because by and large, people were a fan of Craig in the role. Despite some missteps, he came in on a high, and he appears to be going out that way as well.

Of course, the particular way that Daniel Craig said goodbye to James Bond is likely something fans will be debating and discussing for not just the next several weeks, but the next several years. It was a huge move to literally kill off the character. And yet, the end credits assured us that James Bond will return.

How he might return, especially since Craig’s Bond is now dead, is anybody’s guess, but I think this is the perfect opportunity to do something potentially as radical as kill off James Bond. It’s time to consider remaking the Ian Fleming books as brand-new movies.

James Bond Has Been Almost Entirely Off The Page For Decades

While Casino Royale was where Daniel Craig started his tenure as James Bond, it’s the only movie based on an Ian Fleming book in decades. Technically Daniel Craig’s Quantum of Solace borrows its title from an Ian Fleming short story, but the title is the only thing that get adapted.  

Discounting Casino Royale, it’s been almost 35 years since the last James Bond movie truly based on an Ian Fleming novel was made into a movie with 1987’s The Living Daylights, and almost 60 years since Dr. No became the first James Bond movie in the ongoing franchise. 

For a long time, there were rumors that No Time To Die was going to be a remake of Dr. No, and while it’s easy to see where that idea came from after seeing the movie, it was an idea that a lot of people seemed to like. 

We love James Bond, but the reason that many of us do is that we were introduced to the character through one of those older movies. Even if your first big screen James Bond was Daniel Craig or Pierce Brosnan or even Timothy Dalton, you probably saw Sean Connery or Roger Moore on TV first.

We Can Look At Classic James Bond Through A Modern Lens 

For better or worse, we are in the age of the reboot and the remake. It’s something that audiences generally gravitate towards, as we like what we are already familiar with. Remakes get a lot of flack, but there’s nothing inherently wrong with remakes. If they bring something new to the table, that can be an interesting and unique reexamination of the material, and that’s where a new James Bond franchise could go.

Whatever Eon Productions decides to do with James Bond as a character, if we assume that any future movies are set in the modern day, then transforming the classic Ian Fleming stories into new movies doesn’t just give a filmmaking team a chance to do something new with the book, but it gives these movies a chance to update the previous adaptations. 

While there’s nothing wrong with liking the original James Bond movies, they are certainly from another time. And considering how much Hollywood really likes to remake movies, it seems almost certain that remakes of those movies will come one day. With James Bond looking to start over in some way, there’s really no better time. 

And if we’re being honest, while it’s impossible to look back at those early films without nostalgia goggles on, the fact is that for every one of them that’s legitimately good, there’s another that just isn’t great. Taking another swing at some of them wouldn’t be a bad idea because even without updating them for the modern day, just making them better would be a worthwhile exercise. 

Early James Bond Is Not Sacred 

If there’s one thing that the modern reboot/remake focus of Hollywood has shown us, it’s that none of it actually “destroys your childhood.” If you didn’t like the Ghostbusters reboot, that’s fine. The original one still exists and you can watch it as often as you like. Whatever your opinion of the Star Wars Sequel Trilogy, there is plenty more Star Wars content out there that you can still enjoy.

And the same is true with James Bond. Remaking Goldfinger doesn’t actually change the quality of Sean Connery’s Goldfinger any more than Austin Powers in Goldmember did. If the remake happens and it’s not great, we still have the original. And if it turns out to be good, then there are two great cinematic versions of Goldfinger.

The first five people to play James Bond continued the character in a nearly endless forward progression. While Daniel Craig’s version of the character was essentially a reboot, giving us the first on-screen origin story for the character, Craig was also the first to give us a real ending for Bond.

And yet, James Bond will return. James Bond should move forward. Future stories should update the character in some way. But there’s no reason the future of Bond can’t also look back. Those original Ian Fleming stories captivated readers and moviegoers alike for a long time for a reason. They’re good stories. Theft shouldn’t be completely off the table.

I’m not saying the next dozen James Bond movies need to be the first dozen James Bond movies all over again. If somebody has an original idea that would make for a good James Bond adventure, by all means, it should be made. If we do go back to a more episodic structure for Bond following Daniel Craig, we can do both, jumping between originals and remakes as the spirit takes us.

Of course, the original Bond novels did have continuity between them, so there’s no reason we couldn’t get a new James Bond and still have a multi-movie adventure just like the one we just finished up. We’d almost certainly need multiple James Bonds to do it, unless somebody wanted to tackle James Bond like they did the Harry Potter film series and start making them one after the other.

I don’t know what’s next for James Bond. At this point, it’s unclear if the producers even know what they’re going to do next. But whatever the future holds, with some sort of reboot on the horizon, maybe it’s time to truly start over at the beginning.

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James Bond’s cinematic legacy will always owe an amazing debt to the man who helped put 007 on the map: the late Sir Sean Connery. Originating the role in 1962’s Dr. No, Connery would leave his everlasting stamp through six official EON Productions films, and even reprise the role outside of the official canon. But perhaps the greatest signal of how much Sean Connery meant to the James Bond franchise is the fact that, in the case of two modern Bond entries, there were ideas regarding how to try and bring the first Bond back into the fold.

What’s even wilder than the fact that both 2002’s Die Another Day and 2012’s Skyfall tried to get Sir Sean Connery to play some rather interesting cameos are the concepts for those random appearances that would have seen him return. Naturally, none of these concepts came to pass, and one is purely a rumor that persisted through the power of popular retelling, but these pitches would have been pretty huge shifts in the 007 canon. Before we go too far, let’s discuss how Sean Connery’s time as James Bond came to an end.

The Last Official James Bond Movie To Star Sean Connery

If we’re going by the official EON Productions timeline of James Bond films, Sir Sean Connery’s final performance as 007 was in 1971’s Diamonds Are Forever. With the disappointment in box office grosses surrounding On Her Majesty’s Secret Service hanging in the air, as well as the departure of George Lazenby from the role of James Bond, Connery was invited to come back for one last go, but not before trying to lure in some other potential replacements, such as Clint Eastwood and Adam West.

Eventually, the decision was made to seek out Sean Connery, with the decision to offer him pretty much a blank check as compensation. The actor would agree to return, donating his entire salary for the film to founding the Scottish International Education Trust. Diamonds Are Forever was supposed to be the final appearance of Connery in the role of James Bond, as he said he’d never return to the role again after that point. History, and the entire title of his absolutely final James Bond movie, tell the truth behind that very notion.

The Last Time Sean Connery Played James Bond, Non-Canonically

After winning the rights to both the SPECTRE organization, as well as the character of Ernst Stavro Blofeld, writer/producer Kevin McClory tried to remake the story of Thunderball on a couple of occasions. And the one time it actually happened was with 1983’s Never Say Never Again. Competing with an official James Bond film in that very year, as Roger Moore’s Octopussy was also releasing in that same year, the non-EON 007 film might have been a token of revenge against the franchise proper, seeing as Blofeld was unceremoniously killed in the pre-title sequence of 1981’s For Your Eyes Only.

While Never Say Never Again was the absolutely final theatrical endeavor that Sir Sean Connery would play James Bond in, one obscure performance lost to time would mark the last time the actor would ever deliver the line “Bond, James Bond” on camera. Per an item from author Mark Edlitz’s The Lost Adventures of James Bond, his interview with director Jeremiah Chechik pegs the production of the 1998 film The Avengers as the last time Sir Sean Connery would ever embody the role of 007. Filmed as a birthday greeting for future James Bond franchise actor/previous contender for the role Ralph Fiennes, no one outside of the production has seen that moment. If it were up to the people that made, or even hinted, at the attempts we’re about to recount though, history would have been extremely different.

Attempt #1: Die Another Day (2002)

To celebrate the 20th James Bond film, as well as the 40th anniversary of the cinematic franchise, Die Another Day was the source of two different stories that had Sean Connery potentially returning to the 007 canon. Both stories are wildly different, and one is easier to confirm than the other, but these twin tales of cameos that could have been still persist in pop culture history to this day. Starting off this chapter is the rumor that would have Connery playing a really interesting role related to Pierce Brosnan’s James Bond.

The Rumor - Double-Oh Daddy?

A rumor that stretches as far back as the production phase of Die Another Day, I can still remember hearing the whispers that Sean Connery had come back to play a unique cameo that would have broken minds as quickly as it broke official James Bond canon. The big scuttlebutt surrounding Sir Connery’s potential return to EON Productions canon, as reported by MovieHole, was that the legendary actor had returned in the role of James Bond’s father through a scene that was alleged to have been filmed, but cut. Which would have been really cool, except for two big caveats: in Ian Fleming’s canon, James’s father Andrew died when he was 11; and in the canon of reality, this cameo never happened.

Thanks to a television news report that supposedly broke the news during production, Die Another Day had this rather mythic sized rumor attached to its history. But the debunking would eventually come, leaving this supposed happening in the dustbin of speculation. As listed in the IMDb trivia for the film, franchise producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli put this rumor to rest, stating that it would have been a waste of time and money to be sitting on a cameo from Sir Sean Connery. Though, in the world of Die Another Day's official production, there was one attempt that was actually revealed from official channels.

The Reality - The Codename Theory Endures

While the rather paternal-sounding cameo for Die Another Day was never filmed and likely never even originated from the official production, Sir Sean Connery was kept in mind by someone else very close to the movie’s genesis. Director Lee Tamahori admitted in a 2002 interview with Total Film (via CBR) that he’d actually had plans for how Connery could have returned. In his explanation for what would have happened in his proposed version of events, Tamahori pushed the following fan favorite scenario:

Now this idea is way more plausible than the fatherly cameo Sir Sean Connery was supposedly going to be involved in. As we’re about to see in No Time To Die, the 007 code number can be handed off to someone else, much as it has been assigned to Lashawna Lynch’s Nomi in James Bond’s absence. However, seeing as Pierce Brosnan’s Bond was still part of the loose continuity that the classic run of films had maintained, this would have been a potential confirmation of the fan favorite theory that “James Bond” is a codename, and not an actual identity. So if I was to guess as to why this cameo was shot down, it was probably for the name, not the number, associated with the 007 legacy.

Attempt #2: Skyfall (2012)

It seems like this sort of thing always takes place during a benchmark anniversary for the James Bond series. Add another 10 years to the calendar, and Sir Sean Connery’s name is going to come up as a way to celebrate his part of that iconic legacy. Director Sam Mendes copped to his own scenario of bringing Mr. Connery back for a big cameo, as the 50th anniversary of 007's history saw Skyfall releasing into theaters. As Mendes previously told The Huffington Post in an interview promoting the 23rd James Bond film, talks were indeed had to try and coax the then retired actor out into playing a part in ushering in another era of the series he helped create:

Allegedly, Sir Sean Connery was to be recruited to play a role similar to that of Kincade, the groundskeeper of James Bond’s ancestral home, and the source of the film’s title. That part was played in the finished film by the legendary Albert Finney, and the sardonic fixture from Bond’s past was supposedly rewritten, after another interesting twist of the tale; one that felt like it would have revisited a familiar theory yet again.

This comes from a later report from Den of Geek, in which sources claiming to be close to Skyfall’s production had said that Sean Connery had gone as far as rehearsing the scene on camera, but due to “ill health,” he had to back out entirely. If this incarnation had come to pass, he would have been playing someone heavily implied to be a former 00 agent, and should the report above be accurate, former Bonds George Lazenby and Timothy Dalton were also offered the role, before the big rewrite. If anything should be taken from this scenario, it’s the following: writers should stop trying to make the “James Bond is a codename” theory happen.

Would a cameo from Sir Sean Connery have been uber-distracting and just as confusing to the James Bond continuity? It absolutely would have, as the various scenarios mentioned would have shaken and stirred audiences. But would a Connery appearance in Die Another Day or Skyfall been something really cool to behold? More than likely, yes. With his later years seeing him retire from film acting after The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, the constant talk of trying to get Sean Connery out of retirement was something fans were really hopeful about. But unfortunately for them, neither James Bond, nor Henry Jones Sr. were enough to get the Scottish legend to get back to the movies. At least, that depends on how true the history we’ve just discussed turns out to be in the long run.

Throughout almost 60 years of action and adventure, Ian Fleming’s 007 has introduced himself with one iconic phrase: “Bond, James Bond.” A calling card that has seen the super spy work his way into danger, pleasure and anything else on behalf of Her Majesty’s secret service, it’s often imitated, but rarely perfected. And depending on who you ask, nobody did it better than Sean Connery, who first uttered those words on this very date in 1962.

While we’re still waiting for No Time To Die to land in theaters, it’s good to take stock of the moments that have made James Bond’s cinematic legacy a memorable force of cinema. And I’m not the only one that feels that way, as the folks running the 007 Instagram account have been keen on pointing out key moments in Bond history as they’ve come up. Which leads to today’s red letter day, as it gave us the line that six actors have each made their own through the 24 James Bond movies that have been released so far, as you’ll see below:

James Bond fans can tell you that there are many hallmarks to what make the character so memorable, and certain dialogue flourishes are part of the formula that’s persisted through EON Productions’ clockwork catalog. Always sharply dressed, you can practically expect James Bond to order his martinis “shaken, not stirred,” and to use his name as the ultimate calling card. Though these traditions have still found a way to be reinvented throughout time.

In particular, when 2006’s Casino Royale played around with introducing 007, his drink order is thrown off in a crass moment where James Bond clashes with a bartender.

Rather than letting Daniel Craig’s still in-training agent introduce himself to just anyone with his signature line, we see the moment saved for the very end of director Martin Campbell’s film. Just as Bond is ready to bring the infamous Mr. White in for questioning in the name of getting to the root of the crime syndicate that authored all of his pain, Craig gets to drop the hammer and end Casino Royale in the best way possible. It’s a moment that still plays almost 15 years after first observing it:

Still, no matter who you think the best James Bond actor happens to be, Sean Connery’s initial performance as Ian Fleming’s masterpiece cannot be denied as a benchmark that the series, intentionally or not, would be measured up against. Whether your favorite 007 happens to be a swaggering humorist like Roger Moore, a deadly serious chap like George Lazenby, Timothy Dalton and Daniel Craig, or a mix of both worlds like Pierce Brosnan, they have all tipped their hats at one point or another to the Connery legacy. Let’s all raise our glasses, shaken, stirred, or just chilled, and toast James Bond’s legendary catchphrase; as this is one of those anniversaries 007 fans just have to celebrate.

Sean Connery’s death was a cause for mourning for cinephiles around the world. Now, we have learned the cause of the iconic actor's death -- pneumonia, heart failure, and other issues that resulted from old age.

News first broke that Sean Connery had passed away on October 31, 2020 at his home in the Bahamas. It was initially reported that he had been “unwell for some time.” TMZ has now obtained his death certificate, which lists the official cause as respiratory failure. The death certificate attributes the respiratory failure to a combination of pneumonia, old age, and atrial fibrillation, a condition which can cause irregular heartbeats, heart failure or stroke.

Sean Connery was 90 years old when he died. In the days following his death, Sean Connery’s widow Micheline Roquebrune, announced that he had died peacefully in his sleep and that his final wishes were to have his ashes scattered both in The Bahamas and in Scotland, where he was born in 1930. Fans from all over the world, including Daniel Craig and former co-star Harrison Ford, paid their condolences and reminisced about his remarkable film career.

He appeared in dozens of films and television series in a career that spanned six decades. After getting his start as a stage actor in his native Edinburgh, Sean Connery made his film debut in 1957. In the subsequent decades, he earned a reputation as a charming leading man and starred in multiple film franchises -- most notably Indiana Jones and of course, as Bond, James Bond.

While some actors can get pigeonholed into a specific kind of role, especially if it’s one as iconic as 007, Sean Connery made it a point to seek out a wide range of films. He starred in blockbusters like The Hunt For Red October and The Rock, fantasies like Dragonheart, and thrillers like Alfred Hitchcock’s Marnie. He even won an Academy Award for his supporting role in The Untouchables.

Sean Connery’s death certificate listed his occupation as “Retired actor.” However, he was such an iconic part of film history that the sadness we felt at his loss wasn’t lessened by the fact that he hadn’t appeared on screen in close to two decades.

After 2003’s League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, he contributed to only two more film projects -- though he did once say he’d consider coming out of retirement for another Indiana Jones film. He leant his voice for the titular character in the animated film Sir Billi and served as narrator for the documentary Ever to Excel. Both films were released in 2012.

Sean Connery’s legacy in Hollywood is far from over, though. Shortly after his death, it was reported that a TV adaptation of his film Finding Forrester is being planned. Keep it here at CinemaBlend for more news from the world of movies and TV.

Hollywood was saddened to hear of the passing of the legendary Sean Connery, who died at the age of 90 following a battle with dementia. The news was followed by a stream of tributes from former stars like Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford. While Connery may be gone, his impact will continue to be felt through his extensive body of work. And it would appear that this legacy will be expanding, as one of his final films is being adapted into a television series.

NBC is currently working on a small-screen adaptation of Gus Van Sant’s Finding Forrester, which originally opened in theaters back in 2000. According to Deadline, the show is being developed by TJ Brady and Rasheed Newson, who are both known for their work on Showtime’s The Chi. The show has also tapped a director in Barbershop and Fantastic Four’s Tim Story. The project is also being produced by NBA star Stephen Curry and his Unanimous Media production banner, which is steadily gaining some high-profile credits.

The original Finding Forrester starred Rob Brown as a Black teen who’s gifted at basketball but has a hidden talent for writing. After receiving a scholarship from a prestigious private high school, he crosses paths with a reclusive Scottish writer (Sean Connery) and forms a bond with him and the man schools him in the art of writing.

Ultimately, the 2000 film went onto gross over $80 million at the box office. It also received mostly positive reviews from critics and has become a fan-favorite film among fans of Sean Connery.

Although the new show will borrow from the original film, it will reportedly alter Connery’s character. The series will center on two, gifted Black writers, one being a homeless orphan who parlays his basketball skills into a ticket to a prestigious boarding school. The other main character is a lesbian author who has been reclusive since her career was destroyed by a public scandal.

Finding Forrester is part of a growing trend that’s seeing classic films being revamped into TV series. As of right now, small-screen adaptations of movies like The Sandlot, Conan the Barbarian, A League of Their Own and Snowpiercer are either in development or are already airing. While Forrester is a fine film on its own, the premise of the show, at the very least, seems interesting. Brady and Newson have handled dramatic stories with The Chi, so this appears to be right up their alley.

It remains to be seen how things pan out for the show, but it certainly has potential. Hopefully, it will able to pay tribute to Sean Connery, Rob Brown, and Gus Van Sant’s work all while charting out a new path for itself.

And before you check out the reboot, be sure to check out Finding Forrester, which is currently streaming for free on Amazon Prime.

With the sad news that Sean Connery passed away at the age of 90, I was suddenly struck by all his performances that made an impression on me. While many would likely point to his time as James Bond as his most influential work, I grew up watching him play Henry Jones in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade on repeat. He had so many great moments in that film, many of which still bring a smile to my face. So, in honor of his legacy, here are some of my favorites.

Henry Jones Bashing Indiana Jones Over The Head With A Vase

About a quarter of the way into the movie, Indiana Jones has reached the castle on the Austrian and German border where his father, Sean Connery's Dr. Henry Jones, is being held. Indy finds a way in by swinging across a rooftop and crashing through a window. Henry Jones, believing it to be “one of them,” takes a vase and bashes it over Indiana Jones’ head.

What’s great about this moment is when Sean Connery starts analyzing the vase rather than his own son’s head. He’s distraught that he ruined a 14th century Ming Dynasty historical vase before being relieved that it’s a fake, not caring much about his son’s injured head. This is a perfect setup to their relationship, with great dialogue thanks to Tom Stoppard. But Sean Connery’s performance as a distant father and a scholar more concerned for historical antiquities is brilliant. He establishes both the humor of the character, but also how seriously he takes his area of study.

Indiana Jones Realizing Henry Jones Had Also Slept With Dr. Elsa Schneider

Shortly after Indiana Jones is betrayed by Dr. Elsa Schneider, he confronts his dad and says, “How did you know she was a Nazi?” Calm and controlled, Henry Jones replies, “She talks in her sleep.” It doesn’t take Indiana Jones long to figure out what that means.

It’s fair to say this is one of the more awkward moments in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Still, Sean Connery’s casual and unashamed performance makes it humorous and reveals another small side to his character. I also can’t help but wonder if this is a nudge-nudge moment to Sean Connery’s time playing James Bond.

Henry Jones Gasping In Shock At Indiana Jones Killing Nazis

Not long after Indiana Jones comes to rescue his dad, several Nazis enter with machine guns, demanding they hand over Henry Jones’ Grail Diary. Henry Jones scoffs, mocking the Nazis for believing Indiana Jones would be stupid enough to bring the diary all the way back. Of course, Indiana Jones did just that. But, instead of handing it over, Indiana Jones seizes a machine gun and guns down the Nazis. Henry Jones, in absolute shock, says, “Look what you did. I can’t believe what you did.”

This sets up a clever juxtaposition between Henry Jones and Indiana Jones, one against violence and the other perfectly fine with it. But, it’s really Sean Connery’s gasps of surprise and his fatherly disapproval that sells this dynamic in their relationship. The way he expresses it, you can just imagine he still sees Indiana Jones as the young boy he raised, not the adult man who kills people.

Henry Jones Not Understanding Why Indiana Jones Won’t Get In The Boat

In this scene, Indiana Jones and Henry Jones are on the run from Nazis, having just escaped the castle. Indiana Jones sees a boat and says, “Great, more boats.” He gets in a boat and starts it up, looking like he’s going to get away in it. He doesn’t, though. As the boat floats away, Henry Jones says, “What about the boat? We’re not going on the boat?”

This is a small, yet funny moment that highlights an important part of their relationship. Sean Connery's character is kind of a helpless child at this point, which is slightly antithetical to his former roles as an action star. He doesn't really know what's going on and is following his son's lead. Sean Connery performs this humorous role effortlessly and with great aplomb.

Henry Jones Looking Displeased With His Son’s Reckless Driving

The motorcycle chase scene ranks pretty high as one of my favorites in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. It’s fast-paced, exciting and you get to see Indiana Jones joust with a Nazi. You may not have noticed it, but that’s not really why the motorcycle chase scene is so good. It’s, again, because of Sean Connery’s killer performance as Henry Jones.

In the scene, Indiana Jones is having the time of his life while Henry Jones sits in the sidecar. Henry Jones is not happy and every time Indiana looks at him with a smile on his face, Henry Jones gives him a scowl. Anyone can do a motorcycle chase scene. Not everyone can use a scene like that to propel the relationship of two characters without saying much of anything, and that's in large part thanks to Sean Connery’s performance. Only moments before, Sean Connery was the helpless child playing for comedic relief, but now that's changed. He's the disappointed father, unimpressed by his son's reckless violence. Sean Connery may also have been a bit nervous with Harrison Ford’s driving in real life, which could have bled into the performance.

Henry Jones Asking Indiana Jones What They Should Talk About

After several exhilarating and action-packed events, Indiana Jones gets a quiet moment with Henry Jones. They’re on a zeppelin having dinner when Indiana Jones airs some of his grievances with Henry Jones’ parenting. So, to deflate Indiana’s complaining, Henry Jones simply asks, “What do you want to talk about?” Indiana Jones is speechless.

This moment itself is perfect, highlighting an all-too-common dysfunction between fathers and sons. But there’s something about the way Sean Connery delivers that line that makes the moment so much better. Any other way to deliver that line and it doesn’t have the same impact, but leave it to Sean Connery to give it something a little more.

Henry Jones Having No Idea What He’s Doing Inside A Cockpit

Henry Jones is a scholar, not a fighter. This is clear when he doesn’t know what “eleven o’clock” means and grabs the machine gun and starts firing all over, missing every time and shooting their plane’s tail by mistake. Without skipping a beat, he turns to Indiana Jones and says, “Son, I’m sorry. They got us.”

What’s interesting at this moment isn’t just the humor, but also the slight character change. Up to this point, Henry Jones had been mildly antagonistic to Indiana Jones, pushing back and challenging him. But suddenly, Henry Jones doesn’t want to let his son down and shows that by blaming it on the enemy instead.

Henry Jones Destroying A Plane With An Umbrella And Some Birds

Indiana Jones and Henry Jones are on the beach. Indiana Jones is out of bullets and a Nazi fighter plane is headed straight toward them. Suddenly, Henry Jones has a revelation, taking his umbrella and using it to scare the flock of seagulls on the beach. The scurry of birds takes to the skies, resulting in the plane being destroyed.

From Sean Connery’s “tooktooktook” sound he makes to scare the birds to his casual stroll back to Indiana after his victory, the moment is pure and powerful thanks to Sean Connery’s performance. Sean Connery basks in the victory by cheerfully saying to Indiana Jones, “I suddenly remembered my Charlemagne. ‘Let my armies be the rocks and the trees and the birds in the sky.’”

Henry Jones Thinking His Son Is Dead

Indiana Jones and the goose-stepping Nazi known as Vogel fight on top of a tank headed straight for a cliff. The tank careens over the edge, plummeting Vogel to his death and taking Indiana Jones with him. Henry Jones and the others look over the edge, believing Indy had died. In this emotional moment, Henry Jones says, “I lost him and I never told him anything…” But shortly after, Indiana Jones climbs to the surface and joins them. With surprising joy, Henry Jones embraces his son and says, “I thought I’d lost you, boy.”

This is the ultimate turn for these two characters. It took Indiana Jones’ possible death to reveal to Henry Jones’ failures as a father. Sean Connery’s authentic, emotional and convincing performance strikes a perfect balance. From the shock on his face to the horror in his voice and the dread you can hear in each word, Sean Connery nails this moment. It still gives me chills, and I’ve re-watched it countless times.

Henry Jones Reasoning With His Son

After Dr. Schneider takes the Holy Grail and crosses the seal, a chasm opens, causing her to plummet to her death. Indiana Jones falls too, but Henry Jones grabs him by the hand. Indiana Jones believes he can grab the Grail, but Henry Jones pleads with him for his other hand. Up to this point, Henry Jones had been calling him Junior, but in this emotional scene, he calls him Indiana, convincing him to let the Grail go.

This is undoubtedly one of the best scenes in the movie, fully completing Henry Jones’ arc from a distant father to a loving one. And again, Sean Connery takes it over the finish line with a calm, serene look on his face and a warm, fatherly tone in his voice when he says, “Indiana.” And that’s all he needs to say to his son to convince him that the Grail doesn’t matter anymore. It’s the one thing Sean Connery’s character ever wanted, but instead, he chose his son.

Sean Connery is so solid in this movie, and in some ways, he saves it from being “just another Indiana Jones” movie. It also helps that he and Harrison Ford had wonderful chemistry. It’s a shame that he hadn’t returned for another installment. There are countless moments, both big and small, for Sean Connery in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. I chose the ones that have always stuck out to me, but which moments have mattered most to you? Let us know in the comments!

Legendary actor Sean Connery passed away last week at the age of 90. The actor, known for his role in the James Bond franchise and who won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in The Untouchables, left quite a legacy. Now, with his passing, Sean Connery’s widow has revealed his final wish.

In his retirement, Sean Connery had been living at his home in the Bahamas, a fitting place for the late James Bond actor. It was there that he reportedly died peacefully in his sleep. According to Metro, Sean Connery’s wife of 40-years Micheline Roquebrune said his final wish was to have these ashes divided and scattered in two places. Here’s what she said:

Before this, Sean Connery’s widow also shared a little bit about the state of his health before his passing. Reportedly, the last few months of his life he had been dealing with dementia, and his health drastically deteriorated. She said he got his wish to “slip away without a fuss.”

Sean Connery had gone into retirement after the 2003 movie The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. While some major actors don’t usually retire from the movies, Connery seemed committed to the decision and stayed mostly away from Hollywood. Though he admitted that if there was one movie to pull him back in, it would have been an Indiana Jones film.

It sounds like Harrison Ford would have also loved to have Sean Connery come back for an Indiana Jones film. The Indiana Jones actor paid tribute to Sean Connery recently, recalling how they had fun on set and how it was a true pleasure to drive him around in a “Russian motorcycle.”

Harrison Ford isn’t the only one, of course, to pay tribute. Stories have been pouring in from those that worked with him and those that admired him. Director Michael Bay, in particular, told a funny story about how The Rock’s budget was being cut, and when Sean Connery heard about it, he stepped in, demanding more money and saying Michael Bay was doing a phenomenal job.

Though he’s also done phenomenal work himself throughout his career, his role as James Bond may be what he’s most remembered for, even though his career is so much more than that. But without a doubt he laid the groundwork for the James Bond franchise moving forward. Now, after so many great accomplishments, the late Scottish actor can hopefully rest in peace with his last wish realized by his family.

Shortly after Sean Connery died, we ran a feature on the site going over all of the roles that made the actor an icon (outside of the James Bond franchise). The more that you stopped and thought about Connery’s on-screen accomplishments, the more it cemented his status as a Hollywood legend. I mean, the dude waltzed into the Indiana Jones franchise – when Harrison Ford was at the peak of his coolness – and stole the show away from his fellow A-lister. That takes levels of talent most of us just don’t possess.

One such memorable role on Sean Connery’s resume would be that of Jim Malone in Brian De Palma’s gangster saga The Untouchables. Talk about a Murderer’s Row of talent. De Palma cast Robert De Niro as larger than life Chicago criminal Al Capone, then set Connery, Andy Garcia and Kevin Costner as the team that would bring him to justice. Costner recently shared his thoughts regarding Connery’s passing on Twitter, stating:

This coming from a Movie Star like Kevin Costner carries a great deal of weight. Similar to Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Connery was meant to be support to the lead. Costner was cast as Elliot Ness, for God’s sake. The man who takes down Capone. But you don’t add Sean Connery in a supporting role. You cast him, and then you get the hell out of the way, so he can make your picture better.

Kevin Costner tells two sweet stories about Sean Connery on this segment of The Rich Eisen Show in 2018, calling Conner “the real deal.” It’s worth a watch.

It’s so cool to see one movie star honoring another. It’s easy to forget that the stars we flock to see on the big screen started out as fans like us, and they had celebrities and actors who they deeply admired… and got a little star truck once they got to be around them, or even work with them.

There’s a humble honesty to Costner saying in his Tweet that he’s “forever grateful” to be linked to Sean Connery in a film, because film is forever. This memories last, and they inspire generations of storytellers who want to follow in the wake of people like Costner and Connery, and try to fill their massive shoes.

In the week since legendary actor Sean Connery passed away, the internet has been peppered with tributes and classic stories from the Scotsman’s many co-stars and admirers. We’ve touched on many of them, but I wanted to address one more that I just read. It’s about Connery’s time working on The Rock and specifically, an interaction that happened between the Oscar winner (for The Untouchables) and Disney executives who wanted to cut costs.

The story was told by Jerry Bruckheimer who shared a few musings and memories with The Hollywood Reporter last week. Apparently, during production on The Rock, the film fell behind on its schedule by a few days, and Disney executives were getting a little concerned, as the film was being produced by Buena Vista, a subsidiary of the Mouse House. They allegedly stopped by the set to figure out what was going on and tell the key players including director Michael Bay (who recently paid tribute to Connery) they were cutting the budget. Or at least that was the plan until Sean Connery “laid into them.” Here’s a portion of the quote from The Rock’s producer Jerry Bruckheimer…

Of course everyone loves a good story about Sean Connery getting ornery, especially with a random executive, but the thing I really love about this is Jerry Bruckheimer’s involvement. For those of you who don’t know, Jerry Bruckheimer is a behind the scenes legend. His profile has grown in the years since, but prior to The Rock, he had already produced Top Gun, Beverly Hills Cop, Days Of Thunder and Bad Boys, among others. Amongst almost anyone else, he would have been the one expected to step up and deal with studio executives, but Sean Connery wasn’t any ordinary actor. He always spoke his mind and had experience and dedication to the craft to back it up.

That’s another thing many people miss about Sean Connery. There are a lot of actors, especially as they get more famous, that aren’t always the most dedicated and don’t always have the best on-set behavior. By all accounts when Connery worked on a movie, he was all in on the movie. He would get heavily involved in the writing process. He would show up early to discuss and map out the scene being filmed. If he was going to make a movie, he wanted to put the time and energy into making it the best it could be.

And The Rock is, of course, awesome. It might not have the critical acclaim of some of his other amazing movies (see Murder On The Orient Express or The Untouchables to name a few), but for what it is, it’s so much fun and so well done. Its runtime flies by. There are so many memorable lines, and the chemistry with Nic Cage is delightful.

So, here’s to Sean Connery… for fighting to keep The Rock the way it was, and for all the other battles he picked during his career that we don’t know about. He had a spectacular run, and we’ll all be watching his movies with smiles for years to come, whether they involve spying or in this case, stolen Hummers.

A great actor has left us, so it's only natural folks far and wide are scouring the internet looking to find where they can watch Sean Connery movies. Luckily there's no shortage of places where his movies are available, and those with the proper subscriptions and streaming services can get their fix rather easily.

From his classics to relatively obscure entries, one can find a lot of Sean Connery on the major streamers, free services, and the premium cable options. Here are 20 movies that can be found currently, all of which are worth a watch at least once or twice.

Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade - Netflix

The third installment in the Indiana Jones franchise, Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade features Sean Connery as Henry Jones Sr., Indiana's scholarly adventurer father. Henry has spent his life searching for the Holy Grail, and less time fathering his son as a result. The two end up adventuring together throughout the film and improve their bond along the way. It's one of Connery's best, probably because the role was custom-tailored to him by Stephen Spielberg and George Lucas.

Stream Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade on Netflix here.

A Bridge Too Far - Netflix

A war film with an ensemble cast, Sean Connery appears alongside Michael Caine, James Caan, Robert Redford, and Anthony Hopkins in an epic tale of British and American troops combining forces in WWII to push into Nazi territory. Unfortunately, as the title may suggest, things don't go as great for Connery's Major General Roy Urquhart the Allied troops as the end of the war did, as the Allies become trapped behind enemy lines and must work to make their way back to safety.

Stream A Bridge Too Far on Netflix here.

Sean Connery's James Bond Movies - Hulu

Probably the first stop for most people looking for Sean Connery movies, one can find a good deal of the actor's James Bond collection on Hulu. Right now you can watch From Russia With Love, Thunderball, Diamonds Are Forever and You Only Live Twice, which is as good a lineup as any for any Bond fan to blow through in a day. Settle down with a beverage that's shaken, not stirred, and enjoy a healthy Bond marathon.

Stream Sean Connery's James Bond movies on Hulu:

From Russia With Love

Thunderball

Diamonds Are Forever

You Only Live Twice

The Rock - Hulu

Often a contender on a list of the best Sean Connery movies, in The Rock, Connery plays SAS Captain John Patrick Mason who has been imprisoned for two decades without charges. He's offered his release because he's one of the only men to successfully break out of Alcatraz, and his help is needed in order to stop some rogue U.S. Marines from targeting San Francisco with missiles. Add in an eccentric but classic performance from co-star Nicolas Cage, and you'll soon understand why this movie may be one of director Michael Bay's best.

Stream The Rock on Hulu here.

Darby O'Gill And The Little People - Disney+

There's not a ton of movies on this list where Sean Connery isn't playing one of the biggest characters in the movie, though it's worth noting this role came before Connery was known as the man who would make James Bond the most-known fictional agent on planet Earth. Darby O'Gill And The Little People features an old man trying to catch leprechauns, eventually being retired from his role as caretaker and replaced by Connery's Michael McBride. Don't worry, he's not the bad guy, but this one is just easier to watch to fully understand.

Stream Darby O'Gill And The Little People on Disney+ here.

The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen - Amazon Prime Video

In what is the closest the Victorian era can get to The Avengers, this Sean Connery movie features him as Allan Quartermain leading a ragtag group of prestigious literary characters on a mission to stop a terrorist plot. As a heads up, the movie was generally not as well-received as most other films in the actor's career, which is a shame because it was the final live-action movie he did before his retirement in 2006. Even so, it's still worth a watch and may be appreciated by some audiences wishing to see the actor right before he left the spotlight.

Watch The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen on Amazon Prime Video here.

The Untouchables - Starz

Another classic on the list, The Untouchables features Sean Connery in a movie alongside Kevin Costner and Robert De Niro as a band of men work together to bring down notorious Chicago mobster Al Capone. Connery plays Jimmy Malone, the officer fed up with the rampant corruption and looking to take the city back from Capone. This is a classic anti-mob movie that's high on action and based on the true story of how the crime kingpin was finally brought to justice.

Stream The Untouchables on Starz here.

The Hunt For Red October- Showtime

The first Jack Ryan movie in Hollywood, Alec Baldwin stars in the role alongside Sean Connery, who plays Marko Ramius. Ramius originally seems to be the villain of this picture, but as The Hunt For Red October continues, the truth is not what it seems. A great Sean Connery movie for any action fan, especially those who enjoy a good Tom Clancy story.

Stream The Hunt For Red October on Showtime here.

The First Knight- Starz

To be quite honest, it's a wonder there aren't more movies where Sean Connery was in a story about Arthurian legend. Connery plays the main man King Arthur himself, but The First Knight is a movie about Lancelot's romance with Lady Guinevere. Not the greatest thing in the world considering Guinevere was sworn in marriage to Arthur, but it all works out for the better. More or less anyway, I'll let anyone who watches figure out why.

Stream The First Knight on Starz here.

Outland - Starz

A Sean Connery movie, set on a moon of Jupiter? Outland is a movie that happens once in an actor's lifetime and is described as a "space western" reminiscent of the classic Western High Noon. Connery plays a lawman sent to bust up a major drug-smuggling operation on a Jupiter moon, but as is the case in these situations, there are some roadblocks up. It won't be an easy road, but never count out Connery in an action movie.

Watch Outland on Starz here.

Rising Sun - Starz

Wesley Snipes and Sean Connery star in Rising Sun, an adaptation of a novel written by Michael Crichton. Connery and Snipes play two investigators in Los Angeles looking to solve the murder of a call girl in a Japanese set of companies with business interests in the city. The two look to solve the girl's murder, and potentially, get to the heart of a larger plot afoot.

Watch Rising Sun on Starz here.

Time Bandits - HBO

Looking for a movie where a kid goes on a whimsical fantasy adventure? There are few better options than Time Bandits, which features Sean Connery as King Agamemnon. Terry Gilliam has said that Connery was a savior to the production, and helped him weed out the scenes from the storyboard that could and couldn't be done to make the movie happen. Though his role isn't as big as others, it's clear that without Connery, there would be no Time Bandits as we know it today.

Watch Time Bandits on HBO here.

The Russia House - Cinemax

The Russia House is a spy film, but surprise, not a James Bond movie. Sean Connery plays the head of a British publishing firm in Moscow on business. He soon becomes entangled in a situation between the Soviets and the West, and as is the case with most spy movies, finds love along the way. It's not quite a Bond adventure, but that doesn't mean you can't love it all the same.

Watch The Russia House on Max Go here.

Murder On The Orient Express- Cinemax

It's the classic Agatha Christie tale you know and love, and one that Hollywood can't seemingly leave alone. This '70s version features Sean Connery in the role of Colonel Arbuthnot and is of course worth watching compared to others because it's the only one in which he appears. It's a movie that's been redone many times because it's a quality story, so certainly worth checking out.

Watch Murder On The Orient Express on Cinemax here.

Highlander - Vudu

An iconic movie on the list, Highlander may be most remembered for the line "There can be only one." I choose to remember it for the awesome ensemble Sean Connery's Juan Sanchez Villa-Lobos Ramirez rocks through his appearance. He's the mentor to the film's hero Connor MacLeod. The movie does make an interesting choice in having Connery portray an Egyptian, but there have been stranger castings in past years.

Watch Highlander on Vudu here.

Finding Forrester - IMDB TV

A young man is scouted by a prestigious school in the area for his basketball ability, and by a strange twist of fate, becomes friends with a reclusive Pulitzer prize-winning author. Finding Forrester sounds kind of weird when you put it that way, but I can assure anyone who hasn't seen the movie this should be one of the first watches on the list. Come for Sean Connery being a snarky old man, stay to see Busta Rhymes' character tell him off.

Watch Finding Forrester on IMDB TV here.

Guardian Of The Highlands - Tubi

Perhaps the oddest entry on the list, yet notable all the same as it's a performance from Sean Connery from after his official retirement from live-action acting. Guardian of the Highlands or Sir Billi to some was the first CGI film to come out of Scotland. Connery comes out of retirement to play Sir Billi, a veterinarian looking to save a beaver who is being pursued by police to be captured. It's not the quality of a Disney movie, but certainly worth a watch on a lazy afternoon.

Watch Guardian Of The Highlands on Tubi here.

Be sure to stick with CinemaBlend for more stories about the life of Sean Connery, and for the latest news happening in television and movies.

The Indiana Jones franchise is still incredibly popular among film fans, despite the fact that, of the four movies that make up the series, only half of them are universally agreed upon to be great. One of the reasons that so many love the third film in the series was the introduction of Sean Connery as the father of Harrison Ford's Indiana Jones. The actors had remarkably great chemistry, that unfortunately, we never saw again, but we almost did.

Upon the passing of Sean Connery it's natural to look back at the actor's historic career. He created James Bond and beyond that he played a number of great characters and even won an Oscar. But in addition to looking back at what he did, it's easy to think about the things that could have been and one of the things that could have happened was Sean Connery returning to play Henry Jones Sr. In Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.

In the lead up to the fourth Indiana Jones film, many wondered if we might see Sean Connery again. The actor hadn't made a film since 2003's The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen and he seemed largely to be done with Hollywood, but it was clear that the new film was hoping he'd return. When Connery finally made a decision, he released a public statement saying that he would not reprise his role, even though he admitted that if anything was going to get him in front of a camera again, it would have been Indiana Jones. According to Connery...

It's almost frustrating that Sean Connery was enjoying his retirement so much. Certainly, the man earned it, but if he had liked it even a little less we could have seen him come back for Indiana Jones 4, and that would have been simply excellent. Connery told the BBC back in 2007 that he loved working with the Indiana Jones team the first time around and he almost certainly would have enjoyed himself the second time around.

And it leads one to wonder what Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull would have looked like with Sean Connery included. Of course, it's unlikely the move would have ended up drastically different from a plot perspective, but adding Henry Jones Sr. could have certainly changed character interactions a great deal, assuming he would have been part of the main cast and not simply a cameo. Although, from things Sean Connery said before his death, that wasn't really the case, which was also part of the reason the actor decided to not come out of retirement. It might not have made the last Indy movie great, but it almost certainly would have made it better.

Instead, Henry Jones Sr. is simply given a passing reference early in the film to let the audience know he died off-screen since the previous film. If the man was happily retired, no reason to tease the audience that he might come back one day.

For those that knew Sean Connery, either personally, or simply from his on-screen persona, there is certainly a loss to be felt now that he is gone. The accomplished actor who brought James Bond to the big screen died over the weekend at the age of 90. Since then, remembrances have been pouring in from those that knew him and those that were inspired by him. It's sad that we now live in a world without Sean Connery in it, but the late actor's wife admits that there's some peace in it as well, as Connery's last few months had been a struggle.

Sean Connery's wife of 40-years, Micheline Roquebrune, has revealed that in his last few months of life Sean Connery was dealing with dementia. As such, his quality of life had drastically dimished. And so, as Connery's widow is quoted in the Daily Mail, there is some happiness in the passing as well, as the life he was leading was not what he wanted, and now that pain is over. According to Roquebrune...

If the stories are to be believed, and we've heard several of them in the days since Sean Connery's passing, the actor was quite outspoken when it came to making movies. He very publicly clashed with the director of his last film, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, and it sounds like that was far from the only time he was honest about what he thought while making a movie. Michael Bay says that he won Connery's approval on the set of The Rock, and the actor used his considerable clout to help out the director because of that.

And knowing that, it's difficult to imagine a Sean Connery who had to struggle to express himself. That's certainly not the man that Micheline Roquebrune knew. It had to have been frustrating for him and those around him. Nobody likes to see the people they love struggling with things beyond their control. Connery's wife says that his final wish was to just slip away, and that's reportedly exactly what happened, and there can be some small happiness in that.

Sean Connery clearly lived life on his terms. He made the movies he wanted to make, and he retired on his own terms, and from all accounts, while he loved acting, he didn't miss it all that much when he was done. His loss will great a mix of emotions in many of us. But for all who were friends, family, or fans, we can be glad he was here, even if he's gone now.

This weekend, the world lost a legendary talent, as Sir Sean Connery’s passing at the age of 90 consigned the great actor to the history books. A major turning point in his career was, of course, being the first silver screen actor to play James Bond, which saw him win the world over in six official outings in the role, as well as one unofficial return in 1983. But to judge his entire output as an actor merely on his most famous role would be absolutely unfair to the man’s total skillset. Which is why we’d like to present 10 roles that prove Sean Connery, no matter how instrumental he was to the 007 franchise’s historical success, will always be remembered for so much more.

Michael McBride - Darby O’Gill And The Little People

Would you believe that not only did a young Sean Connery get to star in the Disney movie Darby O'Gill and the Little People, but he also got to sing as a result of it? Playing the handsome, charming male lead that most Disney romances require, Connery's Michael McBride belted out the tune "Pretty Irish Girl" to the delight of audiences far and wide. A classic bit of whimsy that fans still love to this day, Sean Connery's supporting role in the film helped hammer home the charisma that he'd use quite often in his future career.

Daniel Dravot - The Man Who Would Be King

As an actor, Sean Connery has always been a pretty mythic figure to measure up to. However, in The Man Who Would Be King, Rudyard Kipling's protagonist Daniel Dravot is seen as a god by his fictional subjects. A British officer looking to get into some criminal misdeeds where most wouldn't dare to look, Dravot eventually becomes enamored with the idea of ruling over those who would give him absolute power. Paired with Michael Caine in this classic drama, Connery's devolution and eventual fate are detailed with a chilling skill that makes this a powerful landmark in this actor's career path.

Juan Sánchez Villa-Lobos Ramírez - Highlander

As we’ve seen before, and would definitely see again, Sean Connery wasn’t afraid to wander into more outrageous genre fare. And nothing was more outrageous than that time the very Scottish actor played an Egyptian immortal with a Spanish alter ego in 1986’s sci-fi action hit Highlander. Putting that fun piece of trivia aside, Connery made a whole new generation of fans as the mentor to Chrisopher Lambert’s Connor MacLeod, with his suave wit and action prowess mixing together to make a memorable outing for all.

Jim Malone - The Untouchables

Aside from introducing himself as Ian Fleming’s legendary super spy, there’s another line of dialogue that absolutely put Sean Connery on the map of the movie world: “They pull a knife, you pull a gun. He sends one of yours to the hospital, you send one of his to the morgue. That's the Chicago way!” As street smart cop Jim Malone, Connery slips into action helping Kevin Costner’s Elliot Ness beat Al Capone (Robert De Niro) at his own game. The results were the stuff of legends, as Sean Connery won his first, and only, Oscar as Best Supporting Actor in director Brian De Palma’s iconic mob thriller.

Captain Marko Ramius - The Hunt For Red October

If it wasn’t for Hollywood screenwriting and directing legend John Milius punching up the script for The Hunt for Red October, the Tom Clancy adaptation may not have landed Sean Connery in one of his most memorable roles ever. Playing the mysterious Captain Marko Ramius, commander of a top secret Russian sub that could give his government a crucial Cold War advantage, Connery’s character delivers dialogue that’s absolutely quotable, with a multifaceted character who kept audiences guessing to where his true allegiances lie. Not to mention, Ramius helped cement the legacy of Clancy protagonist Jack Ryan, as The Hunt for Red October turned the young fictional analyst into a cinematic cash cow.

Professor Henry Jones Sr. - Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

More than likely, when hearing the news that Sean Connery had passed away this past weekend, movie fans of a certain age first thought of Connery’s turn in the Indiana Jones saga as their strongest memory of his work. It’s hard not to agree with that assessment, as even James Bond fans couldn’t help but admit that Professor Henry Jones Sr.'s adventure with his franchise-establishing son was a highlight in the man’s work. Both silly and serious, Sean Connery engaged in a multi-layered performance that saw him flexing comedy and action muscles while playing a proper on-screen father figure for the ages.

John Patrick Mason - The Rock

Nothing is peak ‘90s action like director Michael Bay’s absolute masterpiece The Rock. A tense thriller that never forgets how charming Nic Cage can be, the ensemble action-drama boasts a lot of killer set pieces and some heavy thematic content. What could make an explosive mile-a-minute thriller that delivers a poignant message about the treatment of military veterans even more enjoyable? How about Sean Connery riffing on his James Bond persona, with more swearing and brutal results? You can make all the comparisons you want between John Mason and James Bond, but there’s a huge difference between those two men; all one has to do is watch for it.

Sir August de Wynter - The Avengers

Yes, even a movie like the 1998 film adaptation of the British TV series The Avengers has earned a place on Sean Connery’s personal walk of fame. As much as some may debate whether it’s a fun and frivolous thrill ride or an absolute waste of celluloid, there’s something that should be common ground for all sides of this argument. Playing the menacing and over-the-top villain Sir August de Wynter, Connery gets to blow the doors off of screen as a perfect Bond villain, whose major plot is to ravage the world with rampant weather he controls. Whether he’s trying to charm Uma Thurman or destroy Ralph Fiennes, Sean Connery makes himself an absolute highlight of this entertaining romp.

Robert “Mac” MacDougal - Entrapment

Director Jon Amiel has a reputation for making absolutely entertaining movies, like The Man Who Knew Too Little and The Core, that, while being totally underrated, attract a pocket of die-hard fans. Amiel’s contribution to the Sean Connery hall of fame is no exception, as Entrapment saw the Scottish actor stealing more than just a bunch of money and antiquities alongside co-star Catherine Zeta-Jones. Seeing as 1999 was the year that Pierce Brosnan would play in a similar, but more racy playground in The Thomas Crown Affair, the fact that Entrapment was a smash hit just shows that even with the younger kids in town, Connery still had a way with audiences.

William Forrester - Finding Forrester

Our final entry is another example of just how much dramatic range Sean Connery could pack into a film, Finding Forrester is a rare opportunity to show the more sensitive side of the legendary performer’s persona. As the reclusive author that gives the film its name, Connery’s interplay with Derek Luke puts him in another mentoring role. But instead of merely knowing everything, and coasting by on his charm, William Forrester gives the actor a chance to show a broken man who learns to pick himself up by helping a young man nurture a true aptitude for writing. All this, and a legendary internet meme, make this director Gus Van Sant’s film a hidden gem waiting for rediscovery.

The world will always owe a debt to Sean Connery for turning James Bond into the runaway success story that’s been repeated for ages. However, that doesn’t mean the man’s resume isn’t filled with entertaining and touching films as the ones we’ve highlighted above. So if you’re looking to celebrate Sir Sean’s legacy, and don’t want to stop at just his 007 exploits, here’s a good launching pad to find even more of those legendary performances from his life and times.

On October 31st, actor Sean Connery passed away at the age of 90. While Connery is arguably most famous for being the first actor to play James Bond on film, there were plenty of other roles that cemented him as a Hollywood icon, including playing Henry Jones Sr. in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Now Connery’s costar from the 1989 threequel, Harrison Ford, has paid tribute to his late costar.

Although Sean Connery and Harrison were only about 12 years separated in age, they nonetheless had an astounding rapport as the father/son duo, which was one of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade’s chief highlights. Here’s what Ford had to say about his time working with Connery in a statement to Variety:

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade was the only time Harrison Ford and Sean Connery worked together, but judging by the above words, the former clearly enjoyed collaborating with the latter. While there was an attempt made to bring back Connery for Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, he turned down the offer, resulting in Henry Jones Sr. having passed away in the time between the third and fourth Indy movies. Initially Connery said he didn’t come back to the franchise because he was enjoying retirement too much, but he later revealed it was actually because the part was too small for his liking.

Harrison Ford is the latest celebrity to pay tribute to Sean Connery following his passing, with others including fellow James Bond actor Daniel Craig, Hugh Jackman, Sam Neill, Kevin Smith and George Lucas. Director Michael Bay also reflected on his time working with Connery on 1996’s The Rock, which included the man who brought John Patrick Mason’s aid convincing Disney executives to give Bay additional funds to finish the movie.

One could spend hours going over Sean Connery’s filmography, from Dr. No and Time Bandits to The Untouchables and Finding Forrester. That said, 2003 marked the last time that Connery appeared on camera for a movie, as he played Allan Quartermain in The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. Connery would come out of retirement to executive produce and voice the title character in the animated Sir Billi, as well as narrate the documentary Ever to Excel.

We here at CinemaBlend continue to express our condolences to Sean Connery’s family and friends. As for Harrison Ford, he’ll be donning the fedora and wielding the whip again for Indiana Jones 5, which is now slotted for July 29, 2022.

For most people, Sean Connery will always be James Bond, but the accomplished actor played many other memorable roles. One of those was the character of John Mason in Michael Bay's sophomore directing effort, The Rock. While Bay may have technically been the man in charge on the set, the director has written about the experience of working with the late Sean Connery, and says the actor was one of the greatest teachers that he's ever had.

Following the loss of Sean Connery over the weekend, Michael Bay has written a brief piece for The Hollywood Reporter where he takes some time to talk about the experience of directing Sean Connery on the set of The Rock. For Bay, it wasn't simply that he got to work with a great actor, but that he also learned a lot from him. Bay explains...

Michael Bay says that he was initially quite terrified of working with Sean Connery. The accomplished actor had a reputation for being quite hard on directors, and especially since The Rock was only Bay's second film, he was nervous about working with Connery. However, from Bay's telling, the two got along quite well and Connery seemed to appreciate Bay's directorial decisions. Connery called him "boy" throughout production, but he liked what Bay was doing on the set, and so was willing to do what he could to help the production.

Michael Bay tells a story in the piece about having to meet with Disney executives (the film was produced by Disney subsidiary Hollywood Pictures) to discuss the fact that the movie was behind schedule. Sean Connery showed up to the lunch meeting and used his considerable influence (read: he walked into the room and stood there being Sean Connery) to get the executives to give Bay the additional money he needed to finish the film. As Bay explains it...

I feel like we don't talk enough about the fact that The Rock is one of the best action movies ever made. Michael Bay says Sean Connery loved excellence and I feel like this was a movie that certainly had it. Connery is great. Nicolas Cage is great. The action is near-perfect. It's one of those movies that you can just watch anytime and enjoy. It's in the Criterion Collection for crying out loud. Even Criterion knows The Rock is a work of art.

Of all the greats we've lost in 2020, and there have been too many, Sean Connery is the one that hurts the most. An accomplished actor who clearly loved the job he had, but also did not suffer fools while he was doing it. He probably wasn't everybody's best friend, but he made a lot of fans. Michael Bay is one of them. The man will be missed.