An iconic film series is coming to Netflix this month, with 26 movies joining the streamer. James Bond was created by the British novelist Ian Fleming in 1952. 

The character first appeared in a series of twelve novels and two short story collections written by Fleming, and a number of continuation novels and spin-off works after Fleming’s death in 1964. There have been 27 James Bond films in total, produced and released between 1962 and 2021. Seven actors in total have portrayed Bond in film. Following Sean Connery‘s portrayal, David Niven, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig have assumed the role.

Screen versions have retained many traits from Fleming’s depiction, although some of Bond’s less politically correct traits have been phased out, such as his treatment of women and smoking. Despite depicting the same character, there have been notable differences among the Bond portrayals.

Daniel Craig is the current Bond in the Eon series and has portrayed the character five times, most recently in No Time to Die, released in 2021. Connery and Moore have played the character the most times, appearing in seven films each.

Despite the negative press surrounding his appointment, Craig was widely praised by critics and former Bonds after the release of the film, many of whom believed he was the first actor to truly nail the character as portrayed by Fleming.

Todd McCarthy, reviewing Casino Royale for Variety, said: “Craig comes closer to the author’s original conception of this exceptionally long-lived male fantasy figure than anyone since early Sean Connery.”

Every James Bond film coming to Netflix on January 15

• Dr. No (1962)

• From Russia with Love (1963)

• Goldfinger (1964)

• Thunderball (1965)

• You Only Live Twice (1967)

• On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969)

• Diamonds Are Forever (1971)

• Live and Let Die (1973)

• The Man with the Golden Gun (1974)

• The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)

• Moonraker (1979)

• For Your Eyes Only (1981)

• Octopussy (1983)

• Never Say Never Again (1983)

• A View to a Kill (1985)

• The Living Daylights (1987)

• Licence to Kill (1989)

• GoldenEye (1995)

• Tomorrow Never Dies (1997)

• The World Is Not Enough (1999)

• Die Another Day (2002)

• Casino Royale (2006)

• Quantum of Solace (2008)

• Skyfall (2012)

• Spectre (2015)

• No Time to Die (2021)