As a result, there is never a shortage of debate about which film deserves to be called the greatest Bond adventure ever made. Some viewers still favour the classics, while others believe the series reached its peak in the 2000s. But there is one film that is always mentioned when it comes to the best Bond film of all time. It remains one of the highest-rated movies on Rotten Tomatoes and is often credited with reinventing the famous spy for a new generation.
That film is Casino Royale. Released in 2006, the movie marked Daniel Craig‘s first outing as 007 and was the 21st film in the long-running James Bond series.
Directed by Martin Campbell, it was based on Ian Fleming’s 1953 novel of the same name and featured a cast including Eva Green, Mads Mikkelsen, Judi Dench and Jeffrey Wright.
Following the release of Die Another Day in 2002, producers decided to reboot the franchise and present a more realistic and grounded version of Bond.
At the time, Craig’s casting proved controversial among some fans, but the film’s success quickly helped silence many critics.
Casino Royale was made on a budget reported to be between £75million and £111million and went on to earn around £460million at the worldwide box office.
Filming took place in locations including the Bahamas, Italy, the Czech Republic and the UK, while many of the interior scenes were shot at Pinewood Studios.
The film became the highest-grossing James Bond film at the time, a record it held until Skyfall was released in 2012.
On Rotten Tomatoes, Casino Royale currently holds a critics’ score of 94%.
Many viewers who have watched the film believe it is the best Bond film ever made.
One person said in a review: “Best James Bond film ever made. Beautiful in every aspect. Amazing acting with breathtaking scenes and realistic action.”
Another added: “Absolutely breathtaking. An incredible first outing for Daniel Craig as 007. 10/10, would rewatch.”
A third wrote: “Masterpiece. Perfect Bond movie. Ideal. Why on earth have they stopped doing films like this one? Can rewatch it endlessly.”
Someone else commented: “Best James Bond movie. A great way to start a new era of 007. Well-written story, excellent acting by Daniel Craig and Eva Green, as well as great aesthetics and photography.”
