With Denis Villeneuve officially announced as the next director to take the helm of the James Bond franchise, the future of 007 looks more stylish and serious than ever.
Known for visual precision and cerebral storytelling, Villeneuve enters a legacy shaped by some of cinema’s most varied filmmakers.
Over six decades, Bond directors have given us everything from gritty espionage to space lasers, with mixed critical results. In anticipation of Villeneuve’s chapter, we’re looking back and ranking every Bond director by their average Rotten Tomatoes scores – to see who truly delivered the most critically beloved Bond adventures.
12 – Marc Forster
1 Film. 50% Average
Quantum of Solace (2008) saw Forster bring a jittery, Bourne-style aesthetic that split fans. Though visually striking and thematically ambitious, the film suffered from a rushed script due to the 2007–08 writers’ strike.
11 – Michael Apted
1 Film. 52% Average
Apted directed The World Is Not Enough (1999), aiming for emotional stakes with a rare female villain. Best known for documentaries, he brought a focus on character—though the final product struggled with tone.
10 – Lee Tamahori
1 Film. 56% Average
Helming Die Another Day (2002), Tamahori leaned hard into camp, CGI excess, and over-the-top action. The film was a global hit but widely criticized, eventually prompting the franchise’s darker reboot.
9 – Roger Spotiswoode
1 Film. 57% Average
Director of Tomorrow Never Dies (1997), Spottiswoode embraced action-heavy pacing and a media-mogul villain. Though less stylish than its predecessor, the film succeeded commercially and kept Brosnan’s Bond riding high during the late ’90s.
8 – John Glen
5 Films. 60% Average
The workhorse of the 1980s, Glen directed five consecutive films from For Your Eyes Only (1981) to Licence to Kill(1989). Known for grounded action, snow chases, and Cold War grit, he helped mature the franchise while keeping it consistent during a transitional decade.
7 – Guy Hamilton
4 Films. 68% Average
Hamilton helmed four Bond films, including the iconic Goldfinger (1964), introducing the series’ blend of gadgets, wit, and flamboyant villains. He returned for Diamonds Are Forever, Live and Let Die, and The Man with the Golden Gun, helping to transition Bond from Connery’s edge to Moore’s charm.
6 – Lewis Gilbert
3 Films. 70% Average
Known for epic scale and space-age spectacle, Gilbert directed You Only Live Twice (1967), The Spy Who Loved Me(1977), and Moonraker (1979). He embraced Bond’s globe-trotting formula, crafting massive set pieces and giving the franchise some of its most lavish visuals.
5 – Sam Mendes
2 Films. 77% Average
With Skyfall (2012) and Spectre (2015), Mendes elevated Bond into prestige territory. Skyfall was a cultural and critical triumph, celebrating 50 years of Bond with emotional weight and stunning cinematography. Spectre, while more divisive, still delivered classic tropes with modern flair.
4 – Peter Hunt
1 Film. 81% Average
A long-time Bond editor turned director, Hunt brought a more emotional depth and dynamic editing style to On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969). Though initially polarizing, his single Bond film is now considered one of the series’ most artistically accomplished.
3 – Cary Joji Fukunaga
1 Film. 83% Average
Fukunaga directed No Time to Die (2021), the emotional finale of Craig’s Bond. Blending character-driven storytelling with bold action, he gave the series its first true ending, and brought a fresh visual energy and international flavor to the saga.
2 – Martin Campbell
2 Films. 87% Average
Campbell revitalized Bond twice: first with GoldenEye (1995), introducing Pierce Brosnan, and again with Casino Royale(2006), launching Daniel Craig’s tenure. He balanced tradition with modern reinvention, delivering two of the most respected entries in the series.
1 – Terence Young
3 Films. 93% Average
Often credited with defining Bond’s cinematic style, Terence Young directed Dr. No (1962), From Russia with Love(1963), and Thunderball (1965). A suave figure himself, Young shaped Sean Connery’s performance and set the tone for future installments with sharp suits, confident action, and exotic intrigue.
Will Villeneuve Deliver Fresh Bond?
As Denis Villeneuve prepares to join the elite club of Bond directors, he faces not just the expectations of fans, but the legacy of those who came before him – some celebrated by critics, others less so.
Rotten Tomatoes offers a fascinating metric for how each director’s contribution has aged in the eyes of reviewers.
Whether Villeneuve delivers a slow-burn masterpiece or a pulse-pounding thriller, the bar is high. If the past is anything to go by, one thing’s certain: the Bond director’s chair is as iconic, and scrutinized, as the tuxedo itself.
If you enjoyed this, check out The James Bond Theory That Rewrites The Rock.
