James Bond has taken on some of the most bad-ass bad guys—and girls—that the the big screen has ever seen. See which ones landed at the top of our list.
The Best-Ever Bond Villains
The World is Not Enough, 1999
She’s beautiful, fabulously wealthy and crazier than a cuckoo clock. There’s something irresistible about messed-up oil baron heiress King, and Bond falls hard for her, the first female supervillain of the franchise. The character stands in stark contrast to actress Sophie, who was born in Paris to a shop assistant mother and a truck driver father. She began modeling in her teens and eventually started working with European heavies like Gérard Depardieu before breaking into Hollywood with Mel Gibson’s Braveheart. Her seductive King, who suffers from Stockholm syndrome and is under the thumb of her former captor, Renard, has Bond deep under her spell until he finally comes to his senses after discovering her evil schemes. “You wouldn’t kill me. You’d miss me,” she quips to an armed and agitated Bond. He shoots, then fires again: “I never miss.”
She’s beautiful, fabulously wealthy and crazier than a cuckoo clock. There’s something irresistible about messed-up oil baron heiress King, and Bond falls hard for her, the first female supervillain of the franchise. The character stands in stark contrast to actress Sophie, who was born in Paris to a shop assistant mother and a truck driver father. She began modeling in her teens and eventually started working with European heavies like Gérard Depardieu before breaking into Hollywood with Mel Gibson’s Braveheart. Her seductive King, who suffers from Stockholm syndrome and is under the thumb of her former captor, Renard, has Bond deep under her spell until he finally comes to his senses after discovering her evil schemes. “You wouldn’t kill me. You’d miss me,” she quips to an armed and agitated Bond. He shoots, then fires again: “I never miss.”
The Spy Who Loved Me, 1977; Moonraker 1979
Dilettante Bond fans who gripe that the Roger Moore–era films began to parody themselves often point to this 7'2", steel-toothed henchman buffoon as Exhibit A. Real Bond fans, however, know that Richard’s Jaws is a big reason The Spy Who Loved Me and Moonraker are impossible to turn off when they come on TV at 10 o’clock at night. Born in Detroit in 1939, Richard was acting, writing and producing his way through show business before being hired to kill 007. Originally set to be offed in The Spy Who Loved Me, he proved so popular with test audiences that he was spared. Virtually impossible to kill — he survived a fall from a plane, a Peter Pan over a waterfall, ejection from a moving train and a plummet from space — Jaws only had one line despite all this screen time. It was a champagne toast to his girlfriend, Dolly: “Well, here’s to us.” Right back at you, big guy.
Dilettante Bond fans who gripe that the Roger Moore–era films began to parody themselves often point to this 7'2", steel-toothed henchman buffoon as Exhibit A. Real Bond fans, however, know that Richard’s Jaws is a big reason The Spy Who Loved Me and Moonraker are impossible to turn off when they come on TV at 10 o’clock at night. Born in Detroit in 1939, Richard was acting, writing and producing his way through show business before being hired to kill 007. Originally set to be offed in The Spy Who Loved Me, he proved so popular with test audiences that he was spared. Virtually impossible to kill — he survived a fall from a plane, a Peter Pan over a waterfall, ejection from a moving train and a plummet from space — Jaws only had one line despite all this screen time. It was a champagne toast to his girlfriend, Dolly: “Well, here’s to us.” Right back at you, big guy.
A View to Kill, 1985
Dozens of actors were considered to play sinister Silicon Valley tycoon Zorin, but the part went to Christopher. The beloved actor brought his iconic oddity to this villain — humor, ambition, ruthlessness, insanity. While most Bond fans don’t love Kill, it ain’t because of Christopher, especially when he cackles before falling off the Golden Gate Bridge to his doom.
Dozens of actors were considered to play sinister Silicon Valley tycoon Zorin, but the part went to Christopher. The beloved actor brought his iconic oddity to this villain — humor, ambition, ruthlessness, insanity. While most Bond fans don’t love Kill, it ain’t because of Christopher, especially when he cackles before falling off the Golden Gate Bridge to his doom.
Goldfinger, 1964
Is it possible for a stone-cold killer to be lovable? Such is the legacy of the most infamous henchman in the entire Bond franchise. Auric Goldfinger’s chauffeur, golf caddy and murderous enforcer gets his muted charm and imposing demeanor courtesy of Harold, a Japanese-American weight lifter who won silver for the United States in the 1948 Olympics. Standing 5'10" and weighing 230 lbs., he came to define the archetypal Bond henchman — and not just because of his size. It was because Oddjob didn’t talk (he grunted, “Ah!”), whacked people in a wacky manner (with his much parodied steel-rimmed bowler hat), and died a spectacular death (being electrocuted). As for the curious smile on his face, it can only be assumed it comes from having painted Jill Masterson’s nude body gold.
Is it possible for a stone-cold killer to be lovable? Such is the legacy of the most infamous henchman in the entire Bond franchise. Auric Goldfinger’s chauffeur, golf caddy and murderous enforcer gets his muted charm and imposing demeanor courtesy of Harold, a Japanese-American weight lifter who won silver for the United States in the 1948 Olympics. Standing 5'10" and weighing 230 lbs., he came to define the archetypal Bond henchman — and not just because of his size. It was because Oddjob didn’t talk (he grunted, “Ah!”), whacked people in a wacky manner (with his much parodied steel-rimmed bowler hat), and died a spectacular death (being electrocuted). As for the curious smile on his face, it can only be assumed it comes from having painted Jill Masterson’s nude body gold.
From Russia with Love, 1963
What’s a homicidal, paranoiac convicted murderer to do after escaping from Dartmoor prison in England? Why, become a SPECTRE assassin, of course. While not one of the flashier Bond adversaries, this brute makes the list because of the understated performance delivered by Robert. Hired and run by Rosa Klebb, Grant must first act as Bond’s protector so the spy can unwittingly deliver a Russian decoder to SPECTRE. The two match wits when they meet on the Orient Express, and their subsequent fight to the death in Bond’s cabin is a cinematic touchstone. Choreography, cinematography and editing DNA from that close-quarters fight can be found in the Bourne franchise.
Find out who else topped our list of top Bond bad guys —and get even more killer 007 content — by downloading 50 Years of Bond.
What’s a homicidal, paranoiac convicted murderer to do after escaping from Dartmoor prison in England? Why, become a SPECTRE assassin, of course. While not one of the flashier Bond adversaries, this brute makes the list because of the understated performance delivered by Robert. Hired and run by Rosa Klebb, Grant must first act as Bond’s protector so the spy can unwittingly deliver a Russian decoder to SPECTRE. The two match wits when they meet on the Orient Express, and their subsequent fight to the death in Bond’s cabin is a cinematic touchstone. Choreography, cinematography and editing DNA from that close-quarters fight can be found in the Bourne franchise.
Find out who else topped our list of top Bond bad guys —and get even more killer 007 content — by downloading 50 Years of Bond.
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The Best-Ever Bond Villains - 50 Years of Bond Anniversary