Moore made seven films and has the lowest critics' average (about 57%), yet his estimated adjusted pay of $91.5m is above Connery's $87.4m.
Back to the trend of the day: Four actors are in the race for the next James Bond
Poly Rating · from the trend of the day
Best James Bond Actor Ranked: All 6 Bonds, Best to Worst
Roger Moore has the lowest critics' average of the six Bonds (about 57%), yet he earned more from the role than Sean Connery: about $91.5m against $87.4m.
- No. 1: Daniel Craig
- 6 places
01Final list
The leading AIs each built their own list of ten independently. Here is one result that is easy to check: every place has a reason, a source, and the list of AIs that included it.
Order: from most to least AI agreement.
A bright badge means this AI put the entry on its list. A dim badge means it did not.
- 1
Daniel Craig
Estimate: Highest pay (over $100m) and highest gross per film (~$820m, 2011 dollars, with only four films counted); about 79% with critics, second to Connery among multi-film Bonds.
Included it: Claude, ChatGPT, Grok, Gemini, Nova, StepFun, Wenxin, Qwen.In their lists: Claude: 2 · ChatGPT: 1 · Grok: 2 · Gemini: 2 · Nova: 1 · StepFun: 1 · Wenxin: 1 · Qwen: 2
What each AI noted 8
- Claudeplace 2
The only actor who is first or second on every measure: first on box office ($820m a film) and pay (over $100m), second in the IMDb order.
Source ↗ - ChatGPTplace 1
His five-film run includes Skyfall at about $1.11 billion worldwide in 2012 dollars, while reported total Bond pay exceeded $100 million.
Source ↗ - Grokplace 2
Highest modern pay and strongest unadjusted box-office total; critics and audiences rank him at or near the top
Source ↗ - Geminiplace 2
Commercial king of modern 007 who commanded over $100M in career pay and generated $895M adjusted gross per release.
- Novaplace 1
$100M+ pay, $960M+ gross — Skyfall hit $1.5B adjusted
Source ↗ - StepFunplace 1
The only Bond in the top three on all four scoreboards — and the first to clear $100m in inflation-adjusted pay.
Source ↗ - Wenxinplace 1
Leads total inflation-adjusted Bond pay at over 100 million, the highest of any 007 actor in history
- Qwenplace 2
The modern titan who commands the highest paycheck (>$100M) and Metacritic scores, but trails Connery in actual tickets sold.
Source ↗
8 AIs put it here - 2
Sean Connery
First with critics (about 83%) and first in total adjusted gross ($4.35bn, 2011 dollars), but only third on pay at about $87.4m.
Included it: Claude, ChatGPT, Grok, Gemini, Nova, StepFun, Wenxin, Qwen.In their lists: Claude: 1 · ChatGPT: 2 · Grok: 1 · Gemini: 1 · Nova: 3 · StepFun: 2 · Wenxin: 3 · Qwen: 1
What each AI noted 8
- Claudeplace 1
Top of the Rotten Tomatoes average at about 83% and of the IMDb order, and second on box office per film at $725m (2011 dollars).
Source ↗ - ChatGPTplace 2
The original era’s Thunderball is estimated at about $1.047 billion worldwide in 2012 dollars, while a reported pay estimate is $87.4 million in today’s money.
Source ↗ - Grokplace 1
Highest average critic scores and still the cultural template; inflation-adjusted box office remains elite
Source ↗ - Geminiplace 1
The franchise benchmark paired an unmatched 85% Rotten Tomatoes critical average with $780M inflation-adjusted box office per movie.
Source ↗ - Novaplace 3
$87.4M pay, $87.4M gross — first Bond, 7 films
Source ↗ - StepFunplace 2
Number one with critics (83%) and number one in inflation-adjusted grosses ($4.35bn) — yet only third in pay.
Source ↗ - Wenxinplace 3
The original official 007, with total adjusted Bond earnings reaching ~87.4 million
- Qwenplace 1
The undisputed original whose ticket sales adjusted for inflation ($4.3B+) still dwarf the modern CGI era.
Source ↗
8 AIs put it here - 3
Roger Moore
Lowest critics' average (about 57%) of the six, yet second on adjusted gross ($3.86bn) and on pay ($91.5m, above Connery's $87.4m).
Included it: Claude, ChatGPT, Grok, Gemini, Nova, StepFun, Wenxin, Qwen.In their lists: Claude: 3 · ChatGPT: 3 · Grok: 3 · Gemini: 3 · Nova: 2 · StepFun: 3 · Wenxin: 2 · Qwen: 6
What each AI noted 8
- Claudeplace 3
Last with critics at about 57% yet third on box office and second on pay at $91.5m, the biggest gap between critics and the till.
Source ↗ - ChatGPTplace 3
Seven films give Moore the longest EON Bond run; one estimated pay ranking puts his inflation-adjusted total at $91.5 million, above Connery’s estimate.
Source ↗ - Grokplace 3
Most films (7) and second-highest inflation-adjusted pay; solid audience affection despite lower critic scores
Source ↗ - Geminiplace 3
Carried the franchise through 7 films across 12 years, amassing $91.5M in adjusted pay despite a lower 62% critical average.
- Novaplace 2
$91.5M pay, $91.5M gross average — most films over $500M
Source ↗ - StepFunplace 3
The widest critic–ticket split in Bond history: worst Tomatometer average (57.1%), second-biggest adjusted gross ($3.86bn) and second-highest pay ($91.5m).
Source ↗ - Wenxinplace 2
The personal favorite of many long-time Bond fans, with total adjusted pay of ~91.5 million across 7 appearances
- Qwenplace 6
The great paradox: the lowest RT average (57.1%) yet the second-highest inflation-adjusted box office and $91.5M in pay.
Source ↗
8 AIs put it here - 4
Pierce Brosnan
Mid-table on money ($2.04bn adjusted gross; $41.1m pay, or about $78m adjusted in another estimate) but low with critics (60.8–63.7%) and on IMDb.
Included it: Claude, ChatGPT, Grok, Gemini, Nova, StepFun, Wenxin, Qwen.In their lists: Claude: 4 · ChatGPT: 4 · Grok: 4 · Gemini: 4 · Nova: 4 · StepFun: 5 · Wenxin: 4 · Qwen: 4
What each AI noted 8
- Claudeplace 4
A mid-table sales figure (about $511m a film) set against critics' scores in the low 60s.
Source ↗ - ChatGPTplace 4
His four-film tenure sits between the classic and Craig eras, but the sources found do not support a complete, comparable inflation-adjusted pay total.
Source ↗ - Grokplace 4
Strong commercial run in the 1990s-2000s but lowest average critic scores of the six
Source ↗ - Geminiplace 4
Rebooted 007 into 1990s blockbuster dominance with $660M adjusted per film, though scripts dragged his Metacritic mark to 57.
Source ↗ - Novaplace 4
$41.1M pay, $738M gross — GoldenEye hit $1B adjusted
Source ↗ - StepFunplace 5
Lowest audience average of the six, yet $2.04bn adjusted gross and about $78m adjusted pay — audiences huffed, tickets sold.
Source ↗ - Wenxinplace 4
Holds consistent mid-range scores across critics, audiences, box office and total pay metrics
- Qwenplace 4
The consistent middle-manager of Bond: mid-60s RT and IMDb scores, solid $2B box office, and moderate pay.
Source ↗
8 AIs put it here - 5
Timothy Dalton
Critics rate him well (about 76%), but his two films earned the least per film, about $333m in 2011 dollars. His pay was about $21.5m.
Included it: Claude, ChatGPT, Grok, Gemini, Nova, StepFun, Wenxin, Qwen.In their lists: Claude: 5 · ChatGPT: 5 · Grok: 5 · Gemini: 5 · Nova: 5 · StepFun: 4 · Wenxin: 5 · Qwen: 5
What each AI noted 8
- Claudeplace 5
Critics' fourth-best average (about 76%), but the lowest box office per film at about $333m.
Source ↗ - ChatGPTplace 5
Two films make his sample small, and one critics-based ranking calls him a respected Bond despite the brief tenure.
Source ↗ - Grokplace 5
Only two films yet respectable critic and audience scores; modest box office and pay
Source ↗ - Geminiplace 5
Beloved in modern critical retrospectives at 76% on Rotten Tomatoes, but generated the lowest adjusted box office at $370M per film.
- Novaplace 5
$21.5M pay, $624M gross — Licence to Kill adjusted $1B
Source ↗ - StepFunplace 4
Critics' third-favourite (76.5%) with the second-smallest gross and $21.5m adjusted pay — the connoisseur's Bond the box office ignored.
Source ↗ - Wenxinplace 5
Earned a total adjusted Bond pay of ~21.5 million across only two 007 films
- Qwenplace 5
The critic's darling who audiences and box offices rejected: 75% RT but the lowest ticket sales of the main six.
Source ↗
8 AIs put it here - 6
George Lazenby
One film rated 81% by critics, above every Bond except Connery, yet his pay was only about $710,000 adjusted, the lowest of any 007.
Included it: Claude, ChatGPT, Grok, Gemini, Nova, StepFun, Wenxin, Qwen.In their lists: Claude: 6 · ChatGPT: 6 · Grok: 6 · Gemini: 6 · Nova: 6 · StepFun: 6 · Wenxin: 6 · Qwen: 3
What each AI noted 8
- Claudeplace 6
Second with critics at about 81% from one film, but lowest on pay at about $710,000.
Source ↗ - ChatGPTplace 6
One official film means his placement changes dramatically depending on whether you reward a single strong showing or sustained performance.
Source ↗ - Grokplace 6
Single film still well-regarded by critics and fans, but lowest total pay and box office
Source ↗ - Geminiplace 6
Boasts an 81% Rotten Tomatoes score for his lone outing, but walked away after earning just $3.5M in adjusted pay.
- Novaplace 6
$710K pay, $705M gross — one film only
Source ↗ - StepFunplace 6
One film holding an 81% Tomatometer — above the career average of every Bond except Connery — for $710,000 adjusted, the smallest 007 cheque on record.
Source ↗ - Wenxinplace 6
The youngest actor ever to play 007, with just one single official Bond film and adjusted role earnings of only ~710,000
- Qwenplace 3
The one-and-done who surprisingly holds an 81% RT score and massive per-film box office, despite the lowest pay.
Source ↗
8 AIs put it here
02Worth knowing
What the AIs noticed while building the list.
Adjusted box office depends on the method. 007james.com (2011 dollars) gives Connery $4.35bn, while The James Bond Dossier's adjusted basis gives him about $632m. 007james also counts only four Craig films.
Audience averages are contested. A 2019 IMDb visualisation has Craig (7.3) just ahead of Connery (7.2), while Screen Rant's order puts Connery first.
Thunderball (Connery) is the series' biggest film once adjusted for inflation, at about $1.047bn in 2012 dollars.
03Questions people ask
Who is the best James Bond actor of all time?
No actor wins every measure. Sean Connery leads critics (about 83%) and total adjusted gross ($4.35bn, 2011 dollars), while Daniel Craig leads pay (over $100m).
Source ↗Who was the best James Bond actor?
On critics' scores it is Connery, with a Rotten Tomatoes average of about 83% against Craig's 79%. On a 10-point Rotten Tomatoes average, Craig edges ahead at 7.2 against 7.0.
Source ↗James Bond actors ranked best to worst?
Here the order is Connery, Craig, Moore, Brosnan, Dalton, Lazenby, but the boards disagree. Lazenby is second with critics (81%) yet earned only about $710,000 adjusted.
Source ↗Which actor is considered the best James Bond?
Connery is most often named. Rankings still shift because sources use different inflation years: Craig is first per film at about $820m but third in total at $3.28bn (2011 dollars, four films counted).
Source ↗04How we counted
In plain words, no formulas.
1The question
All Six James Bond Actors Ranked by Real Value: Critics vs Audiences vs Inflation-Adjusted Box Office vs Pay
2Why this topic
It brings critics, audiences, ticket sales and pay for every past Bond into one view, which no single table does, and it shows what the next actor will be measured against.
3Where it applies
Global (every actor who played 007 in the official EON series, 1962 to 2021)
4What we looked at
- Average critic score for the actor's Bond films (Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic)
- Average audience score for the same films (IMDb)
- Worldwide box office per film, adjusted for inflation
- Estimated total pay for the role, adjusted for inflation
- Where critics, audiences, ticket sales and pay disagree
- Rotten Tomatoes averages per actor (Looper / CBS News) — Average Tomatometer across each actor's EON films. Metacritic per-actor averages were not retrieved.
- IMDb audience averages (Screen Rant order; 2019 Reddit visualisation) — Audience ratings averaged per actor. The sources disagree on the order.
- 007james.com worldwide box office, inflation-adjusted — Worldwide gross per actor in 2011 US dollars, adjusted by CPI. This is an old base year, and Craig's total counts only four films.
5Who ranked
The leading AIs, each building its own list of ten independently and naming a source for every place: Claude, ChatGPT, Grok, Gemini, Nova, StepFun, Wenxin, Qwen.
6How the places were set
The same entry written differently by different AIs was counted as one. The more AIs put an entry on their list, and the higher they put it, the higher its place. "AI agreement" shows how many of the AIs had it on their own list. Sources are only those the AIs found themselves; nothing was added by hand.
05Each AI's own list
🇺🇸 Claude6 places · 3 notes
The same question, answered by Claude alone. The final list above combines all the AIs.
- 1Sean Connery (1962–1971, 1983 non-EON excluded)
Top of the Rotten Tomatoes average at about 83% and of the IMDb order, and second on box office per film at $725m (2011 dollars).
Source ↗ - 2Daniel Craig
The only actor who is first or second on every measure: first on box office ($820m a film) and pay (over $100m), second in the IMDb order.
Source ↗ - 3Roger Moore
Last with critics at about 57% yet third on box office and second on pay at $91.5m, the biggest gap between critics and the till.
Source ↗ - 4Pierce Brosnan
A mid-table sales figure (about $511m a film) set against critics' scores in the low 60s.
Source ↗ - 5Timothy Dalton
Critics' fourth-best average (about 76%), but the lowest box office per film at about $333m.
Source ↗ - 6George Lazenby
Second with critics at about 81% from one film, but lowest on pay at about $710,000.
Source ↗
What Claude noticed
Craig leads on box office per film ($820m against Connery's $725m, in 2011 dollars) and pay (over $100m), while Connery leads critics and audiences.
Lazenby has the second-best critics' average (about 81%) from a single film, but his pay is estimated at only about $710,000 in today's money, against Moore's $91.5m.
Moore made seven films and is last with critics at about 57%, yet his estimated pay of $91.5m is above Connery's $87.4m.
🇺🇸 ChatGPT6 places · 3 notes
The same question, answered by ChatGPT alone. The final list above combines all the AIs.
- 1Daniel Craig
His five-film run includes Skyfall at about $1.11 billion worldwide in 2012 dollars, while reported total Bond pay exceeded $100 million.
Source ↗ - 2Sean Connery
The original era’s Thunderball is estimated at about $1.047 billion worldwide in 2012 dollars, while a reported pay estimate is $87.4 million in today’s money.
Source ↗ - 3Roger Moore
Seven films give Moore the longest EON Bond run; one estimated pay ranking puts his inflation-adjusted total at $91.5 million, above Connery’s estimate.
Source ↗ - 4Pierce Brosnan
His four-film tenure sits between the classic and Craig eras, but the sources found do not support a complete, comparable inflation-adjusted pay total.
Source ↗ - 5Timothy Dalton
Two films make his sample small, and one critics-based ranking calls him a respected Bond despite the brief tenure.
Source ↗ - 6George Lazenby
One official film means his placement changes dramatically depending on whether you reward a single strong showing or sustained performance.
Source ↗
What ChatGPT noticed
Skyfall’s worldwide gross is reported at about $1.109 billion in 2012 dollars by Guinness, but current Box Office Mojo lifetime gross is a nominal figure; the dollar bases should not be mixed.
The inflation-adjusted earnings estimates cited for Moore ($91.5m) and Connery ($87.4m) place Moore slightly ahead, while Craig is reported above $100m; these are estimates, not audited compensation totals.
IMDb audience scores are film-level ratings. An actor with one Bond film has a much less stable mean than one with seven, so a simple unweighted actor ranking can mislead.
🇺🇸 Grok6 places · 4 notes
The same question, answered by Grok alone. The final list above combines all the AIs.
- 1Sean Connery
Highest average critic scores and still the cultural template; inflation-adjusted box office remains elite
Source ↗ - 2Daniel Craig
Highest modern pay and strongest unadjusted box-office total; critics and audiences rank him at or near the top
Source ↗ - 3Roger Moore
Most films (7) and second-highest inflation-adjusted pay; solid audience affection despite lower critic scores
Source ↗ - 4Pierce Brosnan
Strong commercial run in the 1990s-2000s but lowest average critic scores of the six
Source ↗ - 5Timothy Dalton
Only two films yet respectable critic and audience scores; modest box office and pay
Source ↗ - 6George Lazenby
Single film still well-regarded by critics and fans, but lowest total pay and box office
Source ↗
What Grok noticed
Daniel Craig holds the Guinness record for highest single-film Bond salary ($25m each for Spectre and No Time to Die) and the largest unadjusted career box-office total.
Inflation adjustment reverses some rankings: Connery's 1960s hits remain competitive with or ahead of modern totals once ticket prices are equalised.
Critics and audiences diverge most on Roger Moore (loved by fans, cooler with reviewers) and Pierce Brosnan (commercial success, lower average scores).
Only six actors have played Bond in the official Eon series from 1962 to 2021; Lazenby is the sole one-film entry.
🇺🇸 Gemini6 places · 2 notes
The same question, answered by Gemini alone. The final list above combines all the AIs.
- 1Sean Connery
The franchise benchmark paired an unmatched 85% Rotten Tomatoes critical average with $780M inflation-adjusted box office per movie.
Source ↗ - 2Daniel Craig
Commercial king of modern 007 who commanded over $100M in career pay and generated $895M adjusted gross per release.
- 3Roger Moore
Carried the franchise through 7 films across 12 years, amassing $91.5M in adjusted pay despite a lower 62% critical average.
- 4Pierce Brosnan
Rebooted 007 into 1990s blockbuster dominance with $660M adjusted per film, though scripts dragged his Metacritic mark to 57.
Source ↗ - 5Timothy Dalton
Beloved in modern critical retrospectives at 76% on Rotten Tomatoes, but generated the lowest adjusted box office at $370M per film.
- 6George Lazenby
Boasts an 81% Rotten Tomatoes score for his lone outing, but walked away after earning just $3.5M in adjusted pay.
What Gemini noticed
Sean Connery and Daniel Craig represent the dual peaks of 007 value: Connery remains the critical leader (85.3% RT) and 1960s cultural giant, while Craig set the financial apex with $895M adjusted gross per film and over $100M in salary.
Roger Moore achieved the highest earnings relative to critical acclaim, converting a modest 62.4% review average into $91.5M in inflation-adjusted pay across seven lucrative globe-trotting entries.
🇺🇸 Nova6 places · 2 notes
The same question, answered by Nova alone. The final list above combines all the AIs.
- 1Daniel Craig
$100M+ pay, $960M+ gross — Skyfall hit $1.5B adjusted
Source ↗ - 2Roger Moore
$91.5M pay, $91.5M gross average — most films over $500M
Source ↗ - 3Sean Connery
$87.4M pay, $87.4M gross — first Bond, 7 films
Source ↗ - 4Pierce Brosnan
$41.1M pay, $738M gross — GoldenEye hit $1B adjusted
Source ↗ - 5Timothy Dalton
$21.5M pay, $624M gross — Licence to Kill adjusted $1B
Source ↗ - 6George Lazenby
$710K pay, $705M gross — one film only
Source ↗
What Nova noticed
Craig’s pay ($100M+) dwarfs all predecessors, but his films also grossed $960M+ each — highest per-film average.
Moore’s seven films averaged $91.5M gross vs Craig’s $960M, showing era disparity — 1960s crowds vs modern global market.
🇨🇳 StepFun6 places · 4 notes
The same question, answered by StepFun alone. The final list above combines all the AIs.
- 1Daniel Craig (2006–2021)
The only Bond in the top three on all four scoreboards — and the first to clear $100m in inflation-adjusted pay.
Source ↗ - 2Sean Connery (1962–1971)
Number one with critics (83%) and number one in inflation-adjusted grosses ($4.35bn) — yet only third in pay.
Source ↗ - 3Roger Moore (1973–1985)
The widest critic–ticket split in Bond history: worst Tomatometer average (57.1%), second-biggest adjusted gross ($3.86bn) and second-highest pay ($91.5m).
Source ↗ - 4Timothy Dalton (1987–1989)
Critics' third-favourite (76.5%) with the second-smallest gross and $21.5m adjusted pay — the connoisseur's Bond the box office ignored.
Source ↗ - 5Pierce Brosnan (1995–2002)
Lowest audience average of the six, yet $2.04bn adjusted gross and about $78m adjusted pay — audiences huffed, tickets sold.
Source ↗ - 6George Lazenby (1969)
One film holding an 81% Tomatometer — above the career average of every Bond except Connery — for $710,000 adjusted, the smallest 007 cheque on record.
Source ↗
What StepFun noticed
Thunderball is the series' inflation-adjusted box-office champion at about $1.04bn worldwide — a Connery film, which is why Connery tops the adjusted-gross table while Craig's billion-dollar era only ranks third.
Connery was paid $17,000 for Dr. No; his six-film total adjusts to about $87.4m — Craig's five films adjust to over $100m, a pay explosion the 1960s cinema boom never saw.
George Lazenby's single film rates 81% on Rotten Tomatoes — higher than every Roger Moore film (Moore's seven-film average: 57.1%) — yet Lazenby is routinely ranked last of the six in fan polls.
Daniel Craig's films average 79% on Rotten Tomatoes — reported as the actor who 'fixed' Bond's critics' record — while pre-Craig eras sat far lower, especially Moore at 57.1%.
🇨🇳 Wenxin6 places
The same question, answered by Wenxin alone. The final list above combines all the AIs.
- 1Daniel Craig
Leads total inflation-adjusted Bond pay at over 100 million, the highest of any 007 actor in history
- 2Roger Moore
The personal favorite of many long-time Bond fans, with total adjusted pay of ~91.5 million across 7 appearances
- 3Sean Connery
The original official 007, with total adjusted Bond earnings reaching ~87.4 million
- 4Pierce Brosnan
Holds consistent mid-range scores across critics, audiences, box office and total pay metrics
- 5Timothy Dalton
Earned a total adjusted Bond pay of ~21.5 million across only two 007 films
- 6George Lazenby
The youngest actor ever to play 007, with just one single official Bond film and adjusted role earnings of only ~710,000
🇨🇳 Qwen6 places · 3 notes
The same question, answered by Qwen alone. The final list above combines all the AIs.
- 1Sean Connery
The undisputed original whose ticket sales adjusted for inflation ($4.3B+) still dwarf the modern CGI era.
Source ↗ - 2Daniel Craig
The modern titan who commands the highest paycheck (>$100M) and Metacritic scores, but trails Connery in actual tickets sold.
Source ↗ - 3George Lazenby
The one-and-done who surprisingly holds an 81% RT score and massive per-film box office, despite the lowest pay.
Source ↗ - 4Pierce Brosnan
The consistent middle-manager of Bond: mid-60s RT and IMDb scores, solid $2B box office, and moderate pay.
Source ↗ - 5Timothy Dalton
The critic's darling who audiences and box offices rejected: 75% RT but the lowest ticket sales of the main six.
Source ↗ - 6Roger Moore
The great paradox: the lowest RT average (57.1%) yet the second-highest inflation-adjusted box office and $91.5M in pay.
Source ↗
What Qwen noticed
When adjusting for inflation, Roger Moore's seven films sold more actual cinema tickets than Daniel Craig's five, despite Craig's billion-dollar nominal grosses.
Timothy Dalton holds a higher Rotten Tomatoes average (75%) than both Roger Moore (57.1%) and Pierce Brosnan (63.7%), proving critics loved his gritty take even if 1980s audiences didn't.
Daniel Craig's Metacritic average of 66.6 is the highest of any Bond actor, reflecting a consistent critical prestige that eluded the campier Moore era.