The Best of The First and Greatest James Bond: Top 10 Best Sean Connery Films.
He was Bond, James Bond and so much more. Sean Connery left us in 2020 making an already jacked up year even more jacked up. But the good news is that the 90 year old OG left us with decades worth of amazing and memorable work. Here I’m just gonna choose my top 10 favorites of Mr. Connery’s body of work.
10. Murder on The Orient Express. 1974.
Even when playing alongside such other iconic performers like Albert Finney, Lauren Bacall, Martin Balsam etc. Connery still managed to steal the film with his usual charm and witty sense of humor in this film adaptation of Agatha Christie’s classic novel of the same name.
9. Highlander. 1986.
This cult classic film spawned sequels, a spin off series, a popular animated series but it all started here. Connery plays the mentor to Christopher Lambert’s Conner MacCleod. While Connery isn’t the central character, he elevated that film with his performance and star power exponentially. “There can be only one.”
8. Finding Forrester. 2000.
This underrated film showed a different side to Connery. Playing the reclusive author William Forrester opposite actor Rob Brown, Connery got to play a very unique character who was partially inspired by authors J.D. Salinger and William S. Burroughs. The film was a critical and commercial success at the time of its release but has become undeservedly forgotten about. Finding Forrester is certainly one of Connery’s best performances at this point in his career.
7. The Hunt for Red October. 1990.
Based off the classic Tom Clancy novel, this feature film adaptation of The Hunt for Red October is considered one of the finest submarine movies as well as one of the greatest war\action movies of all time. Connery plays Marko Ramius, a Russian captain who abandons his orders and heads for the east coast of the United States. Equipped with innovative stealth technology, Ramius’ submarine, “Red October,” is virtually invisible. However, when an American sub briefly detects the Russians’ presence, CIA agent Jack Ryan (Alec Baldwin) sets out to determine Ramius’ motives, fearing he may launch an attack on the U.S.
6. Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade. 1989.
It was inspired casting to get James Bond himself to play Indy’s pop. Connery and Ford played amazingly well off each other that the father\son dynamic felt completely genuine as well as enjoyable. It was also in this film that Connery got to show off his comic skills a bit more than he had before and it makes the film all the better.
5. Dr. No. 1962.
The start of it all. Dr. No was the first official James Bond film brought to the big screen with Connery donning the famous tux for the very first time. From the start the man embodied James Bond and defined the character so well that every actor taking over the role had his portrayal to work off of. The introduction of Bond for the very first time became iconic and to this day one of the greatest character introductions in film history.
4. Goldfinger. 1964.
The third Bond film of Connery’s run and perhaps the best remembered of the run as well. From the over the top gadgets, villains and sex laden puns, this was the film that really established those specific Bond elements for the rest of the franchise. The iconic theme tune by Shirley Bassey is also a major highlight. Then there’s:
3. The Untouchables. 1987.
Based off the beloved tv series, The Untouchables film had a legendary cast all across the board, yet Connery still manages to do his thing and ended up winning a much deserved Oscar for it. Beating out a fantastic group of real competition that year that included Denzel Washington, Morgan Freeman, Albert Brooks and Vincent Gardenia. Truly one of Connery’s all time most beloved performances and films outside of the Bond franchise.
2. The Rock 1996.
The Rock to this day is one of Michael Bay’s all time best films in his entire career along with the first two Bad Boys movies. The pairing of Connery and Nicolas Cage was very odd and unlikely, yet it worked like gangbusters in this incredibly fun and well made action flick. Connery’s John Mason was a character pitch perfect for him. Who better to play an aging ex spy who still got the moves to kill? There’s even a fan theory that Mason is actually James Bond using an Alias. Whether that’s true or not, this was certainly a highlight in Connery’s long as your arm resume. You can just tell how much fun he had doing the film. The chemistry between him and Cage is sorely underrated as I find it to be one of the best pairings in a buddy action comedy film.
- From Russia With Love. 1963.
Out of all the Bond films starring Connery I have to give From Russia With Love its due as my favorite. It’s certainly an ace Connery film as a whole, in my opinion. In this film Connery was at his most charming, sharply witty and just plain badass. The film is a truly great spy\action picture and packs a wallop with its iconic opening theme and credits, killer fight scenes, memorable music and its overall sense of pure unadulterated fun.
R.I.P. Sean. Thanks for the memories,
From Kendall With Love.
