Pierce Brosnan made his debut as James Bond in GoldenEye, and it still stands as his best 007 film 30 years later. The franchise had gone through a rough patch toward the end of Roger Moore’s time in the lead role, and Timothy Dalton’s stellar two-movie run wasn’t enough to right the ship.
After what was then the longest break in franchise history, Bond returned in 1995’s GoldenEye with a new look and a return to the excitement of the past. Dalton’s run had gotten shockingly dark in Licence to Kill, but Brosnan’s debut had all the tongue-in-cheek charm of the early films of Sean Connery or Moore.
GoldenEye was just what the franchise needed, and Brosnan was off to a hot start. Sadly, the 1995 hit would be the pinnacle of Brosnan’s nearly decade-long run in the role, and would be the last true highlight before the series was firmly rebooted with Casino Royale. Nevertheless, GoldenEye is still one of the best Bond movies of any era.
GoldenEye Is Pierce Brosnan’s Best James Bond Movie
Every James Bond actor’s first movie is pivotal to their success, and few got as great a start as Pierce Brosnan. GoldenEye clearly ushered in a new era for Bond, one that was reliant on the tropes of the past, but with some small tweaks to keep things fresh.
Box Office Mojo notes that GoldenEye grossed over $350 million, or over $750 million today when adjusted for inflation.
Licence to Kill proved that the public wasn’t ready for a gritty and modern 007, so they got a fun one instead. GoldenEye leaned heavily into the exaggerated charm of its predecessors, with nefarious villains and a ton of quips. It kept itself modern and yet timeless, with a global threat that only James Bond could stop.
Brosnan himself proved to be up to the task, and there were no first-movie jitters. He understood exactly what his version of Bond should be, and felt like a very natural replacement for Dalton. What’s more, a stellar supporting cast gave the incoming actor a lot to work with, without bearing sole responsibility for every scene.
The Soviet Union had dissolved since 1989, but GoldenEye didn’t lose its way without a recognizable villain. Instead, it dreamed up an exciting scenario which allowed for a considerable amount of action compared to the previous two films. The tank chase scene alone was a highlight, but each major set piece had the grandeur of classic 007 adventures.
How Brosnan’s Other James Bond Films Compare To GoldenEye
GoldenEye was such a perfect beginning that the rest of Pierce Brosnan’s 007 movies pale in comparison. His follow-up, Tomorrow Never Dies, had an interesting premise and Michelle Yeoh in a major supporting role. Unfortunately, it had little else to offer and was mostly a dud. The exaggerated ’90s cheese was a detriment, and it failed to feel important.
The World is Not Enough tried to hearken back to the over-the-top Bond movies of the ’60s, but the tone just didn’t work in the ’90s. Every long-running Bond actor had their filler movies, but Brosnan’s two middle films could never live up to the importance of GoldenEye, and they didn’t do anything interesting with Bond’s character either.
Die Another Day ended Brosnan’s era with a thud instead of a bang. It was intended to be the successor to GoldenEye, but action movies had changed since 1995. It tried to be a bit grittier, but couldn’t escape its own playful tone. Brosnan’s era will always be remembered with nostalgia, but mostly because of his first outing.
This story originally appeared on Screenrant
