What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedJames Bond
Ian Fleming · Book · 1953
If you loved James Bond, start with The Spy Who Loved Me (Lewis Gilbert, 1977) — a film from the same story. Below: 4 films, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to James Bond across media.
What hooked you in James Bond was the intoxicating blend of high-stakes global intrigue and the cool, calculated confidence required to dismantle dangerous schemes from the shadows.
Start with the source
Adaptation
The Spy Who Loved Me
Lewis Gilbert · Film · 1977
Adaptation
Licence to Kill
John Glen · Film · 1989
Adaptation
GoldenEye
Martin Campbell · Film · 1995
Films on the same thread
Dr. No
Terence Young · Film · 1962
Shares a thread with James Bond: Cold War.
You will recognize the quintessential template of the gentleman spy in this film, where exotic locations and the confrontation of a megalomaniacal villain mirror the classic James Bond formula.
Goldfinger
Guy Hamilton · Film · 1964
Explores: Stopping a Global Conspiracy, Wealth and Power Corruption, Cat and Mouse Game.
Like the best James Bond adventures, this film centers on a high-stakes cat and mouse game where a suave agent must outwit a powerful tycoon to save the global economy.
From Russia with Love
Terence Young · Film · 1963
Shares a thread with James Bond: International Intrigue.
This installment captures the international intrigue and deception that defined the early James Bond stories, featuring a lethal secret organization and the high-tension atmosphere of Cold War espionage.
Casino Royale
Martin Campbell · Film · 2006
Shares a thread with James Bond: International Intrigue.
If you admire the tension of James Bond missions, you will appreciate this gritty look at a rookie agent navigating high-stakes gambling and betrayal to stop a dangerous financial threat.
Series on the same thread
MacGyver
Lee David Zlotoff · Series · 1985
Shares a thread with James Bond: Espionage.
MacGyver captures the spirit of ingenuity found in James Bond, replacing high-tech gadgets with the resourceful problem-solving of a secret agent who relies on his wits to survive danger.
The Avengers
Sydney Newman · Series · 1961
Shares a thread with James Bond: Espionage.
This series offers the same urbane British charm as James Bond, pairing an eccentric, suave gentleman agent with skilled partners to foil diabolical villains and save the world.
Game of Thrones
David Benioff · Series · 2011
Shares a thread with James Bond: Moral Ambiguity.
While set in a fantasy world, the intricate power struggles and moral ambiguity mirror the complex geopolitical maneuvering and high-stakes political drama often found in James Bond narratives.
Bonanza
David Dortort · Series · 1959
Explores: family loyalty, frontier justice, community defense.
The dedication to protecting one's community through frontier justice echoes the unwavering commitment to duty and defense that drives the protagonist in the James Bond series.
Podcasts on the same thread
The Rest Is Classified
Podcast
Shares a thread with James Bond: Cold War.
This podcast provides a fascinating look at the real-world intelligence operations and covert geopolitics that serve as the authentic backbone for the fictional missions of James Bond.
The Dan Bongino Show
Cumulus Podcast Network | Dan Bongino · Podcast · 2026
Explores: Government Accountability, Constitutional Rights, Anti-Establishment.
Drawing on his background as a former Secret Service agent, the host offers a grounded perspective on the security and accountability themes prevalent in the James Bond universe.
Keep exploring
Common questions
What order should I read the Ian Fleming James Bond books in?
You should begin with Casino Royale, published in 1953. Follow this with Live and Let Die, Moonraker, Diamonds Are Forever, From Russia, with Love, Dr. No, Goldfinger, Thunderball, The Spy Who Loved Me, On Her Majesty's Secret Service, You Only Live Twice, The Man with the Golden Gun, and the short stories.
Is The Spy Who Loved Me movie based on the book of the same name?
While both share the title The Spy Who Loved Me, the 1977 film adaptation differs significantly from the 1962 Ian Fleming novel. The book is told from the perspective of a young woman named Vivienne Michel, whereas the film focuses on the traditional espionage adventures of James Bond.
How many short stories are included in the James Bond collection?
The collection includes several short stories published after the initial novels. These titles are From a View to a Kill, For Your Eyes Only, Quantum of Solace, Risico, The Hildebrand Rarity, Octopussy, The Property of a Lady, The Living Daylights, and 007 in New York.
Are GoldenEye and Licence to Kill based on Ian Fleming source material?
Licence to Kill and GoldenEye are film titles released in 1989 and 1995 respectively. While they feature the character James Bond, they are not direct adaptations of the original Ian Fleming books listed in the 1953 to 1966 bibliography provided in the source material.