Diamonds Are Forever (1971) is the James Bond movie that walks into the room wearing a tuxedo… and then immediately
asks if anyone knows where the nearest blackjack table is. It’s glossy, loud, occasionally brilliant, occasionally baffling,
and somehow still charming even when it’s being a little ridiculous on purpose.
This is the film where Sean Connery returns as 007 after On Her Majesty’s Secret Serviceand the franchise swings
hard toward cheeky spectacle. You get Las Vegas glitz, sharp one-liners, a diamond-powered laser plot, and henchmen who feel
like they wandered in from a very stylish (and mildly sinister) dinner theater production. Whether you love it or roll your eyes
at it often depends on one question: Do you want Bond to be deadly serious… or deliciously unserious?
Quick refresher: what the movie is (and isn’t)
At its core, Diamonds Are Forever starts as a diamond-smuggling investigation and balloons into a classic “save the
world” scheme involving Ernst Stavro Blofeld and a satellite laser. The story hops through casinos, deserts, and secret lairs
with a tone that’s more playful than tense.
- Bond: Sean Connery (back in the role, older, cooler, and noticeably amused)
- Bond Girl: Tiffany Case (Jill St. John), a smuggler with spark and swagger
- Villain: Blofeld (Charles Gray), leaning into camp and confidence
- Signature vibe: Vegas lounge energy + spy-movie absurdity + Connery’s dry charm
How I’m ranking it
Bond fans argue about rankings the way chefs argue about knives: passionately, forever, and with at least one person insisting
“the old ones were better.” So here’s a clear scoring rubricfive categories, each out of 10so you can see
exactly why this film lands where it lands.
- Bond Performance (Connery factor, chemistry, presence)
- Villains & Henchmen (threat level + memorability)
- Action & Set Pieces (stunts, pacing, creativity)
- Tone & Style (humor, production design, “Bond-ness”)
- Legacy & Rewatch Value (does it stick? does it replay well?)
Where it lands in the wider Bond rankings
In many “all Bond films ranked” lists, Diamonds Are Forever typically lives in the middle-to-lower middle.
That isn’t a death sentenceBond’s “mid-tier” is still more fun than plenty of franchises’ best daysbut it does explain why
this movie feels like a cult favorite rather than an untouchable classic.
-
Rotten Tomatoes: Often placed around the middle of the official series lists, with a critics consensus that
basically says “derivative, but entertainingespecially with Connery.” -
Metacritic: A “mixed or average” critical profile fits the movie’s reputation: stylish moments, shaky logic,
and a tone that can be either delightful or distracting. -
Major magazine rankings: It frequently gets praised for the theme song, Connery’s presence, and the Vegas flavor
while getting dinged for being too winky and not emotionally connected to what came right before it.
The rankings: what shines, what wobbles
1) Bond performance: Connery is the reason this works (Score: 9/10)
Connery doesn’t just play Bondhe anchors the entire movie’s reality. Even when the plot is doing gymnastics in a sequined
cape, Connery strolls through it like, “Yes, of course I’m here. Of course this is happening. And yes, I’m still ordering the martini.”
The key difference from earlier Connery outings is that this Bond feels more sardonic than ferocious. He’s less “predator in a suit”
and more “unbothered professional who has seen it all.” That shift fits the film’s comedic tilt and helps the movie avoid collapsing
under its own absurdity.
2) Villains & henchmen: iconic weirdos beat inconsistent menace (Score: 7/10)
Blofeld here is not the cold nightmare of earlier entries. He’s smoother, sassier, and sometimes feels like he’s hosting a high-end
villain convention. If you want a terrifying mastermind, you may miss the edge. If you want a villain who matches the film’s “Vegas
fantasy” tone, it clicks.
The real MVPs are Mr. Wint and Mr. Kidd: quietly creepy, oddly mannered, and memorable in a way that’s hard to forget once you’ve met them.
They add flavorsometimes more than the main threat doesand they’re one reason people remember Diamonds Are Forever even when they
don’t rank it near the top.
3) Bond women & supporting cast: fun energy, uneven depth (Score: 6.5/10)
Tiffany Case is spirited, glamorous, and often funnyespecially when the movie lets her be sharp instead of simply reactive. She’s a strong
presence, but the script doesn’t always give her a consistent arc. Sometimes she’s savvy and in-control; sometimes she’s there to keep the
plot moving with a shrug and a quip.
The supporting cast is a classic Bond buffet: you’ll recognize M, Q, and Moneypenny; you’ll meet Vegas characters who feel like they
belong on neon signage; and you’ll get side figures who exist primarily to be suspicious, helpful, or memorably strange for three minutes.
It’s not “deep ensemble storytelling,” but it is entertaining.
4) Action & set pieces: high points are excellent, transitions can be clunky (Score: 7.5/10)
The best action in Diamonds Are Forever has a practical, tactile “stunt show” quality. The standout is the Las Vegas police chase with
the Ford Mustangclever, clean, and still fun decades later. Even the movie’s famous continuity hiccup became part of its charm, like a magic trick
where you can see the wires and still applaud the magician.
Elsewhere, the film sometimes feels like it’s sprinting from one big idea to the next without always building momentum. You’ll get sequences that
rule (car chase, brawls, base infiltration) and sequences that feel like the movie is politely killing time until it can get back to the next
“Bond thing.”
5) Gadgets, tech, and the “laser satellite” problem (Score: 6/10)
Bond movies live on gadget logic: the audience isn’t asking for a physics lecturethey’re asking for spectacle with style. That said, the laser satellite plan
in Diamonds Are Forever lands in a weird spot. It’s not grounded enough to feel plausible, and it’s not outrageous enough to feel like pure fantasy
either. It’s “science-ish,” which is often the most dangerous genre.
The movie compensates with design and vibe: shiny labs, flashy hideouts, and an overall feeling that the future is going to be expensive and mildly ridiculous.
The tech is less “wow” and more “well, that escalated quickly.”
6) Tone & style: the movie’s biggest strength and biggest argument (Score: 8/10)
This is the “winking Bond” era warming up: self-aware humor, camp flourishes, and a sense that the franchise is comfortable parodying its own formula
(without becoming a full parody). The Vegas setting makes that tone feel natural. Vegas is already theatricalBond just blends in.
The downside is emotional whiplash. Coming after a film with real heartbreak, Diamonds Are Forever largely chooses not to carry that weight forward.
For some fans, that’s a relief. For others, it’s a missed opportunity. Either way, the film is making a choice: “We’re here to entertain, not to process feelings.”
My mini-rankings inside the movie
Best set piece
The Las Vegas Mustang chase. It’s inventive, tight, and built around a simple cinematic pleasure: Bond outdrives the problem.
It’s also one of those sequences that reminds you why practical stunts age well.
Best “Bond being Bond” moment
Any scene where Connery reacts to escalating nonsense with calm confidence. The movie throws weird at him, and he responds with
“Yes, obviously, I am still in control.” That’s the Bond fantasy in one sentence.
Best villain flavor
Wint & Kidd. Not because they’re the scariest, but because they’re the most distinctive. They’re the kind of characters you
can’t “unsee,” which is a strange compliment but a real one.
Best overall aesthetic
Vegas glam + spy chic. This movie understands that Bond is partly a travel brochure, partly a fashion magazine, and partly an action
cartoon that learned how to tie a tie.
My final score (with receipts)
- Bond Performance: 9/10
- Villains & Henchmen: 7/10
- Action & Set Pieces: 7.5/10
- Tone & Style: 8/10
- Legacy & Rewatch Value: 7/10
Final: 7.7/10 (rounded to 8/10 if you’re in a generous mood, 7/10 if you’re grading on “best of Bond.”)
In the grand Bond movie rankings, Diamonds Are Forever isn’t the sharpest spy thriller and it’s not the most coherent adventure. But it is
consistently watchable, frequently funny, and powered by one of the most magnetic Bonds ever to do it. If you treat it as a glittery
Vegas postcard with explosions, it’s a great time.
500-word viewing experiences: how to watch Diamonds Are Forever like a pro
The funniest thing about Diamonds Are Forever is that it offers multiple “correct” viewing experiences. If you watch it like a serious espionage
story, you’ll probably notice the seams: the tonal zigzags, the plot leaps, the moments where the movie prioritizes a gag over logic. But if you watch it
as a Bond variety showConnery charisma, Vegas spectacle, stylish weirdness, practical stuntsit becomes the kind of comfort-watch people
put on when they want two hours of confident nonsense.
Experience #1: The first-timer, spoiler-light ride.
Go in knowing one thing: this is not “sad Bond processing grief.” This is “Bond is back, the franchise is smiling again.” Let the movie be what it is.
Don’t pause to ask, “Would a diamond laser satellite really” because the movie will not wait for you. It’s already on to a casino, a smuggler, and a
villain with a plan that sounds like it was pitched on a napkin in a lounge with excellent lighting.
Experience #2: The rewatch with a focus track.
On a second viewing, pick one element and follow it like a documentary:
- The Connery track: Watch how he underplays danger. The joke is often that everyone else is frantic while Bond stays smooth.
- The Vegas track: Treat the locations and sets as charactersneon, glamour, and a faint whiff of 1970s lounge decadence.
- The henchmen track: Wint & Kidd are doing a whole separate genre movie. Spot how their scenes tilt the tone.
- The stunt track: Appreciate what the camera captures practicallycars, fights, and physical movementwithout digital safety nets.
Experience #3: The “ranking party” night.
If you’re watching with friends, make it interactive. Before you press play, each person writes down three predictions:
(1) their expected rank for the movie (top 10, mid-pack, bottom 5),
(2) their predicted best scene,
and (3) their predicted “most Bond” moment. After the credits, compare notes and assign quick awards:
“Best One-Liner Energy,” “Most Vegas Moment,” “Most Unbothered Connery Face,” and “Scene That Shouldn’t Work But Does.”
This turns the movie into a social experienceexactly the kind of vibe its tone seems built for.
Experience #4: The double-feature experiment.
For maximum perspective, pair Diamonds Are Forever with a Bond film that represents the opposite tone.
If you pair it with something emotionally heavier, you’ll see why fans argue about its “reset button” attitude.
If you pair it with something later and more comedic, you’ll notice how Diamonds helped normalize the franchise’s wink
without fully becoming self-parody.
However you watch it, the “right” experience is the one that matches the movie’s own confidence: it’s here to entertain, to look good doing it,
and to remind you that sometimes Bond isn’t a lecturehe’s dessert. Preferably served in a casino, with a theme song that refuses to leave your brain.
Conclusion
Diamonds Are Forever is rarely crowned the best Bond film, but it’s often remembered more vividly than its ranking suggests.
That’s the Connery effect, the Vegas effect, and the “this is kind of outrageous and I’m enjoying it anyway” effect. In Bond rankings and opinions,
this one lands as a sparkly middle-tier crowd-pleaser: imperfect, iconic in spots, and surprisingly rewatchable when you want a fun,
slick, slightly campy ride.