The James Bond movie franchise celebrated its 50th anniversary in style this past year as Sam Mendes’ Skyfall shattered box office records on its way to becoming the first movie to hit £100 million in the UK (and the first 007 adventure to top $1 billion at the global box-office), but when it comes to the nation’s favourite Bond moment, it’s the iconic laser-charged confrontation between Auric Goldinger and Sean Connery’s 007 that comes out on top.
Pulling in 10.2% of the votes in a poll of more than 2500 Bond fans by Sky Movies HD for the TV show Bond’s Greatest Moments, the classic Goldfinger exchange was followed in second place by the breathtaking pre-title moment in The Spy Who Loved Me which sees Roger Moore skiing off the edge of a mountain to open a Union Jack parachute (7.6%), while Connery’s “Bond… James Bond” statement from Dr. No was voted third (5.7%).
Also making the top ten were: Casino Royale’s parkour chase (5.3%); The Man with the Golden Gun’s barrel roll river jump (4.5%); GoldenEye’s St. Petersburg tank chase (2.8%); Live and Let Die’s crocodile stepping stone escape (2.8%); Quantum of Solace’s Lake Garda car chase (2.2%); Desmond Llewellyn’s final scene as Q in The World Is Not Enough (2%); and Blofeld’s assassination of Bond’s new bride Tracy in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1.7%).
All of these classic scenes and more are included on Bond’s Greatest Moments, which features contributions from much-loved Bond stars including Daniel Craig and Judi Dench, Bond directors, producers and celebrity fans including Andrew Garfield and Hugh Jackman, and is available on Sky Movies 007 / HD and On Demand.
Originally published January 2, 2013. Updated April 10, 2018.
