James Bond (films)

The James Bond films are adaptations of most of Ian Fleming's novels based on the fictional British Secret Service Agent Commander James Bond. Twenty-one films have been made by EON Productions as of 2007. In addition, there are two independent productions and a American television adaptation of the first novel. Albert Broccoli and Harry Saltzman co-produced the EON films until 1975, when Broccoli remained the sole producer. Since 1995, Broccoli's daughter Barbara and stepson Michael G. Wilson have co-produced them. Six actors have portrayed 007 so far. The most recent EON film is Casino Royale, with Daniel Craig as James Bond, which premiered on 14 November 2006,, going on general release in Asia the following day.

Broccoli's and Saltzman's family company, Danjaq, has held ownership of the James Bond film series through Eon, and maintained co-ownership with United Artists Corporation since the mid-1970s. From the release of Dr. No (1962) up to For Your Eyes Only (1981), the films were distributed solely by United Artists. When MGM bought UA in 1981, MGM/UA Entertainment Co. was formed and distributed the films till 1995. MGM solely distributed three films from 1997 to 2002 after the United Artists brand retired as a mainstream studio. Beginning in 2006 with Casino Royale, MGM and Columbia Pictures co-distribute the franchise, due to a partnership led by Columbia's parent company, Sony Pictures Entertainment, acquiring MGM in 2005.