MGM uploads 20 James Bond movies available to stream via YouTube app
IMAGE SOURCE: Piqsels.com
With James Bond fans having to patiently wait until next year for Daniel Craig’s last hurrah as 007 in No Time To Die, MGM Home Entertainment has taken the decision to make 20 James Bond classics available to stream for free via the YouTube app. MGM, which owns the full rights to all Bond movies produced by Eon Productions, has uploaded them just in time for the Christmas season.
Although the movies are by no means ad-free for normal YouTube app users, it’s still a great opportunity to watch some of the 007 classics that you may not have seen before, or re-watch some of your best-loved titles on the house. It will bring the 007 franchise to the screens of many more Indian viewers too, given the nation is YouTube’s fastest-growing audience. At the time of writing, there does not appear to be a limit on how long these movies will be available to stream. However, many believe that it’s a short-term move, designed to pique the interest of Bond fans until spring 2021 when No Time To Die is due to reach the big screen.
MGM paying its respects to the original 007
IMAGE SOURCE: Piqsels.com
It’s also thought that the recent passing of James Bond icon Sean Connery has played some part in MGM’s strategic decision, showcasing the best of Connery’s performances as 007 from 1962 to 1971.
To the older generation, Connery is James Bond. He was the original and part of some of the most commercially successful Bond movies of all time. Thunderball recouped $141.2 million at the box office worldwide. Box Office Mojo says it’s the biggest revenue driver in North America after ticket price inflation. Connery’s 007 character in Thunderball showcased the tradition and beauty of the Aston Martin DB5. Many will fondly remember Connery’s charming face behind the wheel of a DB5 – either in search of a damsel in distress or evading the bad guys. Aston Martin is due to produce a small batch of iconic DB5 models in the coming months, built to the exact specification as those used in the likes of Thunderball.
Early Bond films like Thunderball also helped to glamourise other industries, most notably the aura of casino gaming. 007 (Sean Connery) sat down to play Baccarat in both Thunderball and Dr. No, as well as On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (George Lazenby) and GoldenEye (Pierce Brosnan). Baccarat has since become the most popular card game in Asia and has inspired the rise of immersive live streamed versions, including a raft of spin-off variants including Control Squeeze which is most played offline in the gaming capital of Macau. These live baccarat studios have also been designed to replicate the look and feel of classic casino floors that 007 so readily thrives in on the big screen. That’s not to mention the glamour the films have inspired for film-screening attendances. Classic FM presented a photo journal of the ballgowns and tuxedos worn for the Skyfall world premiere, which took place at none other than London’s Royal Albert Hall – far grander than some of the Leicester Square setting for many London premieres. Berenice Marlohe could be seen there wearing a stunning Vivenne Westwood number.
Can you stream the Bond movies on your television?
Yes, it’s absolutely possible to stream these James Bond movies for free on your TV via the YouTube app. You’ll obviously need a smart TV to do so. Alternatively, if you are a Sky Q box subscriber, you will be able to find the movies within the pre-installed YouTube app. Other third-party devices like Apple TV boxes, which is now available on Amazon Fire TV. Alternatively, Google Chromecasts will also have the YouTube app pre-installed to use for this purpose.
Depending on your TV model, you may also be given the option to stream your chosen Bond movie straight from your smartphone-based YouTube app. It’s possible to ‘cast’ the video you’re watching on YouTube to your TV. This should work providing your television is connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your smartphone.
Top 4 recommended Bond movies for 007 newbies
If you are new to the James Bond franchise altogether, now is the perfect time to immerse yourself in the iconic British series. These movies are not included as part of the YouTube Premium service that users can now pay for using the UPI payment platform. With 20 free-to-stream titles to choose from, released between 1962 and 2015, we’ve put together a list of four iconic James Bond movies that will encapsulate the essence of 007 and why this character has become such an enduring figure on the big screen for almost 60 years.
- From Russia With Love (1963)
The second James Bond movie, it is heavily influenced by the Cold War. Producer Albert Broccoli believed this to be one of Ian Fleming’s strongest storylines and it showed on the big screen. It’s all based around SPECTRE being desperate to exact revenge on 007 for killing Dr. No in the original.
Goldfinger (1964)
The debut of the iconic Aston Martin DB5 and the 007’s first nemesis in the shape of Oddjob. Bond attempts to uncover and thwart Auric Goldfinger’s illegitimate bullion smuggling operation, with a little help from the US army.
GoldenEye (1995)
Bond comes face-to-face with former secret agent 006, Alec Trevelyan. Bond, played by Pierce Brosnan, attempts to bring down the GoldenEye project, which is designed to steal every penny from the Bank of England using satellite weaponry.
Casino Royale (2006)
Daniel Craig’s most successful performance as 007 yet. This prequel is focused on Bond earning his stripes as a young 00 agent by taking down terrorist financier Le Chiffre in a high-stakes poker tournament.
With this much entertainment at your fingertips and on the house, there’s never been a better time to crack into the James Bond series and get to know the many variations of this character over many, many years.
