--- title: "Casino Royale" year: 2006 kind: "film" canonical: "https://film.one/film/casino-royale" fi1m_id: "casino-royale" imdb_id: "tt0381061" tmdb_id: 36557 wikidata_id: "Q151904" fi1m_score: 86 critics_score: 81 critics_reviews: 9 published: "2026-09-15" updated: "2026-09-18T08:38:18.734918+00:00" region: "US" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Casino Royale (2006) Directed by Martin Campbell · 2h 24m · MPA PG-13 · Adventure, Action, Thriller ## Identity Casino Royale - **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/casino-royale - **Type:** Film - **Fi1m ID:** casino-royale - **IMDb ID:** tt0381061 - **TMDB ID:** 36557 - **Wikidata ID:** Q151904 - **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0381061/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/36557, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q151904 **Fi1m score: 86** · Critics 81 from 9 reviews *In a sentence:* Daniel Craig plays cards as though somebody has insulted him personally > Daniel Craig gives *Casino Royale* the danger and emotional weight its harder approach needs. Martin Campbell makes the action count, and Eva Green gives Bond someone worth listening to; only a protracted final stretch weakens our enthusiasm. ## Synopsis James Bond (Daniel Craig) faces a high-stakes card game in a story that returns the agent to his beginnings. His toughness and arrogance carry him through physical confrontations, but Vesper Lynd (Eva Green) is ready to challenge him in conversation. The contest at the table demands a different sort of control from a man accustomed to using force. Mads Mikkelsen plays Le Chiffre, Judi Dench plays M and Jeffrey Wright plays Felix Leiter. Adapted from Ian Fleming’s novel, the film follows a less assured Bond as his work begins to carry a greater personal cost. ## Review *Casino Royale* asks us to take James Bond seriously, which can be an awkward request from a film about a man playing cards under pressure. Martin Campbell earns it by putting Daniel Craig’s physical menace and impatience at the centre of the film. This Bond is forceful enough to get things done and arrogant enough to make us worry about his judgement. We recommend it warmly, with a reservation about how long it takes to finish. Craig makes the toughness convincing without making the man infallible. The building-site chase is an early demonstration of that approach. We were tense watching it, because Craig’s aggression suggests a man who might get himself hurt through sheer impatience. Campbell uses the architecture to give the pursuit problems to solve, while Phil Meheux’s photography makes the space readable enough for the physical effort to matter. Stuart Baird’s cutting keeps the sequence moving without reducing it to disconnected impacts. We can follow the pursuit and learn something about Bond at the same time. Peter Lamont’s production design gives the action surroundings that have a practical use. Buildings supply obstacles, and Campbell pays attention to how people move through them. David Arnold’s forceful score suits Craig’s rough performance, although the action scarcely needs further encouragement. The greater suspense comes when the film puts its faith in the high-stakes card game. There is pleasure in discovering that it can hold our attention just as firmly when its leading man sits down. Eva Green is just as important when the action pauses. As Vesper Lynd, she challenges Bond without treating every exchange as an invitation to admire him, and Craig allows some uncertainty into his performance in response. Adapting Ian Fleming’s novel, Neal Purvis, Robert Wade and Paul Haggis give the pair dialogue sharp enough to make their conversations worth waiting for. Green makes the prospect of Bond caring about somebody persuasive, despite all his arrogance. We begin to care about him because somebody is prepared to question his opinion of himself. The weakness is the length. At 144 minutes, *Casino Royale* gives its final stretch more space than the material needs, and Baird’s earlier control of pace becomes less evident. The action grows busier just when the film would benefit from trusting the people in it. This is a limited complaint, but an important one: Campbell has made the quieter exchanges engaging enough that more commotion can feel like an interruption. For a Bond film, cutting back on gadgets and smirking jokes is a useful start, but Craig is what makes the change worthwhile. He can be arrogant, anxious and dangerous without becoming a different person whenever the scene changes. Campbell retains enough wit to make the seriousness enjoyable, and enough faith in his actors to let us notice what the violence costs them. See it for Craig and Green, and allow Campbell a little more time than he needs. *Fi1m score 86, published 15 September 2026.* ## What the critics say The consensus is firmly positive: most critics see Casino Royale as a successful return to a tougher, more human Bond. Praise centres on Daniel Craig, whose physical presence, roughness and vulnerability give the familiar character renewed dramatic weight. The reviews also welcome the reduced reliance on gadgets and quips, alongside action that helps establish character rather than simply interrupting the plot. The clearer storytelling and greater emotional seriousness are recurring strengths. The differences are mostly about how far the reinvention goes and how well the film sustains it. Reservations cluster around pacing and the final act, with some finding the closing stretch overlong or routine. The AV Club offers the clearest qualification, treating the change as tentative and questioning unnecessary plotting. Radio Times praises the supporting performances, while Total Film has minor reservations about the supporting elements. The spread remains narrow: these are disagreements within a broadly enthusiastic response. ## Straight answers **Is Casino Royale worth watching?** *Casino Royale* is worth watching for anyone who wants a Bond film that takes its man seriously, and we scored it 86. Daniel Craig makes the toughness convincing without making him infallible, and Eva Green gives him someone worth arguing with. Our one reservation is the length: the final stretch runs longer than the material needs. **How long is Casino Royale, and what is it rated?** *Casino Royale* runs 2h 24m and is rated PG-13 by the MPA in the US. It is an adventure and action film. **Where can I watch Casino Royale in the US?** *Casino Royale* is available to rent from Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV from $3.99. Availability is checked daily; the links above go straight to each service. **How violent or frightening is Casino Royale, and is it suitable for children?** *Casino Royale* carries a 12A certificate, so it is aimed at older children and adults rather than the very young. The violence is physical and rough, and the film lets us notice what it costs the people involved, which makes it more bruising than the gadget-heavy Bonds. Squeamish viewers should expect fights that feel like they hurt. **How does Casino Royale compare to Die Another Day?** *Casino Royale* is the better film by some distance, and the two are different in kind. [*Die Another Day*](https://film.one/film/die-another-day) opens toughly and ends as a cartoon with an invisible car; *Casino Royale* stays serious throughout and trusts its actors over its effects. Viewers who want a knowing romp may prefer Brosnan, but the later film is the more disciplined and the more felt. **Is Casino Royale based on a true story or a book?** *Casino Royale* is adapted from Ian Fleming's novel of the same name, not from a true story. Neal Purvis, Robert Wade and Paul Haggis keep the card game at the centre and give Bond and Vesper dialogue sharp enough to reward waiting for. You do not need to have read the book; the film explains itself. **Do you need to have seen the other James Bond films before Casino Royale?** *Casino Royale* needs no knowledge of the other James Bond films and is a good place to start. It returns the agent to his beginnings, so he is less assured and the personal cost of the work is new to him. Newcomers lose nothing; longstanding fans will notice how much of the usual apparatus has been set aside. **What should I watch after Casino Royale?** After *Casino Royale*, try [*From Russia with Love*](https://film.one/film/from-russia-with-love) (1963, Fi1m 84): A more patient Bond, with close-quarters danger and unusually worthwhile supporting characters. Then [*The Bourne Identity*](https://film.one/film/the-bourne-identity) (2002, Fi1m 83): Another physically convincing spy whose uncertainty makes the action more involving; and [*Le Samouraï*](https://film.one/film/le-samourai) (1967, Fi1m 88): For the tension of watching a controlled professional begin to lose control. **What order should I watch the James Bond films in?** Release order is the safe choice for James Bond, and it is the order [our collection page](https://film.one/collections/james-bond) lists them in. *Casino Royale* is number 23 of the 27 James Bond titles on Fi1m; before it comes [*Die Another Day*](https://film.one/film/die-another-day) and after it [*Quantum of Solace*](https://film.one/film/quantum-of-solace). [The full order.](https://film.one/collections/james-bond.md) ### Reviews we read (13) - **Empire**, Kim Newman (90/100, inferred): The critic praises the film as a faithful adaptation of Fleming’s novel that renews the Bond franchise with gritty action, dramatic depth, and a compelling new lead in Daniel Craig. Some minor miscalculations are noted in the finale, but overall it is hailed as the most exciting Bond film in years. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/casino-royale-review/) - **Slant Magazine**, Keith Uhlich (85/100, inferred): The critic calls Casino Royale one of the good Bond films for its witty recontextualization of series elements and especially praises Daniel Craig's raw, rough performance as the best since Connery. They single out the film's charting of Bond's chilling renouncement of humanity as a highlight. [Read](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/casino-royale/) - **Variety**, Todd McCarthy (85/100, inferred): The critic notes that Craig comes closer to Fleming's original conception than anyone since Connery, recharging the series with toughness and arrogance. The focus on a high-stakes card game and comprehensible plotting is praised. [Read](https://variety.com/2006/film/awards/casino-royale-2-1200512101/) - **Los Angeles Times**, Kenneth Turan (80/100, inferred): The critic calls the film a shrewd and largely successful retooling that ups the reality quotient. Craig's performance is singled out as the most important and persuasive element. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2006-nov-17-et-casino17-story.html) - **Radio Times**, Adam Smith (4/5): Hails it as a triumphant new beginning for the franchise with Bourne-style grit, humanised Bond and strong supporting turns. Notes the overlong and chaotic final act as a minor flaw. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-x0bxv7/casino-royale/) - **The New York Times**, Manohla Dargis (80/100, inferred): The critic praises the film for refreshing the Bond franchise with a leaner, meaner and darker tone. Daniel Craig is singled out as an ideal fit for these grim times. [Read](https://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/17/movies/17roya.html) - **Total Film** (80/100, inferred): The review highlights the refreshed, back-to-basics approach with a harder-edged Bond, commending Daniel Craig’s physicality and commanding presence as the key to revitalizing the franchise. Minor complaints about pacing and supporting elements are outweighed by enthusiasm for the re-energized series. [Read](https://www.gamesradar.com/casino-royale-review/) - **The AV Club**, Noel Murray (B): The critic views the film as a step in the right direction toward a messier, more realistic Bond but calls it only a small, tentative one. They praise the character-building purpose in the action sequences while noting issues with the superfluous plot and routine climax. [Read](https://www.avclub.com/casino-royale-1798202207) - **The New Yorker**, Anthony Lane (75/100, inferred): The critic finds the film a mostly successful return to Fleming's roots with a leaner streak and strong action set pieces. Craig's performance is highlighted as key to making the character work. [Read](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2006/11/20/of-human-bondage-3) - **Screen Daily**: Describes it as a muscular, wildly successful attempt to strip the James Bond franchise back to basics with gritty realism, fuller characterisations and heart-thumping action. Praises the reinvention under Martin Campbell and the sharp contributions from the writing team. [Read](https://www.screendaily.com/casino-royale/4029513.article) - **Sight and Sound**, Roger Clarke: Praises Daniel Craig's performance as a flawed, anxious and brutal Bond in this franchise reboot. Singles out the inventive action sequences revolving around architecture, including a building-site chase and the collapsing Venetian palazzo. [Read](http://old.bfi.org.uk/sightandsound/review/3660) - **The Guardian**, Peter Bradshaw: The critic hails Daniel Craig as a fantastic Bond and the best since Sean Connery, praising his effortless presence, lethal danger and ability to bring serious acting to an unserious role. The film is called ridiculously enjoyable for cutting back on smirking quips and gadgets while pumping up emotion and sado-masochism. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2006/nov/10/jamesbond.danielcraig) - **Time Out**, Wally Hammond: Calls it a highly enjoyable back-to-basics reboot of the 007 franchise with gritty realism and sharp, knowing dialogue. Singles out Eva Green's strong, equal sparring role as Vesper Lynd and the confident direction of the action sequences. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/casino-royale-1) ## Details - **Director:** Martin Campbell - **Director:** Martin Campbell - **Screenplay:** Robert Wade, Paul Haggis, Neal Purvis - **Novel:** Ian Fleming - **Cinematography:** Phil Meheux - **Editor:** Stuart Baird - **Music:** David Arnold - **Production design:** Peter Lamont - **Costume design:** Lindy Hemming - **Producer:** Michael G. Wilson, Barbara Broccoli - **Cast:** Daniel Craig as James Bond; Eva Green as Vesper Lynd; Mads Mikkelsen as Le Chiffre; Judi Dench as M; Jeffrey Wright as Felix Leiter; Giancarlo Giannini as Mathis; Caterina Murino as Solange; Simon Abkarian as Alex Dimitrios - **Runtime:** 2h 24m - **Certificate (MPA):** PG-13 - **Release (the US):** 17 November 2006 - **Genres:** Adventure, Action, Thriller - **Part of:** [James Bond](https://film.one/collections/james-bond.md) · 23 of 27 - **Budget:** $150 million - **Box office:** $599 million - **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4NT78c-pYs ## Where to watch in the US - Amazon Prime Video: rent $3.99, uhd - Apple TV: rent $3.99, hd - Amazon Prime Video: buy $14.99, uhd - Apple TV: buy $14.99, hd *Checked 2026-09-15.* Also available in: AE, AR, AT, AU, BE, BG, BR, CA, CH, CL, CO, CZ, DE, DK, EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HK, HU, ID, IE, IL, IN, IT, JP, LT, MX, MY, NL, NO, NZ, PA, PH, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SG, TH, TR, UA, US, VN, ZA. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country. ## Awards - BAFTA Film Awards 2006: Best Sound (won) ## If you liked this - *From Russia with Love* (1963), Fi1m 84: A more patient Bond, with close-quarters danger and unusually worthwhile supporting characters. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/from-russia-with-love.md) - *The Bourne Identity* (2002), Fi1m 83: Another physically convincing spy whose uncertainty makes the action more involving. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-bourne-identity.md) - *Le Samouraï* (1967), Fi1m 88: For the tension of watching a controlled professional begin to lose control. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/le-samourai.md) - *Lust, Caution* (2007), Fi1m 76: Espionage makes intimacy dangerous, with considerably more patience for desire and doubt. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/lust-caution.md) - *The Spy Gone North* (2018): A spy thriller that trusts conversation, divided loyalties and the people across tables. --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/casino-royale