--- title: "Goldfinger: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/goldfinger/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/goldfinger" critics_score: 80 critics_reviews: 17 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." --- # Goldfinger (1964): what the critics said Critics' score 80 from 17 reviews: 14 positive, 3 mixed, 0 negative. Most critics agree Goldfinger is where the Bond formula settles: gadgets, a megalomaniac villain, a theme song and a joke never far from the violence. The praise clusters on Guy Hamilton’s handling of tone, keeping the outrageous and the self-mocking in step, and on Ken Adam’s sets, the Aston Martin and the laser sequence, which nearly everyone names. Connery draws warm notices for pairing charm with cruelty; John Barry’s score and Shirley Bassey’s song are mentioned almost as often. The reservations are fewer and mostly about age. The Independent enjoys the storytelling but finds the sexism and the barn scene hard to watch now, and The Times allows that it looks primitive beside later entries. The Guardian thinks the fantasy too contrived once Bond can do anything, and The New York Times, writing on release, finds the gadgets tedious while admiring the Fort Knox raid. The spread is narrow and nobody is hostile. ## Radio Times — David Parkinson Rating 5/5. The film ranks among the slickest Bond entries, endlessly entertaining with classic moments like the gold paint, laser scene and Oddjob duel. Director Guy Hamilton integrates these into a gripping storyline and elicits Connery's best performance. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-mrfciw/goldfinger/) ## Empire — Ian Nathan Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 2 July 2007. The review hails the film as perfection and the point where the franchise hit its stride, praising the immortal laser scene, iconic elements like the Aston Martin and Oddjob's hat, and its blend of glamour, action, sex and comedy under Guy Hamilton. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/goldfinger-review/) ## Evening Standard — Nick Curtis Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 10 April 2012. The writer declares Goldfinger the finest in the series for its taut plot, Aston Martin, Shirley Bassey song, golf and laser set pieces, and especially Sean Connery at his peak capturing Bond's cruelty, charm, virility and humour. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/licence-to-thrill-7219862.html) ## RogerEbert.com — Roger Ebert Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 31 January 1999. Ebert declares Goldfinger the best of the Bond films and a great entertainment that encapsulates the entire series formula. He singles out its many durable iconic images, such as the gold-painted woman and the gadget-filled Aston Martin. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/great-movie-goldfinger-1964) ## Sight and Sound Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). The review praises the film's pre-credits sequence and overall tone of outrageous violence mixed with self-mockery. It highlights Ken Adam's sets, gadgetry like the Aston Martin, and the principle that nothing succeeds like excess. [Read the review](http://old.bfi.org.uk/features/ultimatefilm/chart/details.php?ranking=27) ## The Telegraph Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 16 September 2024. The piece celebrates Goldfinger as the gold standard and most important Bond film, crediting its formula of gadgets, action, sex and humour for defining the series. It singles out the laser scene and overall tone set by director Guy Hamilton for praise. [Read the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/goldfinger-perfect-james-bond-film-sean-connery/) ## Total Film Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 27 July 2007. The review states the third Bond film glitters in every department with the coolest car, greatest score and quintessential dialogue, crediting Guy Hamilton for nailing the balance of adventure, sexism and fantasy while noting minor technical flaws. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/goldfinger-review/) ## The New Yorker — Brendan Gill Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 19 December 1964. Gill pronounces Goldfinger worthy of the earlier Bonds and commends the screenwriters and director for keeping the misadventures flowing at a swift, self-parodying clip. He singles out the beautiful Aston-Martin for visual solace amid the action. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1964/12/26/006-12) ## Variety — Variety Staff Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 1 January 1964. The review finds no staleness in this third Bond outing and notes liberties taken with the novel that preserve its flavor. It singles out production designer Ken Adam for a wealth of enticing invention in sets and gadgets. [Read the review](https://variety.com/1963/film/reviews/goldfinger-1200420642/) ## The Independent — Geoffrey Macnab Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 19 April 2024. The critic calls Goldfinger the most pleasurable James Bond movie ever made thanks to its playful, witty storytelling and iconic set pieces, but notes its tarnished legacy due to dated sexism, xenophobia and a problematic barn scene now viewed as assault. [Read the review](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/goldfinger-james-bond-sean-connery-sexist-nazi-b2530685.html) ## The Times — Edward Porter Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 29 July 2007. The review praises the re-released film for its wit and panache despite feeling primitive by modern standards. It highlights the plot involving Pussy Galore and the attempt to sabotage Fort Knox as enduringly enjoyable. [Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/film/article/goldfinger-sunday-times-review-vsd2xb62f9c) ## Time Out — Derek Adams Rating 3/5. 24 July 2007. The critic notes the film's iconic elements including the theme song, Oddjob, Pussy Galore and the Aston Martin DB5. It recommends the restored print for big-screen viewing. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/goldfinger) ## The Guardian Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 16 November 2002. The critic finds the film a solid but overly contrived fantasy that loses some of Bond's point when he can do anything. It singles out the exciting car chase scene for praise while noting the story's glossy violence and humour. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/books/2002/nov/16/featuresreviews.guardianreview11) ## The New York Times Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 22 December 1964. The review finds the latest Bond adventure tedious in its reliance on gadgets over female temptations but praises the climactic Fort Knox raid as spinningly staged and full of cliff-hanging suspense. It concludes that by that point viewers have had enough of Mr. Bond. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/1964/12/22/archives/screen-agent-007-meets-goldfingerjames-bonds-exploits-on-film-again.html) ## Den of Geek — Mark Pickavance Rating 5/5. 19 March 2009. The critic calls Goldfinger the quintessential 007 experience in which all franchise elements crystallize into their final form. He singles out the megalomaniac villain, Ken Adams production design, John Barry score with Shirley Bassey theme, gadgets like the Aston Martin DB5, and overall faithfulness to Fleming for particular praise. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/goldfinger-blu-ray-review/) ## Film Stories — Mark Harrison Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 28 April 2022. The critic highlights how Goldfinger solidified the Bond formula with gadgets, humor, and tongue-in-cheek tone, praising its influence and iconic elements like the laser scene and Aston Martin. They note its massive popularity and enduring impact despite some dubious tropes. [Read the review](https://filmstories.co.uk/features/goldfinger-how-james-bond-found-his-gadgets-girls-and-groove/) ## The Playlist — The Playlist Staff Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 8 November 2012. The review praises Goldfinger for its sly humor, fantastical elements balanced with integrity, cracking villains, kick-ass girls, classic iconography, and establishing the Bond song tradition, calling it a winner that appeals widely while refreshing. [Read the review](https://theplaylist.net/nobody-does-it-better-the-5-best-james-bond-films-20121108/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/goldfinger.md