Prime Video’s Bond Parody Currently Has A Better Rotten Tomatoes Score Than 23/25 Bond Movies

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The recent James Bond parody on Prime Video is surprisingly surpassing many of the official James Bond films in Rotten Tomatoes scores. The Bond franchise, whether based on Ian Fleming’s novels or venturing into new territory, remains a hugely impactful series in film history.

The James Bond franchise is heading in a new direction in 2026. Production on the 26th Bond film is progressing steadily under the direction of Denis Villeneuve, known for Dune. This has, unsurprisingly, intensified the ongoing speculation about who will be the next James Bond, with actors like Tom Holland, Aaron Pierre, and Damson Idris frequently mentioned as potential candidates.

Until we have official confirmation, fans will have to look elsewhere for their James Bond entertainment. Re-watching all the James Bond films in order is an option, but discovering a new movie that’s as good as all but a couple of them might be even more satisfying.

Luckily, it’s now simpler than ever to find great spy entertainment. A new six-episode thriller on Prime Video, released in 2026, playfully spoofs the James Bond films and has actually received better reviews than most of them – it currently has a higher Rotten Tomatoes score than 23 out of the 25 official James Bond movies.

Bait Is Currently Beating 23 Out Of James Bond’s 25 Movies On Rotten Tomatoes

The Prime Video series Bait is a quick and engaging watch, consisting of just six short episodes. It follows Shah Latif, a British-Pakistani actor played by Riz Ahmed, as he lands the opportunity to play James Bond. This leads him down a path of self-doubt and into a mysterious, conspiracy-filled adventure.

The series Bait has been a hit with both critics and viewers, largely due to its clever and self-aware take on the James Bond genre. It currently has a 91% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, but it’s the critics who really love it. In fact, Bait has received higher ratings than all but two James Bond films, earning a 96% critics’ score.

Top 10 Rated James Bond Projects Rotten Tomatoes Critical Score
Goldfinger 99%
From Russia with Love 97%
Bait 96%
Dr. No 95%
Casino Royale 94%
Skyfall 92%
Thunderball 85%
No Time to Die 83%
The Spy Who Loved Me 82%
On Her Majesty’s Secret Service 81%

Only Goldfinger and From Russia with Love are considered better than Bait. Both of those films star Sean Connery, who many believe is the best actor to play Bond. Another Connery film, Dr. No, is rated slightly lower than Bait. Clearly, Bait is a brilliant parody that successfully spoofs the series while also offering its own unique ideas and messages.

Bait Highlights The Huge Challenge Bond 26 Faces

The show Bait cleverly highlights the problems the James Bond franchise is grappling with today. While it delivers the expected spy-thriller action, it also offers sharp observations about race, the media, and the anxiety these issues create – both for actors hoping to become the next Bond and for the Bond films themselves.

The upcoming James Bond film touches on relevant issues, sparking discussions about the actor’s ethnicity and whether Bond should continue to be portrayed by a white man. Beyond that debate, many are curious about how the 26th installment in the series will distinguish itself from the previous films.

The next James Bond movie needs to refresh the series for modern audiences, stepping away from the style established by Daniel Craig and all the previous films. Otherwise, it risks feeling like a repetitive and self-mocking retread of familiar territory – a story we’ve already seen too many times.

Many, including Bait, have recently discussed the James Bond franchise. Fortunately, the new Prime Video show approaches these themes with genuine emotion, humor, and a strong moral compass. If the next James Bond film can achieve the same level of quality, it could be one of the best entries in the series, potentially surpassing even the critically acclaimed Riz Ahmed miniseries.

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2026-03-28 18:01