# How Will the Bond Franchise Come to an End? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 20, 2002, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-bond-franchise-come-to-an-end/137727 "2002-11-20T12:35:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![lucwarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e19adc/32.png) [@lucwarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lucwarm)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-bond-franchise-come-to-an-end/137727/1 "2002-11-20T12:35:25Z")
They can’t keep making those films forever, can they? So how, when, and why will they stop making Bond films? ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_Wright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@Steve\_Wright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_Wright)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-bond-franchise-come-to-an-end/137727/2 "2002-11-20T13:22:15Z")
Well, he’s regenerated four times now, and we know he can only do it a total of twelve, so … oh no, wait, that’s Doctor Who. Well… losing the principal actor doesn’t stop them, they just hire another one. Running out of Ian Fleming stories to adapt hasn’t stopped them. What could stop them? Only something like the movie-going public losing its taste for action movies with big explosions and hot women in bikinis. Anybody see this happening? Anybody? ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Some\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ad7895/32.png) [@Just\_Some\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Some_Guy)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-bond-franchise-come-to-an-end/137727/3 "2002-11-20T13:50:32Z")
I think at this point it’s become like Sherlock Holmes movies. Right now they’ve fallen off from their peak but one does still trickle out every few years… ---
**Author:** ![Silentgoldfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@Silentgoldfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silentgoldfish)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-bond-franchise-come-to-an-end/137727/4 "2002-11-20T14:18:36Z")
When 2 in a row fail to make money. Then they’ll pull the plug. I can’t remember ever being excited about a new Bond movie though. I’ll probably see this one, but I’m looking forward to The Two Towers, Harry Potter, and Daredevil far more. ---
**Author:** ![everton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecb155/32.png) [@everton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/everton)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-bond-franchise-come-to-an-end/137727/5 "2002-11-20T14:26:13Z")
Most movie genres have had cyclic popularity, and when they’re on the downward slope they’ve been written off, only to see a revival later on. The same is likely to apply to action/adventure films too. I’ve read criticisms of Bond films recently that their impact is less these days because there are so many other films of a similar nature, or that depend on the same ingredients to sell them. Films like the _Austin Powers_ ones may either encourage people to watch the Bond films, or may mean that people can’t take them seriously even on their own terms. See how these films rate in terms of global gross takings (stats from [_The Movie Times_](http://www.the-movie-times.com/thrsdir/alltime.mv?world+ByWG)): ```auto Title Budget Box Office # 18 Mission: Impossible 2 $125 $545.4 # 31 Mission: Impossible $ 75 $467.0 # 56 True Lies $100 $365.3 # 68 The World Is Not Enough $120 $352.0 (#149 in USA) # 69 Goldeneye $ 60 $351.3 (#220 in USA) # 78 Tomorrow Never Dies $110 $346.6 (#157 in USA) #112 Minority Report $102 $296.6 (#136 in USA) #??? Lara Croft: Tomb Raider $ 80 $224.6 (#137 in USA) #??? XXX $ 85 $251.0 (#117 in USA) ``` If the public ever decides that it prefers Diesel to Brosnan, or a tattooed, bare-armed American action hero to a tuxedoed British one, or a female action heroine to a male one, and if that preference shows up in the box office (especially more than once), then they’ll stop making Bonds - until someone decides the time is right for a revival. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-bond-franchise-come-to-an-end/137727/6 "2002-11-20T15:31:49Z")
Boy, Goldeneye is looking pretty good. ---
**Author:** ![everton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecb155/32.png) [@everton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/everton)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-bond-franchise-come-to-an-end/137727/7 "2002-11-20T15:48:52Z")
I copied those figures from two separate tables, and of course, I ought to have put _Lara Croft_ and _XXX_ in reverse order. [Here’s the official site for _Die Another Day_](http://www.jamesbond.com/) if anyone’s interested. It opens tonight in the UK and Friday in the USA (which is unusual in itself). ---
**Author:** ![hazel-rah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/73ab20/32.png) [@hazel-rah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hazel-rah)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-bond-franchise-come-to-an-end/137727/8 "2002-11-20T17:44:14Z")
> [@](#): > > Well, he’s regenerated four times now, and we know he can only do it a total of twelve, so … oh no, wait, that’s Doctor Who. Seven. Seven times. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_Wright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@Steve\_Wright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_Wright)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-bond-franchise-come-to-an-end/137727/9 "2002-11-20T17:54:38Z")
Doctor Who’s regenerated seven times, Bond’s only regenerated four times. Unless you count _Casino Royale_, or the TV show. Which I don’t. And you can’t make me. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-bond-franchise-come-to-an-end/137727/10 "2002-11-20T17:54:43Z")
Simple. He’ll get too old to keep hitting home runs, and he’ll retire to become, first, batting coach for the San Francisco Giants, then General Manager. Probably one or more of his kids will be a home run king, next. What’s that? _James_ Bond? [sub]oops.[/sub] Beats me. IMHO, they should have ended the damn thing when everybody died at the end of _Casino Royale_. It’s not like they didn’t have a perfect excuse. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-bond-franchise-come-to-an-end/137727/11 "2002-11-20T18:11:26Z")
Bond will be around for a long, long time. It is almost a genre by itself - the perfect mix: Action, good vs. evil, exotic locations, wit and sex. The day that stops selling is the day they stop making movies. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-bond-franchise-come-to-an-end/137727/12 "2002-11-20T18:28:16Z")
It almost certainly won’t end this way, but it should: “Before you kill me, Blofeld, Just how _were_ you going to destroy the Internet, blow up three major world cities, and stel the world’s supply of oxygen?” "“I was going to tell you, Mr. Bond, before I lowered you into this tank full of alligators and sharks in a cage with water-soluble bars. But I think I’ll do this instead.” (Shoots Bond several times and decapitates him.) ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Carnage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/max_carnage/32/12775_2.png) [@Max\_Carnage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Carnage)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-bond-franchise-come-to-an-end/137727/13 "2002-11-20T18:47:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Steve Wright \* > \*\*Doctor Who’s regenerated seven times, Bond’s only regenerated four times. Unless you count _Casino Royale_, or the TV show. Which I don’t. And you can’t make me. \*\* Are we talking incarnations or regenerations, as there are, of course, five official Bond incarnations. ---
**Author:** ![Lizard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@Lizard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lizard)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-bond-franchise-come-to-an-end/137727/14 "2002-11-20T18:50:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jonathan Chance \* > \*\*Boy, Goldeneye is looking pretty good. \*\* I’m still waiting for the porno spoof of that one: _Browneye: Lace AND Leather_😃 ---
**Author:** ![Tars\_Tarkas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Tars\_Tarkas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tars_Tarkas)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-bond-franchise-come-to-an-end/137727/15 "2002-11-20T20:05:51Z")
> [@](#): > > How Will the Bond Franchise Come to an End? HIV ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-bond-franchise-come-to-an-end/137727/16 "2002-11-20T20:15:16Z")
> [@](#): > > Are we talking incarnations or regenerations, as there are, of course, five official Bond incarnations which means he regenerated four times. original plus four regens equals five. just like eight official Doctors 9BBC says count the TV movie guy as number 8 Doctor, 7th regen) When will Bond movies end? [fundie] The Rapture! [/fundie] ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-bond-franchise-come-to-an-end/137727/17 "2002-11-20T20:17:00Z")
the one time I don’t use preview… :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-bond-franchise-come-to-an-end/137727/18 "2002-11-20T20:18:36Z")
When he’s forced into bankruptcy from all the sexual harassment suits lodged against him and has to sell his tuxedo collection. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-bond-franchise-come-to-an-end/137727/19 "2002-11-20T20:19:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by CalMeacham \* > \*\*(Shoots Bond several times and decapitates him.) \*\* And a stake through the heart, please. And erect a pyramid larger than Cheops’ over his grave, so he won’t come back. GOD, I’m sick of James Bond movies. They haven’t been hip or fun since 1965. ( **kaylasdad99** : brilliant use of the spoiler tag, my hat’s off to you) ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-bond-franchise-come-to-an-end/137727/20 "2002-11-20T20:54:55Z")
Bond films are popular because they epitomize every mans dream: -Meaningless sex with hot chicks -Cool electronic toys you never have to pay for -Sweet ride -Exotic travel -Guns -Alchohol (and an ability to drink on the job) -No real boss to report to (just M who simply huffs and puffs and hands you a manilla folder before letting you go on your way) -A license to kill anyone who looks at you cockeyed What’s not to love? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-bond-franchise-come-to-an-end/137727.md?page=2)