According to a new study compiled by FandomSpot.com, the 007 star averaged a kill every 2 minutes 30 seconds, with these figures yet to factor in his kill count from the newly released No Time To Die.
Using external data and research from the James Bond franchise, they found that Craig racked up an average of 59 kills per movie during his first four films as the world’s most famous secret agent.
His predecessor, Pierce Brosnan, was the nearest challenger to the title of deadliest Bond, with the Irish actor averaging 26 kills per movie.
Craig was found to be nearly twice as deadly as Brosnan and three times as deadly as Roger Moore, the longest running Bond, who starred in seven 007 movies yet averaged a relatively poor 17 kills per film.
Researchers revisited the 26 Bond movies released prior to No Time To Die and the work of the seven actors who have played 007 since Sean Connery first made the role famous with 1962’s Dr. No.
The second most deadly Bond, Brosnan, managed a murder every 4 minutes and 55 seconds during his four 007 outings while, perhaps surprisingly, David Niven, who played the secret agent just once in the 1967 spoof version of Casino Royale, killed every 6 minutes and 50 seconds.
One of the biggest shocks, meanwhile, concerned the original Bond, Connery, who managed just 11 kills per movie at a rate of one every 10 minutes and 35 seconds.
That was only slightly better than Welshman Timothy Dalton, who managed 10 kills per movie, with a kill every 13 minutes and 15 seconds despite only starring in two Bond films compared with the Scotsman’s six.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, George Lazenby ranked as the least deadly of all the Bonds, with the model-turned-actor committing just six murders during his one outing as 007 in the cult fan favorite On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.
Alyssa Celatti of FandomSpot.com, said they were “surprised” to discover Craig was the deadliest Bond to date.
“As self-confessed movie geeks, we loved pulling the list together and hope the ranking proves interesting to film and 007 lovers across the globe! I guess the question is now, how deadly is Daniel set to be in the new movie and will he keep his killer crown?”
The full ranking can be viewed below:
George Lazenby – 6 kills per movie – A kill every 23 minutes and 33 seconds – 6 kills in total
Timothy Dalton – 10 kills per movie – A kill every 13 minutes and 15 seconds – 20 kills in total
Sean Connery – 11 kills per movie – A kill every 10 minutes 35 seconds – 68 kills in total
Roger Moore – 17 kills per movie – A kill every 7 minutes and 32 seconds – 121 kills in total
David Niven – 19 kills per movie – A kill every 6 minutes and 50 seconds – 19 kills in total
Pierce Brosnan – 26 kills per movie – A kill every 4 minutes and 55 seconds – 103 kills in total
Daniel Craig – 59 kills per movie – A kill every 2 minutes and 30 seconds – 235 kills in total
Craig might lead the way when it comes to kills, but it’s a different story when it comes to ranking the best Bond film of them all.
The departing 007 fares a little better when it comes to naming the best Bond themes though, with at least two entries coming from the Craig era.
