The James Bond movies got a moment in the spotlight at the Oscars, a little more than a week after Amazon gained creative control of the franchise in a deal reportedly worth upwards of $1bn, to mixed reactions from fans and film stars. The lengthy tribute featured a speech from franchise star Halle Berry, as well as musical performances from Margaret Qualley, Lisa, Doja Cat and Raye.
The tribute celebrated the tenure of half-siblings Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson, the British-American heirs to the film producer Albert “Cubby” Broccoli, who served as longtime stewards of the franchise. Berry, who played NSA agent “Jinx” Johnson in 2002’s Die Another Day, said that the pair, who had been honored with lifetime achievement awards by the academy last fall, “don’t just produce Bond movies. They were the heart and soul of this franchise for decades.”
“Every generation does have their Bond, you know?” she added. “The world revolves, it evolves, and so does he. But that signature mix of danger, style and intrigue? Well, now, that’s timeless.”
To keep the emphasis on Bond’s legacy, rather than its ownership by the world’s second-largest corporation, was Qualley, who kicked off the musical medley with a dance tribute to “Bond girls”. Thai singer and rapper Lisa, formerly of the K-pop group Blackpink, sang snippets of Paul McCartney’s Live and Let Die, followed by Doja Cat with Diamonds Are Forever, originally performed by Shirley Bassey. British star Raye – a possible candidate for singing the next theme – capped off the tribute with a rendition of Skyfall, which netted Adele an Oscar in 2012.
While Bond films are not traditionally recognized for their cinematic achievements at the Oscars, several tracks have won Academy Awards, including Sam Smith’s Writing’s on the Wall in 2015 and Billie Eilish’s No Time to Die in 2020.
The James Bond movies are one of the most successful franchises in cinema history, with a total gross of more than $7.8bn worldwide, behind only the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Star Wars, Harry Potter and Spider-Man. The most successful Bond film remains Skyfall, with a worldwide gross of $1.1bn.
Read more about the 2025 Oscars:
Anora takes home best picture Oscar
Adrien Brody and Mikey Madison win best acting prizes
Kieran Culkin and Zoe Saldaña win supporting awards
Anora’s Sean Baker wins for directing, editing and screenplay
