#23 James Bond film series
Why it matters
After seeing the full list together, Bond clearly deserves to sit inside the lower top 25, not outside it. This is not just one famous hero. It is a whole public language for modern spy cool: the number, the name-introduction ritual, the tux, the gadgets, the villains, the cars, the music, the martini line, the womaniser image, the secret-agent swagger. That is a very thick footprint. Compared with works that mostly contribute one phrase, Bond gives people a whole kit of signals they still use in jokes, ads, costumes, and casual talk.
Cultural Footprint
- Originated 007 / double-oh-seven as the most famous spy number
- Associated “Bond, James Bond,” the gun-barrel opening, tuxedo cool
- Popularised gadget-heavy spy fantasy and the stylish supervillain showdown
One-liner
A British spy keeps saving the world while looking far too comfortable in absurdly dangerous situations.