Today MGM and Fox Home Entertainment announced the upcoming, as-yet undated release of Bond 50, a Blu-ray set containing the first 22 James Bond films which is already available for preorder from Amazon for $199.99 (click here to order yours). Of course, if you’re like me and love the Bond franchise and already own the previously released 13 Bond films on Blu-ray you’re probably beginning to wonder whether the nine films that were previously unavailable that will be included in the set will be available individually.
Unfortunately, for now, it looks like the answer is unclear as I called to get in touch and the entire details for the set are still undecided, though I expect individual copies will be made available a few months after the set is released.
I did ask about a tentative release date and was told they are shooting for Fall, which I would guess means some time in October close to the November 9 release of Skyfall, the 23rd film in the Bond franchise.
The set was announced today at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) and I would have asked more questions regarding the release, but as you can tell from the following snippet from the official press release, things just aren’t entirely nailed down outside of the box art you see above:
BOND 50 showcases fifty years of Bond neatly packaged into one cool, sleek collectable box-set featuring all six iconic James Bond actors. Produced using the highest possible picture quality and audio presentation, the collection includes all 22 James Bond feature films from Dr. No to Quantum of Solace and more than 130 hours of bonus features including some new and exclusive content.
The nine previously unreleased Bond titles that will be included in the set are You Only Live Twice, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, Diamonds Are Forever, The Spy Who Loved Me, Octopussy, A View to a Kill, The Living Daylights, GoldenEye and Tomorrow Never Dies. One film that is available on Blu-ray, but is not an official film in the Bond franchise is 1983’s Never Say Never Again, which you can buy right here if you like.
Right now, at $199.99, that means each title will run you just over $9. Personally, I’m a huge Bond fan and I think that’s a great deal as I would even watch Bond films I’m not necessarily a fan of just because I like the character so much. I’m also a fan of lesser loved Bond films beyond Quantum of Solace, which I mention often on this site, such as The Man with the Golden Gun and Tomorrow Never Dies. And the fact my favorite Bond film, The Living Daylights, is not yet available on Blu-ray is enough to make me want this set right now.
So if you’re interested, you can click here to preorder the release and I have added the announcement trailer directly below.
