Quick answer: In the US you can stream Casino Royale (2006) with a Prime Video subscription, or rent it from about $3.99 / buy it from about $14.99 on Apple TV, Amazon Video, YouTube and Google Play. It is not on Netflix. For its 20th anniversary it is also back in select Regal cinemas through November 9, 2026. Availability and prices last checked October 2026.
Casino Royale rebooted the James Bond series in 2006 and introduced Daniel Craig as a harder, more grounded 007. Twenty years on it is still widely regarded as the best film of the Craig era. This guide covers every way to watch it in the US, what it costs, the story and cast, how it was made, and where it fits in the Bond timeline.
Where to Watch Casino Royale in the US
| Option | Where | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Stream | Prime Video (with a subscription) | Included with Prime |
| Rent | Apple TV, Amazon Video, YouTube, Google Play | From about $3.99 |
| Buy | Apple TV, Amazon Video, YouTube, Google Play | From about $14.99 |
| In theaters | Select Regal cinemas (20th-anniversary Bond run) | Through November 9, 2026 |
Streaming on Prime Video
Amazon owns MGM, the studio behind the Bond films, so Prime Video is the natural streaming home for 007. Casino Royale is included for Prime members, along with much of the Bond catalog. A full Amazon Prime membership costs $14.99 a month or $139 a year, and also includes shipping benefits. Prime Video has ads by default; since April 2026 the ad-free upgrade, now called Prime Video Ultra, costs $4.99 a month and adds 4K and Dolby Atmos.
Streaming catalogs rotate, and the Bond films have left and returned to Prime Video before, so check the app if you are reading this months from now.
Renting or buying
If you do not have Prime, renting is the cheapest route at around $3.99 on Apple TV, Amazon Video, YouTube or Google Play. Buying it digitally starts around $14.99 and keeps it in your library for rewatches.
Is Casino Royale on Netflix? No — it is not on Netflix in the US. Prime Video is the streaming home, with rental and purchase available everywhere else.
What Is Casino Royale About? (No Major Spoilers)
Newly promoted to “00” status, James Bond is sent after Le Chiffre, a private banker who funds terrorist groups. When Le Chiffre loses a fortune and tries to win it back at a high-stakes poker game in Montenegro, MI6 stakes Bond to play against him and bankrupt him. Treasury agent Vesper Lynd is sent to watch the money — and to watch Bond.
It is an origin story: Bond is reckless, arrogant and still learning, and the film shows the events that turn him into the colder agent fans know.
Cast and Characters
- Daniel Craig as James Bond
- Eva Green as Vesper Lynd
- Mads Mikkelsen as Le Chiffre
- Judi Dench as M
- Jeffrey Wright as Felix Leiter
- Giancarlo Giannini as Mathis
Craig’s casting was controversial at the time — some fans and tabloids objected to a blond Bond — but his performance turned the criticism around almost overnight once the film opened.
How It Was Made
Casino Royale is adapted from Ian Fleming’s first Bond novel, published in 1953. It was directed by Martin Campbell, who had already rebooted the series once before with GoldenEye (1995). Most of the film was shot at Barrandov Studios in Prague, with location work in the Czech Republic, the Bahamas, Italy and the UK, and interiors built at Pinewood Studios.
The famous opening parkour chase, the stripped-back fights and the long poker sequence all signaled a deliberate break from the gadget-heavy Bond films that came before. The theme song, “You Know My Name,” was performed by Chris Cornell.
| Release | November 2006 |
| Runtime | 2 hours 24 minutes |
| Rating | PG-13 |
| Budget | About $150 million |
| Worldwide box office | About $616 million |
Why Casino Royale Is the Best Daniel Craig Bond
It holds a 94% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes — the highest of any Craig film, ahead of Skyfall — and it was one of the biggest hits of 2006. Critics praised Craig for a tougher, more vulnerable Bond, Eva Green for giving Vesper real depth, and Mads Mikkelsen for a villain who is frightening without being cartoonish. Many fans still rank it among the best Bond films ever made, not just the best of the Craig era.
Where Casino Royale Fits in the Daniel Craig Bond Order
Casino Royale is the starting point of Craig’s five-film run, which tells one connected story and is best watched in order:
- Casino Royale (2006)
- Quantum of Solace (2008) — picks up minutes after Casino Royale ends
- Skyfall (2012)
- Spectre (2015)
- No Time to Die (2021)
You do not need to have seen any earlier Bond films. Casino Royale was designed as a fresh start.
What to Watch After Casino Royale
- Quantum of Solace — the direct sequel, worth watching immediately after.
- Skyfall — the other standout of the Craig era.
- GoldenEye — Martin Campbell’s first Bond reboot, starring Pierce Brosnan.
- The Bourne Identity — the grounded spy thriller that influenced Casino Royale’s tougher style.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Casino Royale on Netflix?
No. In the US it streams on Prime Video and is available to rent or buy on Apple TV, Amazon, YouTube and Google Play.
Is Casino Royale free with Amazon Prime?
Yes — it is included with a Prime Video subscription. Non-subscribers can rent or buy it.
Is Casino Royale back in theaters?
Yes, in select Regal cinemas as part of a 20th-anniversary Bond run through November 9, 2026.
Should I watch Casino Royale before the other Craig films?
Yes. It is the first in Craig’s connected five-film arc, so start here and watch through to No Time to Die.
Do I need to see older Bond movies first?
No. Casino Royale reboots the series and works as a starting point.
How long is Casino Royale?
It runs 2 hours 24 minutes and is rated PG-13.
Who sings the Casino Royale theme song?
Chris Cornell, with “You Know My Name.”
Why is Casino Royale rated so highly?
Its grounded reboot, Craig’s performance, and a sharp script earned it a 94% critics score — the best-reviewed film of the Craig era.