Disappearing Guns: James Bond Disarmed By Amazon Prime Video
Every few years, when a new James Bond film comes out, you can reliably count on one thing: Old Double-Oh-Seven himself will be on the poster with an attractive woman on his arm and a mean-looking firearm—usually a handgun. Unless the film is being shown by Amazon Prime Video, it seems. In an odd and unexpected move in early October, Amazon Prime decided to update its promo photos for the James Bond films by making new posters with firearms airbrushed out of the artwork—sometimes with amusing results.
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Disarming Double-Oh-Seven
As you can see in the photo below, a composite of some of Amazon’s posters, there was no era of James Bond films that escaped this treatment. The graphics crew either removed the handguns from the photos (along with the women), or went with a totally new poster that looked, well—weird.
Compare that poster for A View To Kill with the original, and you’ll see it’s a total rethink, and Roger Moore looks more like a villain’s henchman than the suave gun-toting hero of the series. And Sean Connery (Dr. No) and Pierce Brosnan (Goldeneye) are both left looking like they’re posing for Glamor Shots By Deb, not brandishing a weapon with braggadocio. And Daniel Craig? His empty shoulder holster means he’s left looking like he’s strapped into some bondage gear, not toting firepower.
Unhappy fans
As you can imagine, James Bond’s fans, especially the gun-happy fans, were unimpressed with Amazon’s move. This comes at a delicate time for the film franchise, as Amazon MGM Studios took full control over the series in February 2025, cutting a deal with Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson, longtime producers of the series (they still remain co-owners of the IP, but Amazon is in charge). The fans were left wondering: Were the doctored posters a sign of anti-gun propaganda to come?
At this point, it’s hard to say, but it is worth noting that after the outcry, Amazon has changed the posters back. Sort of. They got rid of the new posters they made that eliminated handguns, but as of October 6, the new promo photos they chose are all still shots from the films that also have no handguns visible. Should have stuck to your guns, Agent 007—now they’ve been taken away from you. So much for that license to kill.
Professional hoser with fudd-ish leanings.
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They should replace the guns with knives. You see children, there's no killing with knives. All problems solved.
In reading the original paperback (printed) novel editions, there is a very descriptive written display of the steel and wood pistols commander James Bond used.