James Bond ‘Complete’ Boxed Sets are Missing Films, Class Action Says

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Two James Bond boxed sets that purportedly contain every Bond film are deceptively labeled, according to a false advertising class action lawsuit.

Plaintiff Mary Johnson takes issue with the contents and labeling of two DVD boxed sets of James Bond films. The boxed sets at issue are marketed by defendants MGM Holdings, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, and related companies.

Johnson claims these two James Bond boxed sets are missing some significant Bond films, even though their labeling claims to contain every Bond film made to date.

The first of these sets, titled “Bond 50: Celebrating Five Decades of Bond 007,” was released in 2012. It contains 22 films from 1962’s Dr. No through 2008’s Quantum of Solace. The other set, released in 2015 under the title “Ultimate James Bond Collection,” contains 23 Bond films through and including 2012’s Skyfall.

By Johnson’s report, the labeling for these James Bond boxed sets promises “[a]ll the Bond films gathered together for the first time in this one-of-a-kind boxed set – every gorgeous girl, nefarious villain and charismatic star from Sean Connery, the legendary actor who started it all, to Daniel Craig.”

But Johnson, a self-described Bond fan since the series began, says the films included in the James Bond boxed sets are only those produced by Eon Productions. Two other Bond films, Casino Royale and Never Say Never Again, were left out of the boxed set.

Having been promised “every gorgeous girl, nefarious villain and charismatic star,” Johnson says the boxed sets unfairly exclude significant performances. She is missing Orson Welles’ turn as the villain in Casino Royale, as well as David Niven’s one-off performance as Bond.

The James Bond boxed sets also exclude performances by Kim Basinger and Barbara Carrera in Never Say Never Again, not to mention Sean Connery’s final performance as 007.

The exclusion of the two films isn’t due to a lack of intellectual property rights, Johnson claims. She says MGM has held the rights to the two missing films since 1997. The company acquired the rights to the other films by purchasing them directly from Eon Productions, she says.

In this false advertising class action lawsuit, Johnson argues the labeling for these James Bond boxed sets would reasonably deceive a consumer into thinking they’re getting something more than what’s actually in the set.

She says she relied on these representations when she bought a copy of the Ultimate James Bond Collection in February 2016. Johnson alleges she has suffered a financial loss by being deprived of the two promised Bond films, a retail value of nearly $70.

Johnson proposes to represent a nationwide plaintiff Class consisting of all persons who since March 6, 2013 purchased either of the two James Bond boxed sets at issue here, for their own personal use. Alternatively, she proposes a smaller Class covering Class Members from ten specific states.

She seeks an award of damages, including punitive damages under the Washington Consumer Protection Act, as well as court costs and attorneys’ fees, all with pre- and post-judgment interest.

Johnson is represented by attorneys Alexander S. Kleinberg of Eisenhower Carlson PLLC.

The James Bond Boxed Sets Class Action Lawsuit is Mary Johnson v. MGM Holdings Inc., et al., Case No. 2:17-cv-00541, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington.

UPDATE: March 2018, the James Bond complete boxed set class action settlement is now open. Click here to file a claim.