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Timothy Dalton, Carey Lowell, Robert Davi, Talisa Soto, Anthony Zerbe ... see more see more... , Wayne Newton , Frank McRae , Everett McGill , Benicio Del Toro , Desmond Llewelyn , David Hedison , Priscilla Barnes , Caroline Bliss , Pedro Armendariz Jr. , Jeannine Bisignano , Teresa Blake , Edna Bolkan , Alejandro Bracho , Claudio Brook , Grand L. Bush , Carl Ciarfalio , Sergio Corona , Roger Cudney , Rafer Johnson , Samuel Benjamin Lancaster , Christopher Neame , Jorge Russek , Anthony Starke , Don Stroud , Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa , Jeff Moldovan , Jose Abdala , George Belanger , Fidel Carriga , Humberto Elizondo , Eddie Enderfield , Cynthia Fallon , Osami Kawawo , Mark Kelty , Stuart Kwan , Diana Lee Hsu , Honorato Magaloni , Enrique Novi , Juan Pelaez , Guy de Saint Cyr , Robert Brown

Timothy Dalton is better in Licence to Kill than in his first James Bond endeavor (The Living Daylights), but he still seems uncomfortable on the right side of the law. This time around, Bond is worki... read more read more...ng on his own rather than on behalf of the British Secret Service. His American friend Felix Leiter (David Hedison), an agent of the Drug Enforcement Administration, has been seriously injured by drug dealer Robert Davi, and 007 is out for blood. There is precious little time for the usual Bondian quippery and directorial campiness, resulting in a marked increase in bloodletting (including the "implosion" of secondary villain Anthony Zerbe). A climactic highway chase involving an oil tanker and a helicopter is stretched slightly beyond its value, but is still one of the best action setpieces in any Bond film. Licence to Kill was a refreshingly serious change of pace for the series, albeit one that tended to lessen Bond's box-office value. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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55% liked it

60,451 ratings

Critics

71% liked it

35 critics

PG-13, 2 hr. 13 min.

Directed by: John Glen

Release Date: July 14, 1989

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DVD Release Date: October 22, 2002

Stats: 2,374 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (2,374)

  • FilmFanatik
    November 26, 2011
    FilmFanatik
    For my part, I haven't been a huge fan of the James Bond series. My interest was peaked with Casino Royale (the Daniel Craig version). So I've been seeking out the series as much as I can, and Licence to Kill is my latest endeavor. However, this is far and away the worst film in ... read morethe series that I've seen thus far. It almost seems like a parody of the series but you know very well that they're quite serious with it. It also seems more like an Indiana Jones film than a James Bond film. It has some of the worst acting and story mechanics of the series, but yet on the other hand, it does have some of the 80's and early 90's action film all stars in it. Despite that, it's still a poor film, and more importantly, a poor James Bond film.
  • spielberg00
    July 25, 2011
    spielberg00
    Bloated, bland suspense, among great action sequences in Bond's first PG-13.
  • Chiefilms
    November 1, 2010
    Chiefilms
    Ehhh

    Update: Actually isn't that bad, dark storylines really have served up some choice Bond films. Timothy Dalton was actually a good Bond in this film, maybe if he stayed with the franchise his legacy would be different. Solid British acting. In an unrelated note, Wayne Ne... read morewton's current Flixter photo looks basically like Jack Nicholson as The Joker, How bizarre.
  • skactopus
    August 11, 2010
    skactopus
    John Glen's James Bond adventure, Licence to Kill, travels down a darker road with its path of revenge.

    The 2 hour 10 minute story is not overly extravagant and neither is the villain, whom is a rich drug lord. This gives the film a feeling more in the realm of a suspe

    ... read morense thriller, rather than an action adventure. Bond uses much more brain than brawn to accomplish his feat.

    Other than the truck sequence at the end, the rest of the action doesn't really stand out. Sure, there are a number of unique sequences, but none of it is intensifying enough to excite. There also isn't a whole lot in the way of fancy gadgets and those that do exist don't do much in turning the tides of the story.

    Timothy Dalton brings a touch of human emotion to the James Bond character and Robert Davi is a highly believable drug lord. Carey Lowell and Talisa Soto are both lovely Bond girls, with Lowell becoming one of the more sturdy to appear on screen.

    Licence to Kill may shy away from usual James Bond encounters, but this personal vendetta is not one to shy away from. "I'll do anything for a woman with a knife."
  • TheDudeLebowski65
    June 29, 2010
    TheDudeLebowski65
    A less than stellar follow up the thrilling The Living Daylights, Licence To Kill is a dramatic change for James Bond, this isn't so much the story that Bond fans are used to, this is a revenge story. Felix Leiter, Bond's close friend has been mauled by sharks and hius newly wed ... read morewife has been murdered. James Bond wants blood, and he's going to take up revenge against a notorious drug lord whos responsible. Licence To Kill is a good film that offers plenty of suspense and action, but it's definitely a change from traditional Bond films. At least the film makers where able to pull something this decent off, despite the fact that it's not that stellar of a film.
  • SirPant
    September 23, 2009
    SirPant
    I had such a crush on Carey Lowell in this film. I was 10 years old and this was the best film in the world!
  • sononothing
    December 8, 2008
    sononothing
    Timothy Dalton's run ends with Licence to Kill, probably one of the most violent Bonds made. After Felix Leiter is made an extra in a Jaws movie James Bond takes matters into his own hands, even to the extent of leaving MI6.

    Dalton once again plays a brooding Bond, rather pisse... read mored off all the time. Amazingly while watching this film I can see some remnants of Roger Moore (being attacked by a stuffed sword fish, Wayne Newton) but overall this is a very adult Bond film. Robert Davi plays a sadistic drug dealer that Bond's vengeance reigns down upon (imagine that: Robert Davi as a drug lord).

    Another good outing by Dalton, but one must go one up on the whole debate on whether On Her Majesties Secret Service could have been the greatest Bond film if Connery had starred in it.

    How good would Golden Eye had been if Timothy Dalton had stayed around for that one? Sadly, we never saw it.
  • phubbs1
    November 27, 2008
    phubbs1
    One of the best Bonds made and using the most underrated Bond too. This Bond is pretty brutal and very adult based really..there are quite afew nasty deaths and the two main villains in Davi and Del Toro are really evil.
    This Bond is much like the newer Bonds in its adult content... read more and intense scenes but unlike the new Bond flicks it still keeps the old Bond charm thats so unique. Also at the time the thought of Bond being stripped of his license to kill was a really cool concept and added a very different angle to him...he was now a rogue agent wanted by the law and almost a mercenary really, very good stuff.

    The girls are sexy as hell as usual and some excellent stunt work eg. an oil tanker lifted onto its side whilst being driven by Bond as a missile flies past the under belly of the tanker :)

    Top Bond flick.
  • matertenebraum
    September 28, 2008
    matertenebraum
    Goldfinger is the benchmark of great Bond films, and while this one doesn't come anywhere near that - you still can't really ask much more of a Bond film. Licence to Kill, the last of the eighties bond films, stands out because director John Glen seems keen to make it as little l... read moreike the rest of the series as possible. Most Bond films feature the popular spy on a mission and answering to MI6 - but here he's acting out a personal vendetta, and we get to see a different side to Ian Flemings' character. The film opens with a rather over the top wedding sequence, in which James Bonds' friend and ally Felix Leighter gets married to a pretty blonde woman. However, just before this we watched Bond and Felix apprehend a drug dealer, and not taking to being caught very kindly - the dealer decides to use some of his cronies to maim Felix and kill his wife. Bond then decides to go after the drug dealer, much to the dismay of MI6 who promptly take away his licence to kill. This doesn't stop Bond, however, as along with a few allies - he sets out to get revenge on those responsible...

    Many people say that Timothy Dalton was the worst of the Bonds, but I disagree. While he doesn't fit the role as well as Sean Connery, and isn't quite manly enough for my liking - his suave style goes brilliantly with the James Bond character, and he is perfect for exploring the darker side of the character in this film. The film has that eighties style that often seems tacky nowadays, but it's not laid on thick until the very end, and this doesn't hinder the film. The stunts are the best thing about Licence to Kill, as the director constantly succeeds at delivering memorable and exciting action scenes, the best of which is saved until the end. The fact that this film takes in the theme of 'the war on drugs' means it stands out from a lot of the rest of the series as world domination is never mentioned. Robert Davi gets to play the Bond villain, and for me is one of the best of the entire series. He manages to be evil without ever looking comical, and that can't be easy in a series known for being completely overblown. Overall, Licence to Kill is undoubtedly one of my favourite Bond films, and it therefore comes highly recommended!
  • middleeasternfilms
    August 9, 2008
    middleeasternfilms
    Dalton returns for the second and final time, this time taking personal revenge for the attempted murder of his best friend, Felix Leiter. Dalton is just as good as he was in The Living Daylights and Robert Davi plays the ultimate sleazebag asshole. Directed by John Glen, who is ... read morejust as much a part of Bond film lore as anyone from the entire run of the series. Look for a young Benicio Del Toro in this one.

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Critic Reviews

Richard Corliss
October 13, 2008
Richard Corliss, TIME Magazine

The Bond women are pallid mannequins, and so is the misused Dalton -- a moving target in a Savile Row suit. For every plausible reason, he looks as bored in his second Bond film as Sean Connery did in... Full Review

Variety Staff
October 13, 2008
Variety Staff, Variety

The thrills-and-spills chases are superbly orchestrated as pic spins at breakneck speed through its South Florida and Central American locations. Full Review

Jonathan Rosenbaum
October 13, 2008
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader

Despite some shaky narrative continuity and muddled motivations, this manages to move pretty briskly, and the action sequences are generally well handled, especially at the climax. Full Review

Caryn James
May 20, 2003
Caryn James, New York Times

Mr. Dalton is perfectly at home as an angry Bond, and as a romantic lead and as an action hero, but he never seems to blend any two of those qualities at once. Full Review

Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

The stunts all look convincing, and the effect of the closing sequence is exhilarating. Full Review

Hal Hinson
January 1, 2000
Hal Hinson, Washington Post

Dalton plays a straight-faced, humorless, no-nonsense Bond -- all guns and no play -- and it makes for a very dull time. Full Review

Desson Thomson
January 1, 2000
Desson Thomson, Washington Post

You may find yourself shaken -- not stirred -- by the screenwriting cruelty and cynicism behind the 16th Bond. Full Review

James Berardinelli
January 1, 2000
James Berardinelli, ReelViews

Licence to Kill may be taut and gripping, but it's not traditional Bond, and that, as much as any other reason, may explain the public's rejection of this reasonably well-constructed picture. Full Review

Kevin Carr
January 9, 2010
Kevin Carr, 7M Pictures

Licence to Kill gave us a grittier and more ruthless Bond. Dalton can definitely play dark, but he lacks the charisma of Connery Full Review

Brian Orndorf
August 26, 2009
Brian Orndorf, BrianOrndorf.com

It's a strained, sexless, and overcooked film...Dalton's game, but the film is inert, perhaps unprepared to work with the new Irish Kiss direction of the series. Full Review

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Licence To Kill Trivia

  • James Bond's code number is 007. What does 00 mean?  Answer »
  • In which Bond film is Felix Leiter fed to a shark by the baddie?  Answer »
  • in the pacifier, what does lou-lou not say to lutanat wolf?  Answer »
  • Timothy appeared in Two "Bond" Movies? One was the first to be given a 15 certificate in the UK. What was it called?  Answer »
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