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Licence to Kill
1989 133 min Mexico, United Kingdom, United States of America PG-13 12+
★6.8
Adventure, Action, Thriller
Director: John Glen
📖 Based on the novel
«James Bond»
byIan Fleming
Trailers
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Description
After capturing the notorious drug lord Franz Sanchez, Bond's close friend and former CIA agent Felix Leiter is left for dead and his wife is murdered. Bond goes rogue and seeks vengeance on those responsible, as he infiltrates Sanchez's organization from the inside.
Budget:
$32M
US Gross:
$34.67M
Worldwide:
$156.17M
Starring
Timothy Dalton
Actor
Robert Davi
Actor
Carey Lowell
Actor
Awards
1 nomination total
Key opinion
Licence to Kill is a divisive entry in the franchise, celebrated by some for its gritty realism and faithfulness to Ian Fleming’s source material, while criticized by others for abandoning the traditional Bond wit and charm. Its transition from globe-trotting spectacle to a revenge-driven, violent crime narrative polarized audiences, leaving a legacy as an ahead-of-its-time precursor to the darker, humanized Bond of the Daniel Craig era.
| Pacing | The film features highly effective, well-staged practical action sequences, particularly the climactic tanker chase. | |
| Acting | Robert Davi and Benicio del Toro deliver compelling, grounded performances as menacing and realistic drug-cartel villains. | |
| Acting | Timothy Dalton’s portrayal of a vulnerable, vengeful Bond is seen by many as a sophisticated humanization of the character, while others find him unenthusiastic and lacking the necessary charm. | |
| Screenplay | The shift toward a gritty, violent revenge plot creates a divide: supporters praise the raw realism and departure from camp, while detractors feel it loses the essential 'Bond' identity and fun. | |
| Theme | The film's tone is frequently criticized for being too dark and unpleasant, with some viewers finding the shift in atmosphere jarring compared to the lighter preceding entries. |