Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Breakneck
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Graphic
- hard edged
- tense
- brutal
- action movie night
- spy thriller marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film entertaining and commendably more serious than lighter Bond entries, while judging its writing and action coherence uneven.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Bond is stripped of his license and continues hunting Franz Sanchez outside MI6 authorization.
Bond sneaks into Sanchez's drug factories while hiding his true intentions.
Sanchez's drug empire, corrupt networks, and transport operations drive the conflict.
The film prominently features floatplanes, airplanes, a tank car, and high-risk transport action.
Films like Licence to Kill, and why
The Living Daylights
Shares a rogue spy protagonist, drug trafficking conspiracy, revenge-driven stakes, and hard-edged action thriller tone.
GoldenEye
Shares undercover espionage, criminal corruption, international intrigue, and escalating practical stunt spectacle.
Lethal Weapon 2
Shares a vengeful protagonist infiltrating a drug organization and a darker, more violent action thriller register.
Miami Vice
Shares revenge, undercover identity, narcotics trafficking, and brutal action set pieces in a tropical crime world.
Movie Details
- Director
- John Glen
- Release Date
- 1989-06-13
- Runtime
- 133 min
- Rating
- 6.4 / 10 (2254)
Cast
- Timothy Dalton
- Carey Lowell
- Robert Davi
- Talisa Soto
- Anthony Zerbe
- Frank McRae
- Everett McGill
- Wayne Newton
- Benicio del Toro
- Anthony Starke
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand, Plex
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Licence to Kill about?
- A rogue James Bond wages a personal war against the drug lord who nearly killed his friend, turning espionage into a brutal revenge mission.
- What is Licence to Kill like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Licence to Kill as breakneck, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Licence to Kill violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Licence to Kill as graphic.
- What did critics think of Licence to Kill?
- Critics broadly found the film entertaining and commendably more serious than lighter Bond entries, while judging its writing and action coherence uneven.
- Which films are like Licence to Kill?
- Films with a similar feel include The Living Daylights, GoldenEye, Lethal Weapon 2, and Miami Vice.
- How long is Licence to Kill?
- Licence to Kill runs 133 minutes.
- Where can I watch Licence to Kill?
- In United States, Licence to Kill is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand, Plex.
