Licence to Kill
James Bond is out on his own and out for revenge.
1989 • 133 min • Adventure · Action · Thriller
Synopsis
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.
Our family guide
Best from age 14- 100 Reviewers · 7 · 72%
- 64 Audience · 2222 · 28%
James Bond goes rogue to avenge a friend, infiltrating a drug lord's organization in this action-packed thriller. He faces dangerous encounters, high-stakes chases, and intense confrontations while seeking justice. The story explores themes of loyalty and retribution.
- Violence & peril
- 7/10
- Language
- 3/10
- Drinking, drugs & smoking
- 6/10
- Romance & sensuality
- 4/10
- Scary moments
- 5/10
Heads up
- Intense violence and torture implied
- Frequent peril and chases
- Some suggestive situations
What it models well
- Loyalty to friends
- Seeking justice
- Perseverance in danger
Talk about it after
- Consequences of revenge
- The justice system vs. vigilante action
- Drug trafficking dangers
Written by the Movie Knight editorial team for Licence to Kill. Our own words, our own scoring — always double-check against your family's standards.
Where to watch
Rent
- Amazon Video
- Apple TV Store
- Google Play Movies
- YouTube
- Fandango At Home
- Spectrum On Demand
- Plex
Amazon Video
Apple TV Store
Google Play Movies
YouTube
Fandango At Home
Spectrum On Demand
PlexBuy
- Amazon Video
- Apple TV Store
- Google Play Movies
- YouTube
- Fandango At Home
Links go straight to each service. Some are affiliate links that support Movie Knight at no cost to you. Availability data by JustWatch via TMDB.
Top billed cast
Director: John Glen • Crew: Richard Maibaum, Michael G. Wilson
Trailers & clips
Revenge on Killifer
007: Licence to Kill (1989) "Purely... Business" Trailer
007: Licence to Kill (1989) "How Many Times Can One Man Leave You Breathless" Trailer
Bond Arrives In Isthmus
Bond Sneaks Aboard the Wavekrest
Bond tries to assassinate Sanchez
007's Getaway
Barrelhead bar fight
Reviewer notes
Recommended"Licence to Kill" is unquestionably a very unusual Bond film in every conceivable way imaginable.…
RecommendedThis 007 film stays true to its motif. This begins an era of "no fun" 007 films, where the wit is very minimal and every scene is whiplash brutal. However, unlike most later 007 films, this one stays true to its design. It doesn't try to "contrive" the story. Instead, there is a flow.…
Recommended**License to Kill transformers Bond from a goofy punchline to a vengeful unstoppable force, turning the franchise from whimsical to gritty and producing one of the best films of the series.** License to Kill marked a major shift in the franchise away from the campy, goofy, and almost family-friendly Roger Moore Bind films to something darker and more brutal.…
RecommendedMan, del Toro was only 21 in this film and still makes a showing as one of the most lethal Bond baddies in the history of the franchise. And for those of you who are obsessed with Bondlore, this is the 007 film that references the events in OHMSS which proves that Bond is one person and not just a "title" like the people who are trying to completely rewrite the franchise to inject modern politics over story and fun.…
RecommendedI was just not a fan of Timothy Dalton's "007" and so can't say I was looking forward with much enthusiasm to this. Sadly, it didn't surprise - it's a really far fetched, frankly rather unpleasant, outing for Ian Fleming's deadly agent that sees him on the trail of an evil drug lord who fed "Felix" (David Hedison) to a shark whilst doing away that man's new wife.…
RecommendedTrusted family reviewers_**A different kind of Bond**_ Released in 1989, "Licence to Kill" always struck me as the most atypical Bond film. In this one James (Timothy Dalton) goes rogue after a good friend's bride is murdered and the friend is half-eaten by a shark. Stripped of his authority, Bond vengefully goes after the responsible drug lord, Sanchez (Robert Davi).…
RecommendedTrusted family reviewersEffective immediately, your licence to kill is revoked, and I require you to hand over your weapon. Licence to Kill is directed by John Glen and written by Richard Maibaum and Michael G. Wilson. It's an original story that uses characters and instances created by Ian Fleming.…
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