Licence to Kill (1989): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
Licence to Kill is a 1989 action thriller directed by John Glen, starring Robert Davi, Benicio Del Toro and Timothy Dalton. It is partly based on Live and Let Die by Ian Fleming. It runs 2 hours 13 minutes and earned $156.2 million worldwide. Critics gave it 79% on Rotten Tomatoes and 58 on Metacritic.
- Released
- Runtime
- 2h 13m (133 min)
- Director
- John Glen
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- MGM/UA Distribution Company
- Based on
- Live and Let Die by Ian Fleming
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Licence to Kill About?
The premise of Licence to Kill without spoilers, adapted from Live and Let Die by Ian Fleming. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
After a friend is murdered by a dangerous drug lord, James Bond abandons his MI6 duties and embarks on a personal mission of revenge. This thrilling adventure sees him pursuing the cartel's operatives across international borders, facing perilous challenges as he seeks retribution and justice for his fallen friend.
Licence to Kill Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- personal vendetta
- vengeance
- drug cartel
- woman with a gun
- rape and revenge
- drug lord
- 007
- blood splatter
- official james bond series
- tough girl
- felix leiter character
- hero
+38 more Show fewer
- good versus evil
- aircraft
- caribbean island
- exploding vehicle
- implied rape
- death of wife
- battle
- see you in hell
- military jeep
- parachute
- drugs
- death
- suitcase full of money
- female pilot
- knife
- fire
- gadgetry
- gasoline
- tanker truck
- secret service agent
- british intelligence
- machine gun
- gunfight
- blood
- gun battle
- official bond film
- brutality
- evil man
- machismo
- explosion
- fistfight
- secret agent
- pistol
- shotgun
- defying orders
- romantic triangle
- female agent
- sadist
Licence to Kill Cast
Robert Davi leads the cast, with Benicio Del Toro and Timothy Dalton. Directed by John Glen; 10 actors are credited in all.
-
Director John Glen
Also Starring in Licence to Kill
· 6 moreMore from John Glen
More films directed by John Glen, best-rated first: The Living Daylights, Octopussy, For Your Eyes Only and A View to a Kill.
Licence to Kill Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Licence to Kill 79% on Rotten Tomatoes and 58 on Metacritic.
-
Rotten Tomatoes 79% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 61%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 58 Metascore
User score 6.9
See on Metacritic
Licence to Kill Plot Summary
What happens in Licence to Kill from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
In a dramatic twist of fate, DEA agents intercept MI6 operative James Bond as he travels with CIA operative Felix Leiter to attend Leiter’s wedding in Key West, Florida. They are charged with the mission of apprehending the infamous drug lord Franz Sanchez. Seizing this unexpected opportunity, the duo ingeniously fastens a hook and cord to Sanchez’s aircraft, ultimately pulling it from the skies with the aid of a Coast Guard helicopter. After completing their mission, Bond and Leiter parachute down just in time for the wedding ceremony, showcasing their impeccable timing.
Full summary
The whole story of Licence to Kill, scene by scene
Licence to Kill Box Office
Licence to Kill grossed $156.2 million worldwide. $34.7 million came from the US and Canada and $121.5 million (78%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$156.2M
- US & Canada
- $34.7M
- International
- $121.5M
Licence to Kill Trailers & Videos
12 videos: 2 trailers and 10 clips.
- Trailer 007: Licence to Kill (1989) "Purely... Business" Trailer
- Clip Clip
- Clip Sanchez's Master Plan
- Clip Franz's Philosophy
How Well Do You Know Licence to Kill?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Who is the main antagonist in Licence to Kill?
Cars in Licence to Kill
43 cars on screen, including the 1989 Kenworth W-900 B and the 1988 Dodge Ram.
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1989 Kenworth W-900 B Main role -
1988 Dodge Ram Important role -
1976 Jeep CJ-7 Important role -
1987 Lincoln Mark VII Important role
Licence to Kill Also Known As
48 alternative titles, including “007 Vendetta privata” and “007: A magányos ügynök”.
- Also known as
-
- 007 Vendetta privata
- 007: A magányos ügynök
- Лицензия на убийство
- 007 Упълномощен да убива
- Med rett til å drepe
- Agente 007 - Vendetta privata
- 007 รหัสสังหาร
- 007: Licencia para matar
- Ліцензія на вбивство
- James Bond: A magányos ügynök
- 鐵金剛勇戰殺人狂魔
- 007 제16탄 살인면허
+36 more Show fewer
- 007 살인 면허
- 007系列：杀人执照
- James Bond 007 - Lizenz zum Töten
- 007 - Vendetta privata
- Tid för hämnd
- 007: Лицензия на убийство
- Povolení zabíjet
- A magányos ügynök
- 007 - Licença para Matar
- Öldürme Yetkisi
- Permis de tuer
- James Bond: Licence to Kill
- Licencia para matar
- 007: Lupa tappaa
- Licencja na zabijanie
- רישיון להרוג
- 007：杀人执照
- 007／消されたライセンス
- Τζέιμς Μποντ
- Πράκτωρ 007: Προσωπική Εκδίκηση
- Permis de ucis
- 007 살인면허
- 007 - Permissão para Matar
- 007: Ліцензія на вбивство
- 007: Упълномощен да убива
- 007：殺人執照
- Leidimas žudyti
- เจมส์ บอนด์ 007 ภาค 16: รหัสสังหาร
- Tiesības nogalināt
- Llicència per matar
- Điệp Viên 007: Lệnh Hành Quyết
- James Bond: Povolenie zabíjať
- James Bond: Dovoljenje za ubijanje
- مجوز کشتن
- Agent 007: Luba tappa
- Dozvola za ubojstvo
Seen Licence to Kill?
Movies Like Licence to Kill
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Quantum of Solace, No Time to Die and Casino Royale.
Licence to Kill FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, the book behind it and post-credit scenes of Licence to Kill, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Licence to Kill?
Licence to Kill runs 2 hours 13 minutes (133 minutes).
When was Licence to Kill released?
Licence to Kill was released on July 14, 1989.
Who directed Licence to Kill?
Licence to Kill was directed by John Glen.
More films by John Glen Who is in the cast of Licence to Kill?
Licence to Kill stars Robert Davi, Benicio Del Toro and Timothy Dalton, among 10 credited actors.
How much did Licence to Kill make at the box office?
Licence to Kill grossed $156.2 million worldwide ($34.7 million domestic, $121.5 million international).
How is Licence to Kill rated?
Licence to Kill has 79% on Rotten Tomatoes and 58 on Metacritic.
Is Licence to Kill based on a book?
Yes. Licence to Kill is partly adapted from Live and Let Die by Ian Fleming.
Does Licence to Kill have a post-credit scene?
No. Licence to Kill has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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