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Licence to Kill

Licence to Kill

Adventure · Action · Thriller · 1989

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.

Movie details

Licence to Kill

“James Bond is out on his own and out for revenge.”

1989 Adventure · Action · Thriller 2h 13m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.4 / 10

Community rating

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.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Licence to Kill?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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S.W.A.T.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

John Glen

Written by

Michael G. Wilson · Richard Maibaum

Timothy Dalton

Timothy Dalton

James Bond

Carey Lowell

Carey Lowell

Pam Bouvier

Robert Davi

Robert Davi

Franz Sanchez

Talisa Soto

Talisa Soto

Lupe Lamora

Anthony Zerbe

Anthony Zerbe

Milton Krest

Frank McRae

Frank McRae

Sharkey

Everett McGill

Everett McGill

Killifer

Court is in session

Put Licence to Kill on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Adrenaline Seeker

“Momentum is a formal choice.”

The velocity sharpens instinct and tension, making every beat land before self-importance can settle in.

The prosecution The Auteur Devotee

“Speed as an alibi.”

The film races past its weak spots and hopes acceleration will keep the audience from inspecting the evidence.