Licence to Kill
Movie, 1989, Timothy Dalton, Set in 1989
Licence to Kill is #18 of 27 in release order and #16 of 27 in chronological order in the James Bond.
The story
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.
Licence to Kill recap
On Felix Leiter's wedding day, he and Bond capture the drug lord Franz Sanchez. Sanchez bribes his way free, kills Felix's bride Della and feeds Felix to a shark, leaving him maimed. Bond goes after Sanchez against orders, and M revokes his licence to kill. Bond, now a rogue agent, works with the pilot and CIA informant Pam Bouvier, and with Q, who comes to help unofficially. In the Latin American country of Isthmus, Bond poses as a hired gun to get close to Sanchez and turns him against his own men, including his partner Milton Krest. Sanchez is shipping cocaine dissolved in petrol in tankers, using a televangelist, Professor Joe Butcher, to sell it to Asian buyers.
Licence to Kill ending explained
Bond blows up the drug lab and chases the tankers down a mountain road, destroying them. Sanchez, soaked in petrol, is about to kill Bond with a machete when Bond sets him on fire with the lighter Felix gave him. Felix phones from hospital to say M wants Bond back, and Bond ends up with Pam.
Post-credits scenes
No. There is no post-credits scene.
Where to watch Licence to Kill
Licence to Kill is streaming on Prime Video in the US. You can rent or buy it on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google Play.
Ratings
IMDb 6.7/10, Rotten Tomatoes 79%
Where it fits
- Release order: after The Living Daylights, before GoldenEye.
- Chronological order: after The Living Daylights, before GoldenEye.
What to watch before Licence to Kill
In release order, 15 James Bond essentials come before Licence to Kill (1989), from Dr. No (1962) to The Living Daylights (1987).
Cast
- Timothy Dalton as James Bond
- Carey Lowell as Pam Bouvier
- Robert Davi as Franz Sanchez
- Talisa Soto as Lupe Lamora
- Anthony Zerbe as Milton Krest
- Frank McRae as Sharkey
- Everett McGill as Killifer
- Wayne Newton as Professor Joe Butcher
- Benicio del Toro as Dario
- Anthony Starke as Truman-Lodge
- Pedro Armendáriz Jr. as President Hector Lopez
- Desmond Llewelyn as Q
Directed by John Glen.