Licence to Kill (1989)

Last updated:
August 16, 2025

Licence to Kill is the sixteenth James Bond film, directed by John Glen, and notably the second (and last) film starring Timothy Dalton as the iconic British spy. Unlike many of the earlier Bond entries, this film takes a darker, grittier tone, making it one of the most serious and violent 007 adventures. Let’s go step by step through everything you need to know about this underrated Bond gem.

Table of Contents

Detailed Summary

Opening: Felix Leiter’s Wedding and Sanchez’s Arrest

The film opens in Key West, Florida, where Bond is serving as best man at Felix Leiter’s wedding. But the CIA and DEA have urgent business—drug lord Franz Sanchez (Robert Davi) has been spotted stateside. Bond and Felix take part in capturing Sanchez in a thrilling mid-air stunt, involving a helicopter and Sanchez’s small plane. Afterward, Bond and Felix parachute straight into the wedding, tuxedos and all.

Sanchez’s Brutal Escape

Sanchez bribes his way out of custody using $2 million, killing and torturing anyone in his path. He brutally attacks Felix, feeding him to a shark (leaving him maimed but alive) and murders Felix’s new bride Della. Bond discovers the aftermath and is enraged, setting him on a personal quest for vengeance—something MI6 won’t sanction.

Bond Goes Rogue

When M orders Bond to stand down, Bond refuses, resigns from MI6, and sets off on his own mission. Stripped of his official status, Bond essentially becomes a rogue agent, using his skills and allies to hunt Sanchez and dismantle his drug empire.

Allies Along the Way

Bond is aided by Pam Bouvier (Carey Lowell), a sharp and fearless pilot, and Q (Desmond Llewelyn), who unofficially helps Bond with gadgets—ranging from signature explosives to quirky devices like exploding toothpaste.

Infiltrating Sanchez’s Empire

Bond manages to infiltrate Sanchez’s organization by cleverly sowing distrust among his men. He convinces Sanchez that his loyalists are plotting against him. This psychological manipulation allows Bond to rise within the ranks while systematically bringing the empire down from the inside.

Explosive Climax

The action culminates in a dramatic tanker chase sequence across winding mountain roads, where Sanchez’s massive drug convoy (fueling cocaine-laced gasoline shipments) is destroyed one by one. Bond uses cunning tactics—like lighting tankers on fire and performing daredevil stunts with giant trucks—to annihilate Sanchez’s empire.

Movie Ending

The climax reaches its peak when Bond faces Sanchez one-on-one. Bloodied and nearly defeated, Bond is at Sanchez’s mercy. Sanchez, wielding a machete, taunts Bond about how he has nothing left. At this moment, Bond reveals a final trick: he pulls out Felix’s engraved lighter (a wedding gift), lights it, and ignites Sanchez, setting him ablaze with the gasoline-drenched terrain. Sanchez burns to death in a fiery explosion, a symbolic act of vengeance for Felix and Della.

Afterward, Bond attends a party at Sanchez’s destroyed villa, where his allies regroup. Felix, despite his injuries, sends Bond a message of thanks and encouragement. Pam and Bond share a tender moment, cementing their partnership. The film ends with Bond reconciling his place in the world—not as an agent of vengeance, but as James Bond, ready to move on.

Are There Post-Credits Scenes?

No, Licence to Kill does not have a post-credits scene. Like most classic Bond films, it simply ends with the credits and the promise that “James Bond Will Return.”

Type of Movie

The movie is a spy thriller with heavy elements of crime drama and revenge narrative, setting it apart from the more lighthearted Bond entries of the Moore era. It’s darker, more violent, and personal, resembling more of a gritty action thriller of the 1980s than a traditional Bond romp.

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
Desmond Llewelyn as Q
David Hedison as Felix Leiter
Priscilla Barnes as Della Leiter
Everett McGill as Ed Killifer
Benicio del Toro as Dario (his breakout role!)

Film Music and Composer

The score was composed by Michael Kamen, who infused the soundtrack with darker and more action-driven tones compared to previous Bond films. The title song Licence to Kill, performed by Gladys Knight, is a soulful, dramatic number that matches the film’s serious mood. Patti LaBelle performs the closing song If You Asked Me To.

Filming Locations

Key West, Florida – Felix Leiter’s wedding and the early shark attack scenes.
Mexico – The bulk of the film, including Sanchez’s villa and drug labs, were filmed around Mexico City and Acapulco. The tanker chase was shot on the winding roads near Mexicali.
These locations added authenticity to Sanchez’s drug empire, grounding the story in a believable Latin American setting.

Awards and Nominations

While not a major awards contender, Licence to Kill was praised for its action sequences and stunt work. It received some nominations for sound and special effects but did not win major international awards.

Behind the Scenes Insights

Timothy Dalton pushed for a more realistic, Ian Fleming-inspired Bond, leading to the darker tone.
The tanker chase sequence was one of the most dangerous ever attempted in a Bond film, requiring specially modified 18-wheelers.
Benicio del Toro (Dario) was nearly killed during a stunt involving a grinding machine.
Cary Lowell did many of her own stunts, especially in the bar fight scene.
John Glen directed his fifth and final Bond film with this entry.

Inspirations and References

The film drew loosely from Ian Fleming’s Live and Let Die (the shark attack on Felix) and The Hildebrand Rarity. The idea of Bond going rogue was also influenced by 1980s trends in action cinema, where darker antiheroes were popular.

Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes

An alternate ending involved more dialogue between Bond and Sanchez before his fiery death.
A few scenes of violence (including more graphic shark footage) were trimmed to avoid an “X” rating in the U.S.
A romantic subplot between Bond and Lupe Lamora was toned down in the final cut to focus more on Pam Bouvier.

Book Adaptations and Differences

A novelization of the film was written by John Gardner. While largely faithful to the screenplay, it expands on Sanchez’s backstory and includes more inner monologue from Bond, highlighting his inner conflict and sense of betrayal from MI6.

Memorable Scenes and Quotes

Key Scenes

The aerial plane capture in the opening sequence.
Felix being fed to the shark.
Bond resigning from MI6.
Pam’s dramatic entrance as she saves Bond during a bar fight.
The tanker truck performing a wheelie to avoid a missile strike.
Sanchez’s fiery death at the hands of Bond’s lighter.

Iconic Quotes

M: “Effective immediately, your licence to kill is revoked.”
Bond: “This is purely personal.”
Sanchez: “In this business, there’s a lot of cash. And a lot of people who need to be paid.”
Felix (after his shark attack): “He disagreed with something that ate him.”

Easter Eggs and Hidden Details

Felix’s shark attack is a direct lift from Fleming’s Live and Let Die.
Bond’s use of gadgets is more restrained here, reflecting Dalton’s grounded interpretation.
Q’s extended role (field agent mode) is a rare treat, as he usually stays behind in London.
Sanchez’s obsession with loyalty mirrors themes from real-life drug cartels of the 1980s.

Trivia

The working title was originally Licence Revoked, but changed for American audiences who supposedly didn’t understand the term.
This was the final Bond film distributed by MGM/UA before the long hiatus leading to GoldenEye (1995).
It was the last Bond movie to feature Felix Leiter until Jeffrey Wright’s reimagining in Casino Royale (2006).
The tanker wheelie stunt is often considered one of the most impressive practical effects in Bond history.

Why Watch?

If you enjoy James Bond at his darkest and grittiest, Licence to Kill is essential viewing. It’s a revenge story, a character study, and a brutal action film all in one. It also showcases Timothy Dalton’s underrated performance as Bond—steely, vengeful, and more human than many of his predecessors.

Director’s Other Movies

For Your Eyes Only (1981)
Octopussy (1983)
A View to a Kill (1985)
The Living Daylights (1987)
Christopher Columbus: The Discovery (1992)

Licence to Kill (1989)

Detailed Summary