The Living Daylights

PG

Released Jul 31, 1987

2 hr. 10 min.

Action

Mystery & Thriller

List

73%

59 Reviews

Tomatometer

66%

50,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

British secret agent James Bond (Timothy Dalton) helps KGB officer Georgi Koskov (Jeroen Krabbé) defect during a symphony performance. During his debriefing, Koskov reveals that a policy of assassinating defectors has been instated by new KGB head Leonid Pushkin (John Rhys-Davies). But as Bond explores this threat, a counterplot surfaces, involving a shady American arms dealer (Joe Don Baker) and a pair of Russian assassins, Necros (Andreas Wisniewski) and Kara Milovy (Maryam d'Abo).

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Critics Consensus

Newcomer Timothy Dalton plays James Bond with more seriousness than preceding installments, and the result is exciting and colorful but occasionally humorless.

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Adi 1

Living Daylights while features some good action scenes. It's weak plot and stretched climax bring it down to a level of mediocre spy flick.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

04/25/24

Full Review

SwirlyJoe

One of the best in series. See it or you will go to hell.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/29/23

Full Review

Justin B

An excellent chapter of the James Bond series.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

08/12/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Over 35 years old and one of the more mature installments in the long-running James Bond franchise Crazy it was the 15th entry making $191.2 million globally Bond is assigned to protect KGB agent Koskov defect who informs him that a policy assassinating defectors is held by Pushkin Bond also has to deal with a counterplot with a shady arms dealer A few Russian assassins create a complication surrounding a girl, Kara Milovy It's a shame Timothy Dalton only had 2 outings as James Bond But he brings a real raw grittiness to the character and surprisingly lots of weight This was Joe Don Baker's first time entering the franchise too I kept forgetting John-Rhys Davies was in this I like Kara the love interest, central relationship serves the dual purpose of softening the more severe tone and at least gesturing at the possibility of the Bond movies maturing a bit There’s less sleeping around probably as a reaction to the AIDS crisis going on Fun action scenes particularly the climax with the plane in Afghanistan The movie at the time restored a bit of jeopardy and fortitude to the series sticking closer to the tone of Ian Fleming's novels Yet it was catching up at the end of the 80s reaching the end of the Cold War Plus it served as a precursor to Daniel Craig taking the role later The plot has a reputation for being a little impenetrable, but it’s merely a bit convoluted in its mystery leanings This was also composer John Barry's final turn doing the score, the song by A-Ha is good as well Dalton and director John Glenn bring a much needed edge to the series

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

08/01/23

Full Review

Jason R

Best Bond movie of the franchise

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/27/23

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Kev F

Quite entertaining and an okay movie.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

07/09/23

Full Review

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John Glen

Director

Timothy Dalton

James Bond

Maryam D'Abo

Kara Milovy

Jeroen Krabbé

General Georgi Koskov

Joe Don Baker

Brad Whitaker

John Rhys-Davies

General Leonid Pushkin

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Henry Sheehan

Chicago Reader

The Living Daylights might be reactionary hooey as far as its worldview goes, but it’s really fun hooey.

Rated: 2/4

May 9, 2022

Full Review

Sheila Benson

Los Angeles Times

I feel just rotten about this, but I'm afraid I've outgrown James.

Oct 20, 2015

Full Review

Dave Kehr

Chicago Tribune

In The Living Daylights, Dalton establishes his claim to the role; in the films that will follow, he'll have the chance to dig deeper.

Rated: 3/4

Oct 20, 2015

Full Review

Carson Timar

ButteredPopcorn

This is a messy film that really struggles at points to properly explore it's actually interesting and smart plot.

Aug 28, 2022

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Timothy Dalton's series debut is classic Cold War Bond, and grade-A spy stuff.

Rated: 3.5/4

Sep 25, 2021

Full Review

Josh Larsen

LarsenOnFilm

...marks one of those moments when the Bond franchise was awkwardly caught between two eras.

Rated: 1.5/4

Sep 17, 2021

Full Review

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Synopsis

British secret agent James Bond (Timothy Dalton) helps KGB officer Georgi Koskov (Jeroen Krabbé) defect during a symphony performance. During his debriefing, Koskov reveals that a policy of assassinating defectors has been instated by new KGB head Leonid Pushkin (John Rhys-Davies). But as Bond explores this threat, a counterplot surfaces, involving a shady American arms dealer (Joe Don Baker) and a pair of Russian assassins, Necros (Andreas Wisniewski) and Kara Milovy (Maryam d'Abo).

Director: John Glen
Screenwriter: Ian Fleming, Richard Maibaum, Michael G. Wilson
Distributor: United Artists
Production Co: United Artists, Danjaq Productions
Rating: PG
Genre: Action, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 31, 1987, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 1, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $51.2M
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby Stereo
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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