The Living Daylights

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The Living Daylights

PG

Released Jul 31, 1987

2h 10m

Action

Mystery & Thriller

Adventure

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Popcornmeter

72%

Tomatometer

58 Reviews

66%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

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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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

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Sheila Benson

Los Angeles Times

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

Oct 20, 2015

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Daniel C. M

Dalton's first entry as Bond remains one of the most underrated in the franchise. Featuring a more serious and ruthless Bond, the film, however, still never lets down on it's humor and action; the gadgets here specially are wonderful. It is also worth mentioning this film has probably some of the best acting of the Bond series, specially with it's Bond girl Kara, genuinely being in top 10 (probably even top 5) Bond girls in the series, and probably the one with biggest chemistry.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/04/25

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James P

Welcome back 007! After Grandad Roger's limp, painful exit we get one of the strongest films in the series. Dalton's debut is a brilliant, globe-trotting yarn with a wonderful leading lady.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

06/13/25

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M B

Excellent classy spy thriller, more intelligent than most other Bond movies. They got everything right on this one!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

05/24/25

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Liam D

For dalton’s first Bond movie it’s a solid but cliched spy thriller that is helped by Timothy Dalton’s great performance and an underrated Bond girl but the script is sometimes tonally confused and the villains are forgettable

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

04/23/25

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Mark J

Really enjoyed the change of pace getting to this Bond era. After the increased silliness, forced humour and aging cast of the Moore era became an issue, the more serious nature of this was welcome. The action scenes were really good, the plot was enjoyable and all it lacked was a tiny bit of humour.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/22/25

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Tim M

Timothy Dalton making for a fine casting choice as Bond, The Living Daylights returns 007 to sleek action filmmaking and espionage intrigue.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/07/25

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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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
Producer: Albert R. Broccoli, Michael G. Wilson
Screenwriter: Ian Fleming, Richard Maibaum, Michael G. Wilson
Distributor: United Artists
Production Co: United Artists, EON Productions, Danjaq Productions
Rating: PG
Genre: Action, Mystery & Thriller, Adventure
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 31, 1987, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 1, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $51.2M
Runtime: 2h 10m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby Stereo
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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