Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows FanStore News Showtimes

To Live and Die in L.A.

Play trailer 2:05 Poster for To Live and Die in L.A. R Released Nov 1, 1985 1h 56m Crime Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
88% Tomatometer 52 Reviews 79% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
When his longtime partner on the force is killed, reckless U.S. Secret Service agent Richard Chance (William L. Petersen) vows revenge, setting out to nab dangerous counterfeit artist Eric Masters (Willem Dafoe). Along with his new, straitlaced partner, John Vukovich (John Pankow), Chance sets up a scheme to entrap Masters, resulting in the accidental death of an undercover officer. As Chance's desire for justice becomes an obsession, Vukovich questions the lawless methods he employs.
Watch on Fandango at Home Buy Now

Where to Watch

To Live and Die in L.A.

To Live and Die in L.A.

What to Know

Critics Consensus

With coke fiends, car chases, and Wang Chung galore, To Live and Die in L.A. is perhaps the ultimate '80s action/thriller.

Read Critics Reviews

Critics Reviews

View All (52)
Joe Clay The Times (UK) The high point of the film is a stunning car chase, in which the agents drive against the flow of traffic on a busy six-lane freeway that is only surpassed by the one in Friedkin’s earlier masterpiece, The French Connection. Feb 7, 2023 Full Review Jay Boyar Orlando Sentinel If Friedkin occasionally goes overboard, he certainly commands an attention-getting technique and manages to tell a fascinating story. Rated: 4/5 Aug 22, 2021 Full Review Catherine Rambeau Detroit Free Press Comparisons to TV's "Miami Vice" are probably inevitable because of the picture's look and sound track. But "To Live and Die in L.A." is hotter, faster, kinkier, and has better music. Rated: 8/10 Aug 22, 2021 Full Review Morgan Shaunette Willamette Week Live and Die remains one of the late director’s best: a neo-noir caper with a sharp script and the occasional burst of grindhouse violence. May 21, 2025 Full Review Don Shanahan Cinephile Hissy Fit Podcast Friedkin is a master making the sweaty and seedy suspenseful. Mar 23, 2025 Full Review Sean Burns Crooked Marquee Friedkin’s film has aged so much better than other ‘80s policers because it captures the hard, amoral emptiness of the age. Feb 23, 2025 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (713)
Stephen C Success in 1 hour and 56 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $16,600,000.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/04/25 Full Review Sam N To Live and Die in L.A. is a sharp, cynical thriller where style trumps sentiment. Friedkin pairs bold visuals with a pulsing Tangerine Dream score, driving a fast, morally murky plot. Corruption spreads, rules bend, and no one stays clean. The car chase is a highlight—second only to The French Connection. Boldly killing off the lead mid-film, it bridges classic noir and modern thrillers. In this world, survival means faking it better than the rest. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 06/23/25 Full Review Jeffrey P Waited awhile to see this, about 40 years, but it didn’t disappoint. It does have some of the flaws of the time, but it never succumbs to them. The twist, that isn’t really a twist as much as a development, really takes things to another level and makes it fully engaging until the conclusion. If someone has an 80's thriller craving and haven’t seen this, it will do the trick. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 06/19/25 Full Review Shane R I honestly liked it for the most part, but thought it sucked as far as any redeeming quality goes. But my personal tastes go to the uplifting rather than ambiguous endings, so I didn't like "No Country For Old Men" all that much either. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 06/13/25 Full Review Alain E A visual masterpiece, especially in the night scenes. The story stands to scrutiny. I especially enjoyed Willem Dafoe and Darlanne Fluegel. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/12/25 Full Review Aaron U The movie is a bit dated but very well done with amazing twists and turns in the plot that offset those issues. Honestly, the surprises are amazing and I can’t imagine any director having the guts to do them today. You also get to see a host of very good actors at the start of their careers. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 06/11/25 Full Review Read all reviews
To Live and Die in L.A.

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW
Off Limits 45% 33% Off Limits Watchlist Code of Silence 68% 51% Code of Silence Watchlist Year of the Dragon 53% 53% Year of the Dragon Watchlist No Mercy 31% 29% No Mercy Watchlist Tequila Sunrise 53% 40% Tequila Sunrise Watchlist Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Movie Info

Synopsis When his longtime partner on the force is killed, reckless U.S. Secret Service agent Richard Chance (William L. Petersen) vows revenge, setting out to nab dangerous counterfeit artist Eric Masters (Willem Dafoe). Along with his new, straitlaced partner, John Vukovich (John Pankow), Chance sets up a scheme to entrap Masters, resulting in the accidental death of an undercover officer. As Chance's desire for justice becomes an obsession, Vukovich questions the lawless methods he employs.
Director
William Friedkin
Producer
Irving H. Levin
Screenwriter
William Friedkin, Gerald Petievich
Distributor
MGM/UA Home Entertainment Inc., Vestron Video
Production Co
New Century Productions
Rating
R
Genre
Crime, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Nov 1, 1985, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 1, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$16.6M
Runtime
1h 56m
Sound Mix
Dolby, Surround
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)
Most Popular at Home Now