What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedLicence to Kill
John Glen · Film · 1989
If you loved Licence to Kill, start with James Bond (Ian Fleming, 1953) — a book from the same story. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Licence to Kill across media.
If you were captivated by the raw, personal stakes of Licence to Kill, these stories explore the relentless pursuit of vengeance.
Start with the source
Adaptation
The Spy Who Loved Me
Lewis Gilbert · Film · 1977
Adaptation
GoldenEye
Martin Campbell · Film · 1995
Books on the same thread
For Your Eyes Only
Ian Fleming · Book · 1960
Shares a thread with Licence to Kill: Betrayal.
Just as in Licence to Kill, this collection captures the darker side of espionage where Bond must navigate deep betrayal and high-stakes international intrigue to achieve his personal goals.
James Bond
Ian Fleming · Book · 1953
Explores: International Intrigue, British Intelligence, Gadgets.
This definitive collection provides the foundation for the rogue operative persona seen in Licence to Kill, showcasing the origins of Bond’s cold, calculated approach to handling dangerous global threats.
With a Vengeance
Riley Sager · Book
Explores: Revenge, Deception, Class conflict.
The drive for retribution that fuels Bond in Licence to Kill is mirrored here, as a character’s personal vendetta complicates a high-stakes scenario involving deception and social class conflict.
A Time to Kill
John Grisham · Book · 1992
Explores: Racial injustice, Revenge, Morality.
Like the protagonist of Licence to Kill, the lead here takes matters into his own hands, forcing a confrontation with morality when the legal system fails to deliver true justice.
Series on the same thread
Edge of Darkness
Troy Kennedy Martin · Series · 1985
Shares a thread with Licence to Kill: Neo-Noir.
The gritty, neo-noir atmosphere of Licence to Kill is present as a grief-stricken father descends into a dangerous investigation, uncovering corruption while seeking answers for a brutal personal loss.
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
Series · 2019
Explores: Demon Hunting, Sisterhood, Revenge.
The singular focus on avenging a loved one found in Licence to Kill drives this narrative, pushing the protagonist into a perilous underworld to confront those responsible for his tragedy.
Revenge
Mike Kelley · Series · 2011
Shares a thread with Licence to Kill: Betrayal.
This story echoes the calculated infiltration tactics used by Bond in Licence to Kill, as the protagonist systematically dismantles her enemies from the inside to settle a deep-seated score.
The Fugitive
Roy Huggins · Series · 1963
Explores: Manhunt, Injustice, False Accusation.
The relentless manhunt that defines Licence to Kill is central here, following a man who must operate outside the law to clear his name and find the true murderer.
Podcasts on the same thread
Kill List
Podcast
Explores: Dark Net, Murder for Hire, Technological Crime.
This investigation into the dark net captures the cold, modern reality of the dangerous criminal networks Bond infiltrates in Licence to Kill, focusing on the human cost of violence.
Hell in Heaven: A Mysterious Death in Paradise
Podcast
Explores: Paranoia, Expatriation, Wealth and Corruption.
The intersection of wealth, corruption, and a sudden descent into a lethal environment mirrors the dangerous conditions Bond faces when taking on cartels in Licence to Kill.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Licence to Kill the only film where James Bond goes rogue?
While other films feature the character, Licence to Kill is unique for its specific narrative focus on Bond going rogue to seek personal vengeance for the attack on Felix Leiter and his wife. This darker, mission-driven plot distinguishes it from the broader James Bond book and film series.
Should I watch The Spy Who Loved Me before Licence to Kill?
You do not need to watch The Spy Who Loved Me to understand the plot of Licence to Kill. Each film in the series functions as an independent story. Licence to Kill focuses specifically on Bond infiltrating the organization of the drug lord Franz Sanchez after his friend is attacked.
Does the James Bond book series include the events of Licence to Kill?
The original James Bond book series began in 1953, but the specific events depicted in the 1989 film Licence to Kill are not part of the original source material. The film is a standalone cinematic narrative concerning Bond's pursuit of the drug lord Franz Sanchez.
Is GoldenEye a direct sequel to Licence to Kill?
GoldenEye is not a direct sequel to Licence to Kill. While both are part of the broader James Bond franchise, they feature different storylines and directorial styles. Licence to Kill concludes its specific narrative arc regarding the drug lord Franz Sanchez within the duration of the 1989 film.