The Living Daylights
United Artists | Release Date: July 31, 1987 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
59
METASCORE
Mixed or average reviews based on 18 Critic Reviews
Positive:
10
Mixed:
7
Negative:
1
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
80
The GuardianLes Roopanarine
Timothy Dalton's monogamous, deadpan 007 brings a more nuanced interpretation to the central character, whose relationships evolve in ways rarely seen in the earlier films. Read full review
80
Time Out LondonStaff (Not Credited)
Confused plot and digressive globe trotting notwithstanding, the best Bond in years. Read full review
80
Washington PostRita Kempley
007's latest, The Living Daylights, a snazzy spy thriller, is all the more alluring for its new conservatism. It's right up there with the early Bonds, though not in the league with Goldfinger. But oh, what a difference. Read full review
80
IGNStaff (Not Credited)
You may not like Timothy Dalton as Bond, but the fact is they could put a trained seal in the role and the movies would be basically the same. And by those standards, this one is pretty good. Read full review
75
TV Guide MagazineStaff (Not Credited)
Director John Glen is an old hand at James Bond films, having worked on three other 007 movies. He knows this popular spy well and does him great service in this well-paced film. Read full review
75
Chicago TribuneDave Kehr
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. Read full review
70
The New York TimesJanet Maslin
Mr. Dalton, the latest successor to the role of James Bond, is well equipped for his new responsibilities. Read full review
70
VarietyPeter Debruge
With a hint of that my-way problem-solving approach, The Living Daylights freshens the Bond series’ cornball formula elements while reprising details that had made director John Glen’s debut, For Your Eyes Only, such a superior outing. Read full review
70
Orlando SentinelJay Boyar
Dalton shows a serious side that's been missing from the role since Sean Connery's earliest 007 days. Read full review
70
NewsweekCathleen McGuigan
The name's Dalton, Timothy Dalton, and in the film The Living Daylights he abandons the winks, the arched eyebrow and laid-back smile to get down to the dirty business of espionage. [27 July 1987, p.56]
60
EmpireKim Newman
After the fizzle of the later Roger Moore Bonds, The Living Daylights brings in a new 007 in Timothy Dalton, who manages the Connery trick of seeming suave and tough at the same time, and tried to get away from the weak comedy in favour of proper international intrigue. Read full review
50
Rolling StonePeter Travers
Dalton has training in classical theater; he has pedigree, looks, class. But as Bond he is – face it – dull as dirt. Too much spoofing is bad (see Moore), none is deadly (see Dalton). Read full review
50
ReelViewsJames Berardinelli
I'll be among the first to admit that Timothy Dalton is a fine actor. But giving a solid performance has little to do with being a good James Bond, and, as accomplished as Dalton is, he's a failure as 007 in The Living Daylights. Read full review
50
Chicago ReaderPat Graham
Timothy Dalton stars as the 1987 model James Bond in this 15th entry in the series, with the usual assortment of dope smugglers, KGB operatives, and criminal psychos providing a few anxious moments at the welcoming party. Expect the expected. Read full review
50
Chicago Sun-TimesRoger Ebert
Without a great Bond girl, a great villain or a hero with a sense of humor, The Living Daylights belongs somewhere on the lower rungs of the Bond ladder. But there are some nice stunts. Read full review
42
Christian Science MonitorDavid Sterritt
Bond is impersonated by 007 newcomer Timothy Dalton, who does little that's identifiable as acting, although he looks the part. Come back, Sean, all is forgiven! Read full review
40
Los Angeles TimesSheila Benson
I feel just rotten about this, but I'm afraid I've outgrown James. Read full review
38
LarsenOnFilmJosh Larsen
The Living Daylights marks one of those moments when the Bond franchise was awkwardly caught between two eras. Read full review
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