Release CalendarDVD & Blu-ray ReleasesTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsIn TheatersComing SoonMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersEmmysAPA Heritage MonthSTARmeter AwardsSan Diego Comic-ConNew York Comic-ConSundance Film FestivalToronto Int'l Film FestivalAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)

To Live and Die in L.A.

  • 19851985
  • RR
  • 1h 56m
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
33K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,861
179
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
To Live and Die in L.A. (1985)
Trailer 1
Play trailer2:11
2 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Action
  • Crime
  • Drama
A fearless Secret Service agent will stop at nothing to bring down the counterfeiter who killed his partner.A fearless Secret Service agent will stop at nothing to bring down the counterfeiter who killed his partner.A fearless Secret Service agent will stop at nothing to bring down the counterfeiter who killed his partner.
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
33K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,861
179
  • Director
    • William Friedkin
  • Writers
    • Gerald Petievich(novel)
    • William Friedkin(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • William Petersen
    • Willem Dafoe
    • John Pankow
Top credits
  • Director
    • William Friedkin
  • Writers
    • Gerald Petievich(novel)
    • William Friedkin(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • William Petersen
    • Willem Dafoe
    • John Pankow
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 268User reviews
    • 123Critic reviews
    • 81Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 3 wins

    Videos2

    To Live and Die in L.A.
    Trailer 2:11
    To Live and Die in L.A.
    To Live and Die in L.A.
    Trailer 1:20
    To Live and Die in L.A.

    Photos116

    John Pankow and William Petersen in To Live and Die in L.A. (1985)
    John Pankow and William Petersen in To Live and Die in L.A. (1985)
    Michael Chong, John Pankow, and William Petersen in To Live and Die in L.A. (1985)
    Willem Dafoe in To Live and Die in L.A. (1985)
    John Pankow and William Petersen in To Live and Die in L.A. (1985)
    Michael Chong, John Pankow, and William Petersen in To Live and Die in L.A. (1985)
    Willem Dafoe and Debra Feuer in To Live and Die in L.A. (1985)
    John Pankow and William Petersen in To Live and Die in L.A. (1985)
    Willem Dafoe in To Live and Die in L.A. (1985)
    William Petersen in To Live and Die in L.A. (1985)
    Darlanne Fluegel and William Petersen in To Live and Die in L.A. (1985)
    John Pankow and William Petersen in To Live and Die in L.A. (1985)

    Top cast

    Edit
    William Petersen
    William Petersen
    • Agent Richard Chanceas Agent Richard Chance
    Willem Dafoe
    Willem Dafoe
    • Eric Mastersas Eric Masters
    John Pankow
    John Pankow
    • Agent John Vukovichas Agent John Vukovich
    Debra Feuer
    Debra Feuer
    • Bianca Torresas Bianca Torres
    John Turturro
    John Turturro
    • Carl Codyas Carl Cody
    Darlanne Fluegel
    Darlanne Fluegel
    • Ruth Lanieras Ruth Lanier
    • (as Darlanne Fleugel)
    Dean Stockwell
    Dean Stockwell
    • Bob Grimesas Bob Grimes
    Steve James
    Steve James
    • Jeff Riceas Jeff Rice
    Robert Downey Sr.
    Robert Downey Sr.
    • Thomas Batemanas Thomas Bateman
    • (as Robert Downey)
    Michael Greene
    Michael Greene
    • Agent Jim Hartas Agent Jim Hart
    Christopher Allport
    Christopher Allport
    • Max Waxmanas Max Waxman
    Jack Hoar
    • Jackas Jack
    Valentin de Vargas
    Valentin de Vargas
    • Judge Filo Cedilloas Judge Filo Cedillo
    • (as Val DeVargas)
    Dwier Brown
    Dwier Brown
    • Doctoras Doctor
    Michael Chong
    Michael Chong
    • Thomas Lingas Thomas Ling
    Jacqueline Giroux
    Jacqueline Giroux
    • Claudia Leithas Claudia Leith
    • (as Jackely Giroux)
    Michael Zand
    Michael Zand
    • Terroristas Terrorist
    Bobby Bass
    Bobby Bass
    • FBI Agentas FBI Agent
    • Director
      • William Friedkin
    • Writers
      • Gerald Petievich(novel) (screenplay)
      • William Friedkin(screenplay)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

    More like this

    Sorcerer
    7.7
    Sorcerer
    Manhunter
    7.2
    Manhunter
    Thief
    7.4
    Thief
    Cruising
    6.5
    Cruising
    The French Connection
    7.7
    The French Connection
    Rampage
    6.2
    Rampage
    Bad Lieutenant
    7.0
    Bad Lieutenant
    Colors
    6.7
    Colors
    Night Moves
    7.1
    Night Moves
    The Devil and Father Amorth
    4.6
    The Devil and Father Amorth
    Year of the Dragon
    6.8
    Year of the Dragon
    Blow Out
    7.4
    Blow Out

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      During the opening, when Eric Masters (Willem Dafoe) is printing money, the film crew was actually creating counterfeit bills. A convicted counterfeiter was on set showing them how it's done. They were filming out in the desert, and Dafoe said that every time a helicopter flew over the building, they were sure it was the police coming to arrest them all.
    • Goofs
      When Chance is shot with the shotgun in the locker room, the blood - supposedly from his wound - is thrown on him from off-screen.
    • Quotes

      Eric 'Rick' Masters: You have my word you won't have to do the whole nickel.

      Carl Cody: What does that mean?

      Eric 'Rick' Masters: Grimes is the best lawyer in the state. It'll either be an appeal bond or a sentence reduction.

      Carl Cody: And the check is in the mail, and I love you, and I promise not to come in your mouth...

    • Crazy credits
      Right at the end, after the credits, there is a shot of William Petersen's face
    • Alternate versions
      German theatrical and VHS versions were cut by 25 seconds to secure a "Not under 16" rating. DVD release is uncut with the same rating.
    • Connections
      Edited into Counterfeit World: Making 'to Live and Die in L.A.' (2003)
    • Soundtracks
      Cold Day in Hell
      Performed by Otis Rush

      Courtesy of Delmark Records

    User reviews268

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    Losers, all!
    Despite a confusing (or irrelevant?) opening segment, To Live and Die in L.A. is an authentic and somewhat disturbing crime film. In fact, some of the film is so harrowing and caustic it evokes almost horror-like inspiration. As you might have heard by now, it involves one of the finest car chase scenes ever put to film.

    The film follows a couple of Secret Service agents for the National Treasury as they try to track down a counterfeiter. As the movie rolls on, it becomes clear that these agents are pretty shady in the way they gleam information and that the ties between crime and justice are actually quite close. I know, it sounds like an obvious plot, but the editing, pacing, characters and twists are all pretty unexpected or original. It is not nearly as cliché as it sounds.

    The downsides to the movie could be some of the aesthetic choices: the neon colors are sweet (I think) but some of the soundtrack is just too grating. You REALLY feel like you're hopped up on speed after hearing the main theme for too long. It's done by Wang Chung, but I think Tangerine Dream would've created something much more provocative. Oh well. Also, I felt like one or two characters' stories were not really concluded properly. There was a minor hang-nail or two left at the end.

    But all in all, this is a solid film. Very inspired, very dark, simultaneously exciting and depressing. Seriously, this movie is way more intensely real than anything Tarantino has tried to do. It may not actually be more violent per say, but the violence itself it much more effective and the social ties are far more believable. This junk is scary.
    helpful•38
    14
    • sc8031
    • Jul 18, 2008

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 1, 1985 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official Facebook
    • Languages
      • English
      • Arabic
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
      • Leben und sterben in L.A.
    • Filming locations
      • 600 Mesquit Street, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • SLM Production Group
      • New Century Productions
      • United Artists
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $8,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $17,307,019
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $3,551,761
      • Nov 3, 1985
    • Gross worldwide
      • $17,307,019
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 56 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    To Live and Die in L.A. (1985)
    Top Gap
    By what name was To Live and Die in L.A. (1985) officially released in India in English?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    View list
    List
    The Best Movies and Shows to Watch in May
    See the full list
    View list
    List
    2022 TV Guide: The Best Shows Coming This Year
    See the full list

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Interest-Based Ads

    © 1990-2022 by IMDb.com, Inc.