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Lethal Weapon

"If these two can learn to stand each other... the bad guys don't stand a chance."

1987-03-06 Adventure 1hr 50m

Veteran buttoned-down LAPD detective Roger Murtaugh is partnered with unhinged cop Martin Riggs, who -- distraught after his wife's death -- has a death wish and takes unnecessary risks with criminals at every turn. The odd couple embark on their first homicide investigation as partners, involving a young woman known to Murtaugh with ties to a drug and prostitution ring.

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Lethal Weapon
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Storyline

Veteran buttoned-down LAPD detective Roger Murtaugh is partnered with unhinged cop Martin Riggs, who -- distraught after his wife's death -- has a death wish and takes unnecessary risks with criminals at every turn. The odd couple embark on their first homicide investigation as partners, involving a young woman known to Murtaugh with ties to a drug and prostitution ring.

  • Released
    1987-03-06
  • Revenue
    $120,200,000
  • Budget
    $15,000,000
  • Runtime
    1hr 50m
  • Genre
    Adventure, Action, Comedy, Thriller, Crime
  • Status
    Released
  • Language
    English
  • imdb-logo
    7.6
  • Production
    Silver Pictures, Warner Bros. Pictures

Crew

Richard Donner
Director
Shane Black
Screenplay
Joel Silver
Producer
Keywords:
showdown police self-destruction mixed martial arts (mma) los angeles, california police detective ex soldier wisecrack humor buddy cop lapd maverick cop homicide detective christmas death of wife action hero shooting cops critical xmas

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Cast

Mel Gibson

Mel Gibson
Martin Riggs
Danny Glover

Danny Glover
Roger Murtaugh
Gary Busey

Gary Busey
Mr. Joshua
Mitchell Ryan

Mitchell Ryan
General Peter McAllister
Tom Atkins

Tom Atkins
Michael Hunsaker
Darlene Love

Darlene Love
Trish Murtaugh
Traci Wolfe

Traci Wolfe
Rianne Murtaugh
Jackie Swanson

Jackie Swanson
Amanda Hunsaker
Damon Hines

Damon Hines
Nick Murtaugh
Ebonie Smith

Ebonie Smith
Carrie Murtaugh
Bill Kalmenson

Bill Kalmenson
Beat Cop
Lycia Naff

Lycia Naff
Dixie
Patrick Cameron

Patrick Cameron
Cop #1
Don Gordon

Don Gordon
Cop #2
Jimmie F. Skaggs

Jimmie F. Skaggs
Drug Dealer #1
Jason Ronard

Jason Ronard
Drug Dealer #2
Blackie Dammett

Blackie Dammett
Drug Dealer #3
Gail Bowman

Gail Bowman
Cop
Robert Fol

Robert Fol
Cop
Selma Archerd

Selma Archerd
Policewoman
Richard B. Whitaker

Richard B. Whitaker
Police Officer
Mary Ellen Trainor

Mary Ellen Trainor
Psychologist
Steve Kahan

Steve Kahan
Captain Ed Murphy
Jack Thibeau

Jack Thibeau
Sergeant McCaskey
Grand L. Bush

Grand L. Bush
Boyette
Ed O'Ross

Ed O'Ross
Mendez
Gustav Vintas

Gustav Vintas
Gustaf
Paul Tuerpe

Paul Tuerpe
Mercenary
Chad Hayes

Chad Hayes
Mercenary
Chris D.

Chris D.
Mercenary
Sven-Ole Thorsen

Sven-Ole Thorsen
Mercenary
Peter DuPont

Peter DuPont
Mercenary
Gilles Kohler

Gilles Kohler
Mercenary
Cedric Adams

Cedric Adams
Mercenary
Jim J. Poslof

Jim J. Poslof
Mercenary
Al Leong

Al Leong
Endo
Michael Shaner

Michael Shaner
McCleary
Natalie Zimmerman

Natalie Zimmerman
Patrol Cop
Deborah Dismukes

Deborah Dismukes
Blonde on Bike
Cheryl Baker

Cheryl Baker
Girl in Shower #1
Terri Lynn Doss

Terri Lynn Doss
Girl in Shower #2
Sharon K. Brecke

Sharon K. Brecke
Girl in Shower #3
Donald Gooden

Donald Gooden
Alfred
Alphonse Philippe Mouzon

Alphonse Philippe Mouzon
Alfred's Friend #1
Shaun Hunter

Shaun Hunter
Alfred's Friend #2
Everitt Wayne Collins Jr.

Everitt Wayne Collins Jr.
Alfred's Friend #3
Lenny Juliano

Lenny Juliano
Patrol Cop
Henry Brown

Henry Brown
Plainclothes Cop
Brian Strohm

Brian Strohm
Family Friend
Teresa Kadotani

Teresa Kadotani
Hooker
Frank Reinhard

Frank Reinhard
Beat Cop
John O'Neill

John O'Neill
Police Officer in Car #1
Tom Noga

Tom Noga
Police Officer in Car #2
Larry Clardy

Larry Clardy
Policeman (uncredited)
Renée Estevez

Renée Estevez
Underage Hooker (uncredited)
Bob Harks

Bob Harks
Priest (uncredited)
Kathleen Harrison

Kathleen Harrison
Mrs. Dilber (archive footage) (uncredited)
Conrad Hurtt

Conrad Hurtt
Crime Scene Officer (uncredited)
Mic Rodgers

Mic Rodgers
Bus Driver (uncredited)
Joan Severance

Joan Severance
Girl in Black Playsuit (uncredited)
Chris Tashima

Chris Tashima
Fire Rescue Attendant (uncredited)
Norman D. Wilson

Norman D. Wilson
Bartender (uncredited)

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Movie Reviews

Reviews for Lethal Weapon
reviewer avatar

A Review by John Chard 8

Written by John Chard on 2018-12-31

We got the edge Cochise. Close to retirement, Detective Sergeant Roger Murtaugh is a bit disturbed to find he's breaking in a new partner... read more

We got the edge Cochise. Close to retirement, Detective Sergeant Roger Murtaugh is a bit disturbed to find he's breaking in a new partner. Even more so when it turns out to be fellow Detective Martin Riggs, who since the death of his wife has scant regard for life, his own or those around him. Light on plot and character development, Lethal Weapon none the less shines bright as a beacon of how a buddy buddy action film should be done. Roughly an hour and forty five minutes of quips, action, villainy, heroics and cross generational/cultural divides. All what else is needed is a star duo with buoyant chemistry - thankfully Richard Donner's movie has it by the clip load. Mel Gibson is Riggs, a trigger happy suspected loony on the ragged edge, wonderfully playing off of Danny Glover's (superb) "too old for this nonsense" sage old copper. Riggs is a hard dude who quickly became a cinematic hero to many, an unstoppable force with a quip on the tongue and a glint in his eye, to which Gibson is terrific and perfectly cast. Gary Busey's "psycho's are us" henchman flits in and out the picture with gleeful nastiness and Shane Black's script crackles as the super stunt work starts to take a hold. Chief villain Mitchell Ryan as The General is almost a bystander though, and there's the odd piece of careless editing, but really Lethal Weapon has a winning formula that the box office punters promptly lapped up. Three sequels, all of which are of differing quality, would follow it, but this is a template movie for the genre and worthy of nostalgic revisits any time of day. 8/10

reviewer avatar

A Review by JPV852 9

Written by JPV852 on 2019-08-28

One of the best action movies of all-time in my book, and right there with Die Hard, Lethal Weapon still holds up so well thanks to the chem... read more

One of the best action movies of all-time in my book, and right there with Die Hard, Lethal Weapon still holds up so well thanks to the chemistry between Mel Gibson and Danny Glover. Even with the over-the-top staged fight scene at the end, this is just an all around entertaining flick. (Reason I decided to watch it again today was saw it was on A&E and rather than watch a crappy edited version, why not watch the real deal in 1080p HD?)

reviewer avatar

A Review by mooney240 7

Written by mooney240 on 2022-10-02

**You’re never too old for this!** Lethal Weapon is the ultimate buddy cop action movie. Mel Gibson and Danny Glover’s chemistry delights... read more

**You’re never too old for this!** Lethal Weapon is the ultimate buddy cop action movie. Mel Gibson and Danny Glover’s chemistry delights as the crazed young gun and the old experienced cop grow to respect and trust each other. Mel Gibson gives another iconic performance in his catalog of outstanding characters as the quirky and lovable but traumatizing Martin Riggs struggling to find a reason to hope. Danny Glover’s grouchy but endearing Roger Murtaugh is a perfect balance to Riggs. The two develop a loyalty throughout the film that makes the audience invest and care. At its core, Lethal Weapon is an epic action movie where the good guys kick some serious butt! For the 80s, this movie raised the bar for the action genre. My only complaint would be the first few minutes have some nudity that, if left out, would have made this a contender for the ultimate holiday action movie.

reviewer avatar

A Review by GenerationofSwine 10

Written by GenerationofSwine on 2023-01-12

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I think the PC thing is that I'm not supposed to like this one but I'm supposed to like the horrible TV series instead? So... read more

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I think the PC thing is that I'm not supposed to like this one but I'm supposed to like the horrible TV series instead? Something like that? Forget about it this is Shane Black at his finest macho shoot 'em up standards. And it's fun. Two cops, two Vietnam vets, two wonderfully colorful characters come together to solve a murder that grows and grows and grows until it becomes appropriately over the top and action packed fun. And, of course, by over-the-top I mean it spirals into the land of unbelievable in the way that only the finest action movies can deliver.

reviewer avatar

A Review by Geronimo1967 7

Written by Geronimo1967 on 2025-01-24

On the face of it, it's a lot like "Beverly Hill Cop" (1984) only the chemistry between rookies "Riggs" (Mel Gibson) and "Murtaugh" (Danny G... read more

On the face of it, it's a lot like "Beverly Hill Cop" (1984) only the chemistry between rookies "Riggs" (Mel Gibson) and "Murtaugh" (Danny Glover) is way more gritty, sharp and comical. The pair could hardly be more different when they are partnered. The former has a messy history, the latter is older with an unlucky one but when combined this mismatch proves quite effective. Initially it's the murder of a well-connected hooker and daughter of a marine colleague of "Murtaugh" from Vietnam that sees the two forced together, but it's not long before the Laurel and Hardy of modern policing are delivering results, especially when they find themselves on the trail of some big-time drug smugglers who are probably implicated in her murder. Not only that, but it appears the criminals are themselves former military and so no easy target for our intrepid, slightly disaster-prone, investigators. Gibson and Glover just click here. They are naturals as they present play polar opposite characters amiably and enthusiastically. There's plenty of smart-mouthed dialogue, loads of action and Gibson's almost maniacal behaviour at times is really quite funny. Of course there's no jeopardy, and yes it does sort of squeal franchise at you, but if what's to come can mirror this fast-paced and entertaining adventure, then bring it on!

Read Full Review (The thoughts and opinions expressed here are solely those of the reviewer.)
A Review by John Chard

We got the edge Cochise. Close to retirement, Detective Sergeant Roger Murtaugh is a bit disturbed to find he's breaking in a new partner. Even more so when it turns out to be fellow Detective Martin Riggs, who since the death of his wif...

reviewer avatar

A Review by John Chard 8

Written by John Chard on 2018-12-31

We got the edge Cochise. Close to retirement, Detective Sergeant Roger Murtaugh is a bit disturbed to find he's breaking in a new partner. Even more so when it turns out to be fellow Detective Mart...

read more
reviewer avatar

A Review by JPV852 9

Written by JPV852 on 2019-08-28

One of the best action movies of all-time in my book, and right there with Die Hard, Lethal Weapon still holds up so well thanks to the chemistry between Mel Gibson and Danny Glover. Even with the ove...

read more
reviewer avatar

A Review by mooney240 7

Written by mooney240 on 2022-10-02

**You’re never too old for this!** Lethal Weapon is the ultimate buddy cop action movie. Mel Gibson and Danny Glover’s chemistry delights as the crazed young gun and the old experienced cop grow to...

read more
reviewer avatar

A Review by GenerationofSwine 10

Written by GenerationofSwine on 2023-01-12

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I think the PC thing is that I'm not supposed to like this one but I'm supposed to like the horrible TV series instead? Something like that? Forget about it this is Shane Black at...

read more
reviewer avatar

A Review by Geronimo1967 7

Written by Geronimo1967 on 2025-01-24

On the face of it, it's a lot like "Beverly Hill Cop" (1984) only the chemistry between rookies "Riggs" (Mel Gibson) and "Murtaugh" (Danny Glover) is way more gritty, sharp and comical. The pair could...

read more