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Lethal Weapon

Play trailer Poster for Lethal Weapon R 1987 1h 49m Action Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
82% Tomatometer 60 Reviews 86% Popcornmeter 250,000+ Ratings
Following the death of his wife, Los Angeles police detective Martin Riggs (Mel Gibson) becomes reckless and suicidal. When he is reassigned and partnered with Roger Murtaugh (Danny Glover), Riggs immediately clashes with the older officer. Together they uncover a massive drug-trafficking ring. As they encounter increasingly dangerous situations, Riggs and Murtaugh begin to form a bond. Riggs' volatile behavior might just help them apprehend the criminals -- if it doesn't kill them both first.
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Lethal Weapon

Lethal Weapon

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Critics Consensus

The most successful installment in a phenomenally successful series, Lethal Weapon helped redefine action movies for the 1980s and 1990s.

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Critics Reviews

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Bob Thomas Associated Press 07/25/2019
Richard Donner directed with an expert eye for action but impaired vision for logic. Go to Full Review
Duane Byrge The Hollywood Reporter 03/06/2017
Unfortunately, while Black's assembled all the parts, he's not locked in the conflict early enough, and the good scenes simply aren't enough good to make up for the plot's too-late lock. Go to Full Review
Gene Siskel Chicago Tribune 12/13/2014
3/4
[Gibson and Glover] make a great team, and some of their early adventures are exciting. But the film runs out of gas as it turns into an extended chase sequence. Go to Full Review
Richard Freedman Newark Star-Ledger Jan 7
Its real strength lies... in the fully realized, deeply human relationships between its two cop heroes, an odd couple indeed, but totally believable and endearing throughout. Go to Full Review
Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Nov 11
2.5/4
It's considered an action classic and one of the best "buddy cop" films, but it's always held just marginal appeal for me -- besides, compare it to Die Hard, and its "classic" status seems even more ludicrous. Go to Full Review
Gavin Spoors FILMHOUNDS Magazine Aug 4
4/5
What elevates Lethal Weapon from being a standard action film is how it takes its time to let the audience really get to know the characters. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Romas M @Romas 1h Greetings from Lithuania. "Lethal Weapon" (1987) is a great action film, where action itself is not front and center, but rather characters. Brilliantly directed by the late great Richard Donner "Lethal Weapon" puts two detectives in the center of of the film. Acting by Mel Gibson and Danny Glover was phenomenal here. They both have great chemistry together and with excellent writing by Shane Black this film is more about the characters and their interactions rather than pure action itself. Sound design, editing, cinematography, special effects are all top notch here. Revisiting this classic in 2026 on newly remastered 4K UHD was a blast from a past and confirms me one thing - they don't make movies like this anymore. Great movie. See more Matthew M. @matthew994411 13h Great movie with Danny glover a lot of action See more Bruno C P @RT93519273 Jun 5 I just don't like Gibson spending bullets like no tomorrow. As a regular cop, we'll get a warning or would have to pay for all the bullets he waste you know?! ^_^ See more Kauã M @KauaMiguel May 14 One of the older films that surprised me the most in my life was this one. I didn't expect to have so much fun, and to see such a good dynamic between these two actors. I can see how many pairings they inspired in this film. The strong point of this work isn't its villain or antagonists, but rather the dynamic between the actors, who have great chemistry and humor that truly captivates. See more Mark B @Thelaser555 Apr 15 Love the chemistry between Gibson and Glover early on, the crazy opening scene with the flame thrower baddie and the black humour dialogue. I just wonder if it would have been better having Leslie Nielsen instead of the shouty machismo Gibson, injecting all his deadpan face slapstick and satire?? This movie at times wants to be taken seriously but how can it?? It borders on the Naked Gun absurdity and for me, doesn't sustain that laugh out loud humour throughout. I am also, I have to admit it, not a Mel Gibson fan, no matter how hard I try to be. See more Jacopo D @Mini01itb Jan 16 Tipico film d'azione anni '80. Bel film, trama classica da Spy action, attori degni e decisamente capaci che rendono talvolta il film comico, talvolta serio e profondo. Personaggi davvero scritti bene che abbelliscono il film. Un amicizia è davvero ciò di cui la vita non può fare a meno See more Read all reviews
Lethal Weapon

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Movie Info

Synopsis Following the death of his wife, Los Angeles police detective Martin Riggs (Mel Gibson) becomes reckless and suicidal. When he is reassigned and partnered with Roger Murtaugh (Danny Glover), Riggs immediately clashes with the older officer. Together they uncover a massive drug-trafficking ring. As they encounter increasingly dangerous situations, Riggs and Murtaugh begin to form a bond. Riggs' volatile behavior might just help them apprehend the criminals -- if it doesn't kill them both first.
Director
Richard Donner
Producer
Joel Silver
Screenwriter
Shane Black
Distributor
Warner Home Vídeo, Warner Bros.
Production Co
Silver Pictures, Warner Brothers
Rating
R
Genre
Action, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Mar 6, 1987, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 15, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA)
$61.0M
Runtime
1h 49m
Sound Mix
Surround