IMDb >
Lethal Weapon (1987)
Watch It
Buy it at Amazon
Rent it at Blockbuster.com
Discuss in Boards More at IMDb Pro Add to My Movies Update Data
BETA
Discuss in Boards More at IMDb Pro Add to My Movies Update Data
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotesOverview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv scheduleAwards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage boardPlot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotesFun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQOther Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDeskPromotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo galleryExternal Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clipsLethal Weapon (1987) More at IMDbPro »
| Photos (see all 62 | slideshow) | Videos (see all 10) |
          |
|
Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writer:
Shane Black (written by)
Release Date:
6 March 1987 (USA)
more
Tagline:
If these two can learn to stand each other... the bad guys don't stand a chance. more
Plot:
A veteran cop, Murtough, is partnered with a young homicidal cop, Riggs. Both having one thing in common, hating working in pairs. Now they must learn to work with one and other to stop a gang of drug smugglers. full summary | full synopsis
Awards:
Nominated for Oscar.
Another 5 wins
&
1 nomination
more
NewsDesk:
(242 articles)
The Sunday Movie Quiz
(From HeyUGuys. 28 November 2009, 4:01 PM, PST)
Your Thanksgiving TV marathon guide: Saturday
(From EW.com - PopWatch. 28 November 2009, 5:00 AM, PST)
(From HeyUGuys. 28 November 2009, 4:01 PM, PST)
Your Thanksgiving TV marathon guide: Saturday
(From EW.com - PopWatch. 28 November 2009, 5:00 AM, PST)
User Comments:
This is the classic action film that introduces one of the best action duos ever to come to the big screen.
more (182 total)
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only) | Mel Gibson | ... | Sergeant Martin Riggs |
 | Danny Glover | ... | Sergeant Roger Murtaugh |
 | Gary Busey | ... | Mr. Joshua |
 | Mitch Ryan | ... | General Peter McAllister (as Mitchell Ryan) |
 | Tom Atkins | ... | Michael Hunsaker |
| Darlene Love | ... | Trish Murtaugh |
| Traci Wolfe | ... | Rianne Murtaugh |
| Jackie Swanson | ... | Amanda Hunsaker |
| Damon Hines | ... | Nick Murtaugh |
| Ebonie Smith | ... | Carrie Murtaugh |
| Bill Kalmenson | ... | Beat Cop |
 | Lycia Naff | ... | Dixie |
| Patrick Cameron | ... | Cop #1 |
| Don Gordon | ... | Cop #2 |
| Jimmie F. Skaggs | ... | Drug Dealer #1 |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
110 min | Germany:108 min (cut version) | USA:117 min (director's cut) | Turkey:104 min (TV version)
Country:
Language:
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.33 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) |
Dolby (35 mm prints)
Certification:
Australia:M |
Iceland:16 |
Finland:K-15 (director's cut) (DVD version) |
Finland:K-18 (1987) |
Brazil:16 (1999 re-rating) |
Brazil:18 (original rating) |
New Zealand:M |
Hungary:16 |
Italy:VM14 |
Argentina:16 |
Canada:18A |
Chile:18 |
France:-12 |
Ireland:18 |
Norway:18 |
Singapore:NC-16 |
South Korea:15 |
South Korea:18 (director's cut) |
Sweden:15 |
UK:18 |
USA:R |
USA:Unrated (director's cut) |
West Germany:16 (director's cut) |
West Germany:18 |
Canada:13+ (Quebec)
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
One sequence shows a theatre marquee advertising The Lost Boys (1987), a film Richard Donner was producing at the time.
more
Goofs:
Revealing mistakes: When Riggs starts to chase after Joshua you can clearly see an obvious stunt man jumping on top of a car.
more
Quotes:
Martin Riggs:
You want me to drive?
Roger Murtaugh: No, you're supposed to be suicidal, remember? I'LL drive.
Martin Riggs: Anybody who drives around in this town IS suicidal.
more
Roger Murtaugh: No, you're supposed to be suicidal, remember? I'LL drive.
Martin Riggs: Anybody who drives around in this town IS suicidal.
more
Movie Connections:
Spoofed in Duke Nukem II (1993) (VG)
more
Soundtrack:
A Christmas Carol
more
FAQ
What type of sniper rifle is used by Riggs in the "limo shootout"?more
more (182 total)
Message Boards
Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Lethal Weapon (1987) moreRecommendations
If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
Show more recommendations
|
|
|
|
|
| Live Free or Die Hard | Lethal Weapon 2 | Dead Bang | Bad Boys II | The Departed |
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
Related Links
| Full cast and crew | Company credits | External reviews |
| News articles | IMDb Action section | IMDb USA section |
| Add this title to MyMovies |
Lethal Weapon is a nearly perfectly structured action movie. The acting, the story, the script, the directing, even the IDEA of the movie all combine to make up a fascinating and thrill-packed police film. The cross-cutting at the beginning of the film was particularly effective, in my opinion, as Martin Riggs (Mel Gibson) and Roger Murtaugh (Danny Glover) are introduced. The startling difference between their separate lives provides for tons of fun to be had later in the movie. Roger starts his day off as the family man reluctantly celebrating his 50th birthday party with his numerous children and his loving wife in the big family house, while Riggs is shown waking up naked in his trashy trailer and beginning his day with a healthy breakfast of a cigarette and a beer.
The fact that both Roger and Riggs hated that they had to work together was especially effective in creating a touching atmosphere as they grew to be closer and closer friends. They worked so well together in this movie; it was a symbiotic relationship. It was almost like they fed off of each other, and kept each other in line and out of trouble. I also liked the way that they showed that Riggs was deeply angered when he learned that the bad guys had taken Murtaugh's daughter. Things like this, when done right, can really get you to sit up and really get into the movie, and it was definitely done right here. Riggs was also very amusing in his anxiousness about being a cop (`Why don't you let me go to sleep?' `No, come on, we gotta get up and catch bad guys!'), and Gary Busey delivers an excellent performance as the lead bad guy. This is the type of role that he plays best (see "Under Siege").
Although the violence was painfully present in some parts (the torture scenes were short but extremely difficult to watch), the film never relied on violence to pull it along or keep the audience's attention. The story was sufficient enough so that there was no overindulgence necessary in anything like that. In this film you see the first of the now traditional Lethal Weapon scenes in which Riggs and Murtaugh stagger away from a smoking crime scene, seeming to hold each other up. The final fight scene between Riggs and Mr. Joshua (Busey) was a little excessive, and there were a few scenes which were a bit faulty (how did the guy on the building ledge expect to kill himself when there was such a huge air bag inflated on the ground directly below him?), but overall this was a spectacular crime thriller. The movie rushes along at a feverish pace, and particularly Gibson's and Glover's success working together on screen make this a timeless action film that is not to be missed.