Lethal Weapon (1987)

A veteran cop, Murtaugh, is partnered with a young suicidal cop, Riggs. Both having one thing in common; hating working in pairs. Now they must learn to work with one another to stop a gang of drug smugglers.

Director:

Richard Donner

Writer:

Shane Black

Stars:

Mel Gibson, Danny Glover, Gary Busey

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 5 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Mel Gibson	...	Martin Riggs
Danny Glover	...	Roger Murtaugh
Gary Busey	...	Joshua
Mitch Ryan	...	The General (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

Storyline

Martin Riggs is an L.A. cop with suicidal tendencies and Roger Murtaugh is the unlucky police officer with whom Riggs is assigned. Together they uncover a huge drug-smuggling operation, and as their success rate grows so does their friendship.

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Plot Keywords:

suicidal | police | drugs | death | vietnam | 

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Taglines:

Pity the bad guys.

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Genres:

Action | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

6 March 1987 (USA)

Also Known As:

Arma mortal

Filming Locations:

2817 Via Segovia, Palos Verdes Peninsula, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$15,000,000 (estimated)

Gross:

$65,207,127 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros, Silver Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min 108 min (cut) 117 min (director's cut)

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) Dolby (35 mm prints)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Hollywood city officials hung Christmas decorations on Hollywood Blvd. a few months early so that the scenes shot for this film, particularly the action scenes near the end of the picture, looked like they happened at the end of the year.

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Goofs

When Riggs and Murtaugh shoot Joshua after he overpowers the cops trying to arrest him, the slide (top half of an automatic pistol that moves backward when the gun is fired) on Riggs' Beretta doesn't move.

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Quotes

Mr. Joshua: General, Mr. Mendez is here.
McAllister: [turns around to greet Mendez] Ah, Mr. Mendez. How are you?
Mendez: Hey, I'm fine.
[motioning to Mr. Joshua]
Mendez: Where the hell did you get him? Psychos 'R Us?
McAllister: I don't think you're funny.
Mendez: I don't think this whole goddamn setup's funny. You're using mercenaries, for chrissake, tell me I'm wrong.
McAllister: No. You're not wrong.
Mendez: And you expect me to trust these fuckin' bozos?
McAllister: My people are loyal, Mr. Mendez. They are loyal to me.
[...]

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Crazy Credits

There is a dedication to Dar Robinson, a stuntman who died in a motorbike accident as Lethal Weapon was in Post-Production.

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Connections

Referenced in The Mod Squad (1999)

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Soundtracks

"Jingle Bell Rock"
Performed by Bobby Helms
Written by Joe Beal and Jim Boothe
Courtesy of MCA Records

User Reviews

Action and comedy at their best

Lethal Weapon is the first in a series of films that were all good. Richard Donner made an action packed buddy picture that everyone can enjoy. Mel Gibson and Danny Glover were both good in the lead roles and the action sequences are top notch. Kudos to Gary Busey for making a great bad guy.