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IMDbPro

Above the Law

  • 19881988
  • RR
  • 1h 39m
IMDb RATING
6.0/10
33K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,824
302
Steven Seagal in Above the Law (1988)
Home Video Trailer from Warner Home Video
Play trailer0:31
1 Video
99+ Photos
ActionCrimeDrama
A former Special Operations Vietnam vet works as a Chicago cop, and uncovers C.I.A. wrongdoing.A former Special Operations Vietnam vet works as a Chicago cop, and uncovers C.I.A. wrongdoing.A former Special Operations Vietnam vet works as a Chicago cop, and uncovers C.I.A. wrongdoing.
IMDb RATING
6.0/10
33K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,824
302
    • Andrew Davis
  • Writers
    • Andrew Davis(story)
    • Steven Seagal(story)
    • Steven Pressfield(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Steven Seagal
    • Pam Grier
    • Henry Silva
    • Andrew Davis
  • Writers
    • Andrew Davis(story)
    • Steven Seagal(story)
    • Steven Pressfield(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Steven Seagal
    • Pam Grier
    • Henry Silva
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 123User reviews
    • 54Critic reviews
    • 45Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards

    Videos1

    Above the Law
    Trailer 0:31
    Watch Above the Law

    Photos109

    Steven Seagal in Above the Law (1988)
    Steven Seagal in Above the Law (1988)
    Steven Seagal in Above the Law (1988)
    Steven Seagal in Above the Law (1988)
    Steven Seagal in Above the Law (1988)
    Steven Seagal in Above the Law (1988)
    Steven Seagal in Above the Law (1988)
    Steven Seagal in Above the Law (1988)
    Steven Seagal in Above the Law (1988)
    Steven Seagal in Above the Law (1988)
    Steven Seagal in Above the Law (1988)
    Steven Seagal in Above the Law (1988)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Steven Seagal
    Steven Seagal
    • Nico Toscani
    Pam Grier
    Pam Grier
    • Delores Jackson
    Henry Silva
    Henry Silva
    • Zagon
    Ron Dean
    Ron Dean
    • Lukich
    Daniel Faraldo
    Daniel Faraldo
    • Salvano
    Sharon Stone
    Sharon Stone
    • Sara Toscani
    Miguel Nino
    • Chi Chi
    Nicholas Kusenko
    • Agent Neeley
    Joe Greco
    • Father Gennaro
    • (as Joe V. Greco)
    Chelcie Ross
    Chelcie Ross
    • Nelson Fox
    Gregory Alan Williams
    Gregory Alan Williams
    • Agent Halloran
    • (as Gregory Alan-Williams)
    Jack Wallace
    Jack Wallace
    • Uncle Branca
    Metta Davis
    • Rosa Toscani
    Joseph F. Kosala
    • Lt. Strozah
    • (as Joseph Kosala)
    Ronnie Barron
    Ronnie Barron
    • CIA Bartender
    Joe D. Lauck
    Joe D. Lauck
    • Senator Harrison
    Henry Godinez
    • Father Tomasino
    Danny Goldring
    Danny Goldring
    • Zagon's Aide
      • Andrew Davis
    • Writers
      • Andrew Davis(story) (screenplay)
      • Steven Seagal(story)
      • Steven Pressfield(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Henry Silva broke Steven Seagal's nose in the final fight scene. Seagal was rushed to the hospital. The next day Seagal was back at work. He stayed up all night icing it, so that he wouldn't get a black eye.
    • Goofs
      During the search in Nico's house, an officer calls Steven Seagal "Steve" instead of "Nico."
    • Quotes

      Nico Toscani: You know something Fox. Right now in Europe they're trying some 80 year-old camp guard for Nazi war crimes. And all around our country they got guys on death row for murdering 1, 2, 3 guys. And they probably deserve what they're going to get. But you & I... we know a couple of people that are personally responsible for the death of what, 50,000 non-military personnel? Librarians, teachers, doctors, women, children. All dead! We've wiped-out entire cultures! And for what? Not one C.I.A. agent has ever been tried, much less accused of any crimes. You guys think you're above the law. Well, you ain't above mine.

    • Alternate versions
      German uncut DVD came out in 2006 with all violent scenes intact.
    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Colors/18 Again!/Above the Law/Bad Dreams (1988)

    User reviews123

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    7/10
    Excellent Debut of Steven Seagal
    In Japan, the Sicilian martial arts expert Nicolo "Nico" Toscani (Steven Seagal) is recruited by the CIA Special Agent Nelson Fox (Chelcie Ross) to join the Special Operations Forces in the border of the Vietnam and Cambodia. In 1973, Nico witnesses the torturer Kurt Zagon (Henry Silva) interrogating prisoners of war and he is disgusted and quits the CIA, returning.

    Fifteen years later, Nico is married with a baby with his wife Sarah (Sharon Stone) and they live in the same house of his mother. Nico is a tough and incorruptible narcotics detective of the Chicago Police Department very close to his partner and friend Delores 'Jacks' Jackson (Pam Grier) and his friend Detective Lukich (Ron Dean). When Nico and Jacks investigate a drug traffic operation, they arrest the gang of the drug dealer Tony Salvano (Daniel Faraldo) but they find that they are smuggling the plastic explosive C4 instead. However there is an interference of the FBI and Salvano and his partner are released by FBI Agent Neeley (Nicholas Kusenko) and the detectives are forbidden of proceed with the investigation. But Nico does not stop and is suspended from the police force. But when there is an explosion in the church of his neighborhood and his friend and parish priest Joseph Gennaro (Joe V. Greco) is murdered, Nico chases Salvano and discovers a corruption ring that is planning to kill the American Senator Ernest Harrison (Joe D. Lauck) that is investigating the involvement of the CIA with drug traffic.

    "Above the Law" is the excellent debut of Steven Seagal in the cinema industry. When I saw this movie for the first time twenty-five years ago, I immediately became fan of this actor that used the style of Charles Bronson and Clint Eastwood associated to great fight choreography and violence. Today I have seen it again on DVD and the story is still full of action and has not aged after all these years. My vote is seven.

    Title (Brazil): "Nico Acima da Lei" ("Nico Above the Law")
    helpful•16
    0
    • claudio_carvalho
    • Jan 18, 2014

    FAQ1

    • What are the differences between the British BBFC 18 Version and the Uncut Version?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 22, 1988 (United States)
      • United States
      • English
      • Spanish
      • Italian
      • Japanese
      • Vietnamese
      • Assyrian Neo-Aramaic
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Chicago, Illinois, USA
    • Production company
      • Warner Bros.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • 1 hour 39 minutes
      • Color

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