Lethal Weapon

1987 Crime Drama

L.A. cop Martin Riggs (Mel Gibson), whose wife has recently died, is a loose cannon with a seeming death wish. This makes him indispensable in collaring dangerous criminals, but a liability to any potential partners. Roger Murtaugh (Danny Glover), a conservative family man who wants to stay alive for his upcoming 50th birthday, is partnered with Riggs. As Riggs gets to know Murtaugh and his family, he begins to mellow, though his insistence on using guerilla tactics to catch criminals is still (put mildly) above and beyond the call of duty. The main villain is The General (Mitchell Ryan), a drug dealer responsible for the death of the daughter of one of Murtaugh's oldest friends. The General is also in charge of a deadly, militia-like gang of smugglers. Adding fuel to the fire is The General's chief henchman, played with all stops out by Gary Busey. Moviegoers familiar only with the relatively tongue-in-cheek Lethal Weapon sequels may be amazed to find out how dangerous and unpredictable Riggs is in the first Lethal Weapon -- and how likely it seems that Murtaugh might not survive until fade-out time. more..

Director: Richard Donner

Starring: Mel Gibson,Danny Glover, Gary Busey, Darlene Love, Mitchell Ryan

Reviews

  • In a movie with the energy of this one, we're exhilarated by the sheer freedom of movement; the violence becomes surrealistic and less important than the movie's underlying energy level.

    Roger Ebert - The Chicago Sun-Times

    26 April 2013

  • Lethal Weapon opens with a shot of Mel Gibson in his birthday suit and just gets better. Likewise we meet costar Danny Glover in the bathtub, fêted by his family on his 50th birthday. This endearing double exposure introduces us to the vulnerabilities of these superduper heroes, an odd couple of cops who mature into friends as they quell crime.

    Rita Kempley - The Washington Post

    26 April 2013

  • After watching Gibson and Glover grow accustomed to each other, develop trust and confidence in each other and charge bullheadedly into dangerous situations, you can't help but hope there's a "Lethal Weapon II." It would be one of the few times a sequel would make sense and dollars.

    - The Washington Post

    26 April 2013

  • Gibson is truly frightening as the cop about to go into orbit, and Glover is a standout as the down-to-earth lawman with very much to lose.

    - TV Guide

    26 April 2013

  • The film is all fast action, noisy stunts and huge, often unflattering close-ups, but it packs an undeniable wallop.

    Janet Maslin - The New York Times

    26 April 2013

Awards

  • Best Sound

    Academy Awards (1988)

     
  • Eric Clapton

    BMI Film & TV Awards (1988)

  • Outstanding Lead Actor in a Motion Picture

    Image Awards (1989)

  • Best Sound Editing - ADR

    Motion Picture Sound Editors (1988)

  • Best Young Actress in a Horror or Mystery Motion Picture

    Young Artist Awards (1989)