Lethal Weapon (1987)
84%RT Audience Score: 86%
Awards & Nominations: NA
The most successful installment in a phenomenally successful series, Lethal Weapon helped redefine action movies for the 1980s and 1990s
Lethal Weapon is the ultimate buddy cop movie that combines drama, comedy, and action all in one. While some critics may argue that the plot is slow or implausible, let’s be real, we’re not watching this movie for the logic. We’re here for the iconic duo of Riggs and Murtaugh, played brilliantly by Gibson and Glover, and the over-the-top, ridiculous action sequences that make us want to jump off a building with a fire hose tied around our waist. So grab some popcorn, sit back, and enjoy the ride. Yippee-ki-yay, movie lovers!
Production Company(ies)
Columbia Pictures, Pascal Pictures, Marvel Studios,
Distributor
Warner Bros., Warner Home Vídeo
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
TV-14
Year of Release
1987
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby Digital
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Aspect ratio:16:9 HD
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Runtime:1h 49m
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Language(s):
-
Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Mar 6, 1987 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 22, 1997
Genre(s)
Action
Keyword(s)
starring Mel Gibson, Danny Glover, Gary Busey, Mitch Ryan, Tom Atkins, Darlene Love, directed by Richard Donner, written by Shane Black, produced by Joel Silver, MPAA rating R, action, box office performance $61.0M, reviewed by Bob Thomas, Duane Byrge, Gene Siskel, Michael Wilmington, Desmond Ryan, Johanna Steinmetz, Mike Massie, Rachel Wagner, David Nusair, Jordi Batlle Caminal, Ben Yagoda, John Marriott, Lethal Weapon, Los Angeles, police detective, drug-trafficking ring, buddy film, drama, comedy, adventure, bloodshed, machine gun showdowns, excessive property destruction, volatile behavior, suicidal, bond, chase sequence, expert eye for action, impaired vision for logic, serviceable plot, unacceptably slow, implausibility, unconventional Christmas film, solid crime film, odd couple pairing, legendary buddy cop duo, witty dialogue, cool action sequences, amazing acting, thrilling plot, incredible soundtrack, awesome action scenes, fake-looking scenes, 80s movie, Director’s Cut, predictable, well-acted, amazing chemistry, great classic, top horror movies, MCU movies ranked, renewed & cancelled TV shows, best Netflix series, Tomatometer
Worldwide gross: $65,207,127
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): NA
US/Canada gross: $65,207,127
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend:
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Danny Glover – Sergeant Roger Murtaugh
Gary Busey – Mr. Joshua
Mitch Ryan – General Peter McAllister
Tom Atkins – Michael Hunsaker
Darlene Love – Trish Murtaugh
Director – Richard Donner
Producers – Joel Silver, Richard Donner
Writer – Shane Black
Director(s)
Richard Donner
Writer(s)
Shane Black
Producer(s)
Joel Silver, Richard Donner
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
All Critics (55) | Top Critics (16) | Fresh (44) | Rotten (11)
Richard Donner directed with an expert eye for action but impaired vision for logic.
July 25, 2019
Bob Thomas
Associated Press
TOP CRITIC
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.
March 6, 2017
Duane Byrge
Hollywood Reporter
TOP CRITIC
[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.
December 13, 2014 | Rating: 3/4
Gene Siskel
Chicago Tribune
TOP CRITIC
At center is the first big, juicy mythic-hero part Gibson has had since Mad Max.
December 6, 2013
Michael Wilmington
Los Angeles Times
TOP CRITIC
The story, which proceeds with inevitability, is enlivened by Donner’s rousing action sequences.
December 6, 2013 | Rating: 3/4
Desmond Ryan
Philadelphia Inquirer
TOP CRITIC
As action-adventure, it’s pointlessly puerile, a movie where the heroes are so childish they try to one-up each other with fancy shots at the pistol range.
May 13, 2013 | Rating: 0.5/4
Johanna Steinmetz
Chicago Tribune
TOP CRITIC
An enduring buddy film, brilliantly combining drama, comedy, adventure, bloodshed, machine gun showdowns in the middle of busy highways, and excessive property destruction.
September 6, 2020 | Rating: 8/10
Mike Massie
Gone With The Twins
My problem with Lethal Weapon is I did not love the script or the action
May 25, 2020 | Rating: 4/10
Rachel Wagner
rachelsreviews.net
…it’s not difficult to see why Riggs and Murtaugh became downright iconic figures after the release of this picture…
December 24, 2019 | Rating: 3/4
David Nusair
Reel Film Reviews
… creates a new type of hero… [Full review in Spanish]
March 14, 2018
Jordi Batlle Caminal
El Pais (Spain)
What this premise needs is a serviceable plot, but screenwriter Shane Block hasn’t provided one. Indeed, for an action thriller, Lethal Weapon is unacceptably slow.
December 6, 2013
Ben Yagoda
Philadelphia Daily News
Implausibility is a large part of the entertainment in this romp par excellence, with each overblown set piece becoming ever more ludicrous.
December 6, 2013 | Rating: 4/5
John Marriott
Radio Times…
Plot
A slightly unhinged cop is partnered with a veteran detective trying to maintain a low stress level in his life.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Fresh Kernels doesn’t say anything goofy or funny about Lethal Weapon, but it does mention that Mel Gibson and Danny Glover have great chemistry as the odd couple pairing of detectives.
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