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Lethal Weapon (1987)

R  |   |  Action, Crime, Thriller  |  6 March 1987 (USA)
7.6
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Ratings: 7.6/10 from 179,658 users   Metascore: 67/100
Reviews: 253 user | 106 critic | 14 from Metacritic.com

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.

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Title: Lethal Weapon (1987)

Lethal Weapon (1987) on IMDb 7.6/10

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Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 5 wins & 1 nomination. See more awards »

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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The General
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...
Ebonie Smith ...
...
...
Patrick Cameron ...
Cop #1
...
Cop #2
Jimmie F. Skaggs ...
Drug Dealer #1
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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. Written by Graeme Roy <gsr@cbmamiga.demon.co.uk>

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Taglines:

Two cops. Glover carries a weapon. Gibson is one. He's the only L.A. cop registered as a LETHAL WEAPON. See more »

Genres:

Action | Crime | Thriller

Certificate:

R | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Official Sites:

Country:

Language:

Release Date:

6 March 1987 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Arma mortal  »

Box Office

Budget:

$15,000,000 (estimated)

Gross:

$65,207,127 (USA)
 »

Company Credits

Production Co:

,  »
Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

| (cut) | (director's cut)

Sound Mix:

(70 mm prints)| (35 mm prints) (4 channels)

Color:

(Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
See  »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

An alternate opening and ending were both filmed (and are available on the Lethal Weapon 4 (1998) DVD). The alternate opening featured Martin Riggs drinking alone in a bar where he is accosted by a couple of thugs who want his money. Riggs claims all of his is in the bank and tells the thugs "not to fuck with him." The thugs attack him, but Riggs easily subdues them. He is then allowed to take a free bottle of booze from the bar in exchange for never returning. Director Richard Donner felt the movie should open with a brighter look at Riggs and filmed the scene with Riggs awakening in his trailer to replace it. The alternate ending featured Riggs and Murtaugh saying good-bye to one another. Murtaugh tells Riggs he's thinking of retiring, but Riggs tells him not to. See more »

Goofs

At the beginning of the movie when Rianne is coming down the stairs in her New Year's Eve dress she says, "Don't you like it? Isn't it cool?" but her lips do not move. See more »

Quotes

Martin Riggs: Maybe we'll stay alive long enough for me to buy you a present.
See more »

Crazy Credits

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

Connections

Followed by Lethal Weapon 2 (1989) See more »

Soundtracks

Jingle Bells
(uncredited)
Written by James Lord Pierpont
See more »

Frequently Asked Questions

See more (Spoiler Alert!) »

User Reviews

 
Started it all
29 July 2002 | by (Järvenpää, Finland) – See all my reviews

If there's one movie that's an absolute an unquestionable action classic, it's without a moment of doubt "Lethal weapon". Who would have guessed back in 1987 that the same team would make a third sequel eleven years later? Still, the fact that "Lethal weapon" got sequels doesn't make it a miraculous movie. The fact that it means the same thing to "a buddy film" -genre than "Die hard" means to "one man saves the day from terrorists" genre makes it a special motion picture. It practically started the whole phenomenon as we know it today and just take a good look at all the dozens and dozens of buddy flicks that tries to imitate the mixture of vivid action and relaxing, splendid humor of "Lethal weapon". I have to admit that part of me would still like to see Riggs and Murtaugh together for the very last time. On the other hand Mel Gibson is already 46 years old and Danny Glover just turned 55 and he's definitely starting out to be "too old for this".


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