| Lethal Weapon | |
| Creator: | Shane Black |
| Origin: | Lethal Weapon |
| Owner: | Warner Bros. Pictures |
| Years: | 1987–present |
| Tv: | Lethal Weapon (2016–2019) |
| Vgs: | Lethal Weapon (1992) |
| Attractions: | Lethal Weapon – The Ride (1995–2012) |
| Otherlabel2: | Pinball |
| Otherdata2: | Lethal Weapon 3 (1992) |
Lethal Weapon is an American buddy cop action-comedy media franchise created by Shane Black. It focuses on two Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) detectives, Martin Riggs and Roger Murtaugh. The franchise consists of a series of four films released between 1987 and 1998 and a television series which aired from 2016 to 2019. The four films were directed by Richard Donner and also share many of the same core cast members, while the television series is a reboot with different actors. Although the first film was not explicitly a comedy, the later films and the television series gradually became comedic in nature.
A proposed fifth installment had been in talks and development since 2007, but has yet to enter production.
| Film | U.S. release date | Director | Screenwriter(s)< | --Do not change the way writers are credit. This is following the Writers Guild of America credit system.--> | Story by | Producers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lethal Weapon | March 6, 1987 | Richard Donner | Shane Black | Richard Donner & Joel Silver | ||
| Lethal Weapon 2 | July 7, 1989 | Jeffrey Boam | Shane Black & Warren Murphy | |||
| Lethal Weapon 3 | May 15, 1992 | Jeffrey Boam & Robert Mark Kamen | Jeffrey Boam | |||
| Lethal Weapon 4 | July 10, 1998 | Channing Gibson | Jonathan Lemkin & Alfred Gough and Miles Millar | |||
| Lethal Finale | Mel Gibson | Jez Butterworth | Lauren Shuler Donner & Dan Lin | |||
See main article: Lethal Weapon. Anxious with age and retirement, homicide detective Roger Murtaugh (Danny Glover) is partnered with young and suicidal narcotics officer Martin Riggs (Mel Gibson). Together, they work the case of the alleged suicide of Amanda Hunsaker (Jackie Swanson), daughter of a wealthy businessman who served with Murtaugh in Vietnam. Murtaugh and Riggs soon discover that Hunsaker was involved in a heroin-smuggling scheme led by a retired general (Mitchell Ryan) and his lead enforcer (Gary Busey).
See main article: Lethal Weapon 2. During a car chase, Riggs and Murtaugh stumble upon a trunk full of smuggled South African Krugerrands. This sparks a series of attempts at their lives, forcing them to take a less dangerous case, protecting Leo Getz (Joe Pesci), a loud-mouthed whistleblower with whom they gradually bond and befriend. However, they realize that Getz was involved in the same South African illegal activities. As a result, the three men become entangled in a drug-smuggling operation involving South African diplomats in Los Angeles, using their immunity and biting wit as a shield. Riggs kills the murderer of his wife who is among the criminals.
See main article: Lethal Weapon 3. As Murtaugh, who is one week from retiring, and Riggs investigate a robbery committed using a duplicate armored car, they find themselves in the middle of an Internal Affairs investigation led by Sergeant Lorna Cole (Rene Russo). With assistance from Leo, they learn that the subject of the investigation is a rogue cop (Stuart Wilson) who is stealing impounded weapons and selling them on the black market. During the investigation, Murtaugh shoots and kills a teenager who attacks him and Riggs; he turns out to be a friend of his own son. This prompts Murtaugh to capture the man responsible for the distribution of illegal firearms and to rethink his retirement.
See main article: Lethal Weapon 4. While his girlfriend Lorna and Murtaugh’s daughter Rianne are both pregnant, Riggs again teams up with Murtaugh and Leo as well as rookie Detective Lee Butters (Chris Rock) to investigate a Chinese immigrant smuggling ring. Wah Sing Ku (Jet Li) is a ruthless enforcer who attempts to murder Murtaugh's family by burning them alive in their home. Murtaugh discovers that Butters is the father of his daughter's unborn child. The two kill dozens of Chinese gangsters and catch up with the boss of the smuggling ring. Riggs and Lorna are married at the end of the film as their child is born.
There had long been talk of a fifth Lethal Weapon film, although both Gibson and Danny Glover initially expressed a lack of interest. Gibson confirmed in November 2021 that he was in talks to direct and star in the fifth film, saying that he would be helming the film to honor Donner, who wrote the screenplay and was originally set to direct the film prior to his death in July 2021.[1] It was reported that Richard Wenk (The Equalizer, ) had drafted the screenplay.[2] [3] As of April 2023, revisions to the screenplay have been made by Jez Butterworth.[4] [5] In June 2024, Gibson confirmed in an interview with the Inspire Me podcast that he would direct the fifth installment of the Lethal Weapon franchise and that the film would stay true to Donner's vision and influence.[6] [7] Gibson also stated that he and Glover would return to play their respective roles of Riggs and Murtaugh.[8]
See main article: Lethal Weapon (TV series). A television adaptation of the film series was developed by Matthew Miller as co-executive producer, along with Dan Lin and Jennifer Gwartz for Fox.[9] Clayne Crawford and Damon Wayans starred as Riggs and Murtaugh.[10] [11] Other cast include Keesha Sharp replacing Golden Brooks as Trish, Jordana Brewster as Dr. Maureen Cahill, Kevin Rahm as Captain Brooks Avery, Chandler Kinney as Riana Murtaugh, Dante Brown as Roger "R.J." Murtaugh Jr., Johnathan Fernandez as Scorsese, and Thomas Lennon in the recurring role of Leo Getz.[12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] Fox gave Lethal Weapon a series order in May 2016.[19] For the third season, Crawford was replaced by Seann William Scott, as a new character named Wesley Cole. Crawford was fired from the show after Fox and Warner Bros. refused to aid in escalating tensions between Crawford and Wayans, and the series killed off the character of Riggs.[20] After three seasons Fox canceled the show in May 2019.[21]
- A indicates the actor portrayed the role of a younger version of the character.
- A indicates the actor portrayed the role of the character in a photograph.
- A dark gray cell indicates the character was not in the film.
| Characters | Films | Television series | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lethal Weapon | Lethal Weapon 2 | Lethal Weapon 3 | Lethal Weapon 4 | Lethal Finale | Lethal Weapon | |
| 1987 | 1989 | 1992 | 1998 | 2016 – 2019 | ||
| The Gang | ||||||
| Martin Riggs | Mel Gibson | Clayne Crawford | ||||
| Roger Murtaugh | Danny Glover | Damon Wayans | ||||
| Leo Getz | Joe Pesci | Thomas Lennon | ||||
| Lorna Cole Riggs | Rene Russo | Seann William Scott (as Wesley Cole) | ||||
| Lee Butters | Chris Rock | |||||
| Riggs' Love Interests | ||||||
| Victoria Lynn Riggs | Floriana Lima (as Miranda Riggs) | |||||
| Rika van den Hass | Patsy Kensit | |||||
| Karen Palmer | Hilarie Burton | |||||
| Molly Hendricks | Kristen Gutoskie | |||||
| Murtaugh's Family | ||||||
| Trish Murtaugh | Darlene Love | Keesha Sharp | ||||
| Rianne Murtaugh | Traci Wolfe | Chandler Kinney (as Riana Murtaugh) | ||||
| Nick Murtaugh | Damon Hines | Dante Brown (as Roger Murtaugh Jr.) | ||||
| Carrie Murtaugh | Ebonie Smith | |||||
| The Cast | ||||||
| Captain Ed Murphy | Steve Kahan | Kevin Rahm (as Captain Brooks Avery) | ||||
| Dr. Stephanie Woods | Mary Ellen Trainor | Jordana Brewster (as Dr. Maureen Cahill) | ||||
| Mr. Joshua | Gary Busey | |||||
| Gen. Peter McAlliser | Mitchell Ryan | |||||
| Michael Hunsaker | Tom Atkins | |||||
| Arjen Rudd | Joss Ackland | |||||
| Pieter Vorstedt | Derrick O'Connor | |||||
| Mickey McGee | Jack McGee | |||||
| Jack Travis | Stuart Wilson | |||||
| Tyrone | Gregory Millar | |||||
| Wah Sing Ku | Jet Li | |||||
| Uncle Benny Chan | Kim Chan | |||||
| Hong | Eddy Ko | |||||
| Detective Ng | Calvin Jung | |||||
| Bernard Scorsese | Johnathan Fernandez | |||||
| Detective Sonya Bailey | Michelle Mitchenor | |||||
| Detective Alejandro "Alex" Cruz | Richard Cabral | |||||
| Detective Zach Bowman | Andrew Creer | |||||
| Natalie Flynn | Maggie Lawson | |||||
| Erica Malick | Nishi Munshi | |||||
| Louie "The Gute" Gutierrez | Paola Lázaro | |||||
| Crew/Detail | Film | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lethal Weapon | Lethal Weapon 2 | Lethal Weapon 3 | Lethal Weapon 4 | Lethal Finale | ||
| 1987 | 1989 | 1992 | 1998 | TBA | ||
| Director | Richard Donner | Mel Gibson | ||||
| Producer(s) | Richard Donner Joel Silver | Lauren Shuler Donner Dan Lin | ||||
| Screenwriter(s) | Shane Black | Jeffrey Boam | Jeffrey Boam Robert Mark Kamen | Channing Gibson | Jez Butterworth | |
| Story by | Shane Black Warren Murphy | Jeffrey Boam | Jonathan Lemkin Alfred Gough Miles Millar | |||
| Composer(s) | Michael Kamen Eric Clapton | Michael Kamen Eric Clapton David Sanborn | ||||
| Director of photography | Andrzej Bartkowiak | |||||
| Editor(s) | Stuart Baird | Robert Brown Battle Davis | Frank J. Urioste Dallas Puett | |||
| Production companies | Silver Pictures | Silver Pictures Doshudo Productions | Ridelink | |||
| Distributor | Warner Bros. Pictures | |||||
| Film | Release date | Box office revenue | Box office ranking | Budget | Reference | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North America | Other territories | Worldwide | All time domestic | All time worldwide | ||||||
| Lethal Weapon | March 6, 1987 | $65,207,127 | $55,000,000 | $120,207,127 |
| $15 million | [22] [23] | |||
| Lethal Weapon 2 | July 7, 1989 | $147,253,986 | $80,600,000 | $227,853,986 |
|
| $25 million | [24] | ||
| Lethal Weapon 3 | May 15, 1992 | $144,731,527 | $177,000,000 | $321,731,527 |
|
| $35 million | [25] | ||
| Lethal Weapon 4 | July 10, 1998 | $130,444,603 | $155,000,000 | $285,444,603 |
|
| $140 million | [26] | ||
| Total | $487,637,243 | $467,600,000 | $955,237,243 | $215 million(E) | ||||||
| Film | Rotten Tomatoes | CinemaScore[27] | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lethal Weapon | 80% (55 reviews)[28] | 68 (23 reviews)[29] | ||
| Lethal Weapon 2 | 82% (44 reviews)[30] | 70 (21 reviews)[31] | ||
| Lethal Weapon 3 | 58% (48 reviews)[32] | 40 (26 reviews)[33] | ||
| Lethal Weapon 4 | 52% (67 reviews)[34] | 37 (21 reviews)[35] |
| Title | U.S. release date | Length | Performed by | Label |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lethal Weapon: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack | March 31, 1987 | 40:00 | Michael Kamen, Eric Clapton and David Sanborn | Warner Bros. Records |
| Lethal Weapon 2: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack | August 2, 1989 | 45:56 | ||
| Lethal Weapon 3: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack | June 9, 1992 | 39:32 | Reprise Records | |
| Lethal Weapon 4: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack | December 3, 2013 | 100:20 | La-La Land Records | |
| Lethal Weapon: Soundtrack Collection | 464:51 | |||
| Title | U.S. release date | Length | Artist(s) | Label | Film |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Lethal Weapon" | 2:44 | Honeymoon Suite | Warner Bros. Records | Lethal Weapon | |
| "Cheer Down" | 4:08 | George Harrison | Lethal Weapon 2 | ||
| "It's Probably Me" | 4:41 | Sting featuring Eric Clapton | A&M | Lethal Weapon 3 | |
| "Runaway Train" | 3:56 | Elton John and Eric Clapton | MCA and Rocket | ||
| "Fire in the Hole" | 5:31 | Van Halen | Warner Bros. Records | Lethal Weapon 4 | |
| "Pilgrim" | 5:50 | Eric Clapton | Reprise Records Warner Bros. Records | ||