Los Angeles detective Martin Riggs is a ticking time bomb. A former Special Forces operative and Vietnam veteran, Riggs has become suicidal following the death of his wife in a car accident. He takes reckless, life-threatening risks on duty — not because he’s brave, but because he genuinely doesn’t care if he lives or dies. His superiors, concerned about his mental state, partner him with someone they hope will stabilize him.

That someone is Roger Murtaugh — a 50-year-old homicide detective and devoted family man who has just celebrated his birthday with the realization that he is, in his own words, “too old for this.” Murtaugh is cautious, methodical, and comfortable. The last thing he wants is a volatile, unpredictable partner with a death wish.

When a young woman connected to Murtaugh’s past is found dead — an apparent suicide that turns out to be murder — the mismatched detectives are pulled into a web of heroin smuggling, corrupt CIA operatives, and a private army of mercenaries. Despite their clashing personalities, Riggs’s fearless aggression and Murtaugh’s wisdom form a partnership that becomes one of cinema’s most iconic duos. Lethal Weapon defined the buddy-cop genre and set the template that countless films would follow.

Director & Cast

Director: Richard Donner — the veteran director of Superman and The Omen brought warmth, humor, and genuine emotional stakes to what could have been a formulaic action film.

Cast: Mel Gibson as Martin Riggs, Danny Glover as Roger Murtaugh, Gary Busey as Mr. Joshua, Mitchell Ryan as General McAllister, Tom Atkins as Michael Hunsaker, and Darlene Love as Trish Murtaugh.

Behind the Scenes

Shane Black wrote the screenplay at age 23, and it became one of the most expensive spec scripts sold at the time. Mel Gibson performed many of his own stunts. The film’s blend of humor, drama, and explosive action spawned three sequels and a television series. Danny Glover’s catchphrase “I’m too old for this” became one of the most quoted lines in action cinema.