Lethal Weapon is a thrilling, edge of your seat joy ride. If you love Cop buddy movies, this is the grand daddy of them all.
Lethal Weapon
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Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Mismatched cops spar in violent '80s action hit.
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 14–15
What to watch out for
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Violence:
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Sex:
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Language:
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Consumerism:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
This review of Lethal Weapon was written by Elliot Panek
Parents need to know that this film contains graphic violence. Though the tone of this movie is mostly serious, it treats the deaths of villains and innocent civilians in a very casual manner, as if killing bad guys is simply part of the job of being a cop. The only violence that seems to have a psychic toll is the harm done to young, attractive women. Sex is portrayed only in the context of prostitution and murder.
Families Can Talk About
Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
- Families can talk about the violence here. Do you think there is a message here amongst the carnage -- or is this simply an action film and not meant to be taken seriously? Another topic to explore is the film brought the archetypal "buddy picture" to the forefront of Hollywood cinema. Families may want to compare and contrast the ways in which this theme is presented in more recent films such as Rush Hour, Shanghai Noon, and Men in Black. How do these films use race as a comedic device?
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More on Lethal Weapon
What’s the Story?
Upon turning 50, L.A. detective Roger Murtaugh (Danny Glover) has been assigned a new partner, the suicidal loose cannon Martin Riggs (Mel Gibson). Murtaugh, a family man, and Riggs, a widower, form the obligatory cop/buddy odd couple, bickering at first, and then gradually rubbing off on one another. They are assigned to investigate the death of a prostitute who happens to be the daughter of Murtaugh's old army buddy. The men behind the crime are part of the Shadow Company, a clique of drug-dealing Vietnam veterans. After the bad guys kidnap Murtaugh's teen daughter, things get personal, and the cops are forced to play rough.
Is It Any Good?
LETHAL WEAPON is an unsubtle action movie that trades intrigue for visceral emotion. Angst hangs over much of the film. This world is populated with vengeance-crazed murderers and lonely suicides. Writer Shane Black peppers the movie with gallows humor, and veteran action director Richard Donner keeps things lean and mean, refusing to complicate the simple drug-running plot with so much as a twist.
The film caters to the audience's bloodlust, allowing us to relish Riggs' ruthless retribution by making him pay for his sins with his sanity. The violence is justified only in the sense that the bad guys are drug-running murderers, and so deserve to die. Gibson excels at playing the dispenser of righteous violence, and tragically flawed action hero. Lethal Weapon is suspenseful, but never quite achieves the fever pitch of a Die Hard film. It is more interested in justifying violence than making the audience think.
Movie Details
Studio: Warner Bros., Director: Richard Donner
Run time: 110 minutes
Theatrical release: 3/6/1987, DVD release: 3/25/1997
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for Restricted
Run time: 110 minutes
Theatrical release: 3/6/1987, DVD release: 3/25/1997
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for Restricted
Our Members Say
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Most Recent Reviews
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I rate this title pause for age 0 and give it
One of the best cop movies ever!
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
Great Movie, Not For Kids
I love this movie, but I'm pretty sure it's actually rated "R" and not "PG-13". I think it is one of the finest action/cop buddy movie around, but certainly not for kids. There is no way that a child could comprehend the anguish that is felt by a man who has lost his wife and wants to kill himself, or the loss of an adult child to a murder. This movie is very well acted and exciting, but needs to be watched by adults only.
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
This is the best cop movie ever made!!
This is my favorite cop movie. It's also a buddy movie. It does have several sequences of nudity. The violence is also pretty strong. Some strong language. When all is said and done, it's okay for teens.
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