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Parents' Guide to

Lethal Weapon 3

By Elliot Panek, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

Violent action sequel on par with rest of series.

Movie R 1992 118 minutes
Lethal Weapon 3 Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

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age 15+

Based on 6 parent reviews

RichManGold
RichManGold Adult
December 20, 2020
age 14+
Daniel L.
Daniel L. Adult
August 1, 2020
age 14+

A nice movie to see; intense momets

PG-13: intense violence, brutal images and strong language
See all 6 parent reviews

What's the Story?

LETHAL WEAPON 3 returns to the tried-and-true formula of guns, jokes, and male bonding. After a botched attempt to diffuse a bomb, detectives Riggs (Mel Gibson) and Murtaugh (Danny Glover) are bussed down to the position of patrol officer. While Murtaugh contemplates retirement, Riggs finds himself smitten with no-nonsense internal affairs agent Lorna Cole (Renee Russo). Riggs, Murtaugh and Cole team up to stop former cop Jack Travis (Stuart Wilson) from supplying guns to gang members. The mission turns deadly when a young cop dies and Lorna is shot, and once again, a revenge-fueled Riggs goes after the culprits.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (6 ):
Kids say (3 ):

As most series do, the Lethal Weapon series gets sillier and more self-referential as it progresses; however, this film also features the beginnings of a social message. The plot follows the path of illegally sold guns, from the runners to the kid on the street. The film deals briefly and indirectly with the issue of race, particularly the chronic involvement of young black men in gang warfare.

This installment focuses more on Murtaugh's problems than Riggs'. As in all films in the series, there's an abrupt shift in mood from humor to violent death about halfway through. The fate of Lorna leaves a slightly less bleak resolution, in which Riggs may not keep having to avenge the deaths of the women he loves. Overall, there isn't anything remarkable about this film, but it manages to deliver all the elements that fans of the series have come to expect.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about sequels. Why do they get made? Are they ever as good as the originals? What are some of the common problems that plague the newer installments? Do you like seeing the same characters come to life again?

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