Lethal Weapon is a 1987 American buddy cop action film and the first in a series of films, all directed by Richard Donner and starring Mel Gibson and Danny Glover as a mismatched pair of LAPD detectives, and Gary Busey as their primary adversary. After the first film, the series fell into the action thriller genres, and is generally considered to typify the "buddy cop" plot device. L.A.P.D. Homicide Sergeant Roger Murtaugh is worried about getting old, having recently celebrated his 50th birthday. He receives a message from Michael Hunsaker , an old Vietnam War friend who Murtaugh realizes... he has not seen in over 12 years. Before he can meet him, he is called to investigate a suicide and learns that the victim is Hunsaker's daughter, Amanda. Elsewhere, L.A.P.D. Narcotics Sergeant Martin Riggs , who is suicidal following the recent death of his wife in a traffic accident, nearly kills a disarmed suspect after flying into a psychotic rage during a drug bust. Wary of his behavior, Riggs' superiors transfer him to Homicide, making him and Murtaugh reluctant partners. Amanda's autopsy results show that she had taken drugs laced with drain cleaner.
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| Release date: | March 6, 1987 |
| Directed by: | Richard Donner |
| Rated: |  |
| Runtime: | 110 Minutes |
| Producer: | Richard Donner, Joel Silver |
| Editor: | Stuart Baird |
| Music by: | Michael Kamen, Eric Clapton, David Sanborn |
| Cinematography: | Stephen Goldblatt |
| Screenplay by: | Shane Black |
| Estimated budget: | $15,000,000 |
| Genre: | Thriller, Action, Comedy |