What is the iRankMovies score for Lethal Weapon?

Name: Lethal Weapon
Director: Richard Donner
Genre: action, crime, thriller
Released: 1987
Duration: 1 h 50 min
Rating: 7.6

Lethal Weapon has an iRankMovies score of 75.6/100, based on a weighted combination of IMDb (×3.0), Rotten Tomatoes (×2.0), Metacritic (×1.5), and TMDb (×1.0).

Lethal Weapon (1987)

If these two can learn to stand each other... the bad guys don't stand a chance.

Release:1987

Runtime:1h 50m

Country:United States

Director:Richard Donner

Language:English

Genre

ActionCrimeThriller

See the best action movies →

Keywords

ShowdownPoliceSelf DestructionMixed Martial Arts MmaLos Angeles CaliforniaPolice DetectiveEx SoldierBuddy Cop

iRank76

Lethal Weapon rating: IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic

IMDb7.6/10· 294K votes

Rotten Tomatoes82%

Metacritic68%

TMDb7.3/10· 5K votes

With 82% on Rotten Tomatoes, backed by 7.6/10 on IMDb and 68/100 on Metacritic, critical reception of this film has been positive.

About Lethal Weapon

A veteran cop and an unstable detective become partners who must put their differences aside in order to bring down a heroin-smuggling ring run by ex-Special Forces.

Cast of Lethal Weapon

Mel Gibson
as Martin Riggs
Danny Glover
as Roger Murtaugh
Gary Busey
as Mr. Joshua
Mitchell Ryan
as General Peter McAllister
Tom Atkins
as Michael Hunsaker
Darlene Love
as Trish Murtaugh
Traci Wolfe
as Rianne Murtaugh
Jackie Swanson
as Amanda Hunsaker
Damon Hines
as Nick Murtaugh
Ebonie Smith
as Carrie Murtaugh
Bill Kalmenson
as Beat Cop
Lycia Naff
as Dixie

Lethal Weapon facts

Budget: $15M
Box office: $120.2M
Collection: Lethal Weapon Collection

Our take on Lethal Weapon

Richard Donner's 1987 action thriller pairs a level-headed veteran cop with an unstable younger detective, forcing two clashing temperaments together as they take on a heroin-smuggling ring run by former Special Forces men. The friction between the steady family man and his reckless, grief-scarred partner drives the film as much as the gunfights and chases. A foundational buddy-cop picture, it blends crime plotting with sharp banter and escalating action, all anchored by the odd-couple chemistry at its center. It suits viewers who want propulsive, character-led genre entertainment with humor threaded through the danger. Slick, punchy and warm beneath the mayhem, it set the template many later thrillers followed.

Ranked by the iRankMovies editorial teamUpdated August 2026Methodology Data sources

Audience opinions

What the audience liked

•Buddy cop chemistry generates compelling character dynamics and genuine comedic moments
•Action sequences maintain kinetic energy while balancing humor with serious threat
•Holiday setting adds festive character dimension alongside crime thriller elements

What the audience disliked

•Death of wife plot device feels manipulative for generating protagonist emotional stakes
•Buddy comedy formula occasionally undermines dramatic tension in serious moments

Saga: Lethal Weapon Collection