It wasn’t the first buddy cop action flick ever created but it’s hard to find someone who doesn’t regard 1987’s Lethal Weapon as the definitive example. Richard Donner’s kinetic, character-driven, action extravaganza is the only way to do it. With a litany of sequels that followed, it’s also easy to slide it into the quality of the rest but that would be a mistake. The original sets itself apart, and viewed on its own, it’s still a triumph in spectacle and storytelling.
Then newcomer Mel Gibson starred as Martin Riggs, a new transfer to LAPD’s Narcotics division, to be the partner of Seargent Murtaugh (Danny Glover). Riggs has some mental issues, having recently been widowed. Some think he’s trying to get an early pension; others say he’s suicidal. But when the daughter of an old army buddy of Murtaugh’s dives out a window, it unravels a dark conspiracy of mercenary’s importing mass quantities of heroin, and he is forced to work with Riggs to solve the case. Riggs’s unconventional ways, and suspect’s bodies piling up, lead them to a personal threat to Murtaugh’s family and although he feels ‘to old for this shit’, he is forced to take the crazy train with Riggs and go scorched earth to beat the bad guys and save his daughter.
What sells this scorching and ludicrous plot is the performances and character building. Riggs is not your typical action hero. Brilliantly depicted as a man on the edge, Gibson shows remarkable depth as his character struggles to cling with normalcy. The dynamic between him and Glover is a gift from the cinematic gods, their banter the stuff of legend. But there is also effective darkness in the guise of Gary Busy’s Mr. Joshua and lead villain Mitchel Ryan.
Writer Shane Black fashioned a tight screenplay that ticks every box: superb characters, sharp and punchy dialogue, wonderful story arcs and a satisfying ending. All the imitations that have followed (some, admittedly, to great successes of their own) pale in comparison to this film nut. Quaint period technology and massive mullets cannot dull a damn good story.
4K Ultra HD + Digital 4K [Region 4 Edition]
Home Video Distributor: All Interactive Distribution
Available on Blu-ray - September 10, 2025
Screen Formats: 1.85:1
Subtitles: English Closed Captions, Castilian Spanish, Complex Chinese, Danish, Dutch, German SDH, Italian SDH, Latin Spanish, Norwegian, Swedish.
Video: HDR10 compatible
Audio: Dolby Atmos-YesHD: English, Dolby Digital: Castilian Spanish 5.1, German 5.1, Parisian French 5.1, DTS-HD Master Audio: English 2.0 (Theatrical Version only).
Discs: 4K Ultra HD; single-disc set
Region Encoding: 4K region-free
VIDEO
This native 2160P scan has been polished up impeccably. Grain is clean and consistent but never obstructive. The pallet—a deliberate raw lighting—hasn’t been tweaked with the HDR10, so those expective a wow looking picture won’t get their wish. If there’s any sign of HDR at all, it’s in the reds. But this is an intentionally faithful restoration to which I applaud. Bloody great looking 4K.
AUDIO
WONDROUS Dolby Atmos! Not following the picture’s faithful restoration with noticeable effects changing, like gunshots and explosion. There’s also a Dolby 2.0 stereo track on the theatrical version only as an option. I had a whale of time listening to this new presentation, but for purest folk it’s probably best to stick with the previous blu-rays.
Supplements:
Commentary:
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See Special Features.
Special Features:
Well, as mentioned in audio, you get two versions of the movie. There are a couple of meaningful but very brief features honouring Richard Donner and exploring the ‘chemistry’ of Gibson and Glover. 13 minutes total. Warners did not include any of the legacy features from previous releases. WOW.
- “Lethal Weapon: The Director’s Cut” Deleted & Extended Scenes
- “Psycho Pension: The Genesis of Lethal Weapon” Featurette
- Vintage Behind‑the‑Scenes Footage
- Theatrical Trailer
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