Lethal Weapon

Principal photography for Lethal Weapon began in late 1985, marking the start of Richard Donner's work on the iconic film. The filming took place across various locations, including Los Angeles, where the city's skyline and streets provided an authentic backdrop for the action sequences. The project promised intense action as well as delving into the personal struggles of its lead characters.

Lethal Weapon, the first film in the now-famous action franchise, was released. Directed by Richard Donner and starring Mel Gibson as Martin Riggs and Danny Glover as Roger Murtaugh, the film follows two LAPD detectives as they battle drug dealers in Los Angeles. Lethal Weapon was a commercial success, grossing over $120 million worldwide, and established the buddy cop genre. It was praised for its action sequences, character development, and humor, becoming a classic of 1980s action cinema.

Two years after the success of the original, Lethal Weapon 2 hit theaters. Mel Gibson and Danny Glover reprised their roles, this time facing off against South African diplomats who are using their immunity to engage in criminal activities. The film was again directed by Richard Donner and continued the blend of intense action and comedic moments. Lethal Weapon 2 was a notable success, earning over $227 million worldwide and solidifying the franchise's popularity.

'Lethal Weapon: The Musical' was performed as a parody, combining the film's plot with musical numbers. It brought a humorous theatrical twist to the intense action storyline familiar to fans. The musical captured both elements of comedy and action from the film, serving as a creative homage and a testament to the film's cultural impact.

Warner Bros announced Lethal Weapon 3, confirming the return of Mel Gibson and Danny Glover along with director Richard Donner. Promotional activities highlighted the reunion of the iconic duo facing new action-packed challenges. The anticipation was high given the franchise's previous successes, and the film's eventual release solidified its place in pop culture, earning significant box office returns.

Lethal Weapon 3 was released to eager audiences and quickly climbed box office charts. The film featured the return of Gibson and Glover, with the addition of Joe Pesci and Rene Russo. The plot follows the detectives as they investigate an underground arms operation. Lethal Weapon 3 was both a critical and commercial hit, known for its thrilling chases, comedic elements, and the evolving friendship between the main characters.

The Lethal Weapon film was adapted into a video game, released across multiple platforms such as the NES and SNES. The game captured the spirit of the films, allowing players to control characters Riggs and Murtaugh in an interactive format. While not as critically acclaimed as the films, it added to the franchise's broad cultural impact, bringing the excitement of the movies to gaming consoles.

Lethal Weapon 4 brought back familiar faces including Mel Gibson, Danny Glover, Joe Pesci, and Rene Russo, and introduced Chris Rock and Jet Li. The film deals with issues of immigration and counterfeiting within a Chinese crime syndicate. Directed by Richard Donner, the film provided exciting action scenes and humorous interplay, grossing over $285 million worldwide. It marked the last film of the series, concluding the beloved buddy cop saga.

Inspired by the original film series, the Lethal Weapon television series premiered on Fox. The show starred Damon Wayans as Roger Murtaugh and Clayne Crawford as Martin Riggs. It adapted the buddy cop formula to a modern television format, mixing action and humor across its episodes. Despite behind-the-scenes conflicts and cast changes, the series maintained popularity, running for three seasons before concluding in 2019.

Fox renewed the Lethal Weapon TV series for a third season but announced that Clayne Crawford would not return. This decision followed reports of on-set conflicts and tensions involving the actor. Seann William Scott was introduced as a new character, replacing Crawford's role in the series. The change was significant, reflecting both the challenges and dynamic nature of television productions.