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Mel Gibson and Danny Glover star in the definitive ‘buddy cop’ movie, written with humor and heart by Shane Black (The Long Kiss Goodnight, The Nice Guys) and directed with cinematic flare by Richard Donner (Superman, The Goonies). Glover plays Roger Murtaugh, a fifty-year old L.A. sergeant tasked with breaking in a new partner, Martin Riggs, played by Gibson. Riggs is a loose canon, suicidal in the wake of his wife’s accidental death. At first, Murtaugh is terrified by Riggs’ fearlessness in the face of death, but the two slowly become trusted confidants. There’s a plot involving heroine dealers and a dead porn star, but trust me: Lethal Weapon is really about how brotherhood can save men from terminal loneliness.

Lethal Weapon‘s writing, directing, and cast chemistry give audiences a powerfully entertaining one-two-three punch. But it excels in multiple other areas, too. Gary Busey and Mitchell Ryan fill the roles of villains with aplomb, and Murtaugh’s family (including Darlene Love and Traci Wolfe) also bring considerable warmth to the film. Stephen Goldblatt’s photography and Michael Kamen’s jazz-infused score are additional highlights. A terrific balance of action and character-driven comedy and drama, Lethal Weapon transcends the confines of male action flicks to earn universal appeal.

With Tom Atkins, Jackie Swanson, and Mary Ellen Trainor.

Oscar Nomination: Best Sound