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Lethal Weapon 3

Lethal Weapon 3

The magic is back again!

1992118 minRMidcredits score: 68th percentile of all films
Director
Richard Donner
Starring
Mel Gibson, Danny Glover, Joe Pesci, Rene Russo

Riggs and Murtaugh pursue a former officer who uses his knowledge of police procedure and policies to steal and sell confiscated guns and ammunition to local street gangs.

Where to watch

Where can I watch Lethal Weapon 3?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Lethal Weapon 3 to rent or buy on Apple TV and Prime Video, and on no subscription service.

Your rating, lists and review

Highlights

What stands out about Lethal Weapon 3?

Lethal Weapon 3 earns 8 badges, led by Guilty pleasure and Crowd Pleaser.

  • Reception
  • Awards and box office
  • Cast

Reception

Is Lethal Weapon 3 worth watching?

Lethal Weapon 3's Midcredits score is the 68th percentile of all films, from 288K ratings across 6 sources. 62% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

68th percentile

Better received than 68% of films

81st percentile among Action70th percentile among 1990s
Acclaim (how much people like it)65th
Approval (how many liked it)68th

66 /100

65th percentile of all films

80th percentile among Action69th percentile among 1990s

Critics 40 · Audience 68

Audiences liked it more than critics did.

Rating distribution

A broad spread centered near 6.8 — solid but not unanimous.

62% liked it

68th percentile of all films

79th percentile among Action70th percentile among 1990s
62% rated it 7–1038% rated it 1–6

Critics 63% · Audience 61%

On Rotten Tomatoes, critics and audiences approve at similar rates.

Awards

0 Oscars won · 0 Oscar noms · 2 wins / 4 noms overall

97th percentile

287K ratings across platforms

94th percentile among Action96th percentile among 1990s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 46% in 30 days

Box office

Budget$35M
Opening weekend$33M
Domestic gross$145M
Worldwide gross$322M

Returned 9.2× its budget — 94th percentile earner in its genre.

What reviewers say

Common ground

Both camps agree the film is a formulaic buddy-cop action-comedy that relies on the leads' chemistry and big stunts rather than a strong story.

Fans praised

  • Gibson-Glover chemistry and banter
  • spectacular stunts and action set-pieces
  • Russo's Lorna Cole as a capable female counterpart

Detractors panned

  • weak, forgettable villain Jack Travis
  • overdone comedy undermining gritty tone
  • formulaic, repetitive plot

What stands out

Effects and spectacleDivisive75

impressive practical explosions and stunts

ActingDivisive70

Gibson and Glover's effortless chemistry; Pesci over-the-top for some

HumorDivisive60

more slapstick and one-liners; divisive among viewers

DialogueDivisive60

witty banter between leads but repetitive one-liners

Pacing60

uneven; bogs down in melodrama between action

CharactersDivisive55

Riggs softened to comic relief, Murtaugh's retirement arc

Plot and storyDivisive40

meandering, thin ex-cop gun-smuggling story

Originality35

retreads formula from earlier films

Preferred by

Critics vs users

Preferred by Critics

Critics scored it 15 points higher than users.

US vs non-US

Preferred by Non-US Viewers

Non-US viewers scored it 14 points higher than US viewers.

No notable difference between the other groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Women vs men 9 points apart
  • Under-30s vs over-30s even

Watch experience

What is Lethal Weapon 3 like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Fun ride: browse every movie of this kind

Watch this when you want a fun ride.

It never lets up, has a few laughs and leaves you entertained. Skip it when you want something with weight.

ToneFeelDemandwhat the answer rests onexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

Very little.

What it feels like

Fun ride.

The answer rests on this: Moods
ThrillingJoyfulAbsurd
Heaviest: late
Wry humor: Amused and slightly dry about it.
Register
Adventurous · 11% of filmsPlayful
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.
ToneThe film plays its buddy-cop formula straight but with a knowing wink, balancing sincere character beats with broad comedy and explosive action set pieces.
The rideThe film maintains a thrilling, fast-paced action register, with bursts of joyful banter and absurd humor; the emotional weight peaks in the final confrontation.
StructureThe story unfolds in a conventional linear fashion: a botched bomb call leads to a demotion, an armored-car heist kicks off the investigation, and the case escalates through a series of raids to a desert showdown.

How it leaves you

what you carry away

Entertained.

The answer rests on this: FunRousing · 10% of films
Why it leaves you this wayThe explosive action and humor leave viewers exhilarated and grinning, while the team's victory and Murtaugh's decision to stay on the force provide a triumphant, feel-good close.
How it ends · evidence
Happy ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all films
Monster — 21% of films. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of films. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 10% of films. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 4% of films. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 11% of films. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 9% of films. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 13% of films. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 7% of films. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 22% of filmsPredator — 6% of films. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 6% of films. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of films. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 2% of films. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of films. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of films. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of films. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of films. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of films. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of films. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — under 1% of films. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of films. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of films. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of films. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of films. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 4% of films. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 5% of films. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of films. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — 1% of films. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of films. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 2% of films. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — 1% of films. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of films. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — 1% of films. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 4% of films. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of films. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of films. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of films. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 1% of films. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of films. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — 2% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 2% of films. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 2% of films. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 3% of films. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 3% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 5% of films. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of films. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 2% of films. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of films. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 5% of films. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 2% of films. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).MonsterTyrant
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 21% (this title): Predator 6% · Tyrant 6% (this title) · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 2% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent under 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 10%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 4% · Mission 5% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage 1%
  • Voyage 4%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 2% · Survival ordeal 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent 1%
  • Comedy 11%: Romantic comedy 4% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 1%
  • Tragedy 9%: Hubris 1% · Obsession 2% · Corruption arc 2% · Doomed love 2% · Crushed by fate 3%
  • Rebirth 13%: Redemption 3% · Healing 5% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 2%
  • Mystery 7%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 5% · Enigma 2%
  • No archetype 22%

Overcoming the monster: A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated. · Tyrant: A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).

21% of films fit this archetype

A loose fit — the map only half-holds this one.

Why this archetypeRiggs and Murtaugh pursue a rogue ex-cop who floods the streets with stolen police weapons and armor-piercing bullets; the central threat is a human villain rather than an abstract system.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 27% of filmsSelf — 22% of filmsPower — 7% of filmsMorality — 16% of filmsSurvival — 15% of filmsSociety — 9% of filmsIdeas — 5% of filmsRomantic love — 15% of filmsMarriage — 2% of filmsFamily bonds — 21% of filmsParenthood — 2% of filmsFriendship — 9% of filmsLoyalty — 4% of filmsIdentity — 14% of filmsComing of age — 5% of filmsAging — under 1% of filmsSelf-worth — 7% of filmsAmbition — 7% of filmsPurpose — 9% of filmsMemory — 3% of filmsObsession — 3% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 2% of filmsCorruption — 3% of filmsGreed — 3% of filmsClass — 3% of filmsOppression — 4% of filmsFreedom — 5% of filmsJustice — 13% of filmsDuty — 2% of filmsRevenge — 4% of filmsGuilt — 3% of filmsRedemption — 6% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — 1% of filmsSacrifice — 4% of filmsBetrayal — 5% of filmsDeception — 9% of filmsSurvival — 17% of filmsWar — 1% of filmsViolence — 4% of filmsMortality — 2% of filmsGrief — 6% of filmsTrauma — 7% of filmsMental illness — 1% of filmsAddiction — 1% of filmsIllness and disability — under 1% of filmsCommunity — 14% of films. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 5% of filmsPrejudice — 3% of filmsDisplacement — 1% of filmsFaith — 3% of filmsTradition vs change — 2% of filmsFame — 3% of filmsLegacy — 4% of filmsFate — 1% of filmsFree will — under 1% of filmsTruth — 4% of filmsHope — 5% of filmsNature — 2% of filmsArt — 4% of filmsTechnology — 1% of filmsSelfFriendship
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 27% (this title): Romantic love 15% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 21% (this title) · Parenthood 2% · Friendship 9% (this title) · Loyalty 4%
  • Self 22%: Identity 14% · Coming of age 5% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 7% · Purpose 9% · Memory 3% · Obsession 3%
  • Power 7%: Power 2% · Corruption 3% · Greed 3% · Class 3% · Oppression 4% · Freedom 5%
  • Morality 16%: Justice 13% (this title) · Duty 2% · Revenge 4% · Guilt 3% · Redemption 6% · Forgiveness 1% · Sacrifice 4% · Betrayal 5% · Deception 9%
  • Survival 15%: Survival 17% · War 1% · Violence 4% · Mortality 2% · Grief 6% · Trauma 7% · Mental illness 1% · Addiction 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 9%: Community 14% · Isolation 5% · Prejudice 3% · Displacement 1% · Faith 3% · Tradition vs change 2% · Fame 3% · Legacy 4%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 4% · Hope 5% · Nature 2% · Art 4% · Technology 1%

Bonds

Friendship · 9% of filmsJustice · 13% of filmsFamily bonds
Celebrates its theme: Affirms its theme — this is good and worth having.Community stakes: Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Dual lead
How it treats its themeThe film centers on Riggs and Murtaugh's brotherly bond, while also exploring Murtaugh's family ties and fighting for justice against corrupt cops.
StanceThe film celebrates the friendship and loyalty between Riggs and Murtaugh, treating their bond as the central value that overcomes threats to their community.

The world

ContemporaryUrbanInstitutionalWildernessRealistic
Orchestral classicalRockSupportive music · original score
SettingLos Angeles police precincts, streets, and a desert construction site
MusicThe score blends blues-rock guitar by Clapton with orchestral elements, capturing the cop team's swagger.

Content guide

Is Lethal Weapon 3 okay for kids?

R

Lethal Weapon 3 is rated R: “Rated R for violence and language” (MPAA). As of October 3, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at intense (68/100), sexual content at mild (28/100), language at severe (85/100), drug and alcohol content at moderate (42/100) and frightening material at intense (62/100). Overall it is heavier than 54% of R-rated films.

Ratings in 22 other countries
  • UK15
  • AustraliaM
  • Germany16
  • FranceTP
  • Ireland18
  • South Korea15
  • Brazil12
  • Denmark15
  • FinlandK-16
  • Greece16
  • Hungary18
  • ItalyT
  • MexicoC
  • Netherlands12
  • Norway18
  • Poland18
  • PortugalM/12
  • Russia16+
  • SK15
  • Spain12
  • Sweden15
  • Switzerland16
Overall
Intense · all five categories
Heavier than 73% of all filmsHeavier than 54% of R-rated films
Violence & Gore
Intense
typical for an R-rated film
heavier than 47%
Sex & Nudity
Mild
light for an R-rated film
heavier than 22%
Profanity
Severe
heavy for an R-rated film
heavier than 83%
Alcohol & Drugs
Moderate
typical for an R-rated film
heavier than 54%
Frightening / Intense
Intense
typical for an R-rated film
heavier than 49%

Point along a line to see a well-known title at that level.

The reason to think twice is language, violence, and frightening material. Everything else sits at or below what R-rated films usually carry.

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other films that have them.

What content warnings does Lethal Weapon 3 have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Lethal Weapon 3?

Cast

1 of the cast already had the standing of a top-10% working actor.

Mel Gibson
as Martin Riggs
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Danny Glover
as Roger Murtaugh
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Joe Pesci
as Leo Getz
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Rene Russo
as Lorna Cole
newcomer then · star now
Stuart Wilson
as Jack Travis
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Steve Kahan
as Captain Murphy
Career best: Their highest-reaching film role by billing, audience size and rating.
Mary Ellen Trainor
as Stephanie Woods
Career best: Their highest-reaching film role by billing, audience size and rating.
Darlene Love
as Trish Murtaugh
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Traci Wolfe
as Rianne Murtaugh
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Ebonie Smith
as Carrie Murtaugh
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.

Crew

More like this

What are movies like Lethal Weapon 3?

Movies like Lethal Weapon 3 include Lethal Weapon 4 (1998), Lethal Weapon 2 (1989) and The Glimmer Man (1996). Of the 12 closest matches, two are films by Richard Donner, and most are buddy-cop films.

Balanced: every group counts the same, and production only breaks ties.

7 of these 12 share its subject: friendship. Those cards say what else they share.

Explore by

What else shares a premise, people or place with Lethal Weapon 3?

1K other films share the rarest tag below, kind of film: police procedural. Each tag opens Browse with the films that share it.