Martin Riggs and Roger Murtaugh are back, and the magic is back too. Lethal Weapon 3, the 1992 follow-up to Lethal Weapon 2, sends the LAPD duo after Jack Travis, a former officer turned arms dealer who sells stolen weapons to local gangs. Directed by Richard Donner and written by Jeffrey Boam and Robert Mark Kamen, the film runs 118 minutes and leans on its signature blend of action, comedy and crime thriller. It is the third entry in the Lethal Weapon series, and it plays like a reunion of familiar faces rather than a reinvention of the formula.
Trailer, via Warner Bros. Rewind.
The Setup
The story opens six days before Murtaugh’s retirement. Riggs and Murtaugh are demoted to uniform duties after failing to defuse a bomb in an office building. On street patrol, they witness the theft of an armored car and assist in thwarting the crime alongside the driver, Delores. One thief, Smitty, escapes, but the other, Billy Phelps, is captured. Phelps is a known associate of Jack Travis, the former LAPD lieutenant who now runs an arms smuggling operation.
Riggs and Murtaugh are re-promoted and assigned to work with Sergeant Lorna Cole from internal affairs. They track Travis across Los Angeles as he negotiates with mobster Tyrone over his arms deal. Smitty is brought to Travis, who kills him for putting the police on his trail. Travis then uses his old police credentials to enter the interrogation room and kill Phelps in custody before he can be interviewed. Cole confirms Travis’ identity through closed-circuit cameras installed in the station.
The Chase
Getz arrives at the station, having been helping Murtaugh sell his house. He recognizes Travis from prior business dealings. The trio narrowly miss capturing Travis at a hockey match, and Getz is wounded. He mentions a warehouse Travis owns, where the arms shipments are stored. Riggs and Murtaugh call Cole for backup, stopping at a food truck to wait for her.
While waiting for their food, they witness a drug deal and attempt to stop it. Murtaugh kills a gunman who fires at them, and the others retreat. Murtaugh later recognizes the gunman as his son Nick’s dealer.
The Cast
Mel Gibson plays Martin Riggs, the volatile sergeant whose partnership with Murtaugh has defined the series. Danny Glover plays Roger Murtaugh, the more cautious veteran who is nearing retirement. Joe Pesci returns as Leo Getz, the eccentric lawyer who tags along despite his limited qualifications. Rene Russo joins as Sergeant Lorna Cole, an internal affairs officer who provides the film’s procedural edge.
Stuart Wilson plays Jack Travis, the former officer turned criminal. Steve Kahan appears as Captain Murphy, and Mary Ellen Trainor plays psychologist Stephanie Woods. Darlene Love and Traci Wolfe round out the Murtaugh family as Trish and Rianne. Ebonie Smith and Damon Hines play Murtaugh’s children, Carrie and Nick, respectively.
The Verdict
Lethal Weapon 3 is a solid entry in a series that had already established its rhythm. The plot moves quickly, and the chase sequences are well staged. The humor lands more often than it misses, though some jokes rely on Getz’s eccentricity more than on genuine wit. The film is at its best when it balances action and comedy, and weakest when it leans too heavily on either.
The score reflects this balance. It is a film that delivers what its audience expects from the franchise, but it does not push the series forward. The magic is indeed back, but it is the same magic that defined the earlier films.
| Event | Day |
|---|---|
| Bomb defusal failure | Day 1 |
| Armored car theft | Day 1 |
| Smitty escape, Phelps capture | Day 1 |
| Murtaugh’s retirement announced | Day 1 |
| Travis identified | Day 1 |
| Warehouse raid | Day 6 |
The film’s strengths are its cast and its chemistry. Gibson and Glover remain electric together, and Pesci adds a chaotic energy that grounds the absurdity. The supporting players, including Russo and Wilson, hold their own against the established leads. The action sequences are energetic, and the film maintains a steady pace throughout its runtime.
The weaknesses are more structural. The plot is predictable, and the villain’s scheme is easy to guess from early on. The film also relies on Getz’s antics more than on a strong narrative arc, which can feel repetitive for viewers who have seen the franchise before.
Lethal Weapon 3 is a competent entry in a beloved series. It does not reinvent the wheel, but it does not need to. The chemistry between Gibson and Glover remains the heart of the film, and the action sequences deliver. For fans of the series, it is a satisfying return to form. For newcomers, it is a solid introduction to a franchise with a distinct identity.
Get the Notebook.
The day's best stories and every fresh verdict, in plain English, in your inbox by seven. One email a day, no more.
