All Lethal Weapon Movies in Order

Riggs is an unstable Vietnam veteran, Murtaugh a solid family man. Together they solve crimes in a gritty yet vibrant Los Angeles. The film tackles heavy themes, trauma, suicide and guilt, without losing its action or humor. Mel Gibson is wild, Danny Glover is dry, and together they lift the genre to a higher level. The rooftop jumper scene and the Christmas tree lot shootout are classics.

The sequel builds cleverly on the first: bigger villains, faster action and more humor. Joe Pesci joins the team as the jittery Leo Getz, and the dynamic immediately changes. The plot, South African diplomats hiding behind diplomatic immunity, is secondary; the charm lies in the interplay between the trio.

The formula still works, even if this is clearly a film of its time. There's more spectacle, with bombs and a corrupt ex-cop, and less introspection. Rene Russo appears as Riggs' female counterpart, strong, smart and just as physical. The bromance almost becomes a family drama, but with flair and humor.

Riggs and Murtaugh are older but no calmer. Now they take on Chinese human traffickers, with an impressive Jet Li in his Hollywood debut as the villain. The film balances between seriousness and slapstick but keeps its heart. Not a revolutionary finale, but a worthy one.

And then came the parody: National Lampoon's Loaded Weapon 1. Samuel L. Jackson and Emilio Estevez take the spotlight and push the genre's clichés to absurdity, with cameos from William Shatner, Whoopi Goldberg and more. The humor is silly but on target, and while critics weren't impressed, it became a cult favorite for fans of the genre.