Set after the second film, Martin Riggs & Roger Murtaugh are demoted to patrolmen after they accidentally blew up a building in an attempt to disarm a bomb. They eventually get promoted back to their positions accompanied by Lorna Cole. An Internal Affairs sergeant tracking down a former cup affiliated with thieves weapons and using armor piercing bullets. The duo and Lorna are also aided by Leo Getz. A former money launderer turned real estate agent.
Released in 1992, (same year Wayne’s World came out) “Lethal Weapon 3” received good reviews and was a box office success. A fourth installment came out in 1998. I consider “Lethal Weapon 4” as my favorite in the franchise. As I’ve mentioned on my previous review of Lethal Weapon 2, I have three good reasons why I wanna share my opinion on the third installment in my favorite buddy cop series.
- Mel Gibson is working on a two-part sequel to “The Passion of Christ” titled, “The Resurrection of the Christ.” Both parts are slated to be released separately in March 26-May 6, 2027.
- Mel’s also working on “Lethal Weapon 5.” As of May 2026, no confirmation regarding an official release date.
- Mel himself will attend Fan Dallas 2026. The three-day event will commence on September 11-13. I got plans to take my pics with famous faces.
Today’s review contains no SPOILERS.
Strong & Weak Aspects
Strong: Mel Gibson, Danny Glover & Joe Pesci reprise their roles and they all did a fantastic job for their respective performances.
Rene Russo did a decent job for her performance as Lorna Cole.
Richard Donner did a great job directing. He also co-produced the third film along with Joel Silver.
Jeffrey Boam (The Dead Zone, The Lost Boys, Innerspace) wrote the script.
Action Sequences are legit. My favorite part’s the climatic battle.
Funny Moments made me laugh. One joke that got me cracking up is this line. “Oh my, more plastic than Cher.” Way funnier than “Rock-a-Doodle.”
Michael Kamen (Brazil, Highlander, The Iron Giant) & Eric Clapton orchestrated the soundtrack.
Fun Facts
- Mel & Rene also played a couple in “Ransom.”
- The late Carrie Fisher did some uncredited writing as a script doctor. Princess Leia had hidden depths.
- The building used in the Opening Scene is actually a former city hall building located in Orlando, Florida. Back then, The Orlando City Hall was fully constructed in 1992 allowing the filmmakers to blow up the old building.
- Riggs develops a craving for dog biscuits. A nod to Mad Max who eats dog food to survive the wasteland. Plus, Riggs befriends a dog. Similar to Max who’s accompanied by a dog.
Cinematography’s shot in stable condition.
Pacing didn’t feel like a slow burn.
Chemistry between Riggs & Murtaugh serves as the main highlight. Their interactions with Lorna & Leo also serves as a main highlight.
Riggs & Murtaugh have an intense dramatic moment.
Opening Title Sequence with Sting’s song, “It’s Probably Me” looks like something off of any James Bond Opening Credits.
An After Credits Scene is optional. It’s played for laughs.
If you own a DVD/Blu-Ray copy, Richard Donner provides audio commentary reflecting on developing the third film.
Weak: Any early romance with Riggs & Lorna happened. If this were real life, it would take a few weeks or months for a pair to get to know one another until a relationship is fully established.
The Final Verdict: A-
Lethal Weapon 3 is a near-perfect threequel. I consider it the weakest entry. Don’t get me wrong, I liked it. If I had to rank every installment within the Lethal Weapon series I’m placing the third film on the bottom. The fourth entry’s ranked number one in my opinion. If Lethal Weapon 5 is becoming a reality, now is a good time to watch all four films.
Nickthemoviecritic.com 