Lethal Weapon 2
Sequel to the 1987 buddy cop film.
In 1989, Warner Bros. released *Lethal Weapon 2*, a buddy cop action comedy directed by Richard Donner. It’s the follow-up to the 1987 original and the second movie in the *Lethal Weapon* series. Mel Gibson and Danny Glover return as LAPD sergeants Martin Riggs and Roger Murtaugh. This time, they’re stuck guarding an irritating federal witness, played by Joe Pesci, while going up against a crew of South African drug smugglers who hide behind diplomatic immunity. The cast also includes Joss Ackland, Derrick O’Connor, and Patsy Kensit.
The film hit theaters on July 7, 1989. It earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Sound Editing, thanks to Robert G. Henderson. Critics mostly liked it, and it pulled in $227 million worldwide. A third movie, *Lethal Weapon 3*, came out in 1992.
Two years after the first film, Riggs and Murtaugh chase suspects in a drug case, only to find they’re moving illegal gold Krugerrand coins from South Africa’s National Party government. Consul-general Arjen Rudd and security agent Pieter Vorstedt kill an associate who lost the shipment and figure out how to throw the cops off. Vorstedt breaks into Murtaugh’s home as a warning, so Captain Murphy reassigns the pair to protect Leo Getz, an annoying federal witness. The two cases turn out to be connected. After an attempt on Leo’s life, Riggs and Murtaugh learn he used to launder money for vengeful drug smugglers. Leo explains the scheme and leads them to the gang, but when they return with backup, Rudd claims diplomatic immunity for his people, leaving the LAPD powerless.
Told to back off, Riggs starts hassling Rudd openly and gets involved with his secretary, Rika van den Haas, a liberal Afrikaner who hates her boss’s racist views. Murtaugh and Leo stir up a scene at the consulate, winning support from anti-apartheid protesters. Vorstedt is sent to kill the investigating officers. Murtaugh figures out Rudd is trying to ship drug money from the U.S. to Cape Town via Los Angeles Harbor. Two assassins attack Murtaugh at home, but he kills them with a nail gun. Leo gets kidnapped in the chaos. Vorstedt grabs Riggs at Rika’s apartment and claims he was responsible for the death of Riggs’s wife years earlier during a botched hit, though her death was actually a car accident unrelated to him. He has his men drown Rika and orders Riggs killed the same way. Riggs breaks free, kills the atta
- release_date
- July 7, 1989
- director
- Richard Donner
- studio
- Warner Bros.
- box_office
- $227 million worldwide
- academy_award_nomination
- Best Sound Editing (Robert G. Henderson)
- series
- Lethal Weapon film series
Lore & Background
The film follows LAPD sergeants Martin Riggs and Roger Murtaugh two years after the events of the first film. They pursue suspects transporting illegal gold Krugerrand coins from South Africa. Consul-general Arjen Rudd and security agent Pieter Vorstedt kill an associate and attempt to steer police away from their activities. The officers are reassigned to protect an irritating federal witness, Leo Getz, played by Joe Pesci. The cases prove related, and Riggs romances Rudd's secretary, Rika van den Haas. Vorstedt claims he was responsible for the death of Riggs's wife years earlier, though her death was actually a car accident unrelated to him, then kills Rika. Riggs and Murtaugh pursue Rudd and Vorstedt to a freighter in Los Angeles Harbor, where Riggs kills Vorstedt and Murtaugh shoots Rudd after Rudd invokes diplomatic immunity.
Reader's Guide
Lethal Weapon 2 was a commercial success, earning $227 million worldwide, and received mostly positive reviews. It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Sound Editing. The film's production involved a rejected original script by Shane Black and Warren Murphy titled Play Dirty, which was considered too dark and featured Riggs dying. Director Richard Donner shot two endings, one where Riggs dies and one where he lives; test audiences preferred Riggs's survival. The final script was written by Jeffrey Boam. The film established the comedic tone of the series and introduced the character Leo Getz, who became a recurring figure. It was followed by Lethal Weapon 3 in 1992.
Did You Know?
- The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Sound Editing.
- Shane Black's original script for the sequel was titled Play Dirty and ended with Riggs dying.
- Director Richard Donner shot two different endings, one where Riggs dies and one where he lives.
- The character Leo Getz was originally a minor character in Shane Black's draft with only one scene.
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