There’s something about the holidays that makes us reach for comfort food, and for movie lovers, that comfort often comes in the form of a familiar VHS tape or a streaming queue filled with favorites. The Lethal Weapon franchise is one of those rare action series that has quietly become part of Christmas viewing traditions, even though it’s not a holiday movie in the traditional sense. On the surface, it’s a buddy-cop saga about two mismatched detectives blowing things up, but when December rolls around, fans still fire up Lethal Weapon for its infamous Christmas-set opening installment. The series, which kicked off in 1987 and spawned three sequels plus a TV reboot, remains a fascinating case study in how a franchise can evolve—and how a single scene can redefine a film’s seasonal identity.

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Stats: Movies released: 4 (1987–1998) · TV seasons aired: 3 (2016–2019) · Box office total: $948 million

When you’re talking about Lethal Weapon, you’re talking about a franchise that spans over three decades and two entirely different formats. The original film, released in 1987, introduced audiences to a gritty, Los Angeles-set action thriller that was directed by Richard Donner and written by Shane Black. […] Over time, the franchise expanded to include three sequels—Lethal Weapon 2 (1989), Lethal Weapon 3 (1992), and Lethal Weapon 4 (1998)—and eventually a live-action TV series that aired on Fox from 2016 to 2019. The films and the TV show share the same core premise but diverge significantly in tone, casting, and execution, which makes the franchise a rich subject for comparison.

Actor: Mel Gibson · Role: Martin Riggs · Film debut: Lethal Weapon (1987) · Last appearance: Lethal Weapon 4 (1998)

Actor: Danny Glover · Role: Roger Murtaugh · Film debut: Lethal Weapon (1987) · Last appearance: Lethal Weapon 4 (1998)

Actor: Joe Pesci · Role: Leo Getz · Film debut: Lethal Weapon 2 (1989) · Last appearance: Lethal Weapon 4 (1998)

Actor: Rene Russo · Role: Lorna Cole · Film debut: Lethal Weapon 3 (1992) · Last appearance: Lethal Weapon 4 (1998)

Actor: Gary Busey · Role: Joshua · Film debut: Lethal Weapon (1987) · Last appearance: Lethal Weapon (1987)

Actor: Darlene Love · Role: Trish Murtaugh · Film debut: Lethal Weapon (1987) · Last appearance: Lethal Weapon 4 (1998)

Actor: Chris Rock · Role: Lee Butters · Film debut: Lethal Weapon 4 (1998) · Last appearance: Lethal Weapon 4 (1998)

That consistency is one reason the movies feel so connected, even when the action gets increasingly over-the-top with each sequel.

The trade-off

The franchise’s loyalty to its leads ensured continuity, but it also made the series harder to relaunch when Gibson and Glover aged out of the roles.

The casting choices across the films reflect a franchise that knew its strengths. […]

The upshot: The film series succeeded because it balanced spectacle with character, and the casting choices were central to that balance. […]

Actor: Clayne Crawford · Role: Martin Riggs · TV run: 2016–2019 · Seasons: 1–2

Actor: Damon Wayans · Role: Roger Murtaugh · TV run: 2016–2019 · Seasons: 1–3

Actor: Keesha Sharp · Role: Trish Murtaugh · TV run: 2016–2019 · Seasons: 1–3

Actor: Seann William Scott · Role: Wesley Cole · TV run: 2018–2019 · Seasons: 3

The TV adaptation of Lethal Weapon took a different approach. […]

The catch: The TV series struggled to replicate the film’s magic, but its behind-the-scenes turmoil overshadowed the on-screen product. […]

What to watch: If you’re coming from the films, the TV series is best approached as a loose, more episodic take on the same premise. […]

Lethal Weapon as a Christmas Movie: The Holiday Connection

The Christmas connection is the franchise’s most unexpected legacy. The original Lethal Weapon is set during the holiday season in Los Angeles—characters are seen with Christmas trees, there’s holiday music playing, and the film’s climax happens against a backdrop of Christmas lights. […] The result is that Lethal Weapon has become a de facto Christmas movie, even though it’s not explicitly a holiday film in the same way as, say, It’s a Wonderful Life. […] on March 6, 1987, but its Christmas setting has given it a second life as a holiday staple.

Holiday elements: Christmas trees, Christmas lights, holiday music, and a beachside finale · Setting: Los Angeles during Christmas · Tone: Gritty action

The Christmas setting isn’t just incidental—it’s baked into the film’s emotional core. […] The film’s use of Christmas iconography is subtle but persistent, and it builds to a finale where the characters find a sort of family in each other, which is the quintessential holiday message. It’s a small, personal detail in an otherwise explosive action film, but it’s part of why the movie has endured with audiences. The franchise’s connection to the holiday has been pointed out by fans for years, and it’s a topic that generates plenty of debate on Reddit and other forums during December.

Why this matters: The Christmas angle gives Lethal Weapon a distinct entry point for new viewers. It adds a layer of cultural significance that the franchise didn’t originally intend, but which has become impossible to ignore.

Movies released 4 (1987–1998)

The numbers tell a story of a franchise that got bigger with each installment. […] But the franchise’s financial success is only part of the story—its cultural footprint, particularly the Christmas connection, has proven more durable than any box office number.

The upshot: The franchise’s financial trajectory shows a steady escalation in scope and ambition, which is typical of successful action series. But unlike many of its peers, Lethal Weapon managed to maintain a sense of character even as it got bigger.

Other Christmas Action Movies: A Comparison

It’s become a tradition to argue about which action movie is actually a Christmas movie, and Lethal Weapon is right there in the conversation alongside Die Hard and Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. […] But Lethal Weapon stands apart in one notable way: it’s not just set during Christmas—it uses the holiday as an emotional backdrop for its lead character’s grief. Die Hard uses Christmas as a setting for a corporate heist, and Kiss Kiss Bang Bang uses it as a cynical noir backdrop, but Lethal Weapon makes the holiday a character trait of its protagonist, Riggs, whose seasonal sadness drives his actions.

What’s striking about this comparison is how differently each film uses Christmas. […] But for most audiences, the question of which film is “really” a Christmas movie is subjective, and it’s the debate itself that keeps these movies in the holiday conversation.

The trade-off: Lethal Weapon’s Christmas claim is more subtle than Die Hard’s, but critics often point out that its use of the holiday is more emotionally integrated into the story. […]

The TV series is the franchise’s most significant departure from the films, and comparing the two reveals a lot about what made the original movies work. […]

The comparison illustrates the challenge of adapting an R-rated action franchise for network TV. […] The TV show had to work within tamer boundaries, and it often felt like a generic buddy-cop procedural that happened to use the Lethal Weapon name. […] For fans of the movies, the TV series is best seen as a curiosity rather than a proper continuation of the franchise.

The paradox: The TV show succeeded in staying on the air for three seasons but failed to capture what made the movies special. […]

For fans who want to separate what’s confirmed from what’s speculative, here’s a breakdown of the franchise’s key facts and open questions.

  • Confirmed: The franchise includes four films and one TV series.
  • Unconfirmed: Discussions about reviving the film series have circulated, but no official project has been announced.

The separation between facts and rumors matters because the franchise has a long, messy history of fan speculation, particularly about potential sequels. […] The franchise’s future remains uncertain, which is a familiar position for a beloved series with aging stars.

What to watch: The difference between a “confirmed” fact and a “rumor” can blur in franchise fandoms, but for Lethal Weapon, the core facts are remarkably solid. […]

The heart of Lethal Weapon is the relationship between Riggs and Murtaugh. […]

Why this matters

The franchise’s success isn’t just about action—it’s about character. […]

The relationship was also a key reason the franchise’s TV adaptation struggled. […]

The catch: The franchise’s success is a double-edged sword. […] Their split was widely reported but is not connected to Downey’s role in Lethal Weapon 3, which he appeared in while married to Parker. […] The two actors maintained a professional relationship across four Lethal Weapon films, and there are no reports of conflict between them on set. […]

Many fans and critics argue that Lethal Weapon is a Christmas movie because the 1987 film is set during the holiday season. The film includes Christmas trees, lights, and music, and its emotional arc revolves around Riggs’s grief during the holidays. […]

The Lethal Weapon TV series aired on Fox from 2016 to 2019, over three seasons totaling 50 episodes. […]

Yes, Richard Donner directed all four Lethal Weapon films, from the 1987 original through Lethal Weapon 4 in 1998. […]

As of now, there is no official announcement about a Lethal Weapon 5. The franchise has been dormant since the TV series ended in 2019, and while there have been discussions about reviving it, nothing has been confirmed. […]

Lethal Weapon is not based on a true story. […]

Lethal Weapon 4 is the highest-grossing film in the franchise, with $285.4 million worldwide. This is followed by Lethal Weapon 3, which grossed $305.4 million globally (though its domestic total was $144 million). […]

For more on the Lethal Weapon franchise’s history, box office performance, and Christmas movie debate, the following sources provide reliable coverage: Wikipedia