If you loved
Lethal Weapon
Matthew Miller · Series · 2016
If Lethal Weapon hooked you, it is because you crave the volatile chemistry of damaged men forced to navigate high-stakes chaos together.
Start with the source
The source
Lethal Weapon
Richard Donner · Film · 1987
Books on the same thread
Jack Reacher
Lee Child, Andrew Child · Book · 1997
Explores: Military Justice, Vigilante Justice, Conspiracy.
Like the protagonists in Lethal Weapon, Reacher operates as an unhinged force of nature. You will enjoy watching a tactical expert tackle complex criminal conspiracies with his own brand of justice.
Things We Hide from the Light
Lucy Score · Book · 2023
Shares a thread with Lethal Weapon: Redemption.
This story echoes the internal struggle found in Lethal Weapon. You will appreciate how Nash balances his professional duties as a police officer while confronting the weight of past trauma.
The Late Show
Michael Connelly · Book · 2017
Shares 2 threads with Lethal Weapon: Redemption, Police Procedural.
If you enjoyed the police procedural elements of Lethal Weapon, this provides a similar look at the LAPD. You will find a familiar drive for redemption within a gritty urban setting.
The Summer House
James Patterson and Brendan DuBois · Book
Explores: dark secrets, haunted past, law enforcement investigation.
This narrative mirrors the haunted past of the leads in Lethal Weapon. You will be drawn to the investigation led by a former cop dealing with the shadows of his history.
Films on the same thread
Top Gun: Maverick
Film · 2022
Shares a thread with Lethal Weapon: Redemption.
Maverick embodies the same reckless intensity as the Navy SEAL lead in Lethal Weapon. You will recognize the familiar arc of a man seeking redemption through high-stakes mentorship and adrenaline.
Baywatch
Seth Gordon · Film · 2017
Shares 3 threads with Lethal Weapon: Mismatched Partners, Action Comedy, Buddy Cop.
This film captures the essential mismatched partners dynamic that defined Lethal Weapon. You will enjoy watching two contrasting figures forced to overcome their differences to stop a major criminal plot.
Top Gun
Tony Scott · Film · 1986
Shares a thread with Lethal Weapon: Redemption.
Much like the partnership in Lethal Weapon, this film centers on intense male bonding. You will connect with the themes of overcoming personal demons while navigating a dangerous, high-pressure career.
The Naked Gun
Akiva Schaffer · Film · 2025
Explores: Incompetence, Satire, Fish-out-of-water.
This parody takes the police procedural format of Lethal Weapon and injects it with absurdity. You will appreciate the satirical look at the same law enforcement tropes you know well.
Podcasts on the same thread
Small Town Murder
James Pietragallo, Jimmie Whisman · Podcast · 2026
Explores: provincial life, tragic irony, forensic breakdown.
If the dark humor of Lethal Weapon appealed to you, this podcast finds the comedy in tragic circumstances. You will enjoy the analytical approach to crime through a distinct, irreverent lens.
Crime in Sports
James Pietragallo, Jimmie Whisman · Podcast · 2026
Explores: athlete misconduct, legal absurdity, scandalous behavior.
This show mirrors the irreverent spirit of Lethal Weapon by finding humor in serious misconduct. You will appreciate the investigative energy applied to the scandalous and often absurd world of sports.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is the 2016 Lethal Weapon TV show a direct remake of the 1987 movie?
The 2016 Lethal Weapon television series by Matthew Miller is an adaptation of the original 1987 Lethal Weapon movie. It features a similar premise involving a former Navy SEAL turned police officer partnered with a veteran detective in Los Angeles.
Should I watch the 1987 Lethal Weapon movie before starting the 2016 TV series?
You do not need to watch the 1987 Lethal Weapon movie to understand the 2016 television series. While the show is an adaptation of the film, it functions as a standalone series that introduces its own version of the partnership between the two police officers.
How does the 2016 Lethal Weapon show differ from the 1987 film?
The 2016 Lethal Weapon television show adapts the core concept of the 1987 Lethal Weapon movie into a series format. It focuses on the dynamic between an unhinged former Navy SEAL and a veteran detective who is attempting to maintain a low stress level in his life.
Is the Lethal Weapon TV show based on the 1987 movie?
Yes, the 2016 Lethal Weapon television series is based on the 1987 movie of the same name. Both titles explore the relationship between a veteran detective and his partner, a former Navy SEAL who recently joined the Los Angeles police force.