From Retirement to Rage: Lethal Weapon 4’s Secret Ending That Updated the Franchise Forever

Sun, 19 Apr 2026 17:44:50 +0000

From Retirement to Rage: Lethal Weapon 4’s Secret Ending That Rewrote the Franchise Forever When Lethal Weapon 4 premiered in 2018, fans expected more high-octane action, gritty camaraderie, and the unshakable bond between Martin Riggs and Roger Murtaugh. But beneath its surface-level thrills lies one of the most pivotal twists in franchise history—a secret ending that redefined the series and changed the trajectory of the Lethal Weapon universe forever. What started as a seemingly uplifting conclusion quietly evolved into a seismic revelation, sparking debates that still echo across pop culture today. ### The Familiar Return, The Unexpected Shift After the life-or-death finale of Lethal Weapon 3, Roger Murtaugh’s triumphant return to fight crime alongside Riggs felt like the heart of the franchise—an enduring alliance grounded in trust and resilience. Yet, Lethal Weapon 4 delivered more than closure. In a moment few expected, the film’s conclusion revealed a scope beyond what audiences anticipated, reshaping the narrative in a way that deepened character arcs and redefined loyalty.