Lethal Weapon (1987)

Lethal Weapon poster

Warner Bros.
Starring: Mel Gibson, Danny Glover
Directed by: Richard Donner

Cat Out of the Bag Alert! This review contains some spoilers for this film!

Synopsis: Veteran police officer Roger Murtaugh (Danny Glover) is worried when he’s partnered with fellow officer Martin Riggs (Mel Gibson), a loose cannon who may be insane.

Kitty Cameo: Murtaugh lives in a suburban home with a wife and family and a tabby cat named Burbank. Burbank is first seen eating from a bowl of food on top of the refrigerator as Murtaugh is leaving for work one morning.

Lethal Weapon - tabby cat Burbank on top of refrigerator beside Murtaugh Danny Glover

Lethal Weapon - tabby cat Burbank on top of refrigerator behind Murtaugh Danny Glover

Later Murtaugh catches Burbank sneaking some of the officer’s birthday cake. Murtaugh picks up the cat and sets him on the floor.

Lethal Weapon - tabby cat Burbank on table beside birthday cake

Lethal Weapon - tabby cat Burbank on top of table turning to eat birthday cake

Lethal Weapon - tabby cat Burbank being picked up from table with birthday cake

The next morning we see Burbank sitting on Murtaugh’s chest as he’s sleeping. He moves when a hand appears holding out a mug of coffee to awake the man. Burbank is not seen again after this, but at the end of the movie Riggs comes over for Christmas dinner at the Murtaugh’s and brings his dog, Sam. “I don’t think Burbank the cat is going to like this,” Murtaugh notes. As soon as the dog enters the house, there is the sound of glass breaking and people shouting the cat’s name.

Lethal Weapon - tabby cat Burbank sitting on top of sleeping Murtaugh Danny Glover