Above the Law

Above the Law (1988)

  • 57% of critics liked it
    (14 reviews)

  • 51% of users liked it
    (44,764 ratings)

Martial arts hero Steven Seagal developed, co-wrote, co-produced, choreographed, and debuted in this thrill ride -- a cop film with more attitude, and more plot, than its star had duties on the set. Seagal is Nico Toscani, an Italian immigrant, American patriot, ex-CIA agent, aikido specialist, and… More

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In Theaters
Jan 1, 1988 Wide
Warner Home Video

Critic Reviews

  • Hal Hinson, Washington Post

    Woefully short on originality, intelligibility and anything resembling taste.

  • Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

    It contains 50 percent more plot than it needs, but that allows it room to grow in areas not ordinarily covered in action thrillers.

  • John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis

    ...more of a museum piece than a satisfying action flick, a document much like The Great Train Robbery. (Blu-ray Edition)

  • John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis

    ...old-fashioned, nonstop violence from beginning to end, with subtlety out the window.

  • Mark Robison, Reno Gazette-Journal

    Seagal's best.

Read all 8 critic reviews

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Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

  • danny d


    sets the stage for what every other seagal film would be for me - entertaining and fun to watch, a guilty pleasure, although the same as every other film he has ever made in most regards. overall, i love this movie.

  • Khris N


    After watching it again, I realised that there was more to this film than a typical Seagal flick. For starters, its his first major hit and it also set the standard for the 90's cop thriller drama. Dont expect this to be an action movie, its a cold hard thriller with Seagal for… More

  • Derek D


    Seagal's first starring role with a very impressive cast led by Blaxploitation-veteran Pam Grier as his long-suffering partner, Sharon Stone as his wife and Rat Pack hangaround Henry de Silva as the bad guy. A good movie and a sign of things to come for Aikido-legend Seagal -… More

  • Dean M


    This debut action film of karate expert Steven Seagel is fantastic and bloody tough in the cop thriller. Director Andrew Davis gives the movie style, pace, and gets the best acting out of Seagal yet.

  • Tim S


    Steven Seagal could have been a good actor and this is proof.

Read all 10 featured audience ratings

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