Trivia

Jackie Swanson performed the high fall on her own, trained by legendary stuntman Dar Robinson. Also, the stunt was done using an airbag covered with a life-size painting of the driveway and cars, which, like a foreground miniature, visually blends into the real scene. Thus, the editor is able to hold the shot until just as she makes contact with the airbag, for greater realism.

Mel Gibson turned down starring roles in Người Ruồi (1986) and Không Thể Mua Chuộc (1987) in order to do this movie.

On E! True Hollywood Story (1996), Gary Busey says he was hired to play Joshua because they were looking for someone big and menacing enough to be a believable foe for Mel Gibson. Busey also credits the film for reviving his failing movie career.

Casting director Marion Dougherty first suggested teaming Mel Gibson and Danny Glover. She arranged for Gibson to fly in from his home in Sydney, while Glover was flown in from Chicago, where he was appearing in a play, to read through the script.

Mel Gibson and Bruce Willis were considered for each other's roles in Vũ Khí Tối Thượng (1987) and Đương Đầu Với Thử Thách (1988), and both movies were produced by Joel Silver, with music by Michael Kamen. Willis was offered the role of Martin Riggs, but turned it down, and a year later he did Đương Đầu Với Thử Thách (1988). Gibson was considered to play John McClane, along with his co-stars from Biệt Đội Đánh Thuê 3 (2014), Harrison Ford, Sylvester Stallone, and Arnold Schwarzenegger, but they all turned it down. Coincidently, the script for Đương Đầu Với Thử Thách 3 (1995) was briefly considered to be filmed as a Lethal Weapon sequel.