Get the MovieNight app
Add it to your home screen — faster & full screen
Get the MovieNight app
Add it to your home screen — faster & full screen
Warner Bros. Pictures
Not part of a collection.
He's a cop who believes no one is above the law.
Nico Toscani is an Italian immigrant, American patriot, ex-CIA agent, aikido specialist and unorthodox Chicago policeman. He is as committed to his job as he is to his personalized brand of justice—expert and thorough bone-crushing.
Wuchak
Mar 29, 2025 · via TMDB
**_The next generation in Eastwood cop thrillers_** An ex-CIA martial artist, is now a vice squad detective in Chicago (Steven Seagal) where he and his new partner (Pam Grier) investigate a drug ring, but are shocked when the drug lord (Tony Salvano) is let go by the Feds, which can be traced to his nemesis in the CIA (Henry Silva). "Above the Law” (1988) was Seagal’s cinematic debut. He claimed he picked the movie from a pile of scripts that Warner Brothers had lying around for Clint Eastwood. I bring that up because the film is basically the next generation in Eastwood’s detective thrillers, just mixed with the martial arts and general plot of “Code of Silence” from three years earlier. That one had the same director, as well as the same actor in the villain role, Silva. Sharon Stone is on hand as the protagonist’s wife and she looks great, but her role is decidedly peripheral since she was still fairly unknown when the film was shot in the spring/early summer of 1987. Grier has a much bigger part and she said this is one of her personal favorites in her oeuvre because she actually got to act. Seagal proved right out of the gate that he had the masculine screen presence to star in an action thriller. His movies kept making more money until he achieved his greatest box office success with “Under Siege” four years later, followed by “Under Siege 2” and “Executive Decision” in the mid-90s. His career then took a downturn to mostly direct-to-video productions. The story gets a little convoluted, involving the assassination of a nosey Chicago Senator, but at least no one can say it’s a simpleminded action flick. It’s thought to be the first American film to feature Aikido in fight sequences. It runs 1 hour, 39 minutes, and was shot in Chicago. The aerial scenes of the Southeast Asian jungle were filmed in O'ahu while the jungle scenes featuring the actors were done at Warner Brothers’ backlot in Burbank. GRADE: B/B-
User reviews courtesy of TMDB.
Amazon Video
Apple TV Store
Google Play Movies
YouTube
Fandango At Home
fuboTV
Howdy Amazon Channel
Amazon Video
Apple TV Store
Google Play Movies
YouTube
Fandango At Home
Steven Seagal
Nico Toscani
Pam Grier
Delores 'Jacks' Jackson
Henry Silva
Kurt Zagon
Sharon Stone
Sara Toscani
Ron Dean
Detective Lukich
Daniel Faraldo
Tony Salvano
Joe Greco
Father Joseph Gennaro
Chelcie Ross
Nelson Fox
Jack Wallace
Uncle Branca
Michael Rooker
Man in Bar
Matt McColm
Man with Gun in Bar (uncredited)
Joseph F. Kosala
Lieutenant Strozah
Thalmus Rasulala
Deputy Supt. Crowder
Ralph Foody
Federal Clerk
Gregory Alan Williams
FBI Agent Halloran
Patrick Gorman
CIA Interrogator
Tom Milanovich
Man in Bar
Lee de Broux
CIA Interrogator
Gene Hartline
Man in Bar
Danny Goldring
Zagon's Aide
Cheryl Hamada
Watanabe
Juan Ramírez
Machete Man
Mark Boone Junior
Man in Window (uncredited)
John C. Reilly
Thug in Bar (uncredited)
Dean Raphael Ferrandini
Stunts
Eddie J. Fernandez
Stunts
George Fisher
Stunts
John C. Meier
Stunts
Karen Price
Stunts
Lance Gilbert
Stunts
Matt McColm
Stunts
Noon Orsatti
Stunts
Peter Horak
Stunts
Sandra Lee Gimpel
Stunts
Tim Gilbert
Stunts
Troy Gilbert
Stunts
Andrew Davis
Director
Michael Brown
Editor
Andrew Davis
Producer
Steven Seagal
Producer
David Michael Frank
Original Music Composer
Andrew Davis
Screenplay
Ronald Shusett
Screenplay
Andrew Davis
Story
Steven Seagal
Story
The Collector
The Gold Hunters
Last of the Good Guys
The Shawshank Redemption
The Green Mile
Seven Samurai
The Inside Man
Once Upon a Time in America
Léon: The Professional
Apocalypse Now
Scarface
Casablanca
Phantom War
Inside The Mob's Bloody Valentine
Raven: Return of the Black Dragons
Kung Fu Bunny 3: Counterattack
The Cartel Project
Wong Fei-Hung and the Lantern Festival Disturbance
Kill Bill: Vol. 1
Kill Bill: Vol. 2
L.A. Confidential
The Untouchables
Misery
Batman Begins
The Blues Brothers
Zootopia 2
Primal Fear
The Killing
Giant
Police Story
Serpico
Pokiri
Blue Flame
Carol
Rings Untouchable
Thesis
Miller's Crossing
The Long Goodbye
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
X-Men: First Class
Dance of the Drunk Mantis
Ong-Bak
High Fidelity
Chicago
Eyes of an Angel
Kung Fu Panda 2
The Sword
The Lake House
The Victim
Murders Made to Order
Eighth Wonder of Kung Fu
Wong Fei-Hung Goes to a Birthday Party at Guanshan
I, Robot
Batman Returns
Kiss of the Dragon
The Boxer from Shantung
Cop Land
Che: Part One
Kikaider Reboot
Doctors of the Dark Side
Mortal Kombat Legends: Cage Match
Ninja Assassin
The Devil's Rejects
Che: Part Two
The Brave Archer
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Wildlands: War Within The Cartel
The Longest Yard
Absolute Power
Bad Boys II
The Forbidden Kingdom
Conspiracy Theory
The Thunder Kick
The Brave Archer 2
The Bricklayers
Kebab Connection
Atrocious
Nirvana
Hard Target
Judgment Night
The Storm Riders
Fight Among the Supers
Sa Diyos Lang Ako Susuko
Ip Man: Kung Fu Master
The Whole Nine Yards
Hardcore Henry
The Recruit
Hellbound: Hellraiser II
Fist of Fury 1991
Temper
Derailed
Servants of War
Resident Evil: Apocalypse
Premium Rush
The Karate Kid Part II
Under Siege
X-Men Origins: Wolverine
Buffalo Soldiers
Disciples of the 36th Chamber
Romeo Must Die
Homicide
The Legendary Strike
Dick Tracy
The Quest
A Man Apart
The Four 3
American Ultra
Shaft
Timecop
Harlem Nights
Homecoming
Normal Life
Game of Assassins
Anna Bond
The Man
Holy Lola
Taiwan Canasta
All the King's Men
Heroes Shed No Tears
5 Days of War
You May Not Kiss the Bride
Akelarre
No Code of Conduct
Cannibal Apocalypse
A Serbian Film
Knock Knock
The Honorable
Sidekicks
The Song of the Tree
DOA: Dead or Alive
Last Flight Out
Silent Partner
Kickboxer 4: The Aggressor
Guards of Shaolin
Mad Foxes
American Gothic
Avalanche Express
Bedlam
Halloween Pussy Trap Kill! Kill!
The Girl on the River
Low Blow
Black Mask 2: City of Masks
Sharpshooter
Gen-Y Cops
Contrainte par corps
Cyborg Cop
The Invincible Kung Fu Trio
Ninjas vs. Zombies
Janda Pai Kapiraju
Young Fugitives
The Parasite Doctor Suzune: Genesis
Dragon Blood
The Little Panda Fighter
I'll Meet You There
Aakhri Muqabala
Fletcher and Jenks
Star-Cross'd
Días de poder
Immortal Warriors
The Story of Wong Fei-Hung, Part 4: The Death of Liang Huan
Table Top Shots
APOTHEOSIS 85
BUDDY COP: Pilot
Trust
Phantom of the Dojo
Une toute dernière fois
The Untouchables
Training Day
Undisputed II: Last Man Standing
Frank and Penelope
Magnum Force
El padrino: The Latin Godfather
The Substitute
Kiss of the Dragon
Harry Brown
Payback
Blindfire
Year of the Dragon
No Retreat, No Surrender 3: Blood Brothers
Ninja: Shadow of a Tear
Clubbed
Savaged
Al Capone
Walking Tall
The Man from Hong Kong
Coffy
The Valachi Papers
The Born Losers
Gotti
Citizen Vigilante
Rise of the Footsoldier 3
Polar
John Doe: Vigilante
War
Gangster No. 1
Rise of the Footsoldier
Assassination Games
State Property
The Substitute 2: School's Out
The Dead Pool
Sharky's Machine
Out for Justice
Ninja
God Is a Bullet
The Shepherd: Border Patrol
The Corruptor
Hard to Kill
The Crew
The Protector
Exit Wounds
Until Death
Black Caesar
The Rookie
Brake
In the Blood
Apr 8, 1988
Apr 22, 1988
© 2025-2026 MovieNight. All rights reserved.
Versus
Sign in to play →
In Order to Pass
1982
Best of British: TVR
Sign in to vote
Battle your watched movies head-to-head
Community Top Movies
Evil Dead II
1987 · 14 wins
The Dark Knight
2008 · 14 wins
Final Destination
2000 · 12 wins
Top Gun: Maverick
2022 · 11 wins
Joker
2019 · 11 wins
Trivia
Leaderboard →Playing as a guest — sign in to save your score and rank on the leaderboard.
Movie Trivia
Guess the movie from a clue — tagline, plot, cast and more. Pick from four posters.
What movie experience do you prefer?
What is your favorite movie genre?
Versus
Sign in to play →
In Order to Pass
1982
Best of British: TVR
Sign in to vote
Battle your watched movies head-to-head
Community Top Movies
Evil Dead II
1987 · 14 wins
The Dark Knight
2008 · 14 wins
Final Destination
2000 · 12 wins
Top Gun: Maverick
2022 · 11 wins
Joker
2019 · 11 wins
Trivia
Leaderboard →Playing as a guest — sign in to save your score and rank on the leaderboard.
Movie Trivia
Guess the movie from a clue — tagline, plot, cast and more. Pick from four posters.
What movie experience do you prefer?
What is your favorite movie genre?
We use essential cookies to run MovieNight, plus analytics (Google Analytics) and advertising (Google AdSense) cookies. By continuing to browse, you agree to this — or click No and we won't. See our Terms & Privacy Policy to learn more.