10 Movie Scenes That Will Give You Vertigo

10. Lethal Weapon (1987) - Riggs Saves A Suicide Jumper

This scene from the classic buddy cop movie works so well because Mel Gibson’s character Riggs is already unstable, so you are unsure what to expect from him, putting you in the same position as suicide jumper McCleary.

Riggs and Murtaugh are called to respond to the scene, where they find McCleary on the ledge of the roof of a six-storey building threatening to jump and refusing to talk to police. Riggs volunteers to try and talk him down.

The scene is brilliant because McCleary’s panic contrasts with Riggs' unpredictability. McCleary is clearly scared, whereas Riggs appears much more at ease at that height (although this wasn't the case for Gibson, who apparently only went through with the scene as he didn't want to back out with everyone watching!).

As the viewer, this has the dual effect of making you worry that they will either accidentally fall due to McCleary’s panic or Riggs’ overconfidence. A lot of their interaction is shot from above, further highlighting the precarious situation they are in.

The moment Riggs changes tactic is great to watch as he suddenly turns crazy, asking “Do you really wanna jump?”, before leaping off the building. In hindsight, this was just because he had distracted McCleary long enough so that the rescue cushion could be inflated, but in that moment, it seems that he has lost it and given up caring about saving him.