Above the Law (1988)
1988 US film by Andrew Davis
- Released
- 1988
- Country
- United States
- Language
- English
- Genre
- Martial arts film
- Director
- Andrew Davis
- Screenplay
- Steven Pressfield, Ronald Shusett, Andrew Davis, Steven Seagal
- Producer
- Steven Seagal, Andrew Davis
- Music
- David Michael Frank
- Starring
- Sharon Stone, Steven Seagal, Pam Grier, Henry Silva, Ron Dean, Michael Rooker, Chelcie Ross, Lee de Broux
- Running time
- 99 minutes
- Distributor
- InterCom, Netflix
- Box office
- $18.9 million
- Set in
- Chicago
Above the Law (also known as Nico: Above the Law, or simply Nico) is a 1988 American action thriller film co-written, produced and directed by Andrew Davis. It marked the film debut of Steven Seagal, who also produced the film and co-authored the story alongside Davis, and stars Seagal alongside Pam Grier, Sharon Stone, and Henry Silva. Seagal plays Nico Toscani, an ex-CIA agent, an aikido specialist, and a Chicago policeman who discovers a conspiracy upon investigating a mysterious shipment of military explosives seized from a narcotics dealer.
The film originated after a successful screen test financed by Michael Ovitz, leading to Seagal being offered a contract by Warner Bros. Pictures. It was set and filmed on location in Chicago, Davis’ hometown. The film premiered in the United States on April 8, 1988, becoming a commercial success despite mixed reviews, and launching Seagal's acting career. Above the Law is regarded as the first American film to feature aikido in fight sequences.
External links
Facts from Wikidata Q923195 (CC0); quoted introduction from English Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Data retrieved 2026-10-22.
Data: Wikidata (CC0 1.0); Wikipedia (English) (CC BY-SA 4.0). Retrieved 2026-10-22.