Above the Law is a film in a genre.
Above the Law ( also known as Nico ) is a 1988 American action film written , produced and directed by Andrew Davis , and also produced by and starring Steven Seagal in his film debut . Action film is a film genre in which the protagonist or protagonists end up in a series of challenges that typically include violence , extended fighting , physical feats , and frantic chases . The genre is closely associated with the thriller and adventure film genres , and it may also contain elements of spy fiction and espionage . A film genre ( [ ˈʒɒnrə ] or [ ˈdʒɒnrə ] ) is a motion picture category based on similarities in either the narrative elements or the emotional response to the film ( namely , serious , comic , etc. ) .