Overview
A mismatched duo races against time to catch a killer and find redemption in the chaos of the city.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Breakneck
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Brutal
- gritty
- witty
- sardonic
- action movie night
- 1980s movie marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly regard the film as a briskly paced and influential action comedy elevated by the outstanding chemistry between Nick Nolte and Eddie Murphy.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Jack Cates, a hard-edged cop, must work with Reggie Hammond, the incarcerated criminal he temporarily recruits.
The cop and convict repeatedly confront the black-white divide shaping their hostile but increasingly productive relationship.
Reggie is released to assist Jack for only 48 hours while they hunt a cop killer and recover stolen cash.
Eddie Murphy's wisecracking Reggie and Nick Nolte's abrasive Jack generate rapid banter alongside fights and chase sequences.
Films like 48 Hrs., and why
Lethal Weapon
Shares the buddy cop subgenre, mismatched partners, fast-paced action comedy, and friction between a tough police officer and a wisecracking criminal.
The Last Boy Scout
Shares the buddy cop formula, abrasive police protagonists, comic banter, urban crime plotting, and propulsive 1980s action tone.
Running Scared
Shares the crime comedy structure, volatile male partnership, irreverent humor, and pursuit of criminals through an urban setting.
Movie Details
- Director
- Walter Hill
- Release Date
- 1982-12-07
- Runtime
- 96 min
- Rating
- 6.7 / 10 (1796)
Cast
- Nick Nolte
- Eddie Murphy
- Annette O'Toole
- Frank McRae
- James Remar
- David Patrick Kelly
- Sonny Landham
- Brion James
- Kerry Sherman
- Jonathan Banks
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo, MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel, MGM Plus
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is 48 Hrs. about?
- A hard-edged San Francisco cop and a wisecracking convict have two days to catch a cop killer, recover stolen cash, and survive their combustible partnership.
- What is 48 Hrs. like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of 48 Hrs. as breakneck, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is 48 Hrs. violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in 48 Hrs. as brutal.
- What did critics think of 48 Hrs.?
- Critics broadly regard the film as a briskly paced and influential action comedy elevated by the outstanding chemistry between Nick Nolte and Eddie Murphy.
- Which films are like 48 Hrs.?
- Films with a similar feel include Lethal Weapon, The Last Boy Scout, and Running Scared.
- How long is 48 Hrs.?
- 48 Hrs. runs 96 minutes.
- Where can I watch 48 Hrs.?
- In United States, 48 Hrs. streams on fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo, MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel, MGM Plus.
