Overview
A slick detective takes on a sunny city filled with crime and corruption.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Moderate
- witty
- irreverent
- propulsive
- casual movie night
- 1980s nostalgia night
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film's fast, funny fusion of action and comedy, especially Eddie Murphy's charismatic star-making performance, despite reservations about its plot.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Axel Foley travels from Detroit into wealthy Beverly Hills, where his streetwise methods clash with local institutions and elite criminal networks.
The film combines a murder investigation, drug smuggling, gunfights, and foot chases with Axel Foley's cocky improvisational comedy.
Axel disregards proper procedure while Lieutenant Bogomil and detectives Taggart and Rosewood initially attempt to contain him.
Axel teams with by-the-book Beverly Hills detectives Billy Rosewood and John Taggart to investigate the conspiracy.
Films like Beverly Hills Cop, and why
48 Hrs.
shares the buddy cop structure, fast-talking comic protagonist, criminal investigation, and blend of action with irreverent humor
The Last Boy Scout
shares a charismatic rule-breaking detective, comedic fish-out-of-water energy, and escalating crime conspiracy
Lethal Weapon
shares a witty action-comedy tone, mismatched police partners, and an investigation involving organized crime
Trading Places
shares Eddie Murphy's rapid-fire comic persona, undercover criminal schemes, and socially mobile outsider perspective
Movie Details
- Director
- Martin Brest
- Release Date
- 1984-12-05
- Runtime
- 105 min
- Rating
- 7.2 / 10 (4753)
Cast
- Eddie Murphy
- Judge Reinhold
- John Ashton
- Lisa Eilbacher
- Ronny Cox
- Steven Berkoff
- James Russo
- Jonathan Banks
- Stephen Elliott
- Gilbert R. Hill
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- JustWatch TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand
- 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 Beverly Hills Cop about?
- A swaggering Detroit detective turns Beverly Hills upside down while pursuing his friend's killer and exposing an elite drug empire.
- What is Beverly Hills Cop like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Beverly Hills Cop as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Beverly Hills Cop violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Beverly Hills Cop as moderate.
- What did critics think of Beverly Hills Cop?
- Critics broadly praised the film's fast, funny fusion of action and comedy, especially Eddie Murphy's charismatic star-making performance, despite reservations about its plot.
- Which films are like Beverly Hills Cop?
- Films with a similar feel include 48 Hrs., The Last Boy Scout, Lethal Weapon, and Trading Places.
- How long is Beverly Hills Cop?
- Beverly Hills Cop runs 105 minutes.
- Where can I watch Beverly Hills Cop?
- In United States, Beverly Hills Cop is available to rent or buy from JustWatch TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand.
