Upon viewing ‘Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F’ on Netflix, audiences have the opportunity to delve into a selection of ten other movies that capture its essence, according to Screenrant. Eddie Murphy reprises his role as Axel Foley in this action-comedy continuation of the Beverly Hills Cop series, which began with the original film in 1984 and spawned sequels in 1987 and 1994. Despite an unsuccessful attempt at a television spinoff in 2013, the franchise lay dormant until the release of this latest addition.
The ensemble cast of ‘Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F’ sees the return of familiar faces from the original trilogy, including Eddie Murphy as Axel, Judge Reinhold as Billy Rosewood, John Ashton as John Taggart, Paul Reiser as Jeffrey Friedman, and Bronson Pinchot as Serge. New characters are introduced to the franchise, such as Taylour Paige as Axel’s daughter Jane Saunders, Joseph Gordon-Levitt as her ex, Detective Bobby Abbott, and Kevin Bacon as Beverly Hills Police Department Captain Cade Grant. While new stars join the lineup, the film stays true to the buddy-cop dynamic that audiences associate with the original trilogy.
- Coming 2 America (2021) – Continuing Eddie Murphy’s Legacy
‘Coming 2 America’ opted for a digital release on Prime Video due to the COVID-19 pandemic, attracting a significant viewership. While leaning more towards comedy than action, the film reunites Eddie Murphy with his iconic character from 1988’s ‘Coming to America,’ following a similar approach to legacy sequels like ‘Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F.’
- Bad Boys: Ride or Die (2024) The legacy of the buddy cop genre continues with the latest installment, Bad Boys: Ride or Die, marking the fourth movie in the iconic franchise that first started with the 1995 hit, Bad Boys. As of now, the film stands as the sixth highest-grossing release globally in 2024, raking in $336.5 million against its $100 million budget. Audiences have also praised the movie, giving it an impressive 97% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, in addition to a solid 64% score on the Tomatometer. Just like Eddie Murphy’s iconic Axel Foley character, Will Smith and Martin Lawrence have returned to play their roles in all four Bad Boys films. Despite a longer gap between the last two movies, Ride or Die connects back to Beverly Hills Cop and was co-written by Will Beall along with Tom Gormican and Kevin Etten.
- 48 Hrs. (1982) – Early Eddie Murphy Buddy Cop Flick
’48 Hrs.’ kickstarted a successful franchise with a box office return of $78.9 million on a $12 million budget. Critics praised its mix of action and humor, featuring Eddie Murphy alongside Nick Nolte two years before his breakthrough role in ‘Beverly Hills Cop.’
- 21 Jump Street (2012) – A Comedy Tribute to an ’80s Classic
The comedic take on the ’80s TV show ’21 Jump Street,’ directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, received acclaim from both reviewers and audiences, with an 85% Tomatometer rating and an 83% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. Grossing $201.6 million from a $50 million budget, the film refreshed the series with Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill, including cameo appearances by original stars Johnny Depp and Peter DeLuise.
- Looper (2012) – A Memorable Action Collaboration
‘Looper’ distinguished itself as a successful film both critically and commercially, making $176.5 million with a $30 million budget. Directed by Rian Johnson, it received a 92% Tomatometer score and an 82% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. While leaning more towards sci-fi and action, it draws parallels to ‘Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F’ through Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s performance, reminiscent of the dynamic seen in Eddie Murphy’s Axel Foley character.
- The Nice Guys (2016) – A Contemporary Buddy Film
‘The Nice Guys’ may not have been a box office hit, but it was met with critical acclaim, holding a 91% Tomatometer score and a 79% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. Written and directed by Shane Black, known for his contributions to buddy-cop films in the ’80s and ’90s, it stars Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling in a comedic tribute to the genre.
- Shaft (2019) – A Sequel Continuing a Legacy of Action
Similar to ‘Charlie’s Angels,’ ‘Shaft’ received mixed reviews from critics but garnered a strong 94% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. It brings together multiple generations of action stars by introducing Jessie T. Usher as the grandson of the original character John Shaft Sr. (Richard Roundtree), alongside Samuel L. Jackson reprising his role from the 2000 film. This approach of blending old and new characters echoes that of ‘Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F.’
- Central Intelligence (2016) – The Debut Team-Up of Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart. ‘Central Intelligence’ found success at the box office, earning $217 million against a $50 million budget. Directed by Rawson Marshall Thurber, it received a 71% score from critics and 62% from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes. Highlighting the chemistry between its lead actors and their comedic timing, the film kickstarted a series of collaborations between Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart, leading to projects like ‘Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle’ and ‘DC League of Super-Pets.’
- Charlie’s Angels (2019) – A Fresh Take on a Beloved TV Series
Despite receiving mixed reviews from critics with a 52% Tomatometer score, ‘Charlie’s Angels’ resonated well with audiences, scoring 78% on Rotten Tomatoes. While its box office performance may have been lacking, it managed to capture the essence of the action-comedy genre, reminiscent of ‘Rush Hour.’ Serving as both a reboot and a continuation within the same universe as the TV series and previous film adaptations, it appealed to fans of the franchise.
- Rush Hour (1998) – The Beginning of a Classic Buddy-Cop Series
Derived from the success of the Beverly Hills Cop movies, the buddy-cop humor in ‘Rush Hour’ proved to be a hit. Eclipsing the earnings of ‘Beverly Hills Cop III,’ which made $119.2 million, ‘Rush Hour’ raked in $244.4 million with a $35 million budget, spawning sequels in 2001 and 2007. Well-received by critics, it holds a 62% Tomatometer score on Rotten Tomatoes, with an audience score of 78%.
