10 Best ’80s Buddy Cop Movies

Summary

• 80s marked the true rise of buddy cop movies, with iconic films like “Lethal Weapon” setting the standard for the genre.
• “Red Heat” and “Running Scared” added unique twists to the buddy cop formula, portraying unlikely duos facing dangerous foes.
• Eddie Murphy’s “Beverly Hills Cop” series showcased the comedic talent and action-packed adventures that defined 80s buddy cop films.

The buddy cop movie has had a long journey throughout pop culture, but the 80s are truly the decade in which the genre truly came alive. Just as the name implies, the buddy cop movie is a subgenre referring to action comedies centered around a duo of unlikely partners in law enforcement going on some dangerous or bizarre journey. Arguably, the first buddy cop movie was by famed filmmaker Akria Kurosawa, titled Stray Dog, and released in 1949.

However, it wouldn’t be until the 80s that the buddy cop movie truly bloomed. Everyone from Danny Glover to Arnold Schwarzenegger was getting in on the action, though some films were far more successful than others. While the 90s would also go on to produce some of the most iconic film series in the buddy cop genre, such as the Rush Hour and Bad Boys series, the 80s films truly walked so that later versions of the premise could run.

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10 Lethal Weapon

Released In 1987

Lethal Weapon R Where to Watch

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The film that started the iconic action franchise of the same name, Lethal Weapon stars Mel Gibson and Danny Glover as Detective Riggs and Murtaugh, two LAPD detectives on the trail of a high-profile drug ring. After the death of his wife, Riggs (Gibson) is increasingly volatile, but partnering with the level-headed veteran detective Murtaugh puts the two cops on the path to uncovering a huge criminal conspiracy.

Director Richard Donner Release Date March 6, 1987 Cast Tom Atkins , Mitchell Ryan , Danny Glover , Mel Gibson , Gary Busey Runtime 109 minutes

Perhaps the most ubiquitous film of the buddy cop genre is none other than Lethal Weapon, starring Mel Gibson and Danny Glover as Martin Riggs and Roger Murtagh. Lethal Weapon perfected the formula of the “odd couple”paring of two very different cops who must nevertheless learn to work together to save the day, an element that would go on to become the standard for the genre. Riggs is a vengeful and capable police officer in the LAPD who goes off the deep end after the death of his family, paired with the grizzled veteran Murtagh to rein him in.

Though it may seem clichéd, the fact of the matter is that
Lethal Weapon
was the one to create the clichés in the first place

Lethal Weapon is responsible for many action movie tropes that have since become commonplace, making it an interesting film to go back to. Though it may seem clichéd, the fact of the matter is that Lethal Weapon was the one to create the clichés in the first place, from Riggs’ loose cannon attitude to explosive action setpieces. Add in signatures like the many extreme closeups of Riggs and Murtagh or the sultry saxophone that persists through the whole film, and Lethal Weapon is an obvious candidate for buddy cop Mount Rushmore.

9 Lethal Weapon 2

Released In 1989

Lethal Weapon 2 R

Lethal Weapon 2 is the 1989 sequel to the action film Lethal Weapon, directed by Richard Donner. Mel Gibson and Danny Glover reprise their roles as detectives Martin Riggs and Roger Murtaugh. The duo faces off against a South African diplomatic mission using their immunity to engage in illegal activities. The film combines action and humor as the detectives navigate explosive situations to bring the criminals to justice.

Director Richard Donner Release Date July 7, 1989 Cast Joss Ackland , Joe Pesci , Danny Glover , Mel Gibson , Derrick O’Connor Runtime 114 minutes

Of course, the first film was so successful that an entire Lethal Weapon franchise quickly took root in the Hollywood media machine. This time around, Riggs and Murtagh are tasked with protecting the valuable federal witness, Leo Getz, played by Joe Pesci, who has a connection to a brutal South African drug smuggling ring that weaponizes their diplomatic immunity in the United States. It’s up to the two of them to juggle defending the life of the obnoxious Getz while breaking the rules to take down the foreign criminals.

Whereas Lethal Weapon could be intense and downright bleak at times, Lethal Weapon 2 is decidedly more lighthearted, giving Riggs and Murtagh more room to bounce off of one another without the bristles of meeting for the first time and having the “we’re not so different, you and I” talk. Pesci is a hilarious monkey wrench thrown into their chemistry, who steals the scene as the irritating Leo Getz. The film also offers some daring commentary on apartheid in South Africa, which hadn’t yet ended when Lethal Weapon 2 was released.

Related 10 Harsh Realities Of Rewatching Lethal Weapon, 37 Years Later

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8 Tango & Cash

Released In 1989

Tango & Cash Where to Watch

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Two rival Los Angeles cops are forced to team up when a drug lord implicates them in a crime they didn’t commit. They end up in jail and their only option is to escape in order to bring the real culprit to justice.

Director Andrei Konchalovsky , Albert Magnoli Release Date December 22, 1989 Cast Sylvester Stallone , Kurt Russell , Teri Hatcher , Jack Palance , Brion James , James Hong

By the late 80s, even the biggest names in action movies, like Sylvester Stallone and Kurt Russell, were getting in on the buddy cop craze. Enter Tango & Cash, a movie that embraced the groundwork that had been laid by earlier films in the decade and infused it with a healthy heaping of star power. Stallone and Russell star as the titular duo, two brilliant detectives that are intense rivals despite never having met. When they do finally come face-to-face, they’re framed for murder as an act of vengeance by crime lord Yves Perret, played by prestige actor Jack Palance.

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Admittedly, Tango & Cash isn’t the most inspired action movie, with both Stallone and Russell offering stock standard tough guy performances in a gritty environment. Yet the film is somehow mesmerizing with its twists and turns, becoming a prison break movie before pivoting again into a straightlaced mystery. With the iconic climax that takes place in a hall of mirrors, Tango & Cash might not be famous for all the right reasons, but is justifiably synonymous with the buddy cop genre.

7 Turner & Hooch

Released In 1989

Turner & Hooch (1989) PG Where to Watch

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Scott Turner is a detective who leads an extremely organized life. One day, he’s forced to work with a rather unusual partner: Hooch, a slobbering dog. The animal ruins his home, his career and even his new romance.

Director Roger Spottiswoode Release Date July 28, 1989 Cast Tom Hanks , Mare Winningham , Craig T. Nelson Runtime 97 minutes

Within the already niche action comedy genre of the buddy cop movie, there exists an even more specific subgenre known as the buddy cop-dog movie. Here, the typical diametrically opposing twin leads are made different even in species, with a human cop learning to appreciate the input of a non-human partner. The standout example of these films is Turner & Hooch, which stars Tom Hanks as a meticulous California cop who suddenly becomes the owner of his late friend’s massive French Mastiff.

In 2021,
Turner & Hooch
got a new Disney+ series starring Josh Peck.

Somehow, Tom Hanks is able to spin enough chemistry between himself and an canine performer to carry the film through its fickle combination of genres, at once being a buddy cop movie, a romance, and a heartwarming animal companionship movie. Seeing the nebbish Type A Turner slowly warm up to the happy-go-lucky and destructive Hooch makes for a compelling arc, never mind the criminal elements lurking in the background. Despite it’s downer ending, Turner & Hooch is still fondly remembered among buddy cop films.

6 Red Heat

Released In 1988

Red Heat R Where to Watch

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Ivan Danko is a tough Russian cop who is forced to work alongside extrovert detective Art Ridzik. The pair investigate a major international criminal involved in drug trafficking who has fled Russia for the United States.

Director Walter Hill Release Date June 17, 1988 Runtime 106 minutes

Being an action movie craze in the 80s, it would be far from Arnold Schwarzenegger to avoid getting involved with the buddy cop genre. The same year he starred alongside Danny DeVito in the infamous movie Twins, Schwarzenegger also took part in one of the most quietly fantastic films in the genre. Red Heat posits Schwarzenegger as Captain Ivan Danko, a Soviet police officer, who forms an unlikely alliance with Chicago cop Art Ridizik, played by Jim Belushi, in a case against a devious Georgian drug lord.

Red Heat was a daring movie to make in the 80s, starring a Soviet protagonist in the days when the Cold War wasn’t entirely over. Beyond this breakthrough, the film is an entertaining exercise in teaming up two heroes from very different walks of life, with all the gung-ho gratuitous violence to be expected of a Schwarzenegger career vehicle in the late 80s. While Red Heat wasn’t a box office success, it deserves a mention as one of the better made buddy cop films to come out of the 80s.

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5 Midnight Run

Released In 1988

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Midnight Run is a 1988 action-comedy film directed by Martin Brest. It stars Robert De Niro as a bounty hunter tasked with capturing and transporting a former mob accountant, played by Charles Grodin, across the country. The film follows their unpredictable journey, filled with comedic and thrilling moments, as they evade both the mob and law enforcement while forming an unlikely bond.

Director Martin Brest Release Date July 20, 1988 Cast Robert De Niro , Charles Grodin , Yaphet Kotto , John Ashton , Dennis Farina Runtime 126 Minutes

While the better-remembered Robert De Niro films are usually prestige cinema darlings like Taxi Driver and Goodfellas, the actor wasn’t above engaging in a bit of crowd-pleasing tomfoolery in a buddy cop film. Midnight Run was a huge success that showed off De Niro’s comedic chops, paired with Charles Grodin’s straight man routine like a fine wine. The film stars the two of them as a bounty hunter and a corrupt accountant, the latter being wanted by multiple parties for the embezzlement of mafia money.

Midnight Run plays out as a disastrous escort mission for De Niro’s exasperated Jack Walsh, dodging made men, rival bounty hunters, and the F.B.I. in an effort to secure his paycheck. Grodin works excellently as a living MacGuffin, driving the action and emotional growth of Walsh with his neurotic character. Though it’s certainly an unorthodox buddy cop film, Midnight Run‘s success can’t be argued, acquiring two Academy Award nominations for its efforts, a rare achievement in the genre.

4 48 Hours

Released In 1982

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48 Hours R

Starring Eddie Murphy and Nick Nolte, 48 Hours is an action Comedy and “buddy cop” movie released in 1982. The film follows the story of a detective that requests the aid of an inmate that he pulls into his custody on a 48-hour permit to help him find a dangerous criminal.

Director Walter Hill Release Date December 8, 1982 Cast Brion James , Sonny Landham , Frank McRae , Nick Nolte , Eddie Murphy , Annette O’Toole , James Remar , David Patrick Kelly Runtime 96 minutes

One of the earliest movies to truly popularize the buddy cop concept in Hollywood, many films owe their existence to the critical acclaim of 48 Hours. The film debut of famed comedian Eddie Murphy, 48 Hours casts Murphy as Reggie Hammond, an incarcerated criminal who gets temporarily sprung from prison in order to help Inspector Jack Cates, played by Nick Nolte, track down his former associate, a hardened career criminal. What follows is a violent and chaotic romp through San Francisco’s criminal underbelly that leaves both men forever changed.

Arguably the first true buddy cop film ever, 48 Hours uses its ticking clock premise to its advantage, squeezing every bit of drama, action and comedy out of every second of its lean runtime. Nolte and Murphy’s chemistry is incredibly potent, and the film’s underlying themes of romance heighten the tense drama of its criminal storyline. Considered one of the best films of the year it released, let alone among buddy cop movies of the 80s, 48 Hours is one of the best and earliest achievements in the genre.

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3 Running Scared

Released In 1986

Running Scared (1986) R

Running Scared is a 1986 action-comedy film directed by Peter Hyams. It stars Billy Crystal and Gregory Hines as two Chicago police detectives who are given a second chance after nearly being killed on duty. Facing a dangerous drug lord, they contemplate retirement while leveraging their unique partnership to bring the criminal to justice.

Director Peter Hyams Release Date June 27, 1986 Cast Gregory Hines , Billy Crystal , Steven Bauer , Darlanne Fluegel , Joe Pantoliano , Dan Hedaya , Jon Gries , Tracy Reed Runtime 107 Minutes

Another relatively early contributor to the feverish popularity of buddy cop movies in the 80s, Running Scared leaned into the comedy of the typical action-comedy formula perhaps harder than many of its peers. Billy Crystal stars alongside famed tap dancer Gregory Hines as Danny Costanzo and Ray Hughes, a pair of Chicago cops who get caught up in one of the deadliest cases of their career right before deciding to retire. The film follows a fascinating arc not replicated by many other buddy cop films.

Costanzo and Hughes start Running Scared already friends, and aren’t the fantastically-competent loose cannon cops shown off in many other films in the genre. They’re cowardly, do sloppy work, and generally feel they’d be better off owning a bar in Florida together, but ultimately pass on their teachings to rookie cops in a brilliant full-circle arc. Running Scared was a huge influence on the popularization of buddy cop movies in the 80s for good reason.

2 Beverly Hills Cop

Released In 1984

Beverly Hills Cop 4.5 R Where to Watch

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Eddie Murphy stars in Beverly Hills Cop as Axel Foley, a street-smart Detroit police officer who travels to California to solve his friend’s murder. Directed by Martin Brest, the film was a critical and commercial success, spawning three sequels.

Director Martin Brest Release Date November 30, 1984 Cast Eddie Murphy , Judge Reinhold , John Ashton , Lisa Eilbacher , Ronny Cox , Steven Berkoff Runtime 105 minutes

After his success in 48 Hours, Eddie Murphy’s filmography would quickly expand with yet more buddy cop pictures, namely the famous Beverly Hills Cop. This time around, Murphy plays Axel Foley, a streetwise plainclothes detective in Detroit who travels to the titular California neighborhood in order to help solve the murder of his best friend. Along the way, he’s tailed by Beverly Hills cops Sergeant Taggart and Detective Rosewood, forming a rare buddy cop trio in their shared pursuit of the killer.

Beverly Hills Cop
shows off a young, hungry Eddie Murphy earning his comedic acclaim for the first real time

Beverly Hills Cop shows off a young, hungry Eddie Murphy earning his comedic acclaim for the first real time, dominating the gorgeous California scenery of Beverly Hills Cop. His two hangers-on provide great springboards for his talent to backflip off of, detecting circles around them while slowly forging a mutual respect. Beverly Hills Cop is a true triumph of the buddy cop genre, a rare instance in which the typical formula isn’t sullied by having three cops to keep track of.

1 Beverly Hills Cop II

Released In 1987

Beverly Hills Cop 2 R

Beverly Hills Cop 2 continues the story of Axel Foley, a Detroit detective played by Eddie Murphy, as he returns to Beverly Hills to help his friends solve a series of heists linked to a criminal mastermind. Directed by Tony Scott, this sequel sees Foley teaming up with Beverly Hills detectives Rosewood and Taggart to unravel the case while blending action and comedy.

Director Tony Scott Release Date May 19, 1987 Cast Eddie Murphy , Judge Reinhold , John Ashton , Jurgen Prochnow , Ronny Cox , Brigitte Nielsen Runtime 103 Minutes

With the success of Beverly Hills Cop, it’s no shock that a sequel would come soon after, and the second installment of the Beverly Hills Cop franchise was not a disappointment. Eddie Murphy returns as Axel, once again returning to Beverly Hills to contribute his skills to their maddening new case, a series of high-profile robberies whose perpetrators leave behind a cryptic letter at the scene of each crime. Joining forces with Rosewood and Taggart once more, Beverly Hills Cop II picks up its formula where the first film left it.

In 2024, the franchise released a fourth movie called
Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F.

Admittedly, Beverly Hills Cop II fails to surpass the original, hitting many of the same beats without as much efficacy. Still, among buddy cop films of the 80s, it stands out with its potent chemistry between Murphy and his supporting leads, energetic soundtrack, and tense gunfights. Even if it was nowhere near as iconic as its predecessor, Beverly Hills Cop II proved the cultural staying power of buddy cop movies in the 80s.

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