In honor of Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F hitting Netflix, we rank the entire Beverly Hills Cop films from greatest to worst!
In the end, Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F, the fourth movie within the franchise (and the primary in thirty years) is out, with it streaming on Netflix. We’ve actually completed our fair proportion of protection for the film right here on the positioning, with me being fortunate sufficient to interview Eddie Murphy and a lot of the forged whereas additionally attending the premiere in Beverly Hills. However how does the movie stack up so far as the remainder of the franchise goes? After all, that may imply just one factor – it’s time for our Beverly Hills Cop Films Ranked checklist! This time, we’re doing from worst to greatest, so buckle up! And – whilst you’re at it take a look at our LiveStream from final evening, the place our host, Kier Gomes, did his personal rankings!
Beverly Hills Cop III (1994):
Not solely is that this the worst Beverly Hills Cop film, however the third entry into the franchise briefly put Eddie Murphy’s profession into deep freeze. The comedy is dialled down in a maybe misguided try to show Murphy right into a extra conventional hero. On the similar time, the motion is escalated, which isn’t a horrible concept – however the execution is a catastrophe. Should you’re attempting to make a extra critical motion flick, why set the film at a Disneyland knock-off with mascots, present tunes, and tons (too many) cutesy celeb cameos (together with George Lucas)? It didn’t assist that John Landis lacked the fashion of both Martin Brest or Tony Scott and needed to take care of a star who didn’t need to be humorous anymore.
Making issues even worse was that producers Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer have been now not concerned with the franchise, as they might have little doubt served because the voice of cause on set. I prefer to assume Simpson and Bruckheimer would have killed the dangerous selections, such because the orchestral model of Axel F on the soundtrack. However it’s not all dangerous. The primary ten minutes of the film are literally fairly good, with franchise mainstay Inspector Todd getting a robust dying scene and its adopted by a extremely cool automobile chase, with a ’91 Dodge Stealth going to items whereas Axel is driving it and INXS’s “Keep the Peace” filling the soundtrack. However, from then on, it’s all downhill. That mentioned, 3 is the one instalment of the sequence I’d quantify as dangerous, even whether it is nonetheless considerably watchable.
Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F (2024):
I cherished Axel F as a nostalgic, throwback sequel. In equity to the movie, it’s onerous to recapture lightning in a bottle the best way the primary two movies did, as these films hit the zeitgeist at a time when Eddie’s profession was exploding in recognition, turning him right into a celebrity on the extent of Elvis Presley. But, the film does function a really engaged Murphy dropping F-bombs galore whereas additionally permitting for the return of many aged buddies, resembling Decide Reinhold and John Ashton & Paul Reiser, who have been each MIA from the third movie.
Beverly Hills Cop II (1987):
Nobody anticipated the primary Beverly Hills Cop film to be such a smash, but it surely turned the highest-grossing comedy of all time and essentially the most worthwhile film of 1984 (beating out Ghostbusters). It elevated Murphy to celebrity standing, and the sequel was set as much as be a a lot larger movie than the final one. The OG director, Martin Brest, was busy doing Midnight Run (a superb movie in its personal proper), so Tony Scott, who was coming off Simpson/ Bruckheimer’s Prime Gun, was introduced in. The result’s a slicker, more-action-driven instalment of the sequence. Every thing about it’s larger, from the sun shades to the set-pieces, and past. On the time, some critics scoffed at how polished it was, however over time, the neon-soaked visuals have given it a powerful cult following. It had a memorable henchwoman in Brigitte Nielsen, and the film vastly influenced Axel F director Mark Molloy maybe greater than every other movie within the franchise. Among the most iconic components folks affiliate with this franchise have been launched right here, resembling Axel’s well-known Detroit Lions letterman jacket, and the Bob Seger tune “Shakedown” (the enduring singer’s solely #1 on the Billboard Chart). It additionally has the well-known Playboy Mansion scene (“Hef!”), whereas Harold Faltermeyer’s rating is (arguably) even higher right here than it was within the first movie.
Beverly Hills Cop (1984):
After all, nothing beats the unique Martin Brest film. Famously conceived as a car for Sylvester Stallone, the movie was given a comedy overhaul when Eddie Murphy got here on board, and the outcome was nothing wanting iconic. Along with Murphy’s Axel F, the movie additionally advantages from probably the most iconic soundtracks of the eighties, with songs like Glenn Frey’s “The Heat Is On”, The Pointer Sisters’ “Neutron Dance,” and, after all, Harold Faltermeyer’s rating, with the theme, “Axel F” probably the most memorable theme songs of all time, being proper up there with the James Bond Theme.
What are your Beverly Hills Cop film rankings? Tell us within the feedback!
