In honor of Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F hitting Netflix, we rank the entire Beverly Hills Cop films from finest 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 achieved our justifiable share 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? In fact, 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 finest, so buckle up! And – when 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 thought – however the execution is a catastrophe. If you happen to’re making an attempt to make a extra severe 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 type 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 not concerned with the franchise, as they might have little question served because the voice of cause on set. I wish to assume Simpson and Bruckheimer would have killed the unhealthy selections, such because the orchestral model of Axel F on the soundtrack. However it’s not all unhealthy. 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 automotive chase, with a ’91 Dodge Stealth going to items whereas Axel is driving it and INXS’s “Preserve the Peace” filling the soundtrack. However, from then on, it’s all downhill. That stated, 3 is the one instalment of the sequence I’d quantify as unhealthy, even whether it is nonetheless considerably watchable.
Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F (2024):
I liked Axel F as a nostalgic, throwback sequel. In equity to the movie, it’s exhausting 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 friends, corresponding to 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 greater movie than the final one. The OG director, Martin Brest, was busy doing Midnight Run (a wonderful movie in its personal proper), so Tony Scott, who was coming off Simpson/ Bruckheimer’s High Gun, was introduced in. The result’s a slicker, more-action-driven instalment of the sequence. The whole lot about it’s greater, 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 robust cult following. It had a memorable henchwoman in Brigitte Nielsen, and the film massively influenced Axel F director Mark Molloy maybe greater than another movie within the franchise. A number of the most iconic parts folks affiliate with this franchise have been launched right here, corresponding to Axel’s well-known Detroit Lions letterman jacket, and the Bob Seger tune “Shakedown” (the long-lasting singer’s solely no 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):
In fact, nothing beats the unique Martin Brest film. Famously conceived as a automobile for Sylvester Stallone, the movie was given a comedy overhaul when Eddie Murphy got here on board, and the outcome was nothing in need of iconic. Along with Murphy’s Axel F, the movie additionally advantages from one of the crucial iconic soundtracks of the eighties, with songs like Glenn Frey’s “The Warmth Is On”, The Pointer Sisters’ “Neutron Dance,” and, after all, Harold Faltermeyer’s rating, with the theme, “Axel F” one of the crucial 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!
