All the 'Beverly Hills Cop' movies ranked ahead of Eddie Murphy's fourth installment 'Axel F'
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: 'Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F', an American action comedy film, is set to release on Netflix on Wednesday, July 3, 2024.
Directed by Mark Molloy and written by Will Beall, Tom Gormican, and Kevin Etten, the film serves as the fourth installment in the 'Beverly Hills Cop' film series and a sequel to 'Beverly Hills Cop III'.
Eddie Murphy is returning as Axel Foley in 'Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F'. The film also stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Judge Reinhold, Kevin Bacon, John Ashton, Bronson Pinchot, Paul Reiser, Taylour Paige, and James Preston Rogers in pivotal roles.
Ahead of the release of 'Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F' on Netflix, let's rank all the 'Beverly Hills Cop' movies. This ranking will provide insight into the evolution of the franchise.
1. 'Beverly Hills Cop' (1984)
'Beverly Hills Cop' is a 1984 American action-comedy film directed by Martin Brest. This film marked the beginning of the 'Beverly Hills Cop' franchise and propelled Murphy to global fame.
Murphy's portrayal of Axel Foley, a street-smart Detroit cop navigating the glitz and glamor of Beverly Hills, gained international recognition.
The film revolves around Foley as he investigates the murder of his childhood friend. Following leads that point to Beverly Hills, California, Foley navigates the luxurious but treacherous world of the wealthy and powerful.
As he delves deeper into the case, he uncovers a web of corruption and crime that challenges both his skills as a detective and his ability to navigate unfamiliar territory.
The film's iconic moments, witty dialogue, and memorable characters, including Foley's dynamic interactions with Beverly Hills detectives, have left an indelible mark on popular culture. It is the best film in 'Beverly Hills Cop' film series.
2. 'Beverly Hills Cop II' (1987)
'Beverly Hills Cop II' is a 1987 American action comedy film directed by Tony Scott. Written by Larry Ferguson and Warren Skaaren, the film follows the return of Murphy's iconic character, Axel Foley.
In this film, Foley teams up with Beverly Hills detectives to combat a criminal syndicate. Their collaboration and mission intensifies after Captain Andrew Bogomil (Ronny Cox) falls victim to a shooting, prompting them to pursue a formidable criminal organization.
Murphy's performance in this film further solidified his status as a leading actor. His ability to seamlessly blend humor with intense action sequences contributed significantly to the film's success.
'Beverly Hills Cop II' is the highest-grossing film in the 'Beverly Hills Cop' series, achieving significant box office success. In addition to its financial triumph, the film also earned critical acclaim, receiving nominations for prestigious awards such as an Oscar and a Golden Globe Award. It is the second best film in the 'Beverly Hills Cop' film series.
Critically, while 'Beverly Hills Cop II' received mixed reviews compared to the first film, it was praised for its action-packed sequences and humor.
The sequel's strong performance at the box office, combined with its enduring popularity among fans of action comedies, prompted studios to greenlight 'Beverly Hills Cop III'.
3. 'Beverly Hills Cop III' (1994)
'Beverly Hills Cop III', a 1994 American action comedy film directed by John Landis, is the third film in the 'Beverly Hills Cop' franchise.
The film includes several cameo appearances by notable film personalities such as Robert B Sherman, Arthur Hiller, John Singleton, Joe Dante, Barbet Schroeder, and Peter Medak, making it the third best in the 'Beverly Hills Cop' franchise.
Once again, Murphy portrays Foley, the Detroit detective who finds himself back in Beverly Hills. This time, Foley teams up with detective Billy Rosewood, portrayed by Judge Reinhold, to take down a gang of counterfeiters operating within the local amusement park, Wonder World.
Their partnership evolves as they uncover clues and confront adversaries. The third part did not receive the same level of critical acclaim as the first film in the franchise, but its commercial success justified the continuation of the film series.
Fans continued to appreciate Murphy's portrayal of Foley and his approach to solving cases. Fans praised him for his acting prowess and the way he delivered dialogue.
How to stream 'Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F'?
'Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F' is set to release on Netflix on Wednesday, July 3, 2024.
One needs a Netflix membership to watch 'Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F.' The Standard Plan with advertising costs $6.99 per month and offers full HD (1080p) streaming.
The ad-free Standard Plan is $15.49 per month, allowing streaming in 1080p/full HD quality on two screens simultaneously.
The Premium Plan costs $22.99 per month, enabling up to four simultaneous streams in 4K Ultra HD with Dolby Atmos and HDR.
'Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F' trailer