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The return of Eddie Murphy to the iconic role of Axel Foley has the internet abuzz. Not only has Murphy been making the most of his press tour, but he’s also having fun relivingBeverly Hills Copas a major franchise in pop culture. With the recent release ofAxel F, we thought it was time to rank the iconic series that helped turn Eddie Murphy into a superstar. Check out our ranking below!
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4Beverly Hills Cop III(1994) – Directed by John Landis
From its opening set piece,Beverly Hills Copjust feels off. Murphy gave the movie his all, and reuniting with John Landis looked good on paper. However, by 1994, Landis lost his touch as the director who once helmedComing to AmericaandAnimal House. Even a theme park fan like myself thinks this movie is too long, unrealistic, and surprisingly boring. The shifting supporting cast around Murphy does not help, basically demoting Reinhold to a tertiary character. There are too many flaws inBeverly Hills Cop IIIto ignore,making it the worst of the franchise by a mile.
3Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F(2024) – Directed by Mark Molloy
A return to the franchise could have gone poorly, especially in the aftermath ofBeverly Hills Cop III. Luckily, director Mark Molloy lets Eddie Murphy combine his unique comedy style and allow Axel Foley to age gracefully. He still brings some of the big aspects of the character out, but spending time with Taylour Paige allowsAxel Fto shine in a more internal role. The nostalgia for previous entries ultimately makesAxel Fperform karaoke in some scenes, but the overall result is a far more enjoyable return to LA for Axel.
It also bridges the gap to potential future flicks. Not only could Murphy return for future adventures, but Paige and Joseph Gordon-Levitt seem like ideal performers to carry the series forward. Their dynamic plays off of Axel this time out, but one can easily see a scenario where Paige may step into the leading role down the line. Make no mistake,Axel Fis Murphy’s film, and he reminds us that he’s still one of the most enjoyable comedians in the game.
“I did Beverly Hills Cop instead of…”: The $943M Franchise Eddie Murphy Happily Rejected as it “Sounds like a crock”
2Beverly Hills Cop II(1987)- Directed by Tony Gilroy
The fun follow-up to the iconic action-comedy delivered at the box office but could not quite reach the heights of 1984’s juggernaut. We get more comedy stemming from Judge Reinhold and John Ashton, but they’re not what makes Beverly Hills Cop such a success. Murphy remains locked in but gets fewer opportunities to highlight his comedic skillset.
At the same time,Tony Scott(Top Gun,True Romance) directed the hell out of the action setpieces. Not only doesBeverly Hills Cop IIrank among the best-looking movies of the decade, but its action remains some of the best of the era. They easily rank among the best in the series, from the opening heist to the final shootout. Leaning into this aspect helpedBeverly Hills Cop IIfeel fresh, even if it did not
Sylvester Stallone Was Not Happy With Eddie Murphy’s $316 Million Action Movie ‘Beverly Hills Cop’, Was Adamant to Add More Humor and Action into the Script
1Beverly Hills Cop(1984) – Directed by Martin Brest
What else can we say about the marvelousBeverly Hills Copthat we did not already say in our retrospective? It’s a showcase performance of comedy and tone, allowing both Murphy and Martin Brest to go on to success. Murphy completely unlocks the movie and plays against the stuck-up society of the moment, keying into the same cultural forces that made Porky’s and Revenge of the Nerds huge hits. However, unlike those movies, Beverly Hills Cop spoke to a moment about American culture, and let Murphy rise to the top of Hollywood. There’s a reason it found its way into the Oscar conversation and a reason why Murphy became the biggest star in the world.
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Alan French
Film/TV Critic
Articles Published :280
Alan French began writing about television and film by covering the Emmys and Oscar beats in 2016. Since then, he has written hundreds of reviews on TV and movies. He attends film festivals regularly. He is a Rotten Tomato-approved critic and is on the committee for the Critics Association of Central Florida.
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Beverly Hills CopBeverly Hills Cop 4Beverly Hills Cop: Axel FoleyEddie Murphy
