Movie · 1987 · Action, Comedy, Crime · 1h 43m · R · English
Curator score: 2.4/10 (249.6K ratings)
Axel Foley is back. Back where he doesn't belong.
Overview
Axel Foley returns to the land of sunshine and palm trees to investigate the near-fatal shooting of police Captain Andrew Bogomil. With the help of Sgt. Taggart and Det. Rosewood, they soon uncover that the shooting is associated with a series of "alphabet" robberies masterminded by a heartless weapons kingpin—and the chase is on.
Ratings
Curator score: 2.4/10
IMDb: 6.6/10
Letterboxd: 3.26/5
Rotten Tomatoes: 48%
Metacritic: 46
TMDB: 6.5/10
Director
Tony Scott
Production
Eddie Murphy Productions, Paramount Pictures, Don Simpson/Jerry Bruckheimer Films
Cast
Eddie Murphy, Judge Reinhold, John Ashton, Jürgen Prochnow, Ronny Cox, Brigitte Nielsen, Allen Garfield, Dean Stockwell, Paul Reiser, Gilbert R. Hill, Paul Guilfoyle, Robert Ridgely, Brian O'Connor, Alice Adair, Eugene Butler, Glenn Withrow, Stephen Liska, Gilbert Gottfried, Tom Bower, Valerie Wildman
Where to watch
Paramount Plus Premium
Curator Review
Verdict
A loud, glossy, and often very funny sequel that leans harder into action-movie excess than the first film. Eddie Murphy’s fast-talking charisma and the buddy chemistry keep it entertaining, but the plot is thinner, the violence is cruder, and the style sometimes overwhelms the comedy.
Best for
fans of 1980s action-comedies
viewers who like charismatic star vehicles
people who enjoy slick, neon-soaked crime movies
audiences open to bigger, dumber sequels
Skip if
you want a tightly plotted mystery
you dislike broad sequel escalation
you’re sensitive to dated macho humor and violence
you prefer the more relaxed charm of the original
Overview
Beverly Hills Cop II is the kind of sequel that knows exactly what it is: bigger, louder, and more aggressively styled than the original. Tony Scott turns the movie into a glossy 80s machine of speed, color, and attitude, while Eddie Murphy keeps Axel Foley loose, cocky, and endlessly watchable.
Worth noting
The downside is that the story mostly exists to move from one set piece to the next. The investigation is serviceable rather than gripping, and the film often feels like it’s running on swagger, needle drops, and punchlines instead of genuine momentum.
Bottom line
Still, the chemistry between Murphy, Judge Reinhold, and John Ashton gives the movie enough personality to stay afloat. If you’re in the mood for an overcaffeinated action-comedy with a strong sense of era, it delivers plenty of entertainment even when it’s being shamelessly excessive.
Top Letterboxd reviews
Patrick Willems (3★) · 1428 likes
I like how the theme song plays every time Axel Foley does something cool, and that happens at least once every ten minutes
(this is not a complaint)
matt lynch (4★) · 896 likes
One of the most ego-driven, indifferently-produced films in the history of the medium and a stunning artifact of its time, both of which are indicated in its first few minutes by A) Brigitte Nielsen; B) a shot of Eddie Murphy in a Speedo with his production company credit directly over his dick, and C) Axel Foley being totally awesome driving a $67,000 Italian luxury sportscar through Detroit Motor City. Generally plotless, obnoxious with violence, frequently offensive, and packed with wildly stupid shtick absolutely nobody would fall for, it contains the foundational DNA of future masterpiece BAD BOYS II. I adore this movie.
SilentDawn (3★) · 394 likes
57
Not credited: mounds upon mounds of cocaine.
Helen_S (4★) · 317 likes
This one is all about Judge Reinhold. Judge Reinhold doing his Judge Reinhold faces, Judge Reinhold doing his Judge Reinhold voices, Judge Reinhold with his big guns, Judge Reinhold doing his Judge Reinhold laughing, Judge Reinhold driving a cement truck while reminding me of that truck scene with Robert Patrick in T2, Judge Reinhold doing his Judge Reinhold poses, Judge Reinhold: the film.
Jade talks too much🎅🏻🎄 (5★) · 277 likes
This is one isn’t about cocaine smuggling, like the original, but it feels more cocaine-y❄️. Does anyone know what I mean?😆
But it’s basically a remake of the first one and I don’t mind that at all😎. I could watch Axel Foley do his fast talking schtick all day🗣️. It’s crazy fun.
I don’t know why I loved the original as a kid but didn’t like this one. I LOVED it this time💛. Brigitte Nielsen makes a great villain😈.
1982 · Crime, Action, Comedy · 1h 36m · R · Curator 5.0/10 (156.3K ratings) · Where to watch: Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads
A foundational buddy-cop action-comedy with sharp banter, streetwise energy, and a star-making performance that pairs well with Axel Foley’s fast-talking chaos.