The 10 best “Buddy Cop” films, or the police couple

“Buddy Cop” films are a subcategory of the detective genre. Adhering to or flirting with comedy, these films feature the dynamics between two police officers with contrasting personalities who work together to solve crimes. In some cases, one or neither of them might actually be a police officer, but they will always have contrasting personalities and solve crimes together.

Generally, one of the characters is more serious and committed to following the rules, while the other is more relaxed and inclined to break them. This combination ends up creating moments of action, humor and camaraderie.

Inspired by this, we decided to list the 10 best buddy cop movies.

Directed by Michael Bay, “Bad Boys” was a huge box office success. Will Smith and Martin Lawrence play a couple of cops: two Miami narcotics detectives. “Bad Boys” ended up spawning a film franchise.

In the plot, the two are tasked with finding a shipment of heroin stolen from the police before their department closes down. They also have to exchange identities with each other.

Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker star in this crime comedy and have received praise for their chemistry together. “Rush Hour” was a commercial success and spawned other sequels.

In the plot, the daughter of a Chinese diplomat, Han (Tzi Ma), is kidnapped. Not trusting the FBI, Han turns to her friend, Hong Kong Inspector Lee (Chan), for help. However, the FBI doesn’t want foreign help and tricks Detective James Carter (Tucker) into becoming Lee’s nanny.

This crime comedy stars two women as partners. Sandra Bullock plays FBI Special Agent Sarah Ashburn, while Melissa McCarthy plays Boston Detective Shannon Mullins.

They team up to stop a mobster in Boston. Directed by Paul Feig, the film was a box office success.

A box office success and well received by critics, “Lethal Weapon” ended up spawning a successful buddy cop franchise. The film is directed by Richard Donner.

Mel Gibson and Danny Glover play the cop couple. Gibson plays Martin Riggs, a former Green Beret devastated by the death of his wife and suicidal. Glover plays Roger Murtaugh, a veteran police officer and family man.

In this buddy cop action comedy, Sylvester Stallone and Kurt Russell play two rival police officers with very different personalities.

Stallone plays Tango, West Los Angeles’ top cop, a sophisticated and well-dressed detective. Russell plays Cash, East LA’s top cop, a gruff and scruffy detective.

However, they are forced to work together when they are framed by a powerful crime boss (Jack Palance).

Based on the television series of the same name (starring Johnny Depp), “Law’s Angels” is a comedy that satirizes crime films. Jonah Hill plays Morton Schmidt and Channing Tatum plays Greg Jenko, who meet again at the police academy after their high school days.

They weren’t friends at the time. Schmidt was intelligent, but socially awkward and unpopular. Jenko was handsome and popular, but not very intelligent. However, as police officers, they decide to help each other.

However, they are forced to relive high school when they are assigned to a mission where they have to pretend to be students. Well received by audiences and critics, it received a sequel in 2014.

The crime comedy “Burning City” stars two movie stars: Clint Eastwood and Burt Reynolds. The plot is set in 1930s Kansas, during the Prohibition era. Eastwood plays Lieutenant Speers and Reynolds plays private detective Mike Murphy.

The two once worked together in the police force and were friends, but are now enemies. However, they form an alliance after Murphy’s partner is killed by a mobster (Rip Torn).

The film features a screenplay by Blake Edwards (director of works such as “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” and the “Pink Panther” film series) and directed by Richard Benjamin.

One of the first films to popularize the buddy cop subgenre, “48 Hours” was directed and written by Walter Hill. The film stars Nick Nolte and Eddie Murphy. Nolte plays an uncompromising cop, while Murphy plays a smart inmate. The unlikely pair ends up teaming up to catch a killer within 48 hours.

The film did well at the box office and received critical acclaim, earning a sequel in 1990.

Another Cop Director directed by Walter Hill, “Red Hell” is a typical example of this subgenre, very popular in the 80s.

Arnold Schwarzenegger plays stern Soviet police officer Ivan Danko. Jim Belushi plays laid-back Chicago police detective Art Ridzik. The two work together when a Georgian drug lord (Ed O’Ross) flees to the United States.

Directed by Tony Scott (“Top Gun – Good Will Hunting”) and with a screenplay by Shane Black, the same as the “Lethal Weapon” franchise, “The Last Boy Scout” has gained cult status over time.

The film stars Bruce Willis and Damon Wayans (Michael Kyle in “The Boss and the Kids”). Willis plays a private investigator and Wayans plays an American football star who was kicked out of the league after a scandal.

The two end up teaming up to investigate a murder and uncover a conspiracy involving the NFL and corrupt politicians.

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Source: Olhar Digital

Rose

Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.