Beverly Hills Cop
1 Oscar Nominations·National Film Registry
Fast-talking, quick-thinking Detroit street cop Axel Foley has bent more than a few rules and regs in his time, but when his best friend is murdered, he heads to sunny Beverly Hills to work the case like only he can.
What critics thought
Eddie Murphy's comic magnetism is the engine this film runs on, and most critics found it more than enough — though the gap between loving Murphy and loving the movie itself was where opinion split. The plot drew the sharpest fire, with some dismissing it as a throwaway scaffold for Murphy's riffs, while others didn't mind at all. Time and popular affection have been kinder to it than its middling critical average might suggest.
“Eddie Murphy knows exactly what he's doing, and he wins at every turn.”
Janet Maslin·The New York Times
“Eddie Murphy exuded the kind of cheeky, cocky charm that has been missing from the screen since Cagney was a pup, snarling his way out of the ghetto.”
Richard Schickel·Time
“wasting a good pretext and cast on an idiotic plotline.”
Siskel & Ebert
“a truly contemptible film”
John Simon·National Review
Genres
Action, Comedy, Crime
Cast & Crew
DirectorMartin Brest
StarringEddie Murphy, Judge Reinhold, John Ashton, Lisa Eilbacher, Ronny Cox
ComposerHarold Faltermeyer, Keith Forsey
Beverly Hills Cop
1 Oscar Nominations·National Film Registry
Fast-talking, quick-thinking Detroit street cop Axel Foley has bent more than a few rules and regs in his time, but when his best friend is murdered, he heads to sunny Beverly Hills to work the case like only he can.
What critics thought
Eddie Murphy's comic magnetism is the engine this film runs on, and most critics found it more than enough — though the gap between loving Murphy and loving the movie itself was where opinion split. The plot drew the sharpest fire, with some dismissing it as a throwaway scaffold for Murphy's riffs, while others didn't mind at all. Time and popular affection have been kinder to it than its middling critical average might suggest.
“Eddie Murphy knows exactly what he's doing, and he wins at every turn.”
Janet Maslin·The New York Times
“Eddie Murphy exuded the kind of cheeky, cocky charm that has been missing from the screen since Cagney was a pup, snarling his way out of the ghetto.”
Richard Schickel·Time
“wasting a good pretext and cast on an idiotic plotline.”
Siskel & Ebert
“a truly contemptible film”
John Simon·National Review
Genres
Action, Comedy, Crime
Cast & Crew
DirectorMartin Brest
StarringEddie Murphy, Judge Reinhold, John Ashton, Lisa Eilbacher, Ronny Cox
ComposerHarold Faltermeyer, Keith Forsey