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As Axel Foley (Eddie Murphy) takes a nostalgic trip down memory lane inBeverly Hills Cop 4onNetflixthis summer, old and new generations of movie lovers are experiencing the kind of fun, throwback action-comedy that populated the 1980s. While buddy-cop movies have been a surefire formula for success in the past, including Murphy’s48 Hours,the SNL alum’sunique brand of comedy proved he could carry a movie on his back as the leading actor on the call sheet.
Following his breakout starring role in the original 1984Beverly Hills Cop, Murphy returned for the stylish sequelBeverly Hills Cop IIand the abysmal, franchise-killingBeverly Hills Cop III,which put the wise-cracking Detroit transplant on ice for 30 years. While the three-decade return of Murphy inAxel Fis impressive on its own, the actor’s precocious age and wisdom beyond his years while making each franchise installment is even more remarkable.
Beverly Hills Cop (1984)
Eddie Murphy Was 23 Years Old
Inarguably the best in class,Beverly Hills Copwas directed by Martin Brest from an Oscar-nominated screenplay by Daniel Petrie Jr. and Danilo Bach.Eddie Murphy was 23 years old when the movie was filmed and released, a feat that remains impressive. In a classic fish-out-of-water scenario, the story follows the unruly Axel Foley, a police officer from Detroit who is summoned to the glitzy and glamorous Beverly Hills, California, to catch the person responsible for murdering his childhood friend.
In Beverly Hills, Foley’s comedic culture shock leads to big laughs as he adjusts to his excessively wealthy surroundings. While more of a starring vehicle for Murphy’s trademark humor than a two-handed buddy cop movie, Axel teamswith Beverly Hills cops Billy Rosewood(Judge Reinhold), Sgt. John Taggert (John Ashton), and takes orders from his commanding officer, Jeffrey Friedman (Paul Reiser).
Beyond laying the groundwork for a successful franchise to flourish,Beverly Hills Copremains the best-made movie of the bunch. Aside from the Oscar-nominated screenplay and Murphy’s dazzling tailor-made humor, Martin Brest’s direction has a dramatic crux that elevates the material beyond a silly, diversionary comedy. Under Tony Scott’s stylish direction and MTV-like tempo,Beverly Hills Cop IIexaggerates the humor of the first and amplifies the Beverly Hills stereotypes introduced in the original.
Beverly Hills Cop II (1987)
Eddie Murphy Was 25 When Filming & 26 When Released
WhileBeverly Hills Copremains the best overall piece of filmmaking in the franchise,Beverly Hills Cop IIremains the funniest and most entertaining. With a firm grasp of the character and never more comfortable in Axel Foley’s skin,Eddie Murphy was 25 years old when the movie was filmed and 26 when it came out. Bigger, better, bolder as a sequel should be,Tony Scott’s highly amusing directorial pacingstreamlines what made the original hilarious and consistently delivers bowled-over belly laughs. The rad ’80s music, the neon pastel colors, and the elaborate set pieces all combine to magnify the entertainment value of the first film.
The movie may not have the dramatic nucleus of the original. Still, for an upgraded star vehicle for Murphy, the jokes land, the quips stick, and the comedic chemistry between Murphy, Reinhold, and Ashton are even funnier. The problem is that the plot does not have the same high stakes as the original. Even so, the popular fan favorite became the highest-grossing franchise entry after grossing roughly $300 million worldwide (via Box Office Mojo). The same year, Murphy’s second hall-of-fame stand-up comedy routine,Eddie Murphy: Raw,was released, making him the biggest comedy star in Hollywood.
Eddie Murphy Gets Real on Why Beverly Hills Cop 3 Didn’t Work: ‘Axel Didn’t Have Any Skin in the Game’
Eddie Murphy, who is set to return as Axel Foley next month, also says Beverly Hills Cop 3 didn’t work because of an overused genre cliché.
Beverly Hills Cop III (1994)
Eddie Murphy Was 32 When Filming & 33 When Released
IfBeverly Hills Copis the best in class andBeverly Hills Cop IIis the funniest franchise entry, thenBeverly Hills Cop IIIis by far the worst.Eddie Murphy was 32 whenBeverly Hills Cop IIIwas filmed and 33 when it was released. An instant franchise killer, the story finds Axel Foley returning to Beverly Hills to solve a car theft case with Billy Rosewood. Although Reinhold returned to play Rosewood, the glaring absence of Ashton as Sgt. Taggert and Ronnie Cox as Lt. Bogomil severely hurt the film.
Even more harmful,Beverly Hills Cop IIIwas the first franchise installment not to be produced by Don Simpson andJerry Bruckheimer, ’80s power producerswho knew how to make top-flight action entertainment. Even more upsetting, Murphy and John Landis reunited onBeverly Hills Cop IIIafter making two of Murphy’s all-time funniest movies,Trading PlacesandComing to America. WhenBeverly Hills Cop IIIcame out and proved to be nowhere near as amusing as the first two films, or Murphy and Landis' previous collaborations, the writing was on the wall for the ill-fated film franchise.
Regarding Murphy’s age at the time,John Landis admitted in 2005 that Murphy was deliberately acting unfunny due to the poor script. Murphy pushed back and claimed that since Foley was a mature adult, his character should act less juvenile and more subdued. The result is a painfully awkward affair riddled with wincing one-liners and ridiculous theme-park cameos. As such, it’s no surprise that the film halted the franchise for 30 years.
Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F (2024)
Eddie Murphy Was 61 Years Old When Filming & 63 When Released
In a rousing return to form, Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer producedBeverly Hills Cop: Axel Foleyand the results feel like a retro ’80s action-comedy. Without missing a beat,Eddie Murphy was 61 years old when filming and 63 when the movie hit Netflix on June 04, 2025. This time out, Axel Foley ventures to Beverly Hills to rescue his estranged daughter, Jane Saunders (Taylour Paige), a high-powered attorney whose client endangers her life. The return of Rosewood, Taggart, Friedman, and amusing side characters like Serge (Bronson Pinchot) are wildly enjoyable.
Why Was Beverly Hills Cop So Popular in the First Place?
Before the release of Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F on Netflix, look back at the 40-year-old original that was the biggest movie of 1984.
While some have claimed the film only offers nostalgic fan service, screenwriter Will Beal (Bad Boys: Ride or Die) and first-time director Mark Molloy understand how to calculate theBeverly Hills Copformula to deliver legitimate laughs and eye-popping action. While Paige stands out as the emotional anchor of the story, Murphy slips right back into the role of Foley and demonstrates the same deft comedic timing inthe Netflix buddy cop movie. The jokes about his advancing age are part of the fun, with Murphy allowing the audience to laugh at him and with him at once.
Whether Murphy has moreBeverly Hills Copmovies in him following the massive success ofAxel F, the 4th franchise entry is much funnier than its lackluster predecessor and ranks on par withBeverly Hills Cop II. However, the filmmaking craft of the original still outranks the others.
Beverly Hills Cop 1, 2, & 4are available to stream on Netflix, Beverly Hills Cop III is available on Fubo & Paramount+.
