Beverly Hills Cop is a 1984 American action comedy film that premiered in the United States on December 5, 1984. It starred Eddie Murphy in a breakout role. It was directed by Martin Brest and written by Daniel Petrie Jr., with a story by Danilo Bach. The film also starred Judge Reinhold, John Ashton, Ronny Cox, Lisa Eilbacher, Steven Berkoff and Jonathan Banks.
Beverly Hills Cop is the first film in its self-titled series and was critically acclaimed, winning several awards. It grossed $234 million dollars at the domestic box office, making it the biggest film of 1984.
Plot[]
Axel Foley is working an unauthorized undercover cigarette bust that goes south when two beat cops arrive at the scene. Axel tries to fast talk his way out of the situation, but the criminal panics and bails. What ensues is a high-speed chase through the city where dozens of vehicles, including police cars, are destroyed. The damage done to buildings and city property is immense. When the truck finally stops and the driver flees, the beat cops recognize Axel as a Detroit Police Department detective.
The amusement of the officers continues back at the precinct when Axel returns. His friend and fellow officer Jeffrey Friedman tries to warn Axel about the anger felt by their by-the-book and fed up boss Captain Douglas Todd. Axel ignores Jeff and tries not to listen. The officers in the locker room lodge ill-made jokes. Todd angrily storms off and threatens to fire Axel if he does anything like that again. He has no time or patience left for Axel's antics. Todd is under attack from the higher-ups because of Axel's disregard for proper procedure. He sends Axel home.
Axel arrives at his apartment to find it's been broken into by his childhood friend, Mikey Tandino. Mikey was released from prison over six months ago but is just now visiting Axel. Mikey shows Axel some German bearer bonds and Axel wonders how he got them, but chooses not to question him.
Mikey and Axel go to a bar where they catch up. Mikey lived in Beverly Hills, California, where he worked as a security guard at the Hollis Benton Art Gallery. He got the job from their shared friend Jenny Summers. Mikey gets hustled at pool then tells Axel they should steal a car together. They reminisce over them stealing a Cadillac, which Mikey got pinched for and went to state school. Axel asks why Mikey didn't tell on him when they got caught. Mikey didn't tell because he loves Axel.
They return to Axel's apartment, where Axel has to help Mikey stand. They laugh only for someone to cold clock Axel, knocking him out. Two men, Zack and Casey, confront Mikey about the bearer bonds he stole. Mikey didn't think anyone would miss a few since there were so many boxes. Zack threatens Mikey to never show his face in California again. He then punches Mikey and shoots him in the back of the head, killing him.
The police arrive to the crime scene. Todd orders Axel to the hospital for the cut on his head. Axel asks to be assigned to investigate Mikey's murder since Detective Rand doesn't know the time of day. Inspector Todd refuses to allow it because Axel was Mikey's friend. They argue on the streets as Todd orders Axel to stay away from the case. He points out key parts of the case - Mikey was a hoodlum friend, the hit was professional, and it was done in a cop's apartment. Axel decides to take his vacation time early. Todd warns that if he butts into the case it'll be the longest vacation he's ever heard of.
Axle drives to Beverly Hills to solve the crime himself. He puts himself up in a hotel under the rouse of being a Rolling Stone reporter doing a piece on Michael Jackson. After accusing the hotel of losing his reservation and not fixing it because he's black, the hotel gives him a suite at the same price as the regular room.
Axel visits the Hollis Benton Art Gallery. He's confused by the art inside and encounters the secretary, Serge, who isn't much help. He offers beverages including his homemade espresso. After reuniting with Jenny and sharing the news of Mikey's death, he asks about the job she got Mikey. Their boss Victor Maitland hired Mikey at the warehouse as a favor to Jenny. She has to go back to work but they make plans to meet later.
Axel, posing as a flower deliverer, goes to Maitland's office and convinces the secretary that he takes his job seriously, which is why he must deliver the flowers to Maitland personally. He ditches the flowers once upstairs. Axel tries to question Maitland about Mikey, but the man toys with Axel. He orders Axel be carried out of the building. He is thrown through a glass-plated window. The police are called with everyone claiming Axel broke in and then charged through the window on his own accord. Thus, he's arrested for trespassing. Axel is infuriated and stupefied that he's being arrested for being thrown through a window.
Once at the police station, Axel meets Beverly Hills Police Department officers Sergeant John Taggart and his partner, Detective Billy Rosewood. Taggart isn't pleased with Axel for not identifying himself as a police officer. They have six witnesses who claim Axel broke in and started tearing up the place before jumping out of the window at his own volition. He's more inclined to believe a well-respected businessman than a "foul-mouthed jerk from outta town." They exchange tense words until Taggart squares up to Foley, prompting Axel to shove Taggart's shoulder. Taggart punches him in the gut which earns him a reprimand from Lieutenant Andrew Bogomil. He asks if Axel wants to press charges against Taggart. Axel isn't in the business of pressing charges against other cops. In Beverly Hills, they go strictly by the book. Bogomoil questions Axel on why he's in town and what he was doing in Maitland's office. Axel lies that he's on vacation and stopped to use the bathroom. Bogomil got of the phone with Inspector Todd who called Axel an outstanding young detective who was almost fired for insubordination. Todd doesn't want Foley on the Tandino murder and, if he is working the case, the Inspector will have him brought up on charges and fired. Foley's free to post bail now.
Jenny bails Axel out of jail, though she's unhappy after learning why he's been arrested and that he may be investigating Maitland. She's grateful for Maitland for giving her a job. Axel explains that Mikey showed up at his apartment with the German bearer bonds that he stole from whoever had him killed. Maitland had Axel thrown through a window when he mentioned Mikey's name. Jenny still isn't convinced. They keep talking while driving in her fancy new car to his hotel. He knows he's being followed by Taggart and Billy. Once at the hotel, Axel orders room service delivered to the cops car. Axel plans to go to the warehouse where Mikey worked to check it out.
The waiter delivers the late supper to Taggart and Rosewood, the former of which isn't surprised Axel spotted them since he let Rosewood drive. Inside, Axel then a handful of bananas from a staff member and sneaks outside to stuff them in the tailpipe of Taggart and Billy's car. He gives a knowing wink to the waiter. The car stalls when they try to follow Jenny's car, which allows Axel and Jenny to escape.
On the trail of Mikey's killers, Axel and Jenny sneak into one of Maitland's warehouses, where he finds coffee grounds and takes some as evidence. Two of Maitland's men arrive with a crate marked for Hollis Benton Gallery which is full of German bearer bonds. They run out with being seen and Axel wants to follow the men. Jenny insists on driving because she's seen in his car.
Bogomil criticizes Taggart and Rosewood for not noticing the bananas in the tailpipe. Rosewood claims it wasn't their fault because he was distracted by the food Axel sent over. Bogomil orders them to return to the hotel and wait for Foley to arrive. Two officers, Foster and McCabe, mock Billy with an "anti-banana disguise."
Jenny and Axel follow the van to a bonded warehouse where the foreign shipments are kept until they clear Customs. He tells her to take the car home while he investigates. Once inside, he notices the crates arrive after being changed. He is caught by a security officer and demands to see a supervisor.
Billy and Taggart wait outside the hotel since Foley hasn't come back yet.
Axel pretends to be an inspector with the United States Customs Service doing a security check. He critiques their security and threatens how someone will lose their job over this. They're going to check each and every crate starting with the one he's sitting on.
Billy reads a newspaper to Taggart that talks about red meat staying in ones system for their entire life. Taggart wonders why Billy thinks he has any interest in that at all.
Axel gets all the records from the supervisor. When one of the workers questions if there's a warrant, Axel threatens to have the IRS crawl up his ass and do a check. He spouts about agents coming down when he calls if he doesn't get cooperation.
Billy tells Taggart he thinks his increased coffee consumption is why he has a hard time realize. Axel sneaks up on the car and gets in the back seat to scare them. He apologizes for the banana thing and learns the lieutenant docked them two days pay. Billy thanks him for the sandwich, though Taggart remarks it was a joke like the bananas. Axel claims it's from the heart as a fellow police officer who has done stakeouts before. He wants to work together and make up to be friends by getting a drink. Taggart is initially apprehensive as they don't drink on the job. Axel threatens to lose them again like he did earlier. He found a great place earlier that's conservative and that they'll love.
Axel takes them to a topless strip club. He teases Billy about his penis potentially getting erect then gives him a dollar bill to put in the strippers undergarments. Axel notices two men enter wearing trench coats and instantly knows a robbery is about to go down. He points the guys out to Taggart and asks him to cover the partner. He promises no bullshit this time. Axel pretends to be drunk and confronts the guy at the bar by pretending to know him. The guy shoves Axel and pulls a shotgun. Axel drunkenly stands up and keeps the facade before disarming him. Taggart covers the partner and arrests him while Billy arrests the one Axel took out.
The three cops return to the Beverly PD where Bogomil demands to know why Rosewood and Taggart were at the bar. Axel spins a tale that paints Rosewood and Taggart as good guys and better cops. Taggart can't go along with the lie and reveals the truth. Axel is disappointed they fucked up a perfectly good lie. After he leaves, Bogomil pulls them from the case and puts Foster and McCabe on the case instead.
In the morning, Axel sends coffee and donuts to Foster and McCabe. He drums on the back of their car before heading out. The cops tail him to Victor Maitland's house. They aren't going to fall for the banana in the tailpipe. Axel mocks Foster for not having a natural rhythm because he hangs out with McCabe long. Axel finds it funny but Foster doesn't. Axel determines he's seen enough of the house and offers them drinks from the trunk of his car. McCabe recognizes it as stakeout materials. Axel claims it's a picnic, but when Maitland pulls out of his driveway, Axel puts everything away and leaves to "take in some sights." He stops at a red light and waits until the light changes to red again to run through it, losing the officers in traffic.
Maitland arrives at the Harrow Country Club. Axel notices the host and pretends to be a gay man searching for Victor Maitland. The host offers to give Maitland the message, so Axel concocts a story about Ramon, "the fella he met about a week ago," went to the clinic and has "Herpes simplex ten." The host lets "Ramon" deliver the message himself. Axel confronts Maitland though Zack makes an aggressive move, which results in Axel throwing him into a cake stand. Foley proceeds to have a knowing conversation with Maitland in which he promises to "fuck you up, real bad." Maitland gives him a barely concealed threat moments before two officers arrest Axel again.
Bogomil demands to know why Axel is bothering Maitland. Axel finally admits that he knows Maitland killed his friend Mikey. Maitland tells him to tell him his theories without evidence. Axel suspects Maitland to be a smuggler, but is unsure of what exactly he is smuggling - bonds or drugs, which Bogomil notes the usage of coffee grounds since the scent throws off the dogs. Maitland is paying someone to get the shipments out of Customs before they get inspected. Bogomil seems to believe Axel's story, but cannot authorize a search because of a lack of hard evidence. At this moment, Beverly Hills Police Chief Hubbard, who has learned of Axel's ill-advised investigative actions, orders that Axel be escorted out of town by Rosewood. If he returns, the charges will be reinstated and he'll prosecuted.
Jenny is on the phone at the art gallery when Victor Maitland arrives asking questions about Foley and if she knows him. She knows him from the neighborhood and explains he came by the gallery to tell her of Mikey's murder. She lies about that being the last time she saw him.
Axel convinces Billy to pick up Jenny instead and take her with them to Maitland's warehouse, where a shipment is due to arrive that day. Once at the gallery, Axel introduces Billy to Jenny and Serge, who offers an espresso with a lemon twist. Jenny tells Axel about Maitland's visit. She's willing to take Axel to the warehouse, but only if she can go with him.
Axel and Jenny break into the warehouse while Rosewood waits in the car since he's a police officer who can get in trouble for performing an illegal search. Jenny refuses to let Axel go in alone, so he's forced to go with her. They discover several bags of cocaine inside a crate. Axel tells Jenny to get Billy, but they are suddenly held at gunpoint.
Rosewood watches as Maitland and his men, including Zack and Casey, arrive at the warehouse and enter.
Maitland angrily lashes out at Jenny over his disappoint for her. He instructs his men to take Jenny to his car. Rosewood watches the men load Jenny into the car. Inside, Axel threatens to kill Maitland if he harms Jenny. Zack confesses to Axel how he should have "taken care of him" in Detroit killed Mikey. He sucker punches Axel in the stomach before leaving. Rosewood watches them get away and, after some hesitation, enters the warehouse. Casey hopes the bump he gave Axel healed nicely before assaulting him in the stomach. Rosewood bursts in and, after a brief gunfight in which he kills Casey, rescues Axel. They rush outside to follow Maitland. Rosewood radios for Taggart to inspect the warehouse, brushing off Taggart when he gets on comms.
Rosewood stops transmitting which upsets Taggart. Foster and McCabe butt in as the tech tracks Rosewood's car. foster and McCabe recognize it as being where they followed Axel too. Taggart tells them to investigate without telling anyone.
Taggart tracks Axel and Billy to Maitland's estate, where he questions Rosewood about his presence. Axel lies that he took Rosewood at gunpoint, but Rosewood tells the truth instead - everything Axel said about Maitland was right. Taggart tries to convince them not to enter the estate, but Rosewood disobeys because he's got to do this. Taggart tells him to wait so he can get more weapons before joining them.
The estates security system alerts to the trios presence. The guards call Maitland.
Bogomil notices the empty desks and questions Owensby on everyone's location.
Over on the estate, Maitland orders his men to stop Foley, who is on the grounds.
Foley instructs Taggart and Rosewood to go around while he pursues a direct approach. They stall at a large wall they struggle to get over.
Bogomil has a tech track Taggart and Rosewood. They can't contact the vehicle but identify the address as Maitland's.
Foley laughs as Taggart gets over the wall until machine guns open fire. He runs to check on Taggart, who is safe. Rosewood takes out the assailant. They dive behind a small wall to avoid more machine gun fire. The shootout ends when Foley takes out the assailant.
The tech tells Bogomil of their being shots fired at the Maitland estate. Bogomil marks it as officers needing assistance with undercovers at location. He rolls all north end units.
A shootout continues between Maitland's men and Taggart and Rosewood. Axel checks inside the home for signs of Jenny. Zack sneaks up behind him with a shotgun and they exchange fire. A tense standoff ensues until Axel, who sneaks around the room, shoots and kills Zack which avenges Mikey's death. He's then shot in the shoulder by Maitland.
The police arrive which makes the remaining goons attempt to flee the scene until they are stopped in a multi-police car crash.
Maitland appears with Jenny at gunpoint, knowing Axel won't try to shoot him when Jenny's in danger. Bogomil arrives which startles Maitland enough for Jenny to strike him and escape. Maitland raises his gun to shoot, but Bogomil and Axel unload their weapons, killing him.
The BPD takes guard on the ground while Rosewood shouts for them to surrender, excited when it yields the right result.
As everyone gives their statements, Chief Hubbard angrily arrives to confront them on what's happening. Bogomil fabricates a story that covers for Axel, Taggart, and Billy without discrediting the Beverly Hills PD. For the first time, everyone goes along with the report. Hubbard gives hesitant congratulations with an expectation of the report on his desk first thing in the morning. Bogomil sends Axel to the hospital for his shoulder. Axel stops him to ask if he could do him a favor. He's hoping he can call Inspector Todd to straighten things out, but it's okay, he thinks he'll stay in Beverly hills and become a PI. Bogomil, chuckling, agrees to talk with Todd in the morning.
The next day, Axel checks out of his hotel. Rosewood and Taggart arrive under orders from Bogomil to make sure he gets out of town. Taggart reveals the BPD is paying for Axel's room. Touched by the gesture, Axel puts two $95 Palm Hotel robes on his tab for Taggart and Rosewood. He doesn't need one because there's three in his bag that he stole.
Axel gets his car, with Rosewood wondering if he's not going to say goodbye. Axel knows they're going to tail him to the city limits, anyway. He's going to stop for a drink and invites them to join. Rosewood declines as they're on duty. Taggart doesn't think one drink's gonna kill them. Axel calls back to follow his lead to the perfect place that they'll love - "trust me".
Cast[]
- Eddie Murphy as Axel Foley
- Judge Reinhold as Detective Billy Rosewood
- John Ashton as Sergeant John Taggart
- Lisa Eilbacher as Jenny Summers
- Ronny Cox as Lieutenant Andrew Bogomil
- Steven Berkoff as Victor Maitland
- James Russo as Mikey Tandino
- Jonathan Banks as Zack
- Stephen Elliott as Chief Hubbard
- Gil Hill as Inspector Todd
- Art Kimbro as Detective Foster
- Joel Bailey as Detective McCabe
- Bronson Pinchot as Serge
- Paul Reiser as Jeffrey Friedman
- Michael Champion as Casey
- Frank Pesce as Cigarette Buyer
- Gene Borkan as Truck Driver
- Michael Gregory as Hotel Manager
- Alice Cadogan as Hotel Clerk
- Philip Levien as Donny
- Karen Mayo Chandler as Maitland Receptionist
- Gerard Berns as Beverly Hills Copy #1
- William Wallace as Beverly Hills Cop #2
- Isabel Juarbe as Room Service Waiter
- Randy Gallion as Bell Hope
- Damon Wayans as Banana Man
- Chuck Adamson as Warehouse Crate Opener #1
- Chip Heller as Warehouse Crate Opener #2
- Rick Overton as Bonded Warehouse Night Supervisor
- Rex Ryon as Bonded Warehouse Security Guard
- Michael Pniewski as Bonded Warehouse Clerk #1
- Douglas Warhit as Bonded Warehouse Clerk #2
- Paul Drake as Holdup Man #2
- Sally Kishbaugh as Waitress
- Barry Shade as Valet
- Jack Heller as Harrow Club Maître D'
- Michael Harrington as Harrow Club Arresting Officer
- David Wells as Police Dispatcher
- Scott Murphy as Det. Owensby
- Dennis Madden as 1st Detroit Cop
- John Achorn as 2nd Detroit Cop
- John Pettis as 3rd Detroit Cop
- Nick Shields as Detroit Station Cop #1
- Carl Weintruab as Detroit Station Cop #2
- Anthony de Fonte as Detroit Station Cop #3
- Darwyn Carson as Barmaid
- Mark E. Corry as Pool Player
- Thomas J. Hageboek as Maitland Body Guard
Reception[]
Beverly Hills Cop was well received by critics and is considered by many as one of the best films of 1984. Eddie Murphy, in particular, received much acclaim for his performance. Axel Foley became his signature role and was ranked No. 78 on Empire magazine's list of The 100 Greatest Movie Characters of All Time. Entertainment Weekly ranked Beverly Hills Cop as the third best comedy film of the last 25 years.
Rotten Tomatoes retrospectively collected reviews from 41 critics to give the film a score of 83%, with an average score of 7.2 out of 10. In 2003, the film was picked as one of the 1000 Best Movies Ever Made by The New York Times.
Soundtrack[]
The soundtrack for Beverly Hills Cop won a Grammy Award for Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media in 1986. The instrumental-only theme song "Axel F" is a cultural touchstone and has been covered by dozens of artists throughout the years. The soundtrack was mastered by Greg Fulginiti. The soundtrack was released on CD by MCA Records and is available for purchase online. Several songs on the CD are not actually featured in the film.
The music in the film itself is:
| Title | Artist | Scene |
|---|---|---|
| The Heat is On | Glenn Frey | Opening credit song |
| Neutron Dance | Pointer Sisters | Axel is in the back of the cigarette truck. The officers find him. |
| New Attitude | Patti LaBelle | Axel and Mikey are in the bar |
| Do You Really (Want My Love?) | Junior | Axel and Mikey are in the bar. Second song in the scene. |
| Stir It Up | Patti LaBelle | Axel drives through Beverly Hills and arrives at his hotel. |
| Nasty Girl | Vanity 6 | Rosewood, Taggart, and Foley are at the strip club. |
| Axel F | Harold Faltermeyer | Theme song; plays throughout |
Legacy[]
Franchise[]
Main Article: Beverly Hills Cop (franchise)
The film spawned three sequels, both starring Eddie Murphy, in 1987, 1994, and 2024. Judge Reinhold also reprised his role of Billy Rosewood for the first two sequels. The second film met with mixed reviews but was a box office success while the third film was less successful critically and commercially. Faltermeyer's "Axel F" was used in both sequels. In 2013, a television series was once described as in the works for CBS, and would have followed Axel's son. It was not picked up by the network, though its test convinced Paramount to put greenlight a fourth film instead.
Video Game[]
Main Article: Beverly Hills Cop (Video Game) Tynesoft released a game based on the films for Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC, BBC Micro, PC, Amiga and Atari ST in 1990. Blast Entertainment released a Beverly Hills Cop game for the PlayStation 2 in 2006.
Accolades[]
- Academy Award- nominated for Best Writing (Original Screenplay) - Danilo Bach and Daniel Petrie, Jr.
- British Academy Film Awards nominated for Best Score - Harold Faltermeyer
- Edgar Allan Poe Award nominated for Best Motion Picture - Daniel Petrie, Jr.
- Golden Globe Award nominated for Best Motion Picture - Comedy/Musical nominated for Best Motion Picture Actor - Comedy/Musical - Eddie Murphy
- Grammy Award won for Best Score Soundtrack Album - Marc Benno, Harold Faltermeyer, Keith Forsey, Micki Free, Jon Gilutin, Howard Hewett, Bunny Hull, Howie Rice, Sharon Robinson, Danny Sembello, Sue Sheridan, Richard Theisen, Allee Willis
- People's Choice Award won for Favorite Motion Picture Stuntman Award won for Best Vehicular Stunt (Motion Picture) - Eddy Donno
- This film is Number 22 on Bravo's list of the 100 funniest films.
American Film Institute Lists
- AFI's 100 Years... 100 Movies - Nominated
- AFI's 100 Years... 100 Laughs - #63
- AFI's 100 Years... 100 Heroes and Villains: Detective Axel Foley - Nominated Hero
Trivia[]
- Beverly Hills Cop is the first film to have a release of over 2,000 theaters in the USA.