The “buddy cop” theme has been well established in Hollywood for a long time now. It usually has two cops with opposing personalities and agendas. Sometimes, they end up fortuitous and hilarious and other times; they are purely unsuccessful together. So we take a look at some of the greatest buddy cop films, which are filled with action, and interesting cases:
Lethal Weapon (1987)
Lethal Weapon starred Mel Gibson and Danny Glover as two mismatched police detectives, and the film ended up being an action-comedy. They two work together to find out about the murder of an old acquaintance’s daughter. The film’s dramatic saxophone score and the portrayal of the villain were loved by all.
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005)
Shane Black’s Kiss Kiss Bang Bang was a neo-noir buddy cop film, starring Val Kilmer and Robert Downey Jr. The film was a hilarious take on the classic noir detective tales of old and was a famous screenwriter's first foray into direction.
Hot Fuzz (2007)
This buddy cop film is actually a satire of the genre. Directed by Edgar Wright and featuring Simon Pegg and Nick Frost as detectives, the film attempts to uncover the mystery of how Sandford is such a safe place to live. The British humour and satire paired with action sequences added to its likeability and strength as a film.
Men in Black (1997)
Who can miss Will Smith in Men in Black, which was released in 1997? Directed by Barry Sonnenfeld, the film is actually adapted from the Marvel comic series of the same name. It also stars Rip Torn, Vincent D’Onofrio and Linda Fiorentino and still remains the best buddy cop comedy of the lot.
Rush Hour II (2001)
Rush Hour II, the sequel to Rush Hour, starred Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker as mismatched police officers as they try to investigate a counterfeit scam which involves a Triad gang during a vacation in Hong Kong. The cross-cultural miscommunication adds to its charm.
Bad Boys II (2003)
Wrapping the list with Bad Boys II, a film directed by Michael Bay and released in 2003. It starred Martin Lawrence and Will Smith as Miami Police detectives as the film follows up the narcotics detectives trying to stop the flow of ecstasy, into the Miami club scene. Bad Boys II interspersed comedy and action in equal doses and worked beautifully for the audience and the critics alike.
