There are several other great buddy cop movies like the Bad Boys franchise. Following the successful release of Bad Boys: Ride or Die on June 7, 2024, which has earned more than $136 million and counting so far at the worldwide box office, the Bad Boys franchise has collectively earned more than $1 billion. The Rotten Tomatoes audience score for Bad Boys: Ride or Die is the highest among its franchise, even though critics have rated 2020’s Bad Boys for Life higher than the most recent installment. Bad Boys: Ride or Die reunites Will Smith and Martin Lawrence as the dynamic buddy cop duo of Mike Lowry and Marcus Burnett nearly three decades after the 1995 original was released.

The biggest takeaways from the reviews for Bad Boys: Ride or Die celebrate the exceptional chemistry between Smith and Lawrence as well as the laugh-out-loud hilarious moments and outstanding action sequences seen in the film. At the core of any Bad Boys movie, and most successful buddy cop films, is the humor, which is definitely one the strongest points of the latest Bad Boys film. Legendary Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa’s 1949 film Stray Dog, starring Toshiro Mifune and Takashi Shimura, is considered one of the precursors to the classic buddy cop movie. The beloved subgenre has evolved into becoming some of the most crowd-pleasing and enjoyable movie franchises ever made.

10

Rush Hour

1998

When most people think about classic buddy cop comedies, Rush Hour will be at the top of their lists. The celebrated 1998 action-comedy starring Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker created a highly popular and profitable trilogy that collectively grossed just under $850 million at the worldwide box office. The original movie received a Rotten Tomatoes critic score of 68% alongside a more favorable audience score of 78%. It is considered the best movie of the classic buddy cop trilogy, whereas the other two installments have Rotten Tomatoes critic scores of 50% and 17%, respectively. The unforgettable comedic chemistry between Tucker and Chan created what is arguably both actors’ most popular movies. Although Jackie Chan has recently confirmed the development of Rush Hour 4, there has been no official release date set for the production.

9

Hot Fuzz

2007

Similar to Rush Hour, Hot Fuzz is another celebrated buddy cop action comedy but the original film did not spurn a franchise. Directed by Edgar Wright of Shaun of the Dead and Baby Driver acclaim, Hot Fuzz features the hilarious duo of Simon Pegg and Nick Frost and two London-based police officers. Pegg also co-wrote the screenplay along with Wright. Although Hot Fuzz does not have a direct sequel, it is part of the “Three Flavours Cornetto” or the “Blood and Ice Cream” trilogy, which also consists of Shaun of the Dead (2004) and The World’s End (2013), both of which were also directed by Wright and co-written by Wright and Pegg. Hot Fuzz is one of the most beloved and crowd-pleasing buddy cop action comedies ever made and is a must-watch for fans of the Bad Boys franchise.

8

Lethal Weapon

1987

Lethal Weapon is arguably the most iconic buddy cop franchise of all time. Featuring the legendary pairing of Mel Gibson and Danny Glover as Los Angeles police officers with opposite approaches to their professions, Lethal Weapon has inspired three sequels and a critically acclaimed television series that ran for three seasons from 2016 to 2019. Gibson confirmed an upcoming fifth Lethal Weapon movie called Lethal Finale in 2021, which is still currently in development and is set to be directed by Gibson. Richard Donner had directed the first four Lethal Weapon movies and was in talks to direct Lethal Finale before his death in 2021 at the age of 91. The first two Lethal Weapon movies featured screenplays written by Shane Black, who would go on to direct Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005), Iron Man 3 (2013), and another buddy cop hit, The Nice Guys (2016).

7

Cop Out

2010

Cop Out is a one-of-a-kind buddy cop movie featuring the unlikely pairing of action star Bruce Willis and comedic legend Tracy Morgan. Although the film received mostly negative reviews from critics, earning a score of just 18% on Rotten Tomatoes, Cop Out is still full of laughs and is more appreciated by casual viewers. Even the premise of Cop Out is hilarious: After Jimmy (Willis) gets a rare baseball card stolen, which he needs to sell in order to pay for his daughter’s wedding, he enlists the help of his cop partner Paul (Morgan) to track down the robber. The film is directed by one of the pioneers of modern independent cinema, Kevin Smith, who is best known for his cult classic films such as Clerks (1994), Chasing Amy (1997), and Dogma (1999).

6

2 Guns

2013

2 Guns features another iconic duo in the buddy cop genre, Mark Wahlberg and Denzel Washington. The 2013 action comedy became somewhat of a surprise box office hit, earning roughly $132 million against a budget of $61 million. As expected, the onscreen combination of Wahlberg and Washington proved to be a winning duo. Most critics gave the film a positive review, resulting in a critic score of 64% on Rotten Tomatoes. What’s more, 2 Guns has much more to offer from its ensemble cast than its two leading stars alone, featuring performances from Bill Paxton, Edward James Olmos, Paula Patton, and James Marsden. Like Bad Boys, 2 Guns knows its audience and doesn’t try to overcomplicate its plot, delivering plenty of hard-hitting punchlines along with its fun action scenes.

5

The Nice Guys

2016

Speaking of Shane Black, The Nice Guys is certainly up there for being one of the best original buddy cop movies of the 2010s. Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling shine as Jackson Healy and Holland March, a mismatched pair of private investigators set in 1970s Los Angeles. The Nice Guys was one of the first action comedy movies of Gosling’s career, showcasing his versatility outside of being a dramatic actor alone eventually led to him starring in 2024’s The Fall Guy. The Nice Guys was highly praised by critics, earning an impressive Rotten Tomatoes score of 91%. Unfortunately, similar to the box office fate of The Fall Guy, The Nice Guys ended up being a box office dud, generating just $62 million against a budget of $50 million despite its outstanding critical reception.

4

21 Jump Street

2012

Besides being one of Johnny Depp’s earliest television credits, 21 Jump Street is also a celebrated 2012 buddy cop comedy starring Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum. The film was a box office hit, earning $201 million worldwide against an estimated budget of $42 million, which inspired another great sequel in 2014. Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, the celebrated directing duo behind The Lego Movie (2014) and the screenwriters of Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023), directed both 21 Jump Street and 22 Jump Street. Hill and Tatum prove to be a hilarious duo as undercover cops posing as high school students to expose a potential drug operation. 21 Jump Street is often considered a generational comedy among millennials.

3

The Other Guys

2010

The Other Guys is another modern buddy cop classic starring Mark Wahlberg and Will Ferrell. Written and directed by Adam McKay, whose previous works include Anchorman (2004), Talladega Nights (2006), Step Brothers (2008), and The Big Short (2015), The Other Guys also features a star-studded cast that includes Eva Mendes, Michael Keaton, Samuel L. Jackson, Dwayne Johnson, and Derek Jeter. The Other Guys received critical praise, earning a Certified Fresh score of 79% on Rotten Tomatoes. It was also a box office hit thanks to the celebrated pairing of Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg, grossing $170 million against an estimated budget of $85-100 million. Fans of Will Ferrell comedies will love this buddy cop classic.

2

The Heat

2013

The Heat is yet another celebrated buddy cop comedy from the 2010s starring Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy. Directed by Paul Feig, the renowned director of Freaks and Geeks, Arrested Development, Bridesmaids, and Spy, The Heat combines the natural charisma of Bullock alongside the innate hilarity of McCarthy. The Heat received mostly positive reviews, earning a Rotten Tomatoes score of 66%. Critics praised the great onscreen collaboration of Bullock and McCarthy although some found the comedic aspects of The Heat less convincing. Regardless of the critical reception, the film was an undeniable box office success, earning roughly $230 million worldwide against a $43 million budget.

1

Ride Along

2014

Ride Along pairs Ice Cube and Kevin Hart in a hilarious 2014 buddy cop action comedy. Hart plays a security guard named Ben who tries to prove his worth to his girlfriend’s brother James, who is a well-respected police officer in Atlanta. Ben joins James on a ride along during a 24-hour patrol and plenty of action-packed and hilarious moments ensue. While Ice Cube and Kevin Hart excel both individually and as a duo, the film was essentially torn apart by critics, earning a Rotten Tomatoes score of just 17%. Even with a poor critical reception, Ride Along performed well enough at the box office to inspire a sequel in 2016. While Ride Along certainly is not as celebrated of a buddy cop franchise as Bad Boys, it’s still a fun watch for fans of the Will Smith and Martin Lawrence classic movies.