All Beverly Hills Cop Movies in Order

Detroit detective Axel Foley is fierce, unpredictable and unimpressed by fancy suits. When his best friend is murdered, he follows the trail to Beverly Hills and collides with a world of luxury and bureaucratic politeness. What makes the film unforgettable is Eddie Murphy's timing, his explosive charm and his great chemistry with Rosewood and Taggart. Add Harold Faltermeyer's 'Axel F' theme that still lives in your head, and you have an instant classic.

Axel returns when Captain Bogomil is shot, and the bangs are louder than ever. Tony Scott gives the sequel a glossier, darker style with faster action and more muscle. The humor takes a slight back seat, but Murphy remains infectious. Less rebellious than the first, but bigger, slicker and just as entertaining.

Axel in an amusement park: it could have been fun, but it became a messy ride without direction. The tone is gloomier, the jokes are stiff and the fun seems gone. Murphy himself later called it a disappointment, and you can feel it.

Thirty years after his last mission, Axel is back, older but still sharp. When his estranged daughter is threatened, Foley calls on his old partners, with support from new faces Joseph Gordon-Levitt and a villainous Kevin Bacon. Netflix delivers nostalgia without tripping over its own memories. No great reinvention, but just enough flair to feel like coming home. Murphy shines again.