23 Best Buddy Cop Movies of All Time

By Vlad Zakh · July 21, 2026

Action feel goodintense

Take two cops who can’t stand each other, cuff them to one case and let the sparks fly. It’s been working for decades. Lethal Weapon and its sequel pair a reckless, suicidal cop with a careful family man, In the Heat of the Night puts a Black detective alongside a hostile Southern police force, and Hot Fuzz drops a big-city supercop into a village with a dark secret. Newer takes like The Nice Guys and 21 Jump Street prove the formula still has legs.

Lethal Weapon 2 (1989) 01

Lethal Weapon 2 (1989)

IMDb ★ 7.3 RT 82% Metacritic 70

The mismatched duo takes on South African diplomats smuggling drugs under cover of immunity.

Directed by Richard Donner · 1h 54m · Rated R

Nominated for 1 Oscar1 win & 3 nominations

Where to watch

Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd
Lethal Weapon (1987) 02

Lethal Weapon (1987)

IMDb ★ 7.6 RT 82% Metacritic 68

A suicidal, reckless cop is partnered with a methodical family man right before Christmas.

Directed by Richard Donner · 1h 50m · Rated R

Nominated for 1 Oscar5 wins & 3 nominations

Where to watch

Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd
Hot Fuzz (2007) 03

Hot Fuzz (2007)

IMDb ★ 7.8 RT 91% Metacritic 81

A big-city supercop transferred to a sleepy village discovers it hides a very dark secret.

Directed by Edgar Wright · 2h 01m · Rated R

2 wins & 9 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Peacock Premium, Peacock Premium Plus · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd
In the Heat of the Night (1967) 04

In the Heat of the Night (1967)

IMDb ★ 7.9 RT 96% Metacritic 76

A Black homicide detective reluctantly assists a hostile Southern police force with a murder case.

Directed by Norman Jewison · 1h 49m · Rated PG-13

Won 5 Oscars24 wins & 16 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: History Vault, IndieFlix Shorts Amazon Channel · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Plex · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd
The Nice Guys (2016) 05

The Nice Guys (2016)

IMDb ★ 7.4 RT 91% Metacritic 70

A private eye and an enforcer stumble onto a conspiracy while investigating a missing girl.

Directed by Shane Black · 1h 56m · Rated R

9 wins & 34 nominations

Where to watch

Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd
Se7en (1995) 06

Se7en (1995)

IMDb ★ 8.6 RT 84% Metacritic 65

One of the most atmospheric detective films ever made, and still unnerving.

Directed by David Fincher · 2h 07m · Rated R

Nominated for 1 Oscar29 wins & 44 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: fuboTV, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd
Training Day (2001) 07

Training Day (2001)

IMDb ★ 7.8 RT 74% Metacritic 71

A rookie cop's first day with a corrupt narcotics detective becomes a single, brutal test of loyalty.

Directed by Antoine Fuqua · 2h 02m · Rated R

Won 1 Oscar18 wins & 23 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo, MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel, MGM Plus, TNT · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd
Beverly Hills Cop (1984) 08

Beverly Hills Cop (1984)

IMDb ★ 7.4 RT 83% Metacritic 66

A wisecracking Detroit cop investigates a friend's murder deep in Beverly Hills.

Directed by Martin Brest · 1h 45m · Rated R

Nominated for 1 Oscar6 wins & 7 nominations

Where to watch

Rent: JustWatch TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd
22 Jump Street (2014) 09

22 Jump Street (2014)

IMDb ★ 7.0 RT 84% Metacritic 71

The same duo goes undercover at college and repeats the formula that worked the first time, on purpose.

Directed by Phil Lord & Christopher Miller · 1h 52m · Rated R

7 wins & 26 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Netflix, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, YouTube TV, Paramount+ Roku Premium Channel · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd
21 Jump Street (2012) 10

21 Jump Street (2012)

IMDb ★ 7.2 RT 85% Metacritic 69

Two bumbling cops go undercover as high school students to bust a drug ring.

Directed by Phil Lord & Christopher Miller · 1h 49m · Rated R

11 wins & 21 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Netflix, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, YouTube TV, Paramount+ Roku Premium Channel · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd
Starsky & Hutch (2004) 11

Starsky & Hutch (2004)

IMDb ★ 6.1 RT 63% Metacritic 55

Two mismatched detectives investigate a drug operation while constantly undermining each other.

Directed by Todd Phillips · 1h 41m · Rated PG-13

3 wins & 11 nominations

Where to watch

Rent: Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd
The Other Guys (2010) 12

The Other Guys (2010)

IMDb ★ 6.7 RT 78% Metacritic 64

Two deskbound detectives get their shot at real fieldwork when the department's top cops are sidelined.

Directed by Adam McKay · 1h 47m · Rated PG-13

3 wins & 15 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Netflix, Starz Apple TV channel · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd
Red Heat (1988) 13

Red Heat (1988)

IMDb ★ 6.2 RT 68% Metacritic 61

A Soviet detective and a Chicago cop reluctantly team up to catch a drug dealer on the loose in America.

Directed by Walter Hill · 1h 44m · Rated R

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd
Tango & Cash (1989) 14

Tango & Cash (1989)

IMDb ★ 6.4 RT 31% Metacritic 41

Two rival cops are framed together and have to team up to clear their names.

Directed by Andrei Konchalovsky · 1h 44m · Rated R

2 wins & 3 nominations

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd
K-9 (1989) 15

K-9 (1989)

IMDb ★ 6.1 RT 36% Metacritic 44

An undercover cop is reluctantly paired with a German shepherd for a drug-bust operation.

Directed by Rod Daniel · 1h 41m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd
Turner & Hooch (1989) 16

Turner & Hooch (1989)

IMDb ★ 6.2 RT 50% Metacritic 36

A meticulous detective is partnered with the messy, destructive dog who witnessed his only murder case.

Directed by Roger Spottiswoode · 1h 39m · Rated PG

1 win & 1 nomination

Where to watch

Stream: Disney Plus · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd
48 Hrs. (1982) 17

48 Hrs. (1982)

IMDb ★ 6.9 RT 92% Metacritic 71

A cop reluctantly teams up with a fast-talking convict to track down two cop killers.

Directed by Walter Hill · 1h 36m · Rated R

3 wins & 2 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo, MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel, MGM Plus · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd
Bad Boys (1995) 18

Bad Boys (1995)

IMDb ★ 6.8 RT 46% Metacritic 41

Two mismatched Miami detectives race to recover stolen drugs before internal affairs catches on.

Directed by Michael Bay · 1h 59m · Rated R

1 win & 3 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: YouTube TV · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd
Rush Hour (1998) 19

Rush Hour (1998)

IMDb ★ 7.0 RT 62% Metacritic 61

A Hong Kong detective and an LAPD motormouth are forced to team up on a kidnapping case.

Directed by Brett Ratner · 1h 37m · Rated PG-13

6 wins & 9 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: fuboTV, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, Paramount+ Roku Premium Channel · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Plex · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd
Bad Boys for Life (2020) 20

Bad Boys for Life (2020)

IMDb ★ 6.5 RT 76% Metacritic 59

The ageing duo faces a vengeful cartel assassin from their shared past.

Directed by Adil El Arbi & Bilall Fallah · 2h 04m · Rated R

3 wins & 16 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Hulu, fuboTV, YouTube TV, FXNow · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Plex · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd
Bad Boys II (2003) 21

Bad Boys II (2003)

IMDb ★ 6.6 RT 23% Metacritic 38

Two Miami narcotics detectives chase an ecstasy-trafficking case that spirals into an over-the-top international chase.

Directed by Michael Bay · 2h 26m · Rated R

5 wins & 13 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: YouTube TV · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd
National Security (2003) 22

National Security (2003)

IMDb ★ 5.6 RT 11% Metacritic 31

A disgraced former cop and an ex-security guard team up to bust a smuggling ring.

Directed by Dennis Dugan · 1h 29m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Stream: Netflix · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd
Cop Out (2010) 23

Cop Out (2010)

IMDb ★ 5.5 RT 18% Metacritic 31

A detective's search for his stolen rare baseball card drags his motormouth partner along for the ride.

Directed by Kevin Smith · 1h 47m · Rated R

1 nomination

Where to watch

Stream: Starz Apple TV channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Streaming availability data from JustWatch, via TMDB. Availability changes often, so check the service before you plan a movie night.

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Vlad Zakh

Vlad Zakh

Founder, Movieix

Founder of Movieix. He started the site because most recommendation pages felt like noise. Here, lists are sorted by who's in the film, where it's from and what mood you're in tonight.