--- title: "Beverly Hills Cop: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/beverly-hills-cop/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/beverly-hills-cop" critics_score: 65 critics_reviews: 9 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Beverly Hills Cop (1984): what the critics said Critics' score 65 from 9 reviews: 6 positive, 1 mixed, 2 negative. Most critics like it, and almost all of the praise goes to Eddie Murphy. The reviews describe his Axel Foley as the film’s whole reason for being: a star bluffing and improvising his way through Beverly Hills while a conventional cop plot ticks along underneath. Martin Brest gets modest credit for staying out of Murphy’s way and for giving supporting players room, with Variety singling out Judge Reinhold and Steven Berkoff. The reservations cluster on the story. Several reviewers call the plotting conventional, and the two negative notices go further: Roger Ebert argues the film squanders a satirical premise on cop-show clichés and a tired cocaine plot, while Variety finds it turns too dramatic and only half delivers on the comedy. Eye for Film, revisiting it decades on, finds it broad, cheesy and dated. The spread is wide, from warm to dismissive, but even the dissenters agree the problem is the script, not the star. ## The Hollywood Reporter — Kirk Ellis Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 30 November 1984. The critic calls it high-caliber entertainment with a silver-bullet performance from Eddie Murphy under Martin Brest's wry, character-conscious direction. The film's greatest pleasures come from Murphy bluffing his way through situations with reckless abandon. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/beverly-hills-cop-1984-review-952752/) ## The AV Club — Tom Breihan Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 17 April 2020. The piece presents the film as a major hit that showcased Murphy's singular charisma and cultural impact as a Black movie star. Brest is noted for staying out of Murphy's way as a workmanlike director, allowing the star's improvisations and persona to carry the movie despite conventional plotting. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/eddie-murphy-crashed-through-a-glass-ceiling-of-hollywo-1842802596) ## Vulture — David Denby Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 3 July 2024. The critic finds the film a conventional but shrewd commercial comedy that benefits greatly from Eddie Murphy's star-making performance as Axel Foley. Brest is singled out for his leisurely, unslick direction that captures social clashes and gives supporting actors strong moments. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/article/beverly-hills-cop-1984-movie-review-david-denby.html) ## Empire — Ian Nathan Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 1 January 2000. The critic finds it shallow and crassly commercial yet calls it blunt-nosed entertainment of rare quality that defined the 1980s. Murphy's casting and energetic performance are singled out as the film's smartest and most engaging element. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/beverly-hills-cop-review/) ## Slant Magazine — Chris Cabin Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 26 May 2011. The review calls the film a smartly paced action-comedy hybrid and a critical turning point for Murphy in his prime. Brest is praised for balancing Murphy's comedic outbursts with community and danger, though his direction is described as just north of competent. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/dvd/beverly-hills-cop/) ## The New York Times — Janet Maslin Rating Critic's Pick. 5 December 1984. Eddie Murphy delivers a winning performance as the shrewdest, hippest underdog navigating Beverly Hills. The film showcases his talents effectively despite a shaky start, with strong supporting turns and a director skilled at placing actors in small roles. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/1984/12/05/movies/film-murphy-in-beverly-hills-cop.html) ## RogerEbert.com — Roger Ebert Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 1 January 1984. The film squanders an appealing premise by relying on clichés and action-movie tropes rather than sharp satire. Murphy's talents are underutilized as the story shifts into familiar cop-show territory with a tired cocaine plot and an over-the-top finale. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/beverly-hills-cop-1984) ## Variety — Variety Staff Rating **. 31 December 1983. The film leans more toward conventional cop drama than comedy riot, with expectations of Murphy upending Beverly Hills only partially realized as it turns increasingly dramatic. Strong assists come from supporting performances, particularly Judge Reinhold and Steven Berkoff. [Read the review](https://variety.com/1983/film/reviews/beverly-hills-cop-1200426145/) ## Eye for Film — Stephen Carty Rating 3/5. 9 May 2010. The critic finds revisiting the film disappointing compared to nostalgic memory, as it feels broad, predictable, and overly cheesy despite some charm and memorable moments. It remains a reasonably entertaining but dated action-comedy that set a template for the genre. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/beverly-hills-cop-film-review-by-stephen-carty) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/beverly-hills-cop.md