The side-splitting, fan-favorite action comedy franchise Beverly Hills Cop helped launch the Hollywood cinema career of its talented lead star Eddie Murphy, establishing the comedian as one of the industry’s most dazzling leading men. Famously following the fast-talking, brash Detroit Detective Axel Foley as he finds himself working a series of thrilling cases in the glamorous California city, the films feautured the additional talents of Judge Reinhold, John Ashton, and Ronny Cox. Consisting of four exhilarating entries, Beverly Hills Cop has grossed $735 million at the box office worldwide.
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Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F
Beverly Hills Cop: Axel Foley is the fourth film in the popular comedy franchise starring Eddie Murphy. Murphy returns as Axel Foley in the Netflix film alongside returning cast members Judge Reinhold and John Ashton and Bronson Pinchot as Serge. Kevin Bacon and Joseph Gordon-Levitt also star in the sequel as new characters.
- Release Date
- July 3, 2024
- Director
- Mark Molloy
- Runtime
- 1h 55m
Fans of both the franchise and the charismatic Murphy were elated when it was announced he would be returning to Beverly Hills for another adventure, thirty years after the release of the third installment.
In Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F, Axel returns to the west coast to investigate the disappearance of his old pal Billy Rosewood and to reconnect with his estranged daughter Jane, who is being targeted by some seriously dangerous men. In honor of the latest film’s release, let’s take a look at some of the funniest scenes in the Beverly Hills Cop movies.
13 Axel Checks in at a Beverly Hills Hotel
Beverly Hills Cop
Known for his rapid-fire mind and for always thinking on his feet, Axel Foley proved himself to be one of the savviest detectives out there when he managed to finagle a ritzy room at the luxurious Beverly Palm Hotel, doing so in true Axel style.
When he first approaches the receptionist, Axel effortlessly slides right into character and pretends to be a reporter for Rolling Stone magazine who is supposed to be interviewing music icon Michael Jackson, yet unsurprisingly the front desk worker is not convinced by the smooth-talking detective’s story.
Be Careful What You Ask For
The receptionist points out there there is no reservation for either Jackson or Axel, and instead of backing down and accepting defeat, he naturally launches into a rant about being racially discriminated against.
Axel’s hilarious and passionate outburst does the trick as his vocal outrage attracts attention from another hotel worker, who tells the detective that there was in fact a cancellation and that the suite would cost a whopping $235 per night. Axel’s blank and disbelieving stare when he hears the going rate only adds to the overall amusement of the scene, as he realized his mouth wrote a check he can’t cash.
12 Room Service & Bananas in the Tailpipe
Beverly Hills Cop
After he got all settled in his pricey suite at the Beverly Palm Hotel, Axel decides a little room service is in order when he discovers that the BHPD assigned Det. Billy Rosewood (Judge Reinhold) and Sgt. John Taggart (John Ashton) to keep a close eye on him.
Axel calls down to request a shrimp salad sandwich, a salmon sauce, and tops the order off with some dessert, which he asks room service to deliver outside to the two lawmen in their car. When the hotel attendant presents the duo with their tasty feast (compliments of Axel Foley), Rosewood asks how he knew they were there, to which Taggart quips, “Because I let you drive.”
While the pair are distracted by their lavish meal, Axel decides to shake the bothersome partners and sneaks down to shove a couple of bananas in their tailpipe, winking at the attendant when he catches the sly detective. Axel and his friend Jenny hop in his Mercedes and peel out of their parking spot to investigate a potential lead, and when Rosewood and Taggart try to follow in pursuit, they are uproariously left stranded in the middle of their street when their car malfunctions.
11 Axel vs. The Meter Lady
Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F
Eddie Murphy proved that he hadn’t missed a beat when he returned to the Beverly Hills Cop franchise after thirty years for the most recent electrifying entry Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F, this time returning to the glamorous city to work a case near and dear to his heart and involving his estranged daughter.
After having barely landed in California, Axel becomes swept up in quite the mishap when he goes to his old buddy Rosewood’s office in hopes of finding the missing former detective, who is now a private investigator. Instead, Axel barges in on a group of men ransacking his office in search of something important.
A Hilarious Roadside Showdown
Always quick to think on his feet, Axel pretends to be just another guy on the team and when that lie doesn’t go over well, is aggressively pursued by the criminals. Hoping to make a quick escape, Axel tries to commandeer a meter lady’s vehicle, which she doesn’t take too well and results in her making the poor detective while clinging on to the side of the small car.
Both the woman’s stubbornness to not let go and Axel’s uproarious reaction to being maced while trying to drive were nothing less than what audiences would expect from the legendary movie character.
10 Axel & Serge Meet
Beverly Hills Cop
The first meeting of Axel and Serge (Bronson Pinchot), Victor Maitland’s flamboyant and flashy art gallery worker, is undeniably one of the funniest moments in the Beverly Hills Cop franchise, as the two polar opposite men shared a lively exchange.
The European salesman couldn’t seem to master how to pronounce Axel’s name and the detective didn’t understand Serge’s accent, resulting in a ridiculously funny showdown between the two. When Axel tried to see Jenny at the upscale gallery, Serge continuously butchered how to say the name “Axel”, throwing out “Achmed” and “Akwell” before simply referring to him as Foley.
Many Ways to Say Axel
After Axel asks how much one of the peculiar pieces in the art gallery goes for, Serge tells him $130,000, to which Axel colorfully retorts “Get the f*** outta here” in a high-pitched tone.
What ensues is a comical contest between both men as they each seemingly try to out-do the other and pitch their voices higher, with Axel thoroughly enjoying the zany conversation. Fans thoroughly enjoyed Axel’s chemistry with Serge so much that the vivacious character returned for Beverly Hills Cop III, this time as the boutique owner who amusingly still can’t pronounce Axel’s name.
9 Axel Works His Magic at a Renovated Mansion
Beverly Hills Cop II
If there’s one thing that Axel Foley loves doing, it’s posing as a building inspector for his own personal gain. Having likely learned from his last outing in Beverly Hills that staying in the city was pretty pricey, Axel decided to switch things up and find a renovated mansion to stay in during his stint in California.
A master wordsman, Axel wasted no time threatening to shut an entire renovation operation down after announcing to the crew that there had been a change in plans and telling the foreman to take the week off because they were making a “very big f****** mistake” because the building had “right angles” and was “square.”
Axel Enjoys the High Life
Axel sure had good taste when it came to his sleeping accommodations, because he enjoyed every second of staying at the swanky mansion and indulged in its large swimming pool, Jacuzzi, poolside bar, and many luxurious bedrooms.
When Rosewood and Taggart show up, they immediately think Axel’s robbing the place and the older lawman demands that Axel get out of the pool so they can get to work. After Taggart comically falls in the pool, he changes into a plaid-pants get-up that causes Axel to hilariously walk away in disgust.
8 Arrested For Being Thrown Out a Window
Beverly Hills Cop
Always one for the dramatic flair, Axel leaves quite the impression on Victor Maitland after the fast-talking detective catches wind that the art gallery owner had ties to his murdered best friend Mikey.
Posing as a flower deliveryman, Axel makes his way through Maitland’s office in an effort to question the businessman about his late pal, only to receive a less-than-warm reception. He doesn’t make it very far in his interrogation of Maitland before being aggressively shown the door, with the criminal’s henchmen physically carrying Axel out of the building and violently thrown through a glass window.
Axel Can’t Believe His Bad Luck
One might think that being launched through glass would garner some sympathy from police officers, but that didn’t prove to be the case for poor Axel. When the police roll up shortly after the assault, they demand that Axel put his hands on the hood of the car, to which he asks in disbelief, “What kind of s*** is this? You guys are arresting me for getting thrown out of a f***ing window?”
The officers place Axel under arrest and when he asks what the charge is, they respond with posession of a concealed weapon and disturbing the peace. Never one to go quietly, Axel hits back with this hilarious zinger:
“Disturbing the peace? I got thrown out of a window! What’s the f*cking charge for getting pushed out of a moving car, huh? Jaywalking? This is bullsh*t!”
7 From the Strip Club to “Super Cops”
Beverly Hills Cop
Ever the gifted storyteller, Axel tries to paint a pretty picture for Lt. Bogomil (Ronny Cox) after he ends up foiling a robbery at a strip club with the help of Taggart and Rosewood.
The trio were in some pretty hot water for being at the adult establishment while on duty, when they were forced to head back to the BHPD to face the incensed Lieutenant’s wrath. Axel decided to use the opportunity to take one for the team and paint his fellow detectives as selfless heroes, alleging that the only reason they were at the strip club in the first place was because they were keeping a close eye on him.
A Perfectly Good Lie Ruined
Axel details a well-thought-out explanation about how he was whooping it up in the club when Taggart and Rosewood noticed two suspicious men enter the building, prompting them to take action and foil the crime.
The clever detective then went on to memorably describe the pair as “super cops” in the elaborate yarn and that all they were missing were capes, with Bogomil seemingly believing the story. Taggart ended up coming clean to his superior and gave Axel all the credit, to which he retorted that they had to “f*** up a perfectly good lie” by choosing to tell the truth.
6 Taggart’s Mistaken For President Gerald Ford
Beverly Hills Cop II
In Beverly Hills Cop II, Axel is reunited with his California pals Rosewood and Taggart to investigate the shooting of Lt. Bogomi, and naturally, their case leads them to another good ole’ strip club known as 385 North.
It doesn’t take long until Axel works his magic (and the room) and pretends that Taggart is former President Gerald Ford, claiming that he and Rosewood are from the Secret Service and providing his protection. When a club employee says that Taggart doesn’t look like Ford, Axel asks the man “Have you ever seen Gerald Ford with his makeup off?” to keep up with the amusing ruse.
Two Peas in a Gerald Ford Pod
Axel launches into a fiery speech about how Ford was never able to go to strip clubs as president and now that he’s a civilian, he wants to “shake his a**” just like everyone else. Rosewood and Taggart decide to let loose a bit yet the latter lawman does not seem very flattered when a waitress hands him a drink and respectfully addresses him as Ford.
When an insecure Taggart asks Axel if he really looks like Gerald Ford, Axel hits the duo with the side-splitting quip, “You both look like Gerald Ford”, which only further delights Rosewood.
5 Axel Marvels Over a Clean Cop Car
Beverly Hills Cop
After Axel is surprisingly arrested for being thrown out of Maitland’s glass window, the wise-cracking detective can’t help but marvel over just how fancy and clean the cop cars are in Beverly Hills, a stark contrast to what he’s used to back home. In an effort to strike up a conversation, Axel tells the two unamused officers that their vehicle is nicer than his apartment back in Detroit and it’s abundantly clear that he simply can’t get over just how clean the police squad car is.
The Wonders of Beverly Hills
Even as they are pulling up to the precinct, Axel refuses to stop his endless banter and even asks the men to point out any movie stars that may pass bye because he has never seen anything like that. When the policemen essentially tell Axel to can it, the detective ends up staying silent for barely a few seconds before he looks up in awe over how grand the Beverly Hills Police Department is.
Once Axel is all cozy and locked up in his jail cell, he still can’t get over how nice the city is and is thoroughly impressed by his cell having a telephone, asking an officer if he can “stay for awhile because I ordered some pizza.”
4 Greetings to the “Illegal Chop Shop”
Beverly Hills Cop III
Eddie Murphy was back at it again when he reprised his role as Detective Axel Foley in Beverly Hills Cop III, with the actor reuniting with director John Landis after collaborating on Trading Places and Coming to America. As usual, the third installment gets off to a rip-roaring start when Axel sets out to bring down a car theft ring, and instead of entering the place guns blazing as he normally would, he decides to politely walk up and courteously knock on its door.
Axel Puts His Manners First
When the criminals answer the door, Axel doesn’t beat around the bush and launches into one of his fast-talking speeches, bluntly asking the dangerous men holding guns, “How you doing? Is this the illegal chop shop?” and feigning interest in having a Buick belonging to his wife “chopped up” because she “hasn’t been acting right.”
Of course, this head-on approach to tackling his case didn’t go over well, and the suspects reacted as anyone about to be arrested would: they let their weapons do the talking and started madly shooting at ann expectant Axel.
3 Axel Poses as Victor Maitland’s Lover
Beverly Hills Cop
Arguably one of the funniest and most unforgettable scenes from Beverly Hills Cop is when Axel pretends to be Victor Maitland’s lover “Ramon” in order to enter a members-only club, pulling out all the stops to convince the maitre’d of his romantic status with the prominent businessman.
The very unconvinced maitre’d is immediately skeptical of Axel, who quickly gets into character as Victor’s fed-up lover and announces that he has a very important message to relay to him. Believing it to be something simple to pass along, the maitre’d offers to relay the message himself and that’s when things get downright hilarious.
Axel Plays a Lover Scorned
“Ramon” then tells the maitre’d that the fella he met about a week ago went to the clinic and found out that he had “herpes simplex 10, with Axel bashfully adding that he should go get checked out by his physician before “things start falling off on the man.”
Clearly realizing this was not a conversation he should be privy to, the maitre’d tells Axel he better be the one to let Victor know that himself and allows him to go back into the dining area. The exchange showcased Murpy’s fearlessness as a performer and proved why he is one of the big screen’s most brilliant comedians out there.
2 Rosewood Loves His Plants & Guns
Beverly Hills Cop II
Throughout the fan-favorite franchise, audiences loved seeing the winning on-screen camaraderie between Foley, Rosewood, and Taggart, and the lovable trio were back at it again in the second installment.
While he proved himself to be an excellent marksman in the original flick, Rosewood’s penchant for weaponry was on full display in the follow-up, a fascination that both intrigued and worried his partner Taggart and even Axel himself, who repeatedly told their quirky pal “Billy, we need to talk.”
A Man of Many Interests
When the lawmen head to Rosewood’s apartment to regroup, Axel is surprised to see how many plants he has all over the house and compares it to Wild Kingdom, to which Rosewood replies that he’s “trying to create a stress-free environment.” Rosewood earnestly calls the plants his friends and reveals the names of his favorite ones, while also amusingly talking about how different genres of music affect the way they grow.
The trio also bond and start humming The Dating Game theme song, before Axel stumbles upon Rosewood’s massive firearm collection and discovers his love of Sylvester Stallone (a likely wink to the fact that the action star almost headlined the film series).
1 A Side-Splitting Helicopter Ride
Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F
One scene that truly stands out from the rest in the newest entry Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F is the uproarious exchange between Axel and Detective Bobby Abbott (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) after they escape confinement and try to steal a helicopter as their getaway method.
Being that Bobby used to be a member of the LAPD Air Support, Axel was quick to assume that his daughter’s former beau could handle piloting a helicopter to help them flee the police department. He was in for a brutal surprise when Bobby revealed a small but important tidbit…he sort of crashed a helicopter before becoming a detective.
Bobby’s Belated Confession
Naturally, Axel’s face says it all and he held on for dear life as the men were uproariously pursued in a painstakingly low-altitude, slow chase through the city below that results in the men crashing the helicopter smack dab in the middle of a golf course.
Axel wasted no time both commending and critiquing Bobby’s questionable piloting skills, even commenting that he did a better job than he himself would have (though albeit not by much). Witnessing the panic on both Axel and Bobby’s faces as they were flying down low in the streets of Beverly Hills was truly a riot and one of the shining moments in the fourth installment.
