(L to R) Jason Momoa and Dave Bautista star in ‘The Wrecking Crew’. Credit: Courtesy of Prime. Copyright: © Amazon Content Services LLC.
Premiering on Prime Video beginning January 28th is the new buddy cop movie ‘The Wrecking Crew,’ starring Jason Momoa (‘Aquaman’) and Dave Bautista (‘Guardians of the Galaxy‘).
“They fight like brothers. They wreck like legends.”
Release Date: Jan 28, 2026
Run Time: 2 hr 2 min
In honor of the new film, Moviefone is counting down the top 20 best buddy cop movies of all time.
Editorial Note: The criteria to be included on this list is that at least one of the two main characters in the film is either a current cop, a former cop, or a private detective.
Let’s begin!
Related Article: Jonathan Tropper Talks ‘The Wrecking Crew’ and ‘Star Wars: Starfighter’
(L to R) Kevin Hart and Ice Cube in ‘Ride Along’. Photo: Universal Pictures.
For the past two years, high-school security guard Ben (Kevin Hart) has been trying to show decorated APD detective James (Ice Cube) that he’s more than just a video-game junkie who’s unworthy of James’ sister, Angela (Tika Sumpter). When Ben finally gets accepted into the academy, he thinks he’s earned the seasoned policeman’s respect and asks for his blessing to marry Angela. Knowing that a ride along will demonstrate if Ben has what it takes to take care of his sister, James invites him on a shift designed to scare the hell out of the trainee. But when the wild night leads them to the most notorious criminal in the city, James will find that his new partner’s rapid-fire mouth is just as dangerous as the bullets speeding at it.
“Propose to this cop’s sister? Rookie mistake.”
Release Date: Jan 17, 2014
Run Time: 1 hr 39 min
Budget: $25,000,000
When a vengeful New York transit cop (Woody Harrelson) decides to steal a trainload of subway fares, his foster brother (Wesley Snipes), a fellow cop—tries to protect him.
“Get on, or GET OUT THE WAY!”
Release Date: Nov 21, 1995
Run Time: 1 hr 50 min
Budget: $68,000,000
When cops Schmidt (Jonah Hill) and Jenko (Channing Tatum) join the secret Jump Street unit, they use their youthful appearances to go undercover as high school students. They trade in their guns and badges for backpacks, and set out to shut down a dangerous drug ring. But, as time goes on, Schmidt and Jenko discover that high school is nothing like it was just a few years earlier — and, what’s more, they must again confront the teenage terror and anxiety they thought they had left behind.
“The only thing getting blown tonight is their cover.”
Release Date: Mar 16, 2012
Run Time: 1 hr 49 min
Budget: $42,000,000
Two detectives (Richard Dreyfuss and Emilio Estevez) observe an escaped convict’s ex-girlfriend (Madeleine Stowe), but complications set in when one of them falls for her.
“It’s a tough job but somebody’s got to do it!”
Release Date: Aug 5, 1987
Run Time: 1 hr 56 min
Budget: $14,500,000
Jay Austin (Mark Harmon) is now a civilian police detective. Colonel Caldwell (Sean Connery) was his commanding officer years before when he left the military police over a disagreement over the handling of a drunk driver. Now a series of murders that cross jurisdictions force them to work together again. That Austin is now dating Caldwell’s daughter (Meg Ryan) is not helping their relationship.
“He didn’t want to share the murder investigation. There’s no way he’s going to share his daughter.”
Release Date: Jun 10, 1988
Run Time: 1 hr 37 min
(L to R) Jason Momoa and Dave Bautista star in ‘The Wrecking Crew’. Credit: Courtesy of Prime. Copyright: © Amazon Content Services LLC.
Estranged half-brothers Jonny (Jason Momoa) and James (Dave Bautista) reunite after their father’s mysterious death. As they search for the truth, buried secrets reveal a conspiracy threatening to tear their family apart.
“They fight like brothers. They wreck like legends.”
Release Date: Jan 28, 2026
Run Time: 2 hr 2 min
Detective Scott Turner (Tom Hanks) has three days left in the local police department before he moves to a bigger city to get some ‘real’ cases—not just misdemeanors. When Amos Reed (John McIntire) is murdered, Scott sets himself on the case, but the closest thing to a witness to the murder is Reed’s dog, Hooch, which Scott has to take care of—to avoid Hooch being ‘put to sleep’.
“The oddest couple ever unleashed!”
Release Date: Jul 28, 1989
Run Time: 1 hr 37 min
Budget: $13,000,000
When Hong Kong Inspector Lee (Jackie Chan) is summoned to Los Angeles to investigate a kidnapping, the FBI doesn’t want any outside help and assigns cocky LAPD Detective James Carter (Chris Tucker) to distract Lee from the case. Not content to watch the action from the sidelines, Lee and Carter form an unlikely partnership and investigate the case themselves.
“The fastest hands in the East meet the biggest mouth in the West.”
Release Date: Sep 18, 1998
Run Time: 1 hr 37 min
Budget: $33,000,000
Unlike their heroic counterparts on the force, desk-bound NYPD detectives Gamble (Will Ferrell) and Hoitz (Mark Wahlberg) garner no headlines as they work day to day. When a seemingly minor case turns out to be a big deal, the two cops get the opportunity to finally prove to their comrades that they have the right stuff.
Release Date: Aug 6, 2010
Run Time: 1 hr 47 min
Budget: $100,000,000
A private eye (Ryan Gosling) and an enforcer (Russell Crowe) investigate the apparent suicide of a fading porn star in 1970s Los Angeles and uncovers a conspiracy.
Release Date: May 20, 2016
Run Time: 1 hr 56 min
Budget: $50,000,000
(L to R) Gregory Hines and Billy Crystal in ‘Running Scared’. Photo: MGM Entertainment Co.
Two street-wise Chicago cops (Billy Crystal and Gregory Hines) have to shake off some rust after returning from a Key West vacation to pursue a drug dealer (Jimmy Smits) that nearly killed them in the past.
“Two of Chicago’s finest?”
Release Date: Jun 27, 1986
Run Time: 1 hr 47 min
New York detective John McClane (Bruce Willis) is back and kicking bad-guy butt in the third installment of this action-packed series, which finds him teaming with civilian Zeus Carver (Samuel L. Jackson) to prevent the loss of innocent lives. McClane thought he’d seen it all, until a genius named Simon (Jeremy Irons) engages McClane, his new “partner” — and his beloved city — in a deadly game that demands their concentration.
“Think fast. Look alive. Die hard.”
Release Date: May 19, 1995
Run Time: 2 hr 8 min
Budget: $90,000,000
Marcus Burnett (Martin Lawrence) is a henpecked family man. Mike Lowrey (Will Smith) is a footloose and fancy free ladies’ man. Both Miami policemen, they have 72 hours to reclaim a consignment of drugs stolen from under their station’s nose. To complicate matters, in order to get the assistance of the sole witness (Téa Leoni) to a murder, they have to pretend to be each other.
Release Date: Apr 7, 1995
Run Time: 1 hr 59 min
Budget: $19,000,000
Ray Tango (Sylvester Stallone) and Gabriel Cash (Kurt Russell) are two successful narcotics detectives who can’t stand each other. Crime lord Yves Perret (Jack Palance), furious at the loss of income they have caused him, plots an elaborate revenge against them.
“Two of L.A.’s top rival cops are going to have to work together… Even if it kills them.”
Release Date: Dec 22, 1989
Run Time: 1 hr 44 min
Budget: $55,000,000
A case involving drug lords and murder in South Florida takes a personal turn for undercover detectives Sonny Crockett (Colin Farrell) and Ricardo Tubbs (Jamie Foxx). Unorthodox Crockett gets involved romantically with the Chinese-Cuban wife (Gong Li) of a trafficker of arms and drugs, while Tubbs deals with an assault on those he loves.
“No Law. No Rules. No Order.”
Release Date: Jul 28, 2006
Run Time: 2 hr 12 min
Budget: $135,000,000
(L to R) Val Kilmer and Robert Downey Jr. in ‘Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.’ Photo: Warner Bros.
A petty thief (Robert Downey Jr.) posing as an actor is brought to Los Angeles for an unlikely audition and finds himself in the middle of a murder investigation along with his high school dream girl (Michelle Monaghan) and a detective (Val Kilmer) who’s been training him for his upcoming role.
“Sex. Murder. Mystery. Welcome to the party.”
Release Date: Nov 11, 2005
Run Time: 1 hr 42 min
Budget: $15,000,000
Riggs (Mel Gibson) and Murtaugh (Danny Glover) are on the trail of South African diplomats using their immunity to engage in criminal activities.
Release Date: Jul 7, 1989
Run Time: 1 hr 54 min
Budget: $25,000,000
Somewhere in Los Angeles, the city of broken dreams, a stripper (Halle Berry) is murdered. Now, the private detective (Bruce Willis) she had hired and her ex-footballer boyfriend (Damon Wayans) are going to find her murderer, if they don’t kill each other first. But the more they dig, the deeper they become enmeshed in a web of extortion, blackmail and corrupt politics hidden beneath the surface of professional football.
“Everyone had counted them out. But they’re about to get back in the game.”
Release Date: Dec 13, 1991
Run Time: 1 hr 45 min
Budget: $29,000,000
A bounty hunter and former-cop (Robert De Niro) pursues a former Mafia accountant (Charles Grodin) who is also being chased by a rival bounty hunter (John Ashton), the F.B.I. (Yaphet Kotto), and his old mob boss (Dennis Farina) after jumping bail.
“This could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.”
Release Date: Jul 20, 1988
Run Time: 2 hr 6 min
Budget: $30,000,000
(L to R) Nick Nolte and Eddie Murphy in ’48 hrs.’ Photo: Paramount Pictures.
A hard-nosed cop (Nick Nolte) reluctantly teams up with a wise-cracking criminal (Eddie Murphy) temporarily paroled to him, in order to track down a killer (James Remar).
“One cop. One con. No mercy.”
Release Date: Dec 7, 1982
Run Time: 1 hr 36 min
Budget: $12,000,000
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