The story of Beverly Hills Cop II
Beverly Hills Cop II picks up with Axel Foley (Eddie Murphy) back in sunny Los Angeles, but this time he's got a personal reason to be there. His old friend Captain Andrew Bogomil has been shot in what looks like a targeted attack — and it's serious. Foley can't just let that slide, so he reconnects with the Beverly Hills detectives who became his unlikely partners in the first film: the uptight, by-the-book Sergeant John Taggart (John Ashton) and the smooth, good-natured Detective Billy Rosewood (Judge Reinhold). Together, the trio stumbles onto something bigger than a random shooting. There's a criminal organization running a series of "alphabet" robberies across the city, all orchestrated by a ruthless weapons kingpin who doesn't care who gets hurt. What starts as a personal mission to help a friend turns into a full-blown investigation that'll test their friendship, their cop skills, and Foley's ability to talk his way out of trouble.
Behind the making of Beverly Hills Cop II
Beverly Hills Cop II arrived in 1987 as the inevitable follow-up to the 1984 original, which had been a massive commercial and cultural success. Director Tony Scott took the helm this time around, replacing Martin Brest, and brought his signature style to the action sequences — all kinetic energy and slick cinematography. The screenplay came from Larry Ferguson and Warren Skaaren, who faced the challenge that any sequel writer does: how do you capture lightning in a bottle twice? The film was produced by the powerhouse team of Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer, the same duo behind Top Gun (which Scott also directed that same year), along with Eddie Murphy Productions and Paramount Pictures backing the project.
The cast reassembly was crucial. Murphy returned, obviously, but so did Judge Reinhold and John Ashton, which gave the film its backbone — that established chemistry between the three leads. Jürgen Prochnow was brought in to play the main antagonist, taking on a role similar to the one Steven Berkoff had in the first film. The movie hit theaters in May 1987 and grossed over $153 million worldwide, making it a box-office hit even if critics weren't quite as enthusiastic as they'd been about the original. It ran 103 minutes and earned an R rating for language and violence — pretty standard for the action-comedies of that era.
What makes Beverly Hills Cop II stand out
Here's the thing about Beverly Hills Cop II: it's not trying to reinvent the wheel, and maybe that's both its strength and its weakness. What's striking is how much the film relies on the rapport between Murphy, Reinhold, and Ashton. When those three are on screen together, riffing off each other's energy, the movie feels alive. Judge Reinhold's deadpan delivery plays perfectly against Murphy's improvisational chaos, and Ashton's exasperation at both of them grounds the comedy in something real. The action sequences, directed with Scott's flair for visual storytelling, keep the pace moving even when the plot itself — a straightforward "stop the bad guys" narrative — doesn't break much new ground.
What audiences and critics noticed, though, was that Murphy's performance sometimes tips into stand-up territory. There are moments where it feels less like dialogue and more like Murphy workshopping material, which can pull you out of the story if you're not in the mood for it. That said, the on-screen friendships feel genuine, and that's what carries you through. The film doesn't have the freshness or satirical edge of the first Beverly Hills Cop, but it's entertaining enough if you're willing to meet it halfway. The supporting cast — including Ronny Cox returning as the police captain and Brigitte Nielsen as a henchwoman — adds texture, though the script doesn't always give them much to work with.
Where to stream Beverly Hills Cop II online
Beverly Hills Cop II is available on major OTT services, and finding it is easier than Axel Foley finding trouble in Beverly Hills. To check the current streaming platforms where it's available right now, Movie OTT maintains an up-to-date "Where to Watch" widget at the top of this page — just scroll up and you'll see every service currently carrying the film. Streaming rights rotate regularly, so if you don't see it on your usual platform today, it might show up next month. Movie OTT tracks availability across all the major services, so you won't waste time hunting. The 103-minute runtime means it's a perfect length for a weekend watch — not a huge commitment, but substantial enough to feel like you got something out of it.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Who directed Beverly Hills Cop II?
Tony Scott directed the film, marking his take on the buddy-cop formula. Scott brought his signature kinetic visual style to the action sequences, which was a departure from Martin Brest's direction of the original 1984 film.
Q: Is Beverly Hills Cop II based on a true story?
No, Beverly Hills Cop II is a fictional story created for the screenplay by Larry Ferguson and Warren Skaaren. The plot about alphabet robberies and a weapons kingpin is entirely made up for the film.
Q: What year was Beverly Hills Cop II released?
Beverly Hills Cop II came out in 1987, three years after the original film. It was released in May of that year and became a box-office success, grossing over $153 million worldwide.
Q: How long is Beverly Hills Cop II?
The film runs 103 minutes, making it a fairly standard length for action-comedies of that era. It's short enough to watch in one sitting without feeling like a huge time commitment.
Q: What's the IMDb rating for Beverly Hills Cop II?
The film has an IMDb rating of 6.5 out of 10, reflecting mixed but generally positive reception. It's considered a solid, entertaining sequel even if it doesn't quite match the original's impact.
Final thoughts on Beverly Hills Cop II
Beverly Hills Cop II won't blow your mind, but it's not supposed to. It's a sequel that understands its job: deliver the characters you liked, give them a new problem to solve, and let them be funny and action-packed while they do it. The chemistry between Murphy, Reinhold, and Ashton is what makes it work. If you're in the mood for '80s action-comedy comfort food — something that doesn't demand much but delivers consistent entertainment — this is your movie. It's the kind of film that rewards you for not taking it too seriously.
