The buddy cop subgenre saw a rise in popularity during the '80s with Bad Boys' sequel films continued the adventures of fan-favorite buddy cop duos, while films like Live Free or Die Hard and 15 Minutes introduced entirely new on-screen pairings.

A fundamental component of a buddy cop film involves two individuals working together to solve a crime. The films also typically fall within two genres: action or comedy. Though not always the case, both characters usually work in police departments and start with opposing beliefs that merge with one another by the end of the film. The decades' best examples of buddy cop films star charismatic and entertaining leads and prove the subgenre is far from going out of style.

10 15 Minutes (2001)

Robert De Niro & Edward Burns Take Down Fame-Obsessed Killers

Andy Warhol has often been credited as the originator of the idea of "15 minutes of fame," deriving from a quote he said. There are numerous interpretations of Warhol's words, especially as the media has evolved over the years, but the general idea is that individuals can gain fame easily, even if it's short-lived. 15 Minutes, a satirical buddy cop film starring Robert De Niro and Edward Burns, plays with this concept as the film's leading homicide detective and fire marshal track down two killers known for recording their crimes in hopes of gaining attention.

15 Minutes is intended to make commentary about sensationalism in the media but fails to make any points audiences don't already know. Additionally, such commentary often gets lost in 15 Minutes' action sequences. Still, De Niro and Burns are paired well together and the film is worth watching for their on-screen dynamics.

9 Brooklyn's Finest (2009)

Don Cheadle, Richard Gere, & Ethan Hawke Work Together

Bending the rules that come with the buddy cop subgenre, Brooklyn's Finest has three cops for audiences to follow. The 2009 film is not director Antoine Fuqua's best work, but it is a memorable buddy cop film of the 2000s largely thanks to the performances of its cast. Starring Richard Gere, Ethan Hawke, and Don Cheadle as three cops from the NYPD, Brooklyn's Finest sees their three characters come together under various stressful situations at a crime scene.

As an action-packed crime thriller, Brooklyn's Finest checks all the boxes. There is enough of Fuqua's signature unfaltering tension and moments of violence for fans of his work to enjoy. The problem with Brooklyn's Finest comes down to its characters. Though the performances in Brooklyn's Finest are strong, the characterization of the struggling cops has been seen countless times before, lending to a bit of predictability, which, luckily, doesn't overshadow too much of the excitement of the rest of the film.

8 Bad Boys II (2003)

Will Smith & Martin Lawrence Return In A Heavy Action Comedy

Under the direction of Michael Bay, Bad Boys II delivers an all-out action film that sees the return of Will Smith and Martin Lawrence's detective characters, Mike and Marcus. Similar to the first film, Mike and Marcus investigate drug activity making its way to Miami. Though Bad Boys II wasn't a hit with critics, the film did a fair bit well with audiences.

While Bad Boys II does tend to be overstuffed at times, particularly with its action, it is all very fun to watch. Smith and Lawrence's chemistry is beloved by fans and their comedic bantering is amplified when placed within a loud, explosive film like Bad Boys II. Withstanding the negative critical remarks made towards the film, the fanfare and commercial success of Bad Boys II allowed for two more sequel films in 2020 and 2024.

7 Miami Vice (2006)

Colin Farrell & Jamie Foxx Take On Famous Roles From The '80s

Great performances as the two iconic characters

Having received mixed reviews upon its release in 2006, Miami Vice has become a cult favorite of many as the years have ed. In Michael Mann's film adaptation of the '80s TV show of the same name, Colin Farrell and Jamie Foxx are paired up as two detectives working against a drug trafficking operation. Farrell and Foxx tackle the serious roles with ease and give great performances as the two iconic characters portrayed by Don Johnson and Philip Michael Thomas in the TV series.

However, there is a bit of excitement missing in Farrell and Foxx's pairing, which can be largely attributed to Miami Vice's serious tone. Farrell has been critical of Miami Vice, agreeing with many of the film's criticisms, particularly its focus on visual style over writing and a serious script that didn't leave room for the beloved fun and humor seen in the '80s series. However, the strong visuals and atmosphere created in Miami Vice have made it one of the most memorable buddy cop action films of its decade.

6 16 Blocks (2006)

Bruce Willis & Mos Def Avoid Vengeful Police Officers

Straying from the death-evading heroic character Bruce Willis' John McClane had become in the Die Hard films, the actor tries out a more subtle protagonist in Richard Donner's 16 Blocks. Willis portrays Jack Mosley, a burnt-out detective, and acts alongside Yasiin Bey, formerly known as Mos Def, who plays a trial witness named Eddie Bunker. Together, Jack and Eddie dodge corrupt officers trying to kill them.

Donner, known for directing Superman and the buddy cop franchise Lethal Weapon, has an adept ability to capture characters and action scenes in an exciting way. Both elements are on full display in 16 Blocks. Unfortunately, a cliché and unoriginal script never allowed 16 Blocks to gain proper recognition. Still, Willis and Bey's chemistry works as a duo and carries the weight of much of the 16 Blocks' accomplishments as their characters grow to work together despite their opposing backgrounds.

5 Rush Hour 2 (2001)

Jackie Chan & Chris Tucker's Clashing Duo Returns

As is the case with most sequels, Rush Hour 2 wasn't as much of a success as its predecessor. Rush Hour introduced the comedic duo of Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker as two police detectives from Hong Kong and Los Angeles, respectively. The beloved actors clicked and there was a lot of anticipation surrounding the return of their on-screen partnership, made clear by Rush Hour 2's box office numbers — the highest in the franchise.

Unfortunately, the result wasn't what fans had hoped for. Rush Hour 2, which follows the detectives in Hong Kong as they're in charge of working on a murder case, failed to be as funny as the first film and saw a lack of intense action sequences commonly associated with Chan's work. Luckily, the force of Chan and Tucker's chemistry remains strong in the film and helps Rush Hour 2 from becoming completely unbearable.

4 Starsky & Hutch (2004)

Ben Stiller & Owen Wilson Star In A Prequel To The '70s TV Show

A film adaptation of the '70s TV show of the same name, Starsky & Hutch provides plenty of laughs with the duo of Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson. The actors play the titular cops — Stiller as Starsky and Wilson as Hutch — going undercover to take down drug criminals. In the '70s series, Starsky is easy-going and Hutch adheres to the rules, but the film swaps their personalities. Regardless of how each character operates, Starsky and Hutch are bad at their jobs.

Starsky & Hutch takes every opportunity to get silly without dumbing down the story, providing audiences with a genuinely good time

Starsky and Hutch manage to get the job done, but not without a few comical missteps along the way. Though they have a cast of comedic actors to them, Stiller and Wilson hold down Starsky & Hutch well on their own. Starsky & Hutch takes every opportunity to get silly without dumbing down the story, providing audiences with a genuinely good time.

3 Live Free Or Die Hard (2007)

Bruce Willis & Justin Long Are A Fun, Mismatched Duo

The Die Hard film series is without a doubt the Die Hard films have varied in critical and commercial success. However, Live Free or Die Hard, the fourth installment, is the highest-grossing in the series and received a positive response from fans and critics alike. Live Free or Die Hard sees John McClane teaming up with Justin Long's Matt Farrell, an ethical hacker, to prevent an extreme cyberattack.

McClane and Farrell's age gap makes for a paring that works extremely well as the two have fun banter and use their opposing ideologies to take down their common enemy. Willis and Long's on-screen chemistry is set within an action-packed blockbuster that leaves audiences on the edge of their seats as they follow along on the thrilling adventure.

2 Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005)

Robert Downey Jr. & Val Kilmer Get Tangled Up In A Murder Investigation

Known for writing Lethal Weapon and The Long Kiss Goodnight, Shane Black made his directorial debut with Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. Robert Downey Jr. and Val Kilmer lead the film as two characters who unexpectedly find themselves working together on a murder investigation. Downey plays Harry, a thief who gets sent to Los Angeles to shadow Kilmer's Perry, a cop, after a successful acting audition. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is a self-aware neo-noir film that successfully blends numerous genres.

A large part of why Kiss Kiss Bang Bang's dark comedy works so well is because of Downey and Kilmer's performances. Downey, who would later reunite with Black, is a strong match for the film's sharp script and Kilmer is undeniably hilarious. As a result, Downey and Kilmer quickly became one of the genre's best duos.

1 Hot Fuzz (2007)

Simon Pegg & Nick Frost Investigate Murders In An England Town

Edgar Wright, Simon Pegg, and Nick Frost came together once again for Hot Fuzz after their accomplished zombie comedy Shaun of the Dead. As the second film in the Three Flavours Cornetto trilogy, Hot Fuzz follows Pegg and Frost's characters, two police officers investigating a series of deaths in a quiet English town. The model dynamic that defines buddy cop films can be found in Hot Fuzz with Pegg playing the by-the-book Nicholas Angel and Frost as the incompetent Danny Butterman.

The polar opposite cops are incredibly well-balanced, largely due to Pegg and Frost's natural connection as real-life friends. In addition to the leading duo, Hot Fuzz also works extremely well as an action film and parody of the buddy cop genre. Though Hot Fuzz is highly referential, it doesn't work against the film, instead, making it all the more enjoyable.