Top 20 Worst Buddy Cop Films

Buddy cop movies are often really fun, but sometimes the pairing of partners just doesn’t work. This list highlights films where clashing personalities, poor decisions during production, or unfunny writing prevented the movie from being a success. You’ll find remakes that didn’t live up to the original, sequels that lost their spark, and unusual pairings that just didn’t connect. Think of it as a look at some failures that prove how difficult it is to get this type of movie right.

‘Cop Out’ (2010)

Kevin Smith’s action comedy stars Bruce Willis and Tracy Morgan as veteran partners on a mission to recover a stolen baseball card. The movie relies heavily on quick, witty dialogue and familiar action tropes, prioritizing those over in-depth character arcs. Production was reportedly difficult, with behind-the-scenes conflicts becoming public knowledge. Reviews often pointed out a weak storyline and too much reliance on pop culture references.

‘Showtime’ (2002)

Robert De Niro and Eddie Murphy star as a tough detective forced to work with an overly dramatic partner on a reality TV police show. Director Tom Dey uses the film to playfully critique how policing is portrayed on television and our obsession with celebrities. The movie is visually flashy, making use of impressive sets and a classic studio feel. Critics noted that the two lead actors’ comedic styles didn’t quite mesh, and that the film’s satire was a bit gentle.

‘The Man’ (2005)

Samuel L. Jackson stars as a hardened federal agent who unexpectedly has to partner with Eugene Levy, a mild-mannered dental supplies salesman. Their adventure begins with a case of mistaken identity during an illegal arms deal, leading them on a chaotic road trip through a criminal underworld. The director, Les Mayfield, focuses more on humorous situations arising from their mismatched personalities than on building a strong, suspenseful plot. Unfortunately, the film’s comedic timing is uneven, which weakens the chemistry between the two leads.

‘Hollywood Homicide’ (2003)

Okay, so I checked out this movie starring Harrison Ford and Josh Hartnett, and it’s about these detectives who are totally stretched thin – they’re working a murder in the rap world and trying to make extra money on the side. The director, Ron Shelton, tries to mix a funny take on the music industry with a detective story, but honestly, it spends way more time making fun of showbiz than actually building any real tension. Most people didn’t love it, and I can see why – it felt kinda slow and all over the place with its tone. It just didn’t really grab me.

‘National Security’ (2003)

Martin Lawrence and Steve Zahn star as security guards who accidentally uncover a smuggling operation. The movie, directed by Dennis Dugan, relies heavily on mistaken identities and silly physical comedy. While there’s plenty of action, it doesn’t really add much tension to the story. Many viewers found the humor predictable and the mystery itself wasn’t very complex.

‘CHiPs’ (2017)

The latest movie version pairs Dax Shepard and Michael Peña as highway patrol officers who don’t see eye-to-eye. Shepard also wrote and directed the film, adding plenty of edgy humor and impressive motorcycle stunts. Instead of focusing on police procedure, the movie emphasizes the comedic partnership between the two leads. Critics noted the film’s inconsistent tone and felt it relied too much on crude jokes.

‘Let’s Be Cops’ (2014)

In the comedy film directed by Luke Greenfield, Jake Johnson and Damon Wayans Jr. star as friends who pretend to be police officers, and their charade unexpectedly leads them into a genuine criminal investigation. While the movie focuses heavily on fun and parties, it doesn’t delve deeply into developing its characters. Critics have pointed out that the film relies too much on one central joke and raises ethical questions with its premise.

‘Taxi’ (2004)

Queen Latifah and Jimmy Fallon star in a new movie about a taxi driver who teams up with a clumsy police officer to catch a group of thieves. Director Tim Story focuses on fast-paced car chases and action scenes set in New York City. The movie relies more on silly humor and musical numbers than actual detective work. However, audiences felt the connection between the lead actors wasn’t strong enough, and the action sequences became predictable.

‘Loose Cannons’ (1990)

In this film, Gene Hackman and Dan Aykroyd star as a pair of detectives investigating a mysterious tape that leads to a political conspiracy. Director Bob Clark attempts to combine humor with the suspense of a spy thriller. However, Dan Aykroyd’s character is written inconsistently, causing scenes to feel disjointed. This uneven mix of tones ultimately left viewers and critics feeling puzzled and unsatisfied.

‘Collision Course’ (1989)

Jay Leno and Pat Morita star as detectives from Detroit and Tokyo who team up to recover a stolen engine prototype. The film, directed by Lewis Teague, aims for a classic buddy-cop dynamic with plenty of fights and chases in industrial settings. However, the movie faced production issues and cuts that slowed down the story. Critics found the humor lacking and the action sequences poorly executed.

‘Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot’ (1992)

In the movie, Sylvester Stallone stars as a police officer who strictly follows the rules. Complicating matters, his meddling mother, played by Estelle Getty, insists on joining him on his investigations. The film relies heavily on the style of a family sitcom, prioritizing jokes about guns and everyday family arguments over a compelling detective story. Ultimately, this focus on comedy came at the expense of believable characters and the audience’s enjoyment.

‘R.I.P.D.’ (2013)

Ryan Reynolds and Jeff Bridges star as dead police officers recruited to work in a supernatural police department. Director Robert Schwentke creates a world filled with afterlife paperwork and silly monsters. While the movie takes ideas from other paranormal films, it doesn’t quite establish its own unique identity. Despite impressive visual effects, the film lacks a strong emotional center.

‘I Spy’ (2002)

Okay, so I just watched this movie with Owen Wilson and Eddie Murphy, and it’s basically about a spy and a famous boxer who get thrown into this whole international espionage thing. It feels like a remake of something, but way more focused on silly, over-the-top comedy than actual suspense. The story centers around a stolen plane and a big adventure across Europe, but honestly, the jokes often stop the action instead of moving it forward. It’s funny, but it definitely prioritizes laughs over a tight plot.

‘Wild Wild West’ (1999)

Will Smith and Kevin Kline star as frontier agents on the hunt for a crazed inventor who uses futuristic, steam-powered weapons. Director Barry Sonnenfeld fills the movie with impressive machines and large-scale sets. While the story mixes spy technology, classic Western themes, and a quirky villain, it feels a bit disjointed. The movie’s big finale is visually impressive, but doesn’t quite come together as a satisfying conclusion.

‘Money Train’ (1995)

Wesley Snipes and Woody Harrelson play two subway police officers whose lives are complicated by both personal problems and a train robbery. Director Joseph Ruben filmed exciting action scenes on and around real trains and in the city. While the movie explores the complicated relationship between the two officers and follows a standard police procedural, these elements don’t quite come together seamlessly. Critics noted the story felt predictable and that some interesting locations weren’t used to their full potential.

‘Bulletproof’ (1996)

Okay, so I checked out this movie, and it’s about a detective – Damon Wayans – who has to transport this small-time crook, played by Adam Sandler, through some really dangerous areas. The director, Ernest Dickerson, kept things moving with a lot of action, like ambushes and betrayals. But honestly, the movie got bogged down in a lot of arguing between the two characters, which kind of slowed down the main story. It’s mostly remembered now for pairing those two actors together, rather than for being a super clever cop thriller.

‘The Glimmer Man’ (1996)

Steven Seagal and Keenen Ivory Wayans play homicide detectives investigating a series of murders that seem connected to a larger conspiracy. The director, John Gray, combines action-packed martial arts with the style of classic film noir. However, the movie jumps between spiritual themes and gritty police work, and the editing feels rushed. This prevents the chemistry between the two lead actors from fully developing.

‘K-911’ (1999)

James Belushi is back, this time paired with a dog, in a sequel to a popular film. The movie, directed by Charles T. Kanganis, focuses on Belushi protecting someone while being pursued by an enemy. Unlike the first film, this one spends more time on funny scenes with the dog and less on intense investigations. Released directly to video, it features some action but lacks strong connection between the characters.

‘Ride Along 2’ (2016)

Okay, so I just saw the new movie, and it’s basically Ice Cube and Kevin Hart teaming up again, this time chasing a bad guy in Miami with a little help from a local detective. It felt pretty similar to the first one – you’ve got the same funny dynamic between Ice Cube and Hart, which is good, but honestly, the story didn’t really feel like it was going anywhere new. They threw in some new locations and tech stuff, but it didn’t make the case feel any more important or exciting. A lot of the jokes felt like we’d seen them before, and it just felt like they played it safe with this sequel, you know?

‘Cop & ½’ (1993)

Okay, so I checked out this old movie starring Burt Reynolds. It’s about him teaming up with this young kid who sees something bad happen and suddenly thinks he’s Sherlock Holmes. Henry Winkler actually directed it, and it’s definitely made for families – the whole cop side of things is pretty toned down. Honestly, there’s way more stuff happening in school and with silly pranks than actual detective work. Most reviewers said the story felt a little too simple to fill up a whole movie, which I kinda get.

Let us know in the comments which buddy cop movies you didn’t enjoy, and tell us which duo you still love!

2025-10-31 17:22