Summary
Detective stories show no signs of going out of style, and while there are great examples in recent years, many of the subgenre’s best come from the ’80s. The mostmemorable detective stories keep audiences invested and rooting for the protagonists to succeedin their pursuit of criminals. The bold decade gave rise to these stories told within a variety of genres, including comedies, thrillers, andbuddy cop movies.
Because detective films are an extension of the crime and action genres, many familiar faces appear in these films, including Harrison Ford, Jackie Chan, and Sean Connery. Other actors, including William Petersen and Eddie Murphy, truly got the chance to shine and share their talents on a wider scale thanks to films such as To Live And Die In L.A. and Beverly Hills Cop.Each actor represents the range within the subgenre and showcases the influence of the decade.
The 5 Best (And 5 Worst) ’80s Crime Movies
There were plenty of ‘80s crime films that captured unglamorous portraits of the criminal lifestyle, as well as a few that were very glamorous.
Cruising
Cast
Cruising is a 1980 thriller directed by William Friedkin, starring Al Pacino as an undercover police officer infiltrating New York City’s gay nightlife to solve a series of brutal murders. The film explores themes of identity and morality as the protagonist delves deeper into the subculture and the investigation.
Starting the decade, William Friedkin directed the controversial crime filmCruising. Led by Al Pacino as Detective Steve Burns,Cruisingdepicts a serial killer targeting the LGBTQ+ community in New York City. During the time of its release,Cruisingprovided a rare exploration of S&M and leather bars and shined a light on the real-life fear of death within LGBTQ+ communities.
However,Cruisingfailed to unpack these topics thoughtfully, leading to many protests and negative reviews of the film.Many activists have felt as though the continued stereotype of gay men participating in violence bears the risk of encouraging hate crimes. Unfortunately, a few real-life hate crimes were inspired by the film. Still,Cruisinghas an unexpected endingthat cleverly wraps up the film’s absorbing plot, earning it a spot among the best of the ’80s.
Sudden Impact
Sudden Impact, a crime thriller from director Clint Eastwood, follows San Francisco Police Inspector Harry Callahan as he investigates a series of vigilante killings. Set against the backdrop of the city’s gritty underworld, the film explores themes of justice and revenge while maintaining the suspense and tension characteristic of the series. Eastwood also stars, delivering a compelling portrayal of Callahan’s unwavering commitment to his own brand of law enforcement.
Despite having a lengthy and successful career as a director,Sudden Impactis the only film from theDirty Harryseries directed by Clint Eastwood. Starring as the lead in the film series, Eastwood plays Harry Callahan, an Inspector with the San Francisco Police Department. Harry is classified as an antihero who goes to extreme lengths to achieve his goals. InSudden Impact,Harry is in charge of investigating numerous murders that have taken place in San Paulo.
As is the case with a few film series, the first installment of theDirty Harryseries is often regarded as the best.Critical reviews ofSudden Impactaren’t wholly positive, but it is the film that performed the best at the box office.Sudden Impacthas also made a larger impact on pop culture by introducing one of thegreatest movie quotes of all time, “Go ahead, make my day.”
8To Live And Die In L.A. (1985)
Directed by William Friedkin
Following the poorly received filmsDeal of the CenturyandCruising, director William Friedkin made a strong comeback withTo Live and Die in L.A.The thriller follows two Secret Service agents as they set out on a revenge mission in the name of a fellow agent who was murdered. One of the agents, Richard Chance, is played by William Petersen. Petersen, now mostly known for his role inCSI, is compelling as a rogue agent. It’s impossible to disengage with the film whenPetersen’s character showcases just how far he’s willing to go to reach his goal.
Equally crucial as Petersen’s performance is the soundtrack ofTo Live and Die in L.A.The soundtrack, composed by the English new wave band Wang Chung, wonderfully binds Friedkin’s film to the decade in which it was released. The synth-pop soundtrack captures the popular sounds at the time and highlights why Wang Chung found the most success in their career during the ’80s.
The Untouchables
The Untouchables, directed by Brian De Palma, is a crime drama set during Prohibition-era Chicago. The film stars Kevin Costner as Eliot Ness, a federal agent determined to bring down the notorious gangster Al Capone, portrayed by Robert De Niro. Alongside Sean Connery as seasoned officer Jim Malone, Ness forms an elite team to combat organized crime, focusing on the legal strategy to dismantle Capone’s empire.
An adaptation of Eliot Ness and Oscar Fraley’s book of the same name,The Untouchablesis one ofBrian De Palma’s best films. Both the film and the book detail the life of Ness, a federal agent who assembled a team of agents to fight crime in 1930s Chicago.The Untouchablesfilm sees Ness (Kevin Costner) work with a group of agents to take down Al Capone (Robert De Niro).
ThoughThe Untouchablesdoesn’t attempt to have complete historical accuracy, it still provides a fascinating look at the criminal sphere of the decade.The prohibition era in Chicago is brought to life on-screen byThe Untouchables' cast. Costner, De Niro, and others give strong performances, but the most memorable is that of Sean Connery. Despite Connery’s infamous accent, his performance as one of The Untouchables earned him, and the film, a singular Academy Award.
Beverly Hills Cop
Eddie Murphy stars in Beverly Hills Cop as Axel Foley, a street-smart Detroit police officer who travels to California to solve his friend’s murder. Directed by Martin Brest, the film was a critical and commercial success, spawning three sequels.
Helping launch Eddie Murphy into stardom,Beverly Hills Copis one of the most entertaining detective films and one of the defining comedies of the decade. Murphy’s Axel Foley makes a trip to the titular city and takes it upon himself to start an investigation into the murder of a close friend.With a charming wit, Axel easily jumps over obstacles that pop up during the investigation, much to the audience’s delight.
Axel’s originally from Detroit and the difference between him and those in Beverly Hills drives much of the comedy in the film. Additionally, it also shapes the connection between him and Sergeant Taggart and Detective Rosewood. Following the film’s success, theBeverly Hills Copfranchisetook off andAxel became a career-defining character for Murphy, as his on-screen persona is closely linked to his beloved real-life qualities.
48 Hours
Starring Eddie Murphy and Nick Nolte, 48 Hours is an action Comedy and “buddy cop” movie released in 1982. The film follows the story of a detective that requests the aid of an inmate that he pulls into his custody on a 48-hour permit to help him find a dangerous criminal.
Before playing Axel Foley in theBeverly Hills Copfranchise, Eddie Murphy made his film debut in48 Hrs.Murphy leads the film as convict Reggie Hammond alongside Nick Nolte’s Inspector Jack Cates. Reggie is released from prison for 48 hours and, together, the men work to catch two criminals.Murphy and Nolte work incredibly well together and create a balanced dynamicwith their characters' contrasting personalities.
48 Hrs.is one of theoldest buddy cop moviesand it helped popularize the genre that’s continued to find success throughout the years with films such as 1998’sRush HourandThe Nice Guysin 2016.Like many of the projects headed by Murphy,48 Hrs.is charmingly comedic. The moments of laughter don’t overshadow any action sequences or the detective story at the heart of48 Hrs., making for an all-around entertaining film.
Police Story
Police Story is a 1985 action film featuring Jackie Chan as Officer Chan Ka Kui, who single-handedly captures a Hong Kong drug lord. The film follows Chan as he protects secretary Salina, who is set to testify against the gangster in court.
As gritty and action-packed as many detective films are, few are as impressive asPolice Story. The film from Hong Kong stars Jackie Chan as a detective fighting to clear his name after being accused of murder.Two defining elements of Chan’s film career are his martial arts skills and his comedic timing, and both are skillfully put to use inPolice Story.
there’s still enough narrative substance and comedic appeal inPolice Storythat allows audiences to care about
Performed by Chan and his stunt team,the stunts inPolice Storyare elaborate and well-executed. A majority ofPolice Story’s script, co-written by Chan and Edward Tang, revolves around the action.The two made sure to utilize props and locations, such as the shopping mall, that would allow for the best action scenes. However, there’s still enough narrative substance and comedic appeal inPolice Storythat allows audiences to care about Chan’s character defeating the antagonists in the first place.
Lethal Weapon
The film that started the iconic action franchise of the same name, Lethal Weapon stars Mel Gibson and Danny Glover as Detective Riggs and Murtaugh, two LAPD detectives on the trail of a high-profile drug ring. After the death of his wife, Riggs (Gibson) is increasingly volatile, but partnering with the level-headed veteran detective Murtaugh puts the two cops on the path to uncovering a huge criminal conspiracy.
An on-screen duo with believable chemistry is a key aspect of the buddy cop genre. Luckily, Mel Gibson and Danny Glover are paired well together inLethal Weapon. Gibson and Glover play Martin Riggs and Roger Murtaugh, two mismatched police officers who are paired together and uncover a drug ring. Martin and Roger start on the wrong foot, butthey eventually learn how their differences benefit one another and help them in their detective work.
The development of Martin and Roger’s relationship is a common narrative journey taken in buddy cop films. The chemistry between Gibson and Glover helpedLethal Weaponbecome a defining film within the subgenre and launched an entire franchise. Following the originalLethal Weapon, a TV show and three sequel films were released and a fourth film, directed by Gibson, is in development.
10 Harsh Realities Of Rewatching Lethal Weapon, 37 Years Later
Lethal Weapon is a buddy cop masterpiece, but there are some things that stand out on a rewatch today, from plot holes to over-the-top acting.
Manhunter
Manhunter is a psychological thriller directed by Michael Mann. Released in 1986, the film follows former FBI profiler Will Graham, portrayed by William Petersen, as he tracks down a serial killer known as “The Tooth Fairy.” The film features strong performances from Brian Cox as Dr. Hannibal Lecktor and Tom Noonan as the chilling antagonist. Manhunter is known for its atmospheric tension and complex character studies.
Hannibal Lecter is a widely known characterwho has been played by various actors in films and a TV show.The character was first introduced in Thomas Harris' 1981 horror novel,Red Dragon, but it’s Brian Cox who introduces the character to movie audiences inManhunter, a thriller film from 1986.Manhuntersees a former FBI profiler, Will Graham (William Petersen), come out of retirement to track down a killer, and he must confront Dr. Hannibal Lecktor, the man who’d previously attacked him.
The initial critical response toManhunterwas mixed, as many felt the visual style of Michael Mann served the film poorly.Many negative comparisons were made toMiami Viceand a few individuals claimed Petersen was an uninspired choice for the lead. However, retrospective reviews have been kinder andManhunterhas been referred to as one of the major contributors to the use of forensic science in crime films and TV shows.
Witness
Witness is a 1985 crime drama directed by Peter Weir, starring Harrison Ford as Detective John Book. The film follows Book as he protects a young Amish boy who witnesses a brutal murder in Philadelphia. With performances by Kelly McGillis and Lukas Haas, the narrative explores cultural collisions and ethical dilemmas while unfolding a tense, character-driven story.
Most detective films are set in large, bustling cities, butWitnesschanges this and places its characters within a quiet Amish community.Starring Harrison Ford in the only role to earn him an Academy Award nomination,Witnessfollows the efforts of his character, Detective John Book, to protect an Amish woman and her son after the latter witnesses a murder take place.
Witnessinvites audiences into Amish communities, exploring their way of life and how tourists and outsiders, including John, often act as disruptors. The concern with tourists as expressed in the film is how many real Amish communities responded to the film, resulting in a bit of controversy. Still,Ford delivers a considerate and honest performance inWitness, and the duality in the film’s narrative — exhibiting various officers’ methods of both protection and corruption — helpsWitnessstand out from other detective films.
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