1984 Comedy Classic is Back - And You Can Stream It Free
Every genre of movie has its charm, but comedies that have the unique ability to make people laugh, smile and forget about their troubles, even if it's just for a few hours. That's one reason comedies are so popular. Plus, the summertime is an apt time to enjoy a good comedy, because it's a laid-back time of year that makes for a good backdrop to the funnies.
Now, one 1984 comedy classic is back, making waves, and it's available to stream for free. But, as with most films that stream at no cost, it could change at any point, so if you want to watch this film, it's best to start streaming before it's gone.
Why 'Beverly Hills Cop' Was a Success in the 1980s
The movie is 1984's Beverly Hills Cop. The hilarious movie follows a "freewheeling Detroit cop pursuing a murder investigation" who finds himself dealing with the very different culture of Beverly Hills, according to the film's official IMDb synopsis. Eddie Murphy, Judge Reinhold and John Ashton famously star in the film, and there's a big reason for its success.
This film is an absolutely classic and quite representative of the landscape of the 1980s comedy films. So, it's surprising to see that it only has an 83% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. But that doesn't take away from the nostalgic experience of watching this film.
Slash Film ranked the movie the best in the franchise. Because it's hard to beat the original. "Beverly Hills Cop may not have felt as much at the time, but 40 years later, it strongly resonates as the kind of movie studios don't typically make anymore," they say of it.
Watch 'Beverly Hills Cop' for Free
You can watch Beverly Hills Cop for free. According to Rotten Tomatoes, it's streaming now for free on Pluto TV.
Beverly Hills Cop works because it never forgets to be funny, even when it's moving fast and furious. Eddie Murphy's Axel Foley isn't a clean-cut action hero. He's just an everyday man. He's loud, sharp and just unpredictable enough to keep every scene a little off-balance in a natural way. The movie moves into that energy, letting comedy and crime story share the same space without stepping on each other.
There's also that '80s glow. They don't make movies like this anymore. The 1980s was all about excess and being larger than life, and that's part of Beverly Hills Cop, as well. This movie makes everything feel bigger than it is.
This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Jun 15, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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This story was originally published June 15, 2026 at 6:27 PM.