Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F

Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F, also called Beverly Hills Cop IV, is a 2024 Netflix original film starring Eddie Murphy and directed by Mark Molloy. It is the fourth film in the Beverly Hills Cop franchise.

Synopsis[]

Detective Axel Foley (Eddie Murphy) is back on the beat in Beverly Hills. After his daughter’s life is threatened, she (Taylour Paige) and Foley team up with a new partner (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) and old pals Billy Rosewood (Judge Reinhold) and John Taggart (John Ashton) to turn up the heat and uncover a conspiracy.

Plot[]

Axel Foley drives through the streets of Detroit, waving to people he knows and observing those he doesn't. He honks at a traffic cop then warns teenagers for shooting off fireworks, but they tell him to fuck off.

Foley arrives at the Red Wings hockey game where he sits with a friend, Mike Woody, while sporting binoculars. Out back, a group of men pay off a security guard to get inside. Mike credits Foley as the reason he got into policing, and continues to ramble about his admiration for the detective and his assumption that he didn't like hockey. Foley questions why Mike assumed he didn't like hockey. Mike, now flustered, stumbles over his words as he tries to insist he'll do better. Foley laughs at his words and lets Mike know he's just messing with him. He tells Mike he can do better as this place is about to be robbed, and Mike discovered who who. Foley directs him through the binoculars to Junior Bollinger, a security guard that worked with the 7-Mile crew that killed a jeweler in Berkley. Mike points out that LT took Foley off the case. Foley agrees, which is why it's lucky they went to the game and Mike decided they should take them down. It was nice hanging with Mike but they got stuff to do. Foley and Mike arrest Bollinger who insists he went straight. Foley goes to the locker room to investigate and sees the crew in the midst of robbing the players of their championship ring. Foley pretends to be a hockey player from Winnipeg who is there from the trade. He then stops the gang member and holds him at gun point. The security guard takes down Foley so the crew can escape. A shootout ensues in the hall and Foley steals a cart so he and Mike can pursue the crew. Mike thinks most people Foley's age would be slowing down to relax. Foley shouts this is how he relaxes. They commandeer a snow plow from a witty driver then chase the bad guys.

Mike calls in the chase to the station and Chief Jeffrey Friedman overhears. He demands to hear from Foley, not believing Mike's claims of the chase being his fault. Foley tells his story to Jeffrey, but Jeffrey doesn't believe that Mike hasn't solved a crime in years. Foley takes out a lot of city property and citizen vehicles during the pursuit. A frantic Mike wants to back out, no longer wanting the promotion, but Foley insists he's getting it now. They run the bikers off and Foley thanks Mike for the tickets. Mike wonders what they're going to tell the Chief, with Foley insisting it was Mike's case then laughing.

The next morning, Foley visits Jeffrey's office and gets reamed over the disaster. Jeffrey got berated by the police commissioner for forty-five minutes. Axel can't keep doing this shit as they'll take away his shield. Axel knows Jeffrey will get it back like he always does, but Jeffrey just turned in his papers. Jeffrey wants to spend his remaining years with his family and grandkids. Axel reminds Jeffrey that he called one of his grandkids a sociopath, though the chief insists they're working through their issues. He asks when the last time Axel spoke to Jane was, which quiets the usually fast-talking cop. He calls Jane stubborn, though Jeffrey believes she comes by it honestly. He looks at a photograph fondly, with Axel realizing this isn't just an arbitrary day to retire - his friends is falling on a sword to cover Axel's ass. Jeffrey doesn't deny the allegation. He doesn't think Axel has anything else outside of the force. Axel believes the city still needs them, but Jeffrey thinks Axel needs the city. By the end of the day, it's just a job to Jeffrey. He tells Axel to talk to his daughter and leaves.

Across the country in Beverly Hills, California, Jane Saunders enters a prison as a lawyer. She walks to a holding cell to meet with her new client, Sam Enriquez. A friend of hers told her that he might have been set up. He can't afford Beverly Hills, but she's willing to take his case pro bono. She knows he has a daughter whose life he doesn't want to miss. She asks he wound up next to a dead cop with a murder weapon in his lap and cocaine in his trunk. His uncle Chalino talked him into muling one time. She asks him to reenact what happened. He's in the passenger seat next to Lieutenant Copeland, an undercover cop. They were driving when Copeland spots an SUV tailing them. He tried to call someone but his phone wasn't working, so he panicked. He claimed someone jammed his phone. Someone pulled up next to them and a masked man shot Copeland. Sam steered the car into their SUV but lost control and hit a pole. Next thing he knew, he woke up with a gun his lap and Copeland's body next to him.

Jane and Sam attend a hearing for substitution of counsel. Jane has a final matter to discuss. The defense is submitting a subpoena to access Lieutenant Copeland's financial records as they believe he was involved in potential criminal activity. The prosecutor leaps to his feet to object as murmurs break out in the gallery. Jane will be happy to disclose all relevant documents to the prosecution.

Jane walks back to her car in a parking garage while talking to a man about where to send the subpoena. The phone cuts out so she hangs up, getting into her car. Her phone stops working and a tow truck backs into her. She tries to get out but two masked men stop her, forcing her back into the car while another man hooks her car to the tow. The man smashes her window to demand she drop the Enriquez case. The truck then backs her off the ledge of the garage so she's dangling several stories in the air.

Billy Rosewood arrives to the crime scene later that evening. Jane is in an ambulance telling a beat cop that her attackers were in masks. Rosewood walks over and the cop is surprised to see him, as he thought Rosewood quit. He didn't quit, he chose to leave. The beat cop walks off while Rosewood and Jane talk about what happened and why. Rosewood got her into this but asks her to drop the case and walk away. He doesn't want to tell her dad that she got killed. She asks for his word to not tell her father. Rosewood thinks they more alike then Jane cares to admit.

Axel gets home late that night and answers his phone, seeing it's Billy. He tries to mess with him, but stops when Rosewood tells him it's about Jane. He tells Axel about the threat against Jane's life and the complicated case they're working. Rosewood has evidence to blow the whole case wide open. Axel is on the next plane out. Rosewood is sorry he got Janey involved in this, as they're like his family. Axel tells him not to kick in any doors until he gets there. Rosewood has one more thing to do before he'll pick up Axel at the airport.

Rosewood spies on a group of people at the impound lot when men with guns come up behind him.

Jeffrey drives Axel to the airport and tells him to fix the situation with Jane. He might think he has all the time in the world, but he doesn't. Axel leaves the car and tells his friend that he needs sun as he's looking terrible. Jeffrey tells him to watch his ass since he's not 22 anymore.

When Rosewood doesn't pick Axel up from the airport, he has to rent a classic beater car. He observes the streets of Beverly Hills and the residents who are out and about. It's drastically different from Detroit. He finally arrives at Billy's office, Rosewood Investigations, only to notice the door is ajar. He pretends to be one of them checking on why it's taking them so long. One of the goons finds a blade from First Blood. Axel notices an entry in Rosewood's day planner and rips it out, taking it for himself. The other guy finds a picture of Rosewood, Taggart, and Axel from a fishing trip. Axel tries to to deny the claims, saying the person in the photo is Wesley Snipes, but the goons don't believe him. Beck enters to see what's taking so long. Axel sprays them with a fire extinguisher, escapes, and pulls the fire alarm. The guys chase him on foot.

Axel spots a meter worker and calls her a Meter Lady, earning her annoyance. He steals her buggy so she sprays him with an excessive amount of pepper spray. She calls in for backup as he drives away. She clings to the side of the buggy demanding he pull over while spraying him more. He apologizes and flings her off as he dives. The men continue to chase him on foot as he tries to avoid pedestrians. He douses his face with water, drives down stairs, and knocks a lady into a fountain. Beck pursues Foley in a car until Foley flips his buggy, calling the attention of gawkers. Two officers arrive and arrest him. He belittles their "Fisher-Price looking" squad car.

Axel is taken to the station where a Detective Bobby Abbott begins booking him. Axel requests Taggart, but Bobby is pretty sure the Chief is busy. He's dubious Foley knows the Chief, then turns their attention to his file. Disturbing the peace, various shootouts, evading the police from '84, then '87, and '94 which Bobby remarks wasn't Axel's finest hour. Axel tells a beat cop to get him Taggart, while Abbott tries to get back to the problem at hand. Rosewood has been trying to mess up his case. He asks if Foley is helping him. Axel notices the LAPD pilot photo and asks why he left. Abbott appreciates that Axel's been doing this a long time, but the world has changed. He can't sit across the desk from another male, say something to insult his manhood, and think he's going to get so flustered with insecurity that he forgets what they're talking about. He's sure that has worked for him in the past, but it won't work with Abbott. He asks again why he was in Rosewood's office. He's charging Foley with two counts of reckless endangerment. Foley gets out of the handcuffs and hands them back to Abbott, requesting a call to his lawyer.

Jane leaves another message for Billy while looking over the Enriquez case file. She answers a call from the BHPD and it's Axel. She hangs up on him. He taps on the glass to get another call. He calls back and she tells him to listen then hangs up. He raps on the glass to get another call, blaming it on the phone. Jane, exasperated, picks up and he tells her that Rosewood called her and if she gets him out he'll tell her everything.

Jane pulls up to the BHPD and walks into a room where Axel is waiting. She enters wanting to know what Rosewood told him. He's silent for a few moments as he takes her in, smiling warmly. He's happy to see her and can't get over how she looks. She cuts him off as she's here about her client, Samuel Enriquez. He knows they need to talk about things. He's in town because he heard she wasn't safe. She asks if he wants to do this now, here, after not speaking for years. Abbott opens the door to relay that Taggart wants to see Foley. He stops when he sees Jane and they have a moment. She introduces Abbott to her dad, who asks if the two have "had intercourse". He asks Bobby to give them a minute, the promises to tell Jane everything he knows after talking to Taggart.

Axel goes into Chief John Taggart's office and the man is upset at Axel for pulling this crap on him. He then laughs and punches Axel in the stomach before pulling him into a hug. He's missed his brother and Foley questions why he's still there instead of retiring. Taggart did retire but he got back together with Maureen, so home is the last place he wants to be. He introduces Axel to Cade Grant, the head of the interdepartmental task force. Grant's been hearing Axel Foley stories since the academy, rising from his place on the couch to shake Foley's hand. Axel is in town because of Billy. Taggart knows everything that's going on, including Billy's cockamamie conspiracy theories. He also knows that Axel's daughter is defending a cop killer, which is news to Axel. They tell Axel about the Copeland case. Taggart went through the ranks with Copeland so he knows the claim of being dirty is horse shit. Grant agrees that Copeland was a smart cop and family man who coached a little league. Grant leaves to give them privacy.

Jane walks up to Abbott and they make small talk. He offers to walk her out as she asks if he's seeing anyone. He doesn't want to talk about that. She understands and apologizes for disappearing on him. They talk about Axel and he thinks it's interesting how they both are involved with the law. She jokes about being on his couch. He didn't have a good relationship with his father either.

Axel follows Jane out of the station while trying to talk with her about the situation with Rosewood. He thinks Captain Grant has more money than he should. She knows Rosewood was at the impound lot because Copeland's car was there, but doesn't want to talk more. Axel thinks whatever is down there could exonerate her client, so she agrees to take him to the impound lot on the condition that he leaves town tomorrow.

They drive through Beverly Hills listening to Mary J. Blige. He sings along, remembering she used to like it. She shuts it off a few moments later. She cuts him off as she doesn't want to talk about personal stuff. He understands but explains that he had to move her out of Detroit because the 12th Street Mafia vowed to execute his family. She wonders if the mafia told him to get a divorce and stay in Detroit. He insists that was her mother. They talk about the Copeland case and Enriquez's involvement. Enriquez got talked into mulling cocaine for his uncle Chalino, who Jane thinks was also working with Copeland. That doesn't make sense to Axel, as he can't see why Chalino would kill Copeland if they were working together. She tells him to put the file down so they discuss the "cop crap" that he jammed into her brain as a kid. He lies about going to therapy, though he read things online. He did things with her because he didn't know how to say what he wanted. She wonders what it means when a parent stops trying.

They pull into the impound lot and talk to the front desk man. Axel lies about being a producer for an upcoming movie to woo him over with the false promise of a leading movie role. He ultimately gets the receptionist to bring the dogs in so they can go out and "do research." Once outside, Jane identifies Copeland's car. Axel removes the air vent to find a surveillance camera hidden inside, surmising the SD card is what Rosewood was after. The camera wasn't in the file. As they walk out, he tries to bond with her over their shared ability to put things together, but she insists on no bonding. He reveals they're being followed and uses his phone camera to find a tracking device hidden on her car.

Axel puts the tracker on a school bus then has Jane pull into a parking lot so they can observe who follows the bus. It's the same men from Rosewood's office. The men realize Axel moved the tracker and watch as the schoolkids mock them from the back window.

Axel confronts Jane about changing her name from Foley to Saunders. He makes his disapproval over her new surname clear, ultimately making her chuckle.

Jane brings him to The Eastern Social Club and he ignores her warning that it's a private club that won't let him up. He saunters inside while attempting to lie about being a Fire Marshall there for a fire inspection. The host reveals the Chief was there recently and asks to see his badge again. Axel tries to bullshit his way through it until Jane walks up, fixing the situation and taking charge. She handles the situation perfectly, getting them upstairs without a problem.

Once upstairs, Axel applauds Jane for her work downstairs. He thinks she enjoyed seeing her father at work. They spot the guys from Rosewood's office hanging out with Captain Grant and walk over. Grant apologizes to Foley for the trouble. He reveals Rosewood stole evidence from the car which is why his men were there. Jane knows they aren't cops, with Grant admitting he had to pivot from the chain of command in this new day and age. He's under pressure and needs to recover the evidence to exonerate Copeland. He'll do whatever it takes to bring Copeland's family peace. Jane wants that for Enriquez. Grant remarks on her and Axel's vibrant relationship in wake of her protecting the same people Axel puts away. He monologues about putting their lives on the line. Axel agrees the job asks a lot without giving a lot back - at least nothing like the Rolex on Grant's wrist. Grant excuses them.

Axel tells Jane in the car that he agrees that Grant is dirty. She thinks he knows what happened to Copeland, knows they know, and is powerful which means he's dangerous. She asks if he thinks Grant is right about her. He doesn't want to sit and pretend like her becoming an attorney does have something to do with him. She accuses him of never being there. He knows they both messed things up and wants to call it even. She drops him off at his rental car, promising to talk to him in another five years. If he had gone to therapy he would know the parent is always the parent and the child is always the child. He messed this up, not her. He watches her drive off.

Axel calls Billy and leaves a message on his voicemail. He enters a fancy hotel and starts to bullshit his way into a room, but is too tired. He asks for a room and gets one - for $940 a night plus tax.

In the morning, Axel drives to the address Rosewood left in his planner. He sees the guys from last night there.

Jane walks to her next meeting as her assistant gives her a rundown on her next client. She enters the room to find Axel there impersonating Red Michaels. She tells her assistant to get him out of there, but Axel stops her to show the entry. The address had a lot of security. The guys are dangerous so he wants her to be safe. She wants to talk with Sam and he offers to do it, thinking he looks like a lawyer. He then pivots as he can talk to Sam one street kid to another. She accepts his help then mocks his cheap looking suit.

Taggart talks on the phone with Maureen about his liver pills when Abbott enters with the Copeland file. Abbott tells Taggart about the camera in the car, though no one on the task force thought to tell him about it. Taggart minimizes the case by calling it a self-solver. He tells Abbott not to be so interesting, but he insists Taggart look at the camera. The camera isn't police issued. Abbott tells Taggart about Rosewood and Foley being at the impound lot.

Axel still can't reach Rosewood. They both know he doesn't scare easily which worries them. He spots Abbott tailing them and calls him Jane's "boy" which she tries to deny, but Axel saw them back at the station. A white van pulls in front of Abbott. Axel tries to get more information from Jane about the relationship, but she cuts him off. He tells her that he's only been a father as long as she's been a daughter. He's been making things up as he goes along. He lists ages she was then stops, with her now believing he doesn't know how old his only daughter is. Abbott notices a gang in the van and tries to intervene. The gang shoots Axel's car up and he throws himself over Jane while driving away. Abbott intervenes to help take out the shooters. Axel's car gets hit and is out of commission, so the shooters turn their attention to the car. Axel and Jane make a plan, not knowing the attackers can see their reflection. Abbott kills the shooters, saving Axel and Jane. Axel turns to his daughter and recites her birthday and age.

Back at the station, Axel talks to Abbott about his help. He asks Abbott about his relationship with Jane. He's not afraid to admit that Jane broke up with him. She couldn't date a cop, which silences Axel. He then asks about the Cartel that attacked them. They're out of Adelanto but were busted back in October by Rosewood. The case went nowhere and was dropped because the supervisor on the case was Grant. Taggart bellows from his office for Axel to come see him.

Taggart felt good a few days ago, but today, his blood pressure is up. Axel tosses the file on the desk. The department tested the dope but it was powder. Billy accused Grant of swapping out the dope and swore up and down Grant was dirty. It didn't add up to Taggart and Billy wouldn't let it go, which pissed a lot of people off. He turned over his badge over it and blamed Taggart for not having his back. Taggart knows Grant, trained him, and was his boot. Axel counters that Billy was Taggart's partner for thirty years and is in trouble now. He asks if Taggart is part of this shit, which offends Taggart as they've been friends for four decades. Axel wants him to start being a cop again. Taggart bellows at Foley to get out of there and back to Detroit. He calls Abbott over to suspend him without pay pending an investigation of his handling of the Copeland murder. Abbott surmises that Taggart doesn't want to solve the case, just manage it.

Jane sits outside when Axel tells her they're on their own. he thinks they're getting close. She doesn't do shootouts, but he knows no one else is going to help her client or Rosewood. Abbott walks over as he's willing to help them out.

Back at Jane's office, Abbott checks-in on Jane as she works. Axels wants some sugar for his coffee and Abbott knows where it is, which Axel remarks on. Jane ignores her father's remarks to relay the house Axel visited was bought last August with all cash by a trust called Ocean Equities, LLC. Abbott thinks it's the cartel smuggling drug money. Axel saw the house next door was for sale. If they can get a tour he can sneak over. He knows someone who can get them inside.

In the morning, Serge pulls up in an expensive car and reunites with "Ach-well" outside. Jane remembers him and introduces Serge to Abbott, whose name Serge butchers. He senses chemistry between Abbott and Jane. Serge drives them to the house while telling Axel about how pretty Jane and Abbott look together.

Serge greets Ashley inside the house and introduces them to Jane and Abbott, who are pretending to be newlyweds with a rich father-in-law. Ashley, a true valley girl, shows them around the expansive house. Axel pretends to call his banker when really, he sneaks over the privacy wall to the house next door. He notices guards surveilling the property, but avoids them expertly.

Ashley shows Jane and Abbott the bathroom while gushing about loving love. She knows the house rules and asks if they love bathrooms. She admits she's single which bums Serge. Ashley overshares about her love life then shows them to the walk-in closet.

Axel finds powder on boxes in the house. He uncovers a tarp to find a dented SUV. As he walks in the hall, he notices a camera and ducks out of view.

Abbott asks Jane if she thinks the people who built the house liked it. She impersonates them as she calls the house taupe. Ashley overhears so Abbott covers it up by saying his wife is passionate about interior design. Jane kisses him just before Axel comes back. Ashley laughs over their names combining to say, "Axually" [actually]. He bluntly says they aren't buying the house because it's horrible.

Beck calls Grant to tell him Axel was at the house. He wants to call their Sinoloan friends, but Grant wants Beck to focus on the SD card.

Axel tells Abbott and Jane about the black SUV he found. He shows them the photo he took. He also found a cell phone jammer. Jane thinks this is over now, but Axel knows it's not. They don't have anything solid to tell Taggart. They have to find the SD card by finding Billy. Jane was chasing reasonable doubt which she found. Axel wants to talk with Chalino, though Jane thinks they're crazy and should use the law. She realizes him being there wasn't about her, but him wanting action. He wants to be a bigger part of her life after she pushed him away. She snaps back that he gave up and never fought for her - only his job. She walks away as Axel watches, dejected.

Axel and Abbott drive across town. He talks about his father moving them from Chicago to Beverly Hills. He doesn't know why Jane hates Axel so much, but Abbott does know why he hates his own father. He moved them out to a new city and then left his mom with the year. He couldn't see the toll it took on his family until recently when he called Abbott over to apologize, which meant a lot. Axel doesn't think he owes Jane an apology because she shut him out of her life.

They arrive at Chalino's strip club El Jaguar. Abbott warns them about the men being armed. He admits to being nervous but thinks it's healthy. They walk inside to hear Chalino butchering a karaoke song. They take a seat while observing the Cartel patrons. Axel loudly applauds for Chalino and walks up to him while raving. Chalino takes this as a potential insult. Abbott intervenes as they're here to help his nephew Sam in exchange for his help in putting away Grant. Chalino clocks them as cops and rips them on the mic before putting a gun in Abbott's face. Axel admits his daughter was attacked by Grant and his men. They can all win in this scenario, which Chalino understands. They take a seat at a table while Chalino tells them about Grant's reach and connections to the cartel. He killed Copeland because Copeland wanted to get clean and was talking to a PI. Grant caught the PI, whom Axel and Abbott know is Rosewood, sniffing around the east basin of the port where the drugs come in. That's all he has to say on the matter. The last shipment of drugs is going out tonight. Chalino warns that if they backstab him, he'll have his homies roll up on all of them.

Axel and Abbott leaves to the parking lot as Axel mocks Abbott potentially wasting his pants inside. A bunch of cops arrive and arrest them - including Grant. He finds kilos of cocaine inside Abbott's car. The officers tase both men.

Grant has Axel in an interrogation room as she condescends him about selling drugs. Axel accuses him of seeing too many movies as it'll never fly in court. He also knows Grant doesn't need it to because he'll get deputies to dump them in the pier. Grant thinks they're more alike than they realize. Grant shows him a scar on his fibula from where he got shot. All he got for his trouble was a pat on the back and a ribbon. He can't afford to live in the city he got shot in. Axel didn't get a ribbon when he got shot. Grant almost admires him then asks about Jane on his way out. Axel notices a napkin blowing in the wind and opens the vent. He also slips his handcuffs.

Taggart is walking slowly on his treadmill while drinking beer. He answers a call from Renee Minnick and her partner who arrested Axel during his meter maid car chase. He shouts at Maureen from the treadmill, telling the girls not to get married. Renee tells Taggart about Grant arresting Axel and Abbott on cocaine possession, which makes him realize the cop is dirty.

Grant finds the open vent and examines it. Axel pulls him down to the table, knocking him out and cuffing him. He sneaks out of the room and into Abbott's room where he frees his friend. They sneak away and Axel grabs his badge and gun from the table. The guards alert to their escape, so they take to the stairs, with Axel pulling Abbott to the roof. They arrive at a helicopter which Abbott doesn't want to fly. Axel calls him a "touch negative" since he's a helicopter pilot. They climb in despite Abbott's trepidations.

Grant believes they're still in the building because of the lockdown.

Axel yells at Abbott about knowing how to fly a helicopter until the man snaps at him to shut up.

Grant and the men race to the roof.

Abbott struggles to fly the helicopter then admits he crashed a helicopter, which is why he left the LAFD. They both start screaming as they plummet toward the ground. They barely make it out. Axel screams about not knowing he crashed plane. They argue over the headsets while flying low to the ground.

Grant tells his officers to track the helicopter from the ground because they're below the flying radar.

Axel freaks out in the passenger seat as Abbott tells him to shut up. Grant pulls up in his car while demanding they "pull over". He shoots at them as Abbott panics about fainting. Axel smacks him then threatens to shoot him if he doesn't fly the damn helicopter. Abbott decides to land outside the BHPD. Taggart races out of the building while shouting at Foley for stealing it. Axel shrugs and points blame to Abbott. Grant arrives and keeps shooting, taking off a rotor. They land fairly hard on the Beverly Hills Golf Club course. They climb out after some choice words from Foley. A golfer yells at them as Axel lies about a passenger being stuck inside. The golfer calls his attorney then orders his caddy to save the passenger. While they're distracted, Foley and Abbott steal a golf cart.

They need to steal a car from the valet, but the valet isn't budging on their request to borrow one for official police business. The valet has worked there 10 years and can't just give them a car because they're "brothers". Axel tries to barter to now avail. The valet walks off to help a customer. Abbott reveals he swiped a set of keys.

Jane visits Taggart to ask if he can chat. She learns of the arrest and that Taggart believes Billy now. Axel hasn't checked in with her either. Jane feels bad because she said some stuff she shouldn't have the last time they saw each other. He tells her to stop because her dad does care about her, more than anything.

Jane leaves a message from her dad on the way out of the BHPD. She gets in her car when a man with a gun emerges from the backseat.

Abbott and Axel arrive at the pier looking for Rosewood. Axel notices the same truck from the cartel mansion along with Rosewood's car. They enter the building and see Rosewood tied to a chair, beaten and bloody. He spots Axel in the window and pretends that he's ready to share the SD cards location. Axel sneaks in while Rosewood stalls, knocking out the guards. Rosewood asks what took them so long as Axel frees him. They don't have much time to get out. Rosewood picks up a big gun, happy to have firepower. Axel smirks that he's missed his buddy.

The trio steal a semi-truck and escape as statues full of cocaine fall out. The cartel pursues in a car and shoots at them with automatic weapons. They shake the cartel as they drive across a bridge. Rosewood hid the SD card in the Rambo knife in his office. Axel calls Jane's phone, but Grant answers instead. He's holding Jane hostage in the mansion. He wants the SD card and truck in exchange for Jane's life. He gives them a warehouse address instead of the mansion and a deadline of one hour. He hangs up then instructs Beck to keep the cartel from killing Jane until he has the SD card. Beck orders everyone to break the mansion down.

Jeffrey's retirement party is in full swing at the Detroit Police Department. He answers a call from Axel who asks him to track Jane's phone. He insists Jane is in trouble and he obliges to tracking it, learning she's at the mansion. Her phone is one and hasn't moved in a while. He promises to call Axel if the phone moves and tells his friend to stay safe. The trio barrel down the highway. Rosewood knows they need backup, but Abbott doesn't think they can call the police as fugitives. Axel speeds up and takes out a cops patrol car door to lure the police after them. Rosewood grins as he missed his friend. A sea of patrol cars follow Axel as Abbott remarks on never being on this side of the chase before. Rosewood cheekily responds it's an acquired taste, then asks if Axel's taken Abbott to a strip club yet. This disgusts Axel, who refuses to do that as Abbott's had intercourse with Jane. Axel causes a traffic pile up with the police cars. Rosewood laughs over Taggart shitting himself, while Abbott grimly notes they lost their backup.

Grant snorts some cocaine as Jane asks about his master plan. Her biggest issue with her father was his maniacal focus and relentless nature. That's Grant's biggest issue now. Grant believes he controls the narrative with Enriquez, Copeland, Foley, and now her. When people hear that her father was killed by the cartel it'll be easy to believe, because they're not going to believe he lasted this long. Axel's squeaky clean daughter crashing her car while speeding to find out what happened to her father is just tragic.

Axel plows through the mansions gates as the cartel opens fire on them. He drives through the front door and entry way. Jane wishes Grant luck as he storms out of the room.

The trio takes heavy fire. Rosewood holds the line while Abbott and Axel pursue Grant.

Taggart speeds down the street while loading his gun, cursing Foley's name as he does.

Abbott and Axel takes out the cartel members in their search for Jane.

Taggart arrives at the mansion and cocks his shotgun. Rosewood runs out of bullets which the cartel are thrilled by. Taggart barges in while shooting the men. He lays next to Rosewood behind a pile of rubble, remarking on his friends shitty appearance. Taggart gives him a gun to shoot with. Billy would like an apology at some point. Taggart just saved his life and is about to die for him. Billy still thinks it would be nice to hear the words. They return fire on the cartel. Billy decides to mow them down the count of three. Taggart calls him a "fucking lunatic" then admits he can't get up. Billy jumps up and takes out the shooters. He holds up his badge, shouting at them to drop their weapons. Taggart, in disbelief, says some things never change.

Jane is tied up with Silva watching her. He's called away and Jane makes quick work of the handcuffs. She picks up a vase and smashes it over his head, stealing his gun. Axel continues to take out shooters on his path to Jane. He sneaks into the room and finds Silva knocked out. Grant is on the other side with a gun drawn. Grant sees Beck sneaking around outside and stalls by sharing his familial woes. Jane shoots Beck before he can shoot Axel. Grant takes advantage of Axel's momentary lack of focus to shoot at Jane, but Axel leaps in front of the gun and takes the bullet. Jane screams for her dad as Grant prepares to take another shot at her. Abbott shoots Grant in the head from the doorway. Jane kneels by her father while assuring him he's gonna be okay.

In the aftermath, Taggart tells Billy he's sorry for not having his back before. They shakes hands, reconciling their friendship. Billy hugs him happily. They watch as an unconscious Axel is rolled away on a stretcher. The paramedic tells Jane to meet them at the hospital. Abbott consoles Jane with an arm around her shoulder and a kiss on the head.

A few days later, the nurse gives Axel the lunch choices which disgust him. The doctor tells Jane that her father, while improving, will need to stay for a while. She asks to see him and gets directions for his room. She walks in and finds the bed empty, the lunch tray on the table, and rolls her eyes.

Axel sits in a diner while ordering a burger, fries, and shake. Jane leaves the hospital and sees the diner across the street. She walks in, remarking on finding him there. She asks how he's doing and he doesn't feel anything dripping. She fills him in on what he's missed. Captain Grant and five others were DOA, three perps are in the hospital under watch, and the DA dropped the charges against Enriquez. He admits she was right about a parent always being a parent. He knows he messed that up and he's sorry. She never thought about him being a parent as long as she's been a child before. While the parent bears the responsibility, she's an adult now too. He asks if he can have another shot at it. She wants him to get well then call her. Maybe he can stay longer in Beverly Hills. He makes a deal with her, saying he's very proud of her. She needs to get him back now, calling him dad, which he loves. She helps him off the stool as he teases her about calling him dad. He tells her to get her pocketbook and she jokes that he suddenly turned into an 83-year-old. They walk across the street together while talking.

A week later, Rosewood and Taggart sit in an unmarked car across the street to watch Foley's hospital. Rosewood asks Taggart a personal question about his relationship with Maureen, and they are both startled when Axel gets in the back seat. He calls them a terrible surveillance team. He doesn't want to be in the hospital anymore. He wants to get a steak. Taggart refuses but Axel presses on then turns to Rosewood. Rosewood decides to start the car, with Taggart giving in. He makes Axel promise not to tell Jane. Axel grins that this will be fantastic - "trust me."

Cast[]

Eddie Murphy as Axel Foley
Joseph Gordon-Levitt^[1] as Detective Bobby Abbott^[2]
Taylour Paige^[1] as Jane Saunders^[2]
Judge Reinhold^[3] as Lieutenant Billy Rosewood
John Ashton^[3] as Chief John Taggart
Paul Reiser^[3] as Deputy Chief Jeffrey Friedman
Bronson Pinchot^[3] as Serge
Kevin Bacon^[4] as Captain Cade Grant^[2]
Jameison Walker II as Traffic Cop
Tony Jones as Fireworks Kid
Ed Cali as Young Guard
Brandon Butler as Lang
Kyle S. More as Detective Mike Woody
Kenneth Nance Jr. as Junior Bollinger
Chuck McCollum as Athletic Trainer
Da Dbahor as Plow Driver
Jon Lee Richardson as Tyler - Dispatcher Trainee
Bee-Be Smith as Older Dispatcher
Keith Pillow as Captain Radtke
Christopher Matthew Cook as Officer Reid (aka Corrections Officer #2)
Princess Elmore as Corrections Officer
Damien Diaz as Sam Enriquez
Patricia Belcher as Judge Angelic
Daniel Kaemon as Deputy DA Cronin
Walter Belenky as LAPD Officer
Raquel Bell as EMT
David Rowden as Copeland
Tina Clark as Airport P.D.
Joseph Aviel as Silva
James Preston Rogers as Kurtz
Mark Pellegrino as Beck
Chantal Nchkao as Meter Maid
Bria Murphy as Officer Renee Minnick
Giovannie Cruz as Officer Paula Chavez
Sean Llang as Boghos
Roshan Maloney as Eastern Club Host
Natalie Ford as Beverly Palms Hotel Desk Clerk
Deon Griffin as Jane's Assistant Brad
Ken Moreno as Sicario in Pickup Truck #3
Suzanne Ford as Felicity (Woman with Dog)
Nasim Pedrad as Ashley De La Rosa
Luis Guzmán as Chalino Valdemoro
Sarah Abrell as Maureen Taggart
Andy Marques as Leviathan Officer
Josh Tessier as Leviathan Officer
Christopher McDonald as Golfer
Affion Crockett as Country Club Valet
Tony Graham as Cartel Hombre
Mari Worden as Cartel Mamacita
Frances Wong as Paramdic
Laura Castle as Paramedic
Atticus Batacan as Nurse
Eugene Kim as Surgeon
Ingrid Patricia Estrada as Waitress
Jonathan "Bushman" Dunnings as Voice of DJ

Production[]

Soundtrack[]

Title	Artist	Scene
The Heat Is On	Glenn Frey	Axel drives the streets of Detroit.
I Don't F*ck With You	Big Sean ft. E-40	Axel tries to apprehend a snow plow.
Shakedown	Bob Seger	Snow plow chase scene.
Players (DJ Saige Remix)	Coi Leray	Axel arrives in Beverly Hills.
Hot in the City	Billy Idol	Axel arrives in Beverly Hills.
Neutron Dance	The Pointer Sisters	Axel steals a Meter Maid's cart.
Family Affair	Mary J. Blige	Axel and Jane drive to the impound lot.
Milkshake	Kelis	Serge arrives at the hotel.
Maneater	Hall & Oates (cover by Luis Guzmán)	Chalino sings karaoke.
Here We Go	Lil Nas X	Axel, Billy, and Abbott drive to the mansion Axel hits a police car Plays over end credits

Notes and Trivia[]

The film ends in similar way as Beverly Hills Cop, with Axel saying the same final line, telling Taggart and Rosewood "trust me".
Eddie Murphy's real life daughter Bria plays one of the traffic cops who arrests Axel during the meter maid car chase scene. Director Mark Molloy heard Bria wanted to be involved and thought it would be perfect if she arrested her father. Eddie's line about the arresting officers being "Lego cops" was improvised.^[5]
Axel F continued to dominate the Netflix charts weeks after its release, with over 22 million weekly views.^[6]
Eddie Murphy's iconic role in Shrek is indirectly mentioned when Axel is talking to Chalino. He mentions the man is layered, "like a beautiful onion." In Shrek, Murphy's character Donkey has a famous line about how onions have layers.