Buddy cop movies are my guilty pleasure. There’s something deeply satisfying about watching two completely different people forced to work together while shooting bad guys and making terrible jokes.

The formula is simple: take two actors with opposing personalities, throw them into dangerous situations, and watch the magic happen.

I’ve binged enough cop comedies to know what works and what doesn’t. These five movies represent the absolute peak of the genre; perfect combinations of action, comedy, and chemistry that make you believe these mismatched partners could solve crimes together.

5 Best Buddy Cop Movies

5. Ride Along 2 (2016)

TMJ Rating: 3/5

I know what you’re thinking; putting a Kevin Hart sequel this high is controversial as hell. But hear me out: Ride Along 2 is everything the first movie should have been. Hart and Ice Cube’s chemistry is finally dialed in, and they let Hart be funny without making him completely incompetent.

The Miami setting gives everything a Bad Boys energy that works perfectly. Hart’s Ben is still the bumbling security guard turned new cop trying to prove himself, but he’s not completely useless anymore. Ice Cube’s James actually starts respecting his future brother-in-law, which gives their banter more weight.

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What really sells this one is how committed everyone is to the bit. Ken Jeong shows up as a hacker and doesn’t completely overdo it. The action sequences are surprisingly solid, and Hart gets genuine laughs without relying on his usual short jokes.

Also, one quick add-on: I love Bruce McGill in any and every cop show/movie.

4. Hot Fuzz (2007)

TMJ Rating: 4/5

Edgar Wright took the buddy cop formula and turned it into this brilliant parody that somehow works as both comedy and a genuine action thriller. Simon Pegg and Nick Frost play mismatched cops in a sleepy English village, and the result is absolutely perfect.

I caught this during my Edgar Wright obsession phase and got completely sucked into the mystery. What starts as a gentle mockery of action movies becomes this insane third act that delivers everything those movies promise. Wright understands the genre so well that his parody ends up being better than most straight versions.

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Pegg plays the by-the-book city cop forced into rural hell, while Frost is the lazy local who just wants to eat ice cream and watch Point Break. Their friendship develops naturally while the conspiracy around them gets increasingly ridiculous.

3. The Nice Guys (2016)

TMJ Rating: 4/5

Shane Black created something special here - a buddy cop movie that’s actually about detecting instead of explosions. Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling play mismatched private investigators in 1970s LA, and their chemistry is immediately perfect.

Gosling plays the bumbling drunk detective while Crowe is the competent enforcer, but neither character is stupid. They’re both good at their jobs in different ways, which makes their partnership feel earned. Plus, the 70s setting allows for some gorgeous cinematography and costume design.

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The mystery is compelling; something about porn stars and car manufacturers and government corruption that actually makes sense by the end. But what really works is how these two broken men slowly become friends while solving an impossible case.

2. 21 Jump Street (2012)

TMJ Rating: 4.5/5

This movie had no right to be as good as it is. Taking an '80s TV show and turning it into a meta-comedy about undercover cops in high school should have been a disaster. But Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum create something magical here.

The genius is in the role reversal—Hill’s character was a loser in high school but thrives when he goes back undercover, while Tatum’s jock discovers that being cool has completely changed. It’s a brilliant commentary on how high school social dynamics have evolved.

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Tatum proves he’s genuinely funny, not trying to be the straight man. Hill gets to play someone competent for once. Their friendship feels real even when the situations get completely absurd. Plus, the action sequences are surprisingly well-choreographed.

1. The Other Guys (2010)

TMJ Rating: 5/5

Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg together is pure comedic gold.

I’ve watched this movie probably 20 times, and Wahlberg’s unhinged energy paired with Ferrell’s deadpan delivery never gets old. This is buddy cop comedy perfection.

Ferrell plays the forensic accountant who doesn’t want to be in the field, while Wahlberg is the loose cannon desperate to prove himself. Their dynamic is beautiful; Ferrell’s character is secretly badass but wants to stay at his desk, while Wahlberg’s guy thinks he’s badass but keeps screwing everything up.

The movie works on multiple levels. It’s a genuine action comedy with solid set pieces, a corporate conspiracy thriller that actually makes sense, and a character study about two men dealing with their own insecurities. Plus, Michael Keaton as their captain is absolute perfection.

The best Buddy cop movies live and die on the chemistry between the leads. These five movies prove that when you get the casting right and give the characters room to breathe, the formula still works perfectly.

What’s your favorite buddy cop comedy? Think I ranked these right, or am I completely wrong? Drop your thoughts in the comments!