Eddie Murphy Says ‘Beverly Hills Cop’ Paved the Way for ‘Bad Boys’ and ‘Rush Hour’

Eddie Murphy is back on the beat as Detective Axel Foley in the new Netflix film Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F.

During the film’s world premiere at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills on June 20, Murphy talked about the cultural impact of the Beverly Hills Cop franchise since it debuted in 1984.

“This the very first movie where you have that action and comedy that became Die Hard and Rush Hour and Bad Boys and Lethal Weapon,” said Murphy. “Before Beverly Hills Cop, the cops were really serious like Clint Eastwood [in Sudden Impact saying], ‘Go ahead, make my day.’ After Beverly Hills Cop, all the cops started saying, ‘Hasta la vista, baby’… it all happens after Beverly Hills Cop.”

Related: Eddie Murphy Causes Chaos in Official ‘Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F’ Trailer

The actor and comedian was joined on the red carpet by his longtime partner Paige Butcher and three of his daughters.

The cast and crew of Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F were also there to celebrate the movie’s upcoming release on July 3.

This fourth installment of the franchise finds Axel’s daughter (Taylour Paige) facing a serious threat. Axel teams up with a new partner (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), and his old pals Billy Rosewood (Judge Reinhold) and John Taggart (John Ashton) to uncover a conspiracy.

The cast also includes Paul Reiser, Bronson Pinchot, Kevin Bacon, Affion Crockett, Christopher McDonald, Damien Diaz, and Chantal Nchako.

Murphy said he enjoyed working on the film.

“It was fun because the newbies were so happy to be doing the movie. And the old-heads were so happy to be doing a movie. We just had that in common,” he explained.

The comedian promised viewers who aren’t familiar with the first three films won’t have to do a lot of catching up to follow the new story.

“If you’ve never seen the other Beverly Hills Cops, this movie works. It’s a good movie, solidly written and everybody’s amazing in it. All the performances are really funny. It’s very well directed and produced by the great Jerry Bruckheimer,” he said.

Bruckheimer and director Mark Molloy joined Murphy at the premiere, along with some of their friends.

Others attending the gathering included Cedric the Entertainer, Martin Lawrence, Sugar Ray Leonard, Loni Love, Jay Pharoah, Keegan-Michael Key, Kyra Sedgwick, Kyle McLaughlin, Kyla Pratt, Reggie Hudlin, Byron Allen, composer Lorne Balfe, and rapper Lil Nas X, who has an original song in the film.

Detroit rapper Big Sean was there too, and ended the evening with a surprise performance.

Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F debuts globally on Netflix July 3, 2024.

Watch the interview with Eddie Murphy below.