Best 80’s cop movie?

[HCM]

Upon reflection, I think the best cop movie of the 80s may well be 1989’s Dead -Bang with Don Johnson.

Very loosely based on a true story, Don Johnson plays the antithesis of Sonny Crockett investigating the murder of a police officer by a white supremacist. His character is a Homicide detective who is a divorced, broke, functional alcoholic who needs reading glasses.

[Joe45]

Well, people already took probably all of the good ones, so I guess I'll throw some ridiculous ones on the list.

Black Rain
Midnight Run
No Man's Land (if you're a car geek, not much in the way of cop stuff through most of it though)
A Better Tomorrow & The Killer (both for gratuitous action)
Who Framed Roger Rabbit
Stakeout
Raw Deal
Robocop, of course

There are far more to choose from in the 90s in my opinion, and a much greater number of decent ones.

Totally forgot about midnight run!

Though Die Hard has cops in it, it’s not really a “cop” movie.

Fine. But it definitely IS a Christmas movie.

[MK11]

The best ones are already listed but Nighthawks was solid




Technically 1990, but King of New York is 1980s crack war vibe and maybe the best movie nobody saw

[Sig_Fiend]

If we get into the 90s, beyond some of the obvious ones most will call out, L.A. Confidential is by far one the best. Very classic feel, great score, a bit of noir feel, great cast and acting. Hard to beat! I doubt we'll ever see one made like this again, to that degree of quality.

[AMC]

I've never seen it, but it's kind of funny. I had a dream, once, where I was facing down four bad guys with a K-frame. One guy said "there's four of us and you have only six shots." I shot him in the head and said "there's three of you and I have five shots." I don't remember where it went from that.

I loved Sharkey's Machine. Haven't seen it since. But definately Naked Gun.

That is probably the coolest dream sequence of all time. You win the Astral Plane. Forever, 'cause...you know....time doesn't matter and all....

[P30]

[Coyotesfan97]

If we get into the 90s, beyond some of the obvious ones most will call out, L.A. Confidential is by far one the best. Very classic feel, great score, a bit of noir feel, great cast and acting. Hard to beat! I doubt we'll ever see one made like this again, to that degree of quality.

My all time favorite cop movie. I’m glad it was mentioned. So many great scenes.

Off the record, on the QT, and very hush hush.

[HCM]

The best ones are already listed but Nighthawks was solid




Technically 1990, but King of New York is 1980s crack war vibe and maybe the best movie nobody saw

King of New York is a great movie (which I saw in the theater BTW) but it’s a Gangster Movie not a cop movie.

[Tennessee Jed]

Not sure how this thread has gone this far without mentioning Turner & Hooch.

[Amp]

Manhunter was good: