48 HRS (1982)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Spencer S

  
  This is yet another formulaic action film from the overblown eighties, complete with naked broads, gunplay, and a maniacal killer. Much like other eighties films there's a deadline before everything blows up in the protagonist's face and someone dies. This is the first Eddie… More
  This is yet another formulaic action film from the overblown eighties, complete with naked broads, gunplay, and a maniacal killer. Much like other eighties films there's a deadline before everything blows up in the protagonist's face and someone dies. This is the first Eddie Murphy vehicle, made during his time on SNL and led to his impressive film career. Here a hostage situation leads to a craggy policeman going on a vendetta with the unneeded deaths of two police officers, and springing a convict from his cell for 48 hours to help catch the guys responsible. While Cates (Nick Nolte) is an irresponsible, violent, and corrugated kind of cop, he does abide by some rules. Though he continually tries to apprehend the criminals and get information he needs through illegal means he always comes close before being foiled by other policemen who don't know he's a cop. After finding out that a convicted criminal may hold the key to finding the place where money for a hostage will be exchanged, he springs Reggie Hammond (Eddie Murphy). The rest of the film is the two playing off one another while being shot at and running after bad guys in elaborate car chases throughout the city. Though there's a lot of great dialogue and social commentary in this film, Nolte and Murphy are not an appropiate pairing. Both are loose cannons, and though Reggie is more talk than anything, he still engages in dangerous situations and exhibits little to no fear. Cates also shows no fear, and bumbles through every encounter with a crook like a godlike entity that can ricochet bullets and kill off everyone in his way. They aren't tortured heroes and aren't especially interesting except for their feats of daring. I don't see any real character development besides Nolte being grumpy and Murphy being a smart ass. If there was more balance, or at least some backstory for Reggie this would feel like a much more comprehensive film. The action isn't very engaging and very little of this doesn't drag. Except for being a platform for Murphy's off the wall humor at times this has very little appeal.

• Ken S

  
  I feel REALLY late to the party on this one. Good, but nothing spectacular. To be fair this movie has been copied, parodied, and ripped-off so much it's hard for it so seem as fresh as I'm sure it was when it came out.

• Shawn E

  
  A great action comedy film about a partnership between a cop and a convict as they try to bring down a cop killer. The combination between Murphy and Nolte is fantastic! The plot is solid and the action is in full supply. A film with lots of action, laughs, and great acting make this… More
  A great action comedy film about a partnership between a cop and a convict as they try to bring down a cop killer. The combination between Murphy and Nolte is fantastic! The plot is solid and the action is in full supply. A film with lots of action, laughs, and great acting make this film engaging and an enjoyment to watch.

• AJ V

  
  An average cop movie, it does have some funny scenes because of Murphy, but otherwise it's not that good.

• Conner R

  
  There's really no denying that this is a fun buddy cop movie. Actually, next to Lethal Weapon it's probably the best. The chemistry between Nick Nolte and Eddie Murphy is natural and hilarious. Walter Hill also brings in his trademark cast including David Patrick Kelly and… More
  There's really no denying that this is a fun buddy cop movie. Actually, next to Lethal Weapon it's probably the best. The chemistry between Nick Nolte and Eddie Murphy is natural and hilarious. Walter Hill also brings in his trademark cast including David Patrick Kelly and James Remar. It has a great pace, a good enough story and is most importantly memorable.

• Al S

  
  A awesomely entertaining action film that's powerful and wickedly funny. It proves action flicks can be serious and humorous all at the same time. A guilty pleasure in every way. Nick Nolte and Eddie Murphy are fantastic, they got style, humor and toughness packed in with their… More
  A awesomely entertaining action film that's powerful and wickedly funny. It proves action flicks can be serious and humorous all at the same time. A guilty pleasure in every way. Nick Nolte and Eddie Murphy are fantastic, they got style, humor and toughness packed in with their dazzling chemistry. A head-bashing, barrels blazing tongue in cheek thriller. It's a totally fun roller coaster ride. One of the great classic buddy movies of the eighties.

• Lady D

  
  Very typical of the 80?s style action films, over the top, difficult relationship breeds good relationship.

• Anthony L

  
  Nick Nolte is such a mean bastard. Watch how violent he is in this. Those are real punches! Watch The Three fugitives as well, poor little Martin Short.

• Mike S

  
  Classic action-comedy, from a time when Eddie Murphy was still funny and Nick Nolte didn't look like a homeless alcoholic. I had been wanting to see this for who-knows-how-long, but for some reason never got around to it, as other movies kept taking priority. Anyway, now that I… More
  Classic action-comedy, from a time when Eddie Murphy was still funny and Nick Nolte didn't look like a homeless alcoholic. I had been wanting to see this for who-knows-how-long, but for some reason never got around to it, as other movies kept taking priority. Anyway, now that I finally have, I'm happy to say it did not disappoint. The action scenes may not be all that impressive by today's standards, and the bad guys are very one-dimensional, but what it does have is some great dialogue, and I can't say I was bored for a single second. So as far as buddy movies goes, this is pretty much as good as it gets.

• Luke B

  
  A cool black convict and an up tight slightly racist cop teaming up? Uh-oh. Some shit is going down. Funny, thrilling and enjoyable in equal moderation. Murphy and Nolte make a surprisingly great duo with some sparky dialogue between the two. Nolte plays it especially straight and… More
  A cool black convict and an up tight slightly racist cop teaming up? Uh-oh. Some shit is going down. Funny, thrilling and enjoyable in equal moderation. Murphy and Nolte make a surprisingly great duo with some sparky dialogue between the two. Nolte plays it especially straight and Murphy doesn't go so overboard that he annoys. The action is fun in a dated 80's fashion but due to its age you are bound to have seen all this before. I applaud it for its fair and just ending, though Nolte does become a bit of a loose cannon at parts.

• Derek D

  
  Not a stretch for Nick Nolte by any means was this early buddy cop comedy co-starring Eddie Murphy long before kids determined his film roles (he actually had a co-star besides himself in this one!) Right up there with the original Lethal Weapon as the best of the genre.

• Tim S

  
  Great pairing of actors with a nice touch of action.

• Dean !

  
  A great mix of action and humour in this 80's film.

• xGary X

  
  One of the original buddy movies and Eddie Murphy's movie debut. Violent, foul mouthed and occasionally offensive, this is not a film for the politically correct, but it is a standard in the genre and a bit of a ground breaker. Brutal but funny.

• Michael S

  
  One of the finest buddy/cop films.

• danny d

  
  classic eddie in a cop and robber work together flick

• Khris N

  
  If you're an Eddie Murphy fan, when he was the rawest muthaf------ in business, then this movie is a definite. Nick Nolte teams up with Murphy, who plays a con, in order to track down a cop killer played by James Remar. After the success of The Warriors, Walter Hill goes down the… More
  If you're an Eddie Murphy fan, when he was the rawest muthaf------ in business, then this movie is a definite. Nick Nolte teams up with Murphy, who plays a con, in order to track down a cop killer played by James Remar. After the success of The Warriors, Walter Hill goes down the action comedy route, pioneering the modern style genre and showcasting Eddie Murphy's comedic talents which he continues in films such as Beverly Hills Cop and others, making this a must see for fans. Loved it - very early 80s and rude, crude but effective. :-)

• Jason S

  
  Eddie when he was funny. Good buddy cop flick.

• Dean M

  
  Nick Nolte and Eddie Murphy make one of most unusal and entertaining teams ever in roller-coaster thriller film.

• Keith A

  
  Eddie Murphy's big debut begins here with this hilarious & nailbiting action-comedy-thriller.

Read all 20 featured audience ratings