48 HRS

48 Hrs. (1982)

  • 95% of critics liked it
    (37 reviews)

  • 62% of users liked it
    (73,254 ratings)

A variation on the "buddy-cop" hybridized genre, 48 HRS. greatly bolstered the career of Nick Nolte and made comedian Eddie Murphy a bonafide box-office sensation. When a pair of reckless cop-killers break out of prison, grizzled detective Jack Cates (Nolte) is left no alternative but to… More

Play Trailer

In Theaters
Dec 8, 1982 Wide
Paramount Home Video

Critic Reviews

  • Richard Schickel, TIME Magazine

    Neither jokes nor fast, flashy action can completely distract audiences from the failure to establish an authentic, rather than a purely conventional connection between Nolte and Murphy.

  • Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader

    All in all, a superior genre piece, if not the height of Hill's artistry.

  • , Time Out

    A down-the-line thriller, plain, fast and efficient.

  • Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

    The movie's story is nothing to write home about. It's pretty routine. What makes the movie special is how it's made. Nolte and Murphy are good, and their dialogue is good, too -- quirky and funny.

  • Janet Maslin, New York Times

    [It] is more memorable for its characters than for its high style, more a series of energetic scenes than a collection of handsome imagery. It has life, ferocity and humor in place of icy, stylized elegance, and that seems more than a fair trade.

Read all 16 critic reviews

See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

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

  • 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

  • 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

Read all 20 featured audience ratings

Also available on

UltraViolet Retailers

Other Retailers

Subscription Services

Not Available
Not Available

Cast

See more (48)

Trailers & Clips