Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F Budget
ActionComedyCrime1h 55mUpdated
Synopsis
Forty years after his unforgettable first case in Beverly Hills, Detroit cop Axel Foley returns to do what he does best: solve crimes and cause chaos.
What is the budget of Beverly Hills Cop Axel F?
"Beverly Hills Cop Axel F," an action released in 2024, was directed by Mark Molloy and stars Eddie Murphy, Joseph Gordon-Levitt. The production budget was $150,000,000, placing it in the blockbuster range for action productions of its era.
Key Budget Allocation Categories
While specific budget breakdowns are not publicly available, typical cost drivers for an action production like this include:
- Stunts, Action Sequences & Visual Effects: Action films allocate a substantial portion of their budget to choreographing and executing practical stunts, pyrotechnics, and CGI-heavy sequences.
- Above-the-Line Talent (Cast & Director): A-list talent commands significant upfront fees plus backend participation.
- Production Design, Sets & Locations: Action films frequently require multiple international shooting locations, large-scale set construction, vehicle acquisitions and modifications, and specialized equipment , all of which drive production costs well above those of dialogue-driven genres.
- Casting: In August 2022, Taylour Paige and Joseph Gordon-Levitt were cast in undisclosed roles.
What were the major cost factors in Beverly Hills Cop Axel F?
Several factors contributed to the overall production costs of "Beverly Hills Cop Axel F."
- Stunts: Stunts, Action Sequences & Visual Effects is one of the primary cost drivers in action productions of this scale.
- Above-the-Line Talent (Cast: Above-the-Line Talent (Cast & Director) is one of the primary cost drivers in action productions of this scale.
- Production Design: Production Design, Sets & Locations is one of the primary cost drivers in action productions of this scale.
How Does Beverly Hills Cop Axel F's Budget Compare to Similar Films?
At $150,000,000, Beverly Hills Cop Axel F sits in the blockbuster range. Here is how it compares to productions with a similar budget:
- 6 Underground (2019): Budget $150,000,000
- Angels & Demons (2009): Budget $150,000,000, Worldwide Gross $485,930,816
- Batman Begins (2005): Budget $150,000,000, Worldwide Gross $374,218,673
- Bee Movie (2007): Budget $150,000,000, Worldwide Gross $287,594,577
- Alexander (2004): Budget $155,000,000, Worldwide Gross $167,298,192
The median budget for wide-release action films in the 2020s ranges from $30 to 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles.
Beverly Hills Cop Axel F Production History
In August 2022, Taylour Paige and Joseph Gordon-Levitt were cast in undisclosed roles. In the same month, Paul Reiser and John Ashton were confirmed to reprise their roles as Jeffrey Friedman and John Taggart, respectively, returning to the roles 37 years after their performances in Beverly Hills Cop II. In September, Judge Reinhold and Bronson Pinchot were confirmed to reprise their roles as Billy Rosewood and Serge, respectively, returning to the roles 30 years after their performances in Beverly Hills Cop III.
In February 2022, the film entered pre-production and received a California state tax credit of $16million. Principal photography began on August 29, 2022, in San Bernardino, along with other areas in California, for 58 days, to generate $78million in qualified spending in tax incentives. Additional filming occurred in Detroit in late November and early December 2022, although Murphy himself did not travel to the city.
As the film reuses most of the music from the first two films, a compilation soundtrack was not commissioned, making it the first in the franchise to not have an album featuring the songs heard in the film unlike its predecessors. However, an original song "Here We Go!" was written for the film, by rapper-singer Lil Nas X and released as a single on June 28, 2024. Lorne Balfe composed the film's score, which incorporates the "Axel F" theme composed by Harold Faltermeyer from the first film.
Awards and Recognition
3 wins & 3 nominations total
Critical Reception
Brian Tallerico, writing for RogerEbert.com, gave the film three out of four stars, stating that the film is "a shockingly entertaining diversion.... From the beginning, Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F is buoyant and playful in a way that legacy sequels usually aren't allowed to be, and that was arguably missing in the more leaden second and third films in this series."
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did it cost to make Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F (2024)?
Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F was produced on a reported budget of $150,000,000, making it one of Netflix's most expensive original films. Jerry Bruckheimer Films produced, with Eddie Murphy returning as star and executive producer. The budget covered Murphy's lead salary, the franchise reunion casting of Judge Reinhold and John Ashton, and large-scale Los Angeles action sequences.
How did Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F perform on Netflix?
The film premiered on Netflix on July 3, 2024 and immediately reached the platform's top 10 in over 90 countries. Netflix reported 60.6 million views in its first 11 days, making Axel F the third most-viewed English-language Netflix original film of 2024 and a clear performance hit by the platform's tentpole standards.
Who directed Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F?
Mark Molloy directed Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F as his feature directorial debut, transitioning from a successful career in commercial advertising. Molloy had previously directed for Apple and other major brands, and Jerry Bruckheimer specifically recruited him after seeing his commercial reel.
Who returned from previous Beverly Hills Cop films?
Eddie Murphy returned as Axel Foley alongside Judge Reinhold (Billy Rosewood), John Ashton (Taggart), Paul Reiser (Jeffrey Friedman), and Bronson Pinchot (Serge). Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Taylour Paige, and Kevin Bacon joined the cast as new characters, with Paige playing Foley's estranged daughter Jane.
Where was Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F filmed?
Principal photography took place in Los Angeles, California from August to November 2022, with extensive location work in Beverly Hills, Detroit, and surrounding areas. The production took advantage of California's film and television tax credit, with Beverly Hills granting the production access to multiple high-profile city locations including Rodeo Drive.
How much was Eddie Murphy paid for Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F?
Eddie Murphy reportedly received $20,000,000 for his role as Axel Foley, plus producing fees and a back-end participation structure that Netflix uses for star talent on its tentpole films. The deal was part of Murphy's broader output arrangement with Netflix, which also covered You People (2023) and Candy Cane Lane (2023).
What did critics think of Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F?
The film received generally positive reviews, holding a 70% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 175 critics and a 60 out of 100 score on Metacritic. Critics praised Eddie Murphy's return to form in the role and the film's commitment to practical action and 1980s franchise atmosphere, while finding the screenplay's structure conventional.
How long was the gap between Beverly Hills Cop sequels?
Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F was released 30 years after Beverly Hills Cop III (1994), making it one of the longest gaps between mainline entries in any major American action-comedy franchise. The intervening decades saw multiple sequel scripts developed under Paramount, including a 2008 effort with Brett Ratner attached, before the property migrated to Netflix.
Will there be another Beverly Hills Cop sequel?
Eddie Murphy and Jerry Bruckheimer have both expressed interest in a continuation, with Murphy stating in 2024 interviews that he would return for another installment if the right script materialized. Netflix has not formally announced Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F 2, but the Top 10 performance positions a sequel as a likely development priority.
Is Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F a theatrical release?
No. Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F premiered directly on Netflix on July 3, 2024 without a wide theatrical release. The film had a limited qualifying theatrical run in select cities for awards-consideration purposes, but Netflix did not pursue a major exhibitor partnership for a traditional theatrical window.
Official Trailer
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