Beverly Hills Cop
Fast-talking, quick-thinking Detroit street cop Axel Foley has bent more than a few rules and regs in his time, but when his best friend is murdered, he heads to sunny Beverly Hills to work the case like only he can.
Despite its small-scale budget of $14.0M, Beverly Hills Cop became a runaway success, earning $316.4M worldwide—a remarkable 2160% return. The film's bold vision found its audience, proving that strong storytelling can transcend budget limitations.
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
Beverly Hills Cop (1984) exemplifies deliberately positioned dramatic framework, characteristic of Martin Brest's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 45 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.7, the film showcases strong structural fundamentals.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Axel Foley
Detective Billy Rosewood
Sergeant John Taggart
Jenny Summers
Victor Maitland
Lieutenant Andrew Bogomil
Zack
Main Cast & Characters
Axel Foley
Played by Eddie Murphy
A street-smart Detroit detective who travels to Beverly Hills to solve his friend's murder, using unconventional methods to outsmart criminals and bureaucracy.
Detective Billy Rosewood
Played by Judge Reinhold
An earnest, by-the-book Beverly Hills detective who befriends Axel and learns to bend the rules.
Sergeant John Taggart
Played by John Ashton
A gruff, experienced Beverly Hills detective who reluctantly partners with Axel despite his unorthodox methods.
Jenny Summers
Played by Lisa Eilbacher
Axel's childhood friend who works at an art gallery in Beverly Hills, providing crucial information about the criminal operation.
Victor Maitland
Played by Steven Berkoff
A sophisticated art dealer who operates a drug smuggling ring behind his legitimate business facade.
Lieutenant Andrew Bogomil
Played by Ronny Cox
The Beverly Hills police lieutenant who tries to maintain order while dealing with Axel's disruptive investigation.
Zack
Played by Jonathan Banks
Victor Maitland's cold and violent enforcer who carries out the dirty work.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 2 minutes (2% through the runtime) establishes Axel Foley conducts unauthorized undercover sting on cigarette smugglers in Detroit, laughing and joking. Establishes him as street-smart, rule-breaking cop who operates on instinct rather than procedure.. Significantly, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 12 minutes when Armed men invade Axel's apartment and murder Mikey. Axel is beaten unconscious. His friend is dead, and this violence disrupts his entire world.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 26 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This indicates the protagonist's commitment to Axel enters Maitland's art gallery, confronts him about Mikey. Maitland has him arrested and thrown out. Axel actively chooses to stay in Beverly Hills and investigate, crossing into the new world of wealth and power., moving from reaction to action.
At 51 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 49% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Significantly, this crucial beat Axel discovers Maitland's warehouse contains cocaine, not just art. Stakes raise dramatically - this is not just about murder but a major drug operation. False victory: he has the evidence he needs., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 77 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Bogomil is shot by Maitland's men while trying to help Axel. The one authority figure who believed in him is critically wounded. Axel realizes his rogue investigation has put good people in danger., demonstrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 83 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. Rosewood and Taggart actively choose to violate orders and help Axel raid Maitland's estate. Synthesis of Detroit street justice and Beverly Hills procedure. They commit to the finale together., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Beverly Hills Cop's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs a 15-point narrative structure framework that maps key story moments. By mapping Beverly Hills Cop against these established plot points, we can identify how Martin Brest utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Beverly Hills Cop within the comedy genre.
Martin Brest's Structural Approach
Among the 5 Martin Brest films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.2, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Beverly Hills Cop represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Martin Brest filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Martin Brest analyses, see Meet Joe Black, Midnight Run and Going in Style.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Axel Foley conducts unauthorized undercover sting on cigarette smugglers in Detroit, laughing and joking. Establishes him as street-smart, rule-breaking cop who operates on instinct rather than procedure.
Theme
Inspector Todd chews out Axel: "Your approach is all wrong... you can't go off on your own." Theme of rule-breaking vs. playing it straight, street smarts vs. bureaucracy.
Worldbuilding
Setup of Axel's Detroit life: confrontations with boss, friendship with fellow cops, reunion with childhood friend Mikey Tandino who arrives with stolen bearer bonds and stories of California.
Disruption
Armed men invade Axel's apartment and murder Mikey. Axel is beaten unconscious. His friend is dead, and this violence disrupts his entire world.
Resistance
Axel investigates, learns Mikey worked for Victor Maitland in Beverly Hills. Inspector Todd forbids him from investigating. Axel takes unauthorized vacation, drives to Beverly Hills to pursue justice on his own terms.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Axel enters Maitland's art gallery, confronts him about Mikey. Maitland has him arrested and thrown out. Axel actively chooses to stay in Beverly Hills and investigate, crossing into the new world of wealth and power.
Mirror World
Axel befriends Beverly Hills cops Billy Rosewood and Taggart. They represent the by-the-book approach he must learn to work with. Jenny Summers, Mikey's friend at the gallery, also becomes an ally.
Premise
The fun of watching Detroit street cop Axel operate in uptight Beverly Hills: fast-talking his way into hotels, strip clubs, warehouses. Rosewood and Taggart reluctantly help as Axel investigates Maitland's smuggling operation.
Midpoint
Axel discovers Maitland's warehouse contains cocaine, not just art. Stakes raise dramatically - this is not just about murder but a major drug operation. False victory: he has the evidence he needs.
Opposition
Maitland becomes aware of Axel's investigation and applies pressure. Beverly Hills PD orders Axel to leave town. Maitland's men attack. Lieutenant Bogomil tries to protect Axel but must follow protocol. Tension escalates.
Collapse
Bogomil is shot by Maitland's men while trying to help Axel. The one authority figure who believed in him is critically wounded. Axel realizes his rogue investigation has put good people in danger.
Crisis
Axel processes the shooting. Rosewood and Taggart must decide: follow orders or help Axel. The three realize they must work together, combining Axel's street instincts with their tactical resources.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Rosewood and Taggart actively choose to violate orders and help Axel raid Maitland's estate. Synthesis of Detroit street justice and Beverly Hills procedure. They commit to the finale together.
Synthesis
Three-man assault on Maitland's mansion. Shootout with security. Axel confronts and kills Maitland, avenging Mikey. BHPD arrives as backup. Bogomil recovers. Axel's methods are vindicated but he learned to work with the system.
Transformation
Axel prepares to return to Detroit with new respect from BHPD. Rosewood and Taggart have loosened up; Axel has learned teamwork. Mutual respect and friendship formed across different worlds and methods.