Though they vary in quality, cop films are released with frightening regularity. It's a form of escapism that audiences just can't get enough of, to put themselves in the shoes of a law enforcer as they go about trying to make the world a better place.
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Some movie cops are timeless, with an unwavering moral compass and a no-nonsense approach to the law, whereas others are products of their eras, corrupt and willing to break the rules to get what they want. One thing's for sure, though, a good cop film will always entertain audiences, especially when they spend a good chunk of their time looking for a lost swan.
Nicholas Angel — 'Hot Fuzz' (2007)
Not many police officers are punished for being too good at their job, but unfortunately, that's the position Nicholas Angel (Simon Pegg) finds himself in. He's shipped away from the busy streets of London to the seemingly idyllic village of Sandford because his arrest record makes the other officers look bad.
Upon his arrival in Sandford, Nicholas spots a pattern within a series of "accidental" murders that leads him to an evil cult willing to murder anybody who gets in the way of them reclaiming the village of the year award. Angel can only take down the cult once he accepts that sometimes he needs to break the rules and instead uses beloved cop action films as his inspiration.
Mike Lowrey — The 'Bad Boys' Trilogy (1995-2020)
Has there ever been a cop so effortlessly cool as Mike Lowrey (Will Smith)? Of course, there hasn't. First appearing in the 1995 film Bad Boys before reprising the role in Bad Boys II and the long-awaitedBad Boys For Life, Smith is perfectly at home as the action-loving, always stylish Lowrey.
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The films have stood the test of time for many reasons, but primarily because of the incredible chemistry between Lowrey and his partner Marcus Burnett (Martin Lawrence), making it an absolute joy to watch the pair solve crimes and tackle villains. Thanks to the financial success of Bad Boys For Life, fans are holding out hope that Lowrey and Burnett will return for a fourth outing.
Alex Murphy — 'Robocop' (1987)
This one doesn't require much explanation; Robocop is as reliable a police officer as they come. After being gravely injured in the line of duty, detective Alex Murphy (Peter Weller) is kept alive by being merged with cyborg machinery. Robocop is as effective a crime fighter as they come, but he soon becomes haunted by memories of his past life that his creators tried to strip away from him.
In addition to ridding the streets of crime, Murphy is soon forced to take down the company that made him after learning of their nefarious plans. Robocop is a film that still holds up, making it no surprise that it's considered one of the 25 best action films of the 80s.
Marge Gunderson — 'Fargo' (1996)
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There's nothing easy about being a police officer, especially not when you live in one of the coldest towns on the planet and you're heavily pregnant. Marge (Frances McDormand) finds herself up against the moronic plan of inept car salesman Jerry Lundegaard (William H. Macy), who has his wife kidnapped to extract a hefty ransom fee from her wealthy father.
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Things don't go to plan for Jerry, mainly because Marge spots every single clue he leaves behind. She isn't happy to just accept the simplest explanation of things and instead pushes ahead with her gut feeling that things are not what they seem. Not only that, but she manages to stay cheerful throughout the entire ordeal. The only disappointment regarding Marge Gunderson is that she hasn't yet returned in the TV adaptation of Fargo, but there's always hope for season five.
Rhonda Boney — 'Gone Girl' (2014)
When Amy Dunne (Rosamund Pike) disappears, all of the clues point to her husband Nick (Ben Affleck). A large amount of blood was cleaned from the floor, a diary detailing Nick's abusive behavior, and even a letter labeled "clue one" that hints towards Nick's infidelity. For most cops, this would be enough to lock Nick up and throw away the key.
Rhonda Boney (Kim Dickens), however, knows when something is too good to be true, so she begins working alongside Nick to uncover the truth about Amy and her sinister plot for revenge. Boney's ability to listen, comprehend and see things for what they are set her apart from her colleagues, and cement her place in the movie cop hall of fame.
John McClane — 'Die Hard' (1988-2013)
Though it's easier to get bogged down by the memory of the terrible sequels, John McClane (Bruce Willis) is a movie cop who deserves the utmost respect. He's simply an off-duty police officer looking to patch things up with his wife Holly at her office Christmas party when the building is taken by Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman) and his thugs.
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Armed with nothing but his gun, his wits, and his will to survive, McClane takes the thugs out one by one while taunting Gruber and delivering one of the most memorable lines in cinema history: you know the one. If you do decide to watch the Die Hard films, whatever you do, do not watch the last one. Do what we all do and pretend it doesn't exist. It's better that way.
William Somerset — 'Se7en' (1995)
As a cop heading for retirement, you want your last case to be as simple as possible. Unfortunately for William Somerset (Morgan Freeman), his final case is as complicated as they come. Not only is he assigned a new partner, the impulsive and optimistic David Mills (Brad Pitt), but they're tasked with hunting down a serial killer whose work represents the seven deadly sins.
Somerset is an old-school cop worn down by years on the force, and he makes it clear that he thinks Mills is making a mistake by starting a family in his line of work. He's proved right in the infamous final scene of the film, where Mills realizes that happy families and police work don't mix.
Billy Costigan — 'The Departed' (2006)
As far as difficult assignments are concerned, it's hard to top the role given to Billy Costigan (Leonardo DiCaprio), who is plucked straight out of the academy and asked to infiltrate the ranks of Frank Costello (Jack Nicholson), the head of the Irish mafia in Boston.
Undercover in one of the world's most dangerous gangs, Costigan is at risk of being exposed every single day. He can't turn to fellow officers for support either, as only two officers know that he is actually a cop, and he cannot meet them often for the risk of being seen. Armed with only his wits and intelligence, Billy must seamlessly transform into somebody else while he's buried within this dark, twisted, and violent world. The film is one of the best crime thrillers ever made, and director Martin Scorcese fully deserved his Best Director Academy Award.
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