Offbeat Cop Films

This week on The Video Store Podcast, I’m recommending four offbeat cop films that have stuck with me over the years. These films can be funny, gritty, offbeat, and sometimes kind of chaotic in the best way possible. So what movies am I recommending?

Running Scared (1986) – Billy Crystal and Gregory Hines as two wisecracking Chicago detectives. This one’s got a great mix of comedy and action, and it leans into that mid-80s buddy cop energy without taking itself too seriously. Michael McDonald’s “Sweet Freedom” is on the soundtrack, which feels like a time capsule in itself.

Miami Blues (1990) – Alec Baldwin in a role that’s kind of hard to pin down. He plays a violent conman who ends up impersonating a cop. It’s based on a Charles Willeford novel and keeps that oddball tone where you’re not always sure if you’re supposed to laugh or be disturbed. Fred Ward is great in it too, playing the worn-out detective trying to catch him.

Freebie and the Bean (1974) – This one’s messier than most cop movies, but it’s intentional. Directed by Richard Rush, who also did The Stunt Man, it's full of reckless driving, dark humor, and strange tonal shifts. Alan Arkin and James Caan play the leads, and they’re either chasing criminals or arguing with each other. It kind of laid the groundwork for a lot of buddy cop films that came later.

Stakeout (1987) – Richard Dreyfuss and Emilio Estevez as partners on a surveillance detail that doesn’t stay professional for very long. There’s a good balance of suspense and comedy, and Madeleine Stowe holds her own in her first major role. It was directed by John Badham, who also did WarGames and Short Circuit, so the pacing is solid.

If you’re in the mood for movies where different type of cops break rules, hunt odd suspects or drive their car on the track of an elevated train, I think you will find something here you will like.