Buddy Cop

What kind of genre is buddy cop?

Movie and TV genre featuring two different characters that must work together

Buddy cop is a movie and TV genre where two people with very different personalities, skills, backgrounds, ages, ethnicities, etc., must overcome their differences to emerge victorious over a conflict. This genre is often a comedy and comprises two cops working together to solve a crime or defeat a villain.

The buddy cop genre falls under the umbrella of the buddy genre, which involves two characters that must learn from each other in some way to emerge triumphant in the end. The sub-genre dates back to at least the 1940s but didn't become mainstream recognizable until the 1980s.

Movies such as Beverly Hills Cop (1984) and Lethal Weapon (1987) were box office hits, spawning sequels and inspiring many other buddy cop films. Examples of famous buddy cop movies include Bad Boys, Hot Fuzz, The Nice Guys, Men in Black, Dragnet, The Other Guys, Tango & Cash, 21 Jump Street, and The Heat.

Example

What kind of movie do you want to watch tonight?
Something funny, maybe a buddy cop movie with Jackie Chan
Tango & Cash buddy cop appreciation tweet
Tango & Cash buddy cop appreciation tweet

Related Slang

Categories

Updated March 8, 2023

Buddy cop definition by Slang.net

This page explains what the slang term "Buddy cop" means. The definition, example, and related terms listed above have been written and compiled by the Slang.net team.

We are constantly updating our database with new slang terms, acronyms, and abbreviations. If you would like to suggest a term or an update to an existing one, please let us know!