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According to Rotten Tomatoes, critics and audiences alike much preferred Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F over Eddie Murphy’s last long-anticipated sequel, Coming 2 America. 30 years after the release of the last film, Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F has been enjoying a lot of success on Netflix. The fourth entry in the Beverly Hills Cop franchise picks up with an older Axel Foley, who returns to Beverly Hills when his estranged daughter Jane, a passionate defense attorney, is targeted by a sinister criminal organization.

This is the second time in three years that Murphy has reprised one of his most iconic roles in a long-awaited sequel. In 2021, he returned as Prince Akeem – now King Akeem – for a sequel to Coming to America. Released on Prime Video, Coming 2 America was met with strong viewership, but a mixed response. Based on both their critics’ and audience scores on Rotten Tomatoes, Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F has been perceived as a vast improvement over Coming 2 America.

Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F’s Rotten Tomatoes Scores Are Much Better Than Coming 2 America

Critics and audiences liked Beverly Hills Cop 4 a lot more than Coming to America 2

Chief John Taggart (John Ashton) Axel F (Eddie Murphy) and Billy (Judge Reinhold) in a car talking in Beverly Hills Cop: Axel FImage via Netflix

While it hasn’t received universal acclaim, Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F has been met with a warm reception from both critics and fans. On Rotten Tomatoes, it has a “fresh” critics’ score of 66% and an even fresher audience score of 81%. Coming 2 America, on the other hand, received “rotten” ratings from both critics and audiences. It has a less-than-stellar critics’ score of 49% and a dismal audience score of 38%. Clearly, Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F has been met with more enthusiasm than Coming 2 America.

Is Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F That Much Better Than Coming 2 America? RT Scores Explained

Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F recaptures the spirit of the original more effectively

Eddie Murphy in Royal Regalia in Coming 2 America

Arguably, Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F is a better movie – and a better follow-up to its franchise’s legacy – than Coming 2 America. Murphy brings a lot more energy and charisma to his reprisal of Axel than he did with his reprisal of Akeem, and Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F recaptures the spirit of its franchise a lot more effectively than Coming 2 America did. Plus, most of Coming 2 America’s gags don’t land, whereas Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F has an impressive hit rate with its humor.

It might also have helped Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F that there are bad movies to compare it to. Coming 2 America could only be compared to the classic original, which works perfectly as a standalone modern-day fairy tale and didn’t need to be embellished with a sequel. Beverly Hills Cop, on the other hand, has two underwhelming sequels under its belt. Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F isn’t necessarily a great movie, but it looks like a great movie next to Beverly Hills Cop III.