One of the most popular subgenres of the action film is the buddy action comedy. Usually it is about an unequal couple that gets into a number of turbulent events. It is not uncommon for at least one cop, if not two. Popular representatives include Rush Hour, Bad Boys and Last Boy Scout by Tony Scott.
But what did everything start? If we look at the development of the buddy action comedy, there is no 48 hours of the 1982. If you haven’t seen the film yet or want to watch it again, you now have the opportunity to do so at Netflix in streaming subscription.
Streaming tip at Netflix: Action classic with Nick Nolte and Eddie Murphy in the leading roles
Only 48 hours begins with a double murder: a prisoner breaks out of prison and kills two police officers. The cop Jack Cates (Nick Nolte) is then applied to the case. He should snap the murderer as soon as possible – strictly speaking, he only takes the 48 -hour time.
Here you can see the trailer for only 48 hours:
48 Hrs. – Trailer (English)
Cates realizes that he does not go ahead alone and gets the former partner of the sought -after from the cell: Reggie Hammond (Eddie Murphy). Cates wants to use him to lure the police murderer into the trap. But his new “partner” does not make it that easy. Because Hammond talks like a waterfall.
Director Walter Hill, who had previously shot Ua Driver and the Warriors, only staged 48 hours as an entertaining trip, which draws especially from the dynamics of his leading actors. In fact, the film marks Murphy’s canvas debut and gives us a sample of what was later to follow with Beverly Hills Cop.
Now at Netflix: Only 48 hours acted as a blueprint for action films like Lethal Weapon and Co.
Although only 48 hours did not invent the Buddy Action Comedy-there have already been moving films such as the super sniffers from 1974-he is considered one of the stylish works of the genre and acted as a blueprint for many other successors. Last but not least, the film was a huge success on the box office.
With a budget of $ 12 million, only 48 hours of 79 million were able to recreate. The criticism was enthusiastic, the audience as well. Nevertheless, it should take surprisingly long for a sequel. It wasn’t until eight years later Nolte and Murphy stood for and 48 hours in front of the camera.
In the meantime, the buddy action comedy was primarily developed by a filmmaker: Shane Black. He wrote the screenplay for the start of the Lethal Weapon series and staged two more modern representatives of the genre a few decades later with Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005) and The Nice Guys (2016).
Since then March 16, 2025 is only 48 hours on Netflix. Paramount+ also offers the film in streaming subscription. Alternatively, you can stream it with various purchase and leisure tunes on Amazon Prime Video and Co.