MovieWeb’s 12 Best Buddy-Cop Films of the 21st Century

MovieWeb contributor Tim published a list on Jan. 31, 2026, naming the 12 greatest buddy-cop movies of the 21st century and explaining what the subgenre needs to work. The piece argues a strong buddy-cop film requires on-screen chemistry, opposing mindsets to fuel conflict, a compelling case, and a focus on both characters rather than just one — qualities it says have kept the genre alive over the last 25 years.

Highlighted entries include The Nice Guys (2016), praised for Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe’s electric chemistry and Shane Black’s noir-flavored 1970s atmosphere; Edgar Wright’s Hot Fuzz (2007), called both a satire and a love letter to the genre; and Training Day (2001), noted for Denzel Washington’s Academy Award-winning performance opposite Ethan Hawke in a darker vet-and-rookie dynamic.

The list also features comedies like The Other Guys (2010) — which pairs Mark Wahlberg and Will Ferrell and lampoons action-movie tropes — and The Wrecking Crew (2026) on Prime Video, which the article highlights for the chemistry between Dave Bautista and Jason Momoa as estranged half-brothers investigating their father’s death in a Hawaiian setting.

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