If you enjoyed the hilarious adventures of two cops going undercover in high school, you’re in for a treat! There are many funny movies that share the same mix of action, comedy, and buddy-cop elements that made 21 Jump Street so entertaining. Let’s explore some great films that will give you similar laughs and thrills.
Before diving into similar movies, let’s quickly remember what made 21 Jump Street so special. The story follows two police officers, Schmidt (Jonah Hill) and Jenko (Channing Tatum), who were complete opposites in high school – one was a nerd, the other a popular jock. Years later, they become rookie cops and best friends. When they’re assigned to go undercover as high school students to bust a drug ring, they get a hilarious second chance at teenage life. Their mission becomes complicated as they try to balance fitting in with modern teens, dealing with their old high school issues, and actually solving the case. The movie perfectly blends action scenes with laugh-out-loud moments, creating a fresh take on both high school and police movies.
The film’s success comes from its clever mix of action and comedy, great chemistry between the leads, and smart jokes about going back to school. It takes the serious concept of an undercover police operation and turns it into something genuinely funny while still keeping viewers excited about the action. This winning formula made the movie a huge hit and even led to a successful sequel.
1. Bad Boys (1995)
Will Smith and Martin Lawrence star as Miami detectives Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett. These two opposite personalities must work together to find stolen drugs and protect a witness. Like our favorite undercover duo, these partners mix serious police work with lots of jokes. The movie gives us car chases, explosions, and funny conversations between friends who sometimes drive each other crazy.
The chemistry between Smith and Lawrence makes every scene better, just like Hill and Tatum’s friendship made their movie special. Even when bullets are flying everywhere, they keep making us laugh. This movie started a successful series that proves good partnerships make great entertainment.
2. The Other Guys (2010)
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Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg play desk-bound police officers who finally get their chance at exciting detective work. Allen Gamble (Ferrell) loves paperwork, while Terry Hoitz (Wahlberg) desperately wants action. When they stumble onto a big case, these unlikely partners must step up and become real heroes.
The movie makes fun of typical action movie scenes while creating its own exciting story. The contrast between the careful accountant-like cop and his angry partner leads to many funny moments. It’s perfect for anyone who likes watching unusual pairs become great teams.
3. Hot Fuzz (2007)
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This British comedy follows Nicholas Angel, London’s best police officer, who gets sent to a quiet village because he makes other cops look bad. Along with his movie-loving partner, he discovers the peaceful town isn’t what it seems. The film cleverly makes fun of action movies while being a great action movie itself.
What makes this movie special is how it builds from a simple comedy about village life into an exciting action film. It shows that big excitement can happen in small places, and sometimes the best partners are the ones you least expect.
4. Let’s Be Cops (2014)
Two regular guys dress up as police officers for a costume party and discover people actually believe they’re real cops. While this sounds like just a silly idea, it turns into an adventure when they get mixed up with real criminals. This movie shows what might happen if normal people tried to do what Schmidt and Jenko did.
The story reminds us how hard real police work is, even while making us laugh at the main characters’ mistakes. It’s perfect for anyone who wonders what would happen if they pretended to be something they’re not.
5. Central Intelligence (2016)
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Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart team up in this action-comedy about a former bullied kid turned CIA agent and his high school’s former popular guy turned accountant. When they meet again years later, the accountant gets pulled into an exciting spy mission.
The movie plays with high school memories and how people change, just like our favorite undercover cops had to deal with their past. Johnson and Hart’s friendship feels real and funny, making every scene better.
6. The Heat (2013)
Sandra Bullock plays an FBI agent who likes to follow every rule, while Melissa McCarthy is a tough Boston cop who does things her own way. When they have to work together to catch dangerous criminals, their different styles clash in the funniest ways. This movie proves that buddy cop stories aren’t just for male actors.
The chemistry between Bullock and McCarthy creates magic on screen. They take the usual police partner story and make it fresh and exciting. We get to see car chases, stake-outs, and confrontations with bad guys, all while watching these two very different women learn to work together and become friends.
7. Ride Along (2014)
Kevin Hart plays a security guard who wants to marry the sister of a tough Atlanta cop (Ice Cube). To prove he’s worthy, he must survive a 24-hour ride along with his potential brother-in-law. Like our favorite undercover story, this movie shows how partnerships can form in unexpected ways.
The size difference between Hart and Ice Cube creates instant comedy, but the movie also gives us exciting action scenes and a real crime to solve. We watch as a regular person tries to prove he can handle police work, leading to both funny mistakes and surprising successes.
8. The Nice Guys (2016)
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Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe team up as a private detective and an enforcer in 1970s Los Angeles. They must work together to find a missing girl and solve a mystery that gets bigger with every clue. While not strictly a police movie, it has the same great mix of action and comedy we love.
The movie gives us beautiful 1970s style along with clever dialogue and exciting chase scenes. Like our favorite undercover cops, these unlikely partners must learn to trust each other while dealing with dangerous situations and their own personal problems.
9. 22 Jump Street (2014)
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The actual sequel to our favorite movie sends Schmidt and Jenko to college instead of high school. While it follows the same basic idea, it finds new ways to make the story fresh and funny. This time, they must find the source of a new drug on campus while dealing with college life.
The movie cleverly makes jokes about being a sequel while still giving us a great new adventure. It shows how good partners can stay friends even when college life tries to pull them apart. We get more action, more laughs, and more chances to see how these different personalities work together.
10. Game Night (2018)
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While not strictly a police movie, this comedy thriller follows regular people getting mixed up in real crime. A group of friends who love playing games find themselves in the middle of an actual kidnapping. Like our undercover cops, they must figure out what’s real and what’s just part of the game.
Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams lead a great cast through increasingly crazy situations. The movie keeps us guessing while making us laugh, mixing clever comedy with real suspense. It shows how ordinary people react when thrown into the kind of situations usually handled by police.
What Makes These Movies Work All these films share important elements that make them successful. They mix action with comedy in ways that feel natural. The partnerships feel real, even when the situations get crazy. Most importantly, they balance exciting moments with character development, making us care about what happens to everyone involved.
Each movie finds its own way to make the formula feel fresh. Some focus more on comedy, others on action, but they all remember that the relationship between partners is what matters most. Whether they’re real cops, fake cops, or regular people in crazy situations, these stories work because we believe in the friendships we see on screen.
Choosing the Right Movie for You If you want something closest to 21 Jump Street’s style, try The Other Guys or 22 Jump Street. For more emphasis on action with comedy supporting it, Bad Boys or Hot Fuzz might be your best choice. If you prefer watching regular people deal with crazy situations, Game Night or Let’s Be Cops could be perfect.
Remember that each movie brings its own special touch to the formula. Some have more adult humor, while others keep things family-friendly. Some focus on big action scenes, while others care more about making you laugh. Pick the one that matches what you enjoyed most about 21 Jump Street, whether that was the friendship, the action, or the comedy.
Conclusion
These movies share what we loved about 21 Jump Street: great friendships, exciting action, and lots of laughs. Whether you prefer straight comedy or more action-packed stories, these films prove that putting unlikely partners together often creates the best entertainment. Each brings its own special twist to the buddy-cop formula while keeping the fun spirit that made us fans in the first place.
FAQs
- Is there going to be another 21 Jump Street movie?
- There have been talks about making more movies, but nothing has been confirmed yet.
- Which of these movies is most appropriate for family viewing?
- Central Intelligence is probably the most family-friendly option, with less adult content than some others.
- Are there any movies like this with female leads?
- Yes! “The Heat” with Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy follows a similar funny partnership formula.
- What’s the newest movie that’s similar to these?
- Recent films like “Stuber” and “Coffee & Kareem” continue the tradition with modern twists.
- Can you recommend any international movies like these?
- Jackie Chan’s “Police Story” series and “Bon Cop, Bad Cop” from Canada are great international examples.