10 Recent Movies That Never Should've Worked (But Did)

Much like Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, the recent fourth Beverly Hills Cop movie had so, so much working against it. Where to even begin? 

It took a full 30 years to get this sequel made after numerous botched attempts, the previous film was awful, Eddie Murphy's star has faded considerably over the last 15 years, and it forewent a theatrical release in favour of the Netflix Original treatment. The red flags speak for themselves.

And though Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F doesn't reach the brilliance of the original two films, it is a firmly entertaining and respectable follow-up that serves as a welcome palate cleanser following the execrable Beverly Hills Cop III.

Crucially, Murphy is clearly game for the exercise and effortlessly slinks back into the role of Axel Foley, while franchise cast members Judge Reinhold, John Ashton, Paul Reiser, and Bronson Pinchot are given worthwhile supporting roles.

Given that a three-decades-later Beverly Hills Cop movie could and probably should have felt like a dated embarrassment, it's truly impressive that this is a surprisingly solid legacy sequel.