Production note The movie made almost $80 million and was the seventh-highest-grossing film of its year.
Production note The original concept involved a kidnapped governor’s daughter and a criminal freed from prison to help rescue her.
Production note Murphy was reportedly close to being fired a few days into shooting before the studio changed its mind.
Production note James Remar reportedly went without sleep before scenes to make Gans look more psychotic.
Production note Reggie Hammond was initially named Willie Biggs, but Murphy thought that sounded too clichéd and borderline racist.
Production note The blue Cadillac from the film was reportedly restored, repainted silver, and later owned by Vanilla Ice.
Mentioned with uncertainty The hosts note that the Busboys had more than one song in the film, including a third track in some versions.
Production note They suggest the film’s opening and police-precinct staging is more static and ensemble-based than typical 80s action films.
The Warriors Used as a Walter Hill comparison and for casting overlap, including multiple shared performers.
Predator Referenced as a formative 80s action movie and in discussion of Sonny Landham.
Die Hard Mentioned as part of the action-movie canon that followed 48 Hrs.
Beverly Hills Cop Used as both a comparison point for Murphy’s stardom and as a later genre cousin.
Rocky IV Cited as a loud crowd-pleasing theater experience similar to 48 Hrs.
Rich Man, Poor Man Used to describe Nick Nolte’s earlier TV stardom.
Roots Referenced as a benchmark for big TV miniseries events.
Pretty Woman Used to illustrate a star-making scene for Julia Roberts similar to Murphy’s bar scene.
Midnight Run Mentioned as one of the great hard-to-cable movies because of language.
Heat Referenced as another Rewatchables episode and a comparison for role-player heat-check awards.
Running Scared Used as a similar buddy-cop/action-comedy and as a good Gregory Hines performance.
Lethal Weapon Cited as a later movie influenced by 48 Hrs. and as a better rewatchable for Bill.
The Heat of the Night Referenced as an earlier, rarer example of racial cop dynamics in movies.
Miami Vice Referenced for the inspiration it allegedly drew from Jack Cates and for Olivia Brown’s later association.
The Busboys / Delirious Referenced as musical/cultural tie-ins through the Busboys songs and Eddie Murphy’s comedy album.
