Cop (1988): Cast, Box Office, Plot & Where to Watch
Cop is a 1988 crime thriller directed by James B. Harris, starring James Woods as Lloyd Hopkins, Vicki Wauchope and Charles Durning. It is partly based on Blood on the Moon by James Ellroy. It runs 1 hour 50 minutes and earned $2 million worldwide. Stream it on ScreenPix and YouTube Free, or rent or buy it on Amazon Video and Apple TV Store.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 50m (110 min)
- Director
- James B. Harris
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Harris-Woods Productions
- Based on
- Blood on the Moon by James Ellroy
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Cop About?
The premise of Cop without spoilers, adapted from Blood on the Moon by James Ellroy. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
A relentless homicide detective, obsessed and defiant, becomes convinced that a serial killer is stalking the Hollywood area. Ignoring orders and risking his career, he pursues the murderer with single‑minded determination, putting himself on the edge as the hunt escalates.
Cop Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- vigilante cop
- neo noir
- garter belt
- dead woman in lingerie
- lingerie
- school gymnasium
- ankle holster
- holster
- ankle
- pay phone
- 7 eleven store
- born again
+38 more Show fewer
- suspense
- rape and revenge
- vigilante justice
- vigilante
- vigilantism
- street justice
- female nudity
- marital problem
- abandoned by wife
- sportscar
- husband wife reltionship
- 8 year old
- marital infidelity
- psychotic
- unforgiveness
- death
- adultery
- jazz music
- extramarital affair
- chain smoking
- mutilation
- feminist bookshopkeeper
- reference to a sex party
- director co writer
- san francisco california
- policeman
- reference to a gang rape
- detective
- female bookshopkeeper
- 8 year old girl
- 7 year old girl
- brief bare breast
- brutality
- abrupt ending
- corruption
- actor co producer
- lapd los angeles police department
- murder of a woman
Where to Watch Cop
Stream it on ScreenPix and YouTube Free, or rent or buy it from Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. US availability and prices from JustWatch.
ScreenPix Apple TV channel 
YouTube Free 
Streaming availability in the US, powered by 
Cop Cast & Characters
James Woods leads the cast as Lloyd Hopkins, with Vicki Wauchope as Penny Hopkins and Charles Durning as Dutch Peltz. Directed by James B. Harris; 27 actors are credited in all.
- Director James B. Harris
-
James Woods as Lloyd Hopkins - Vicki Wauchope as Penny Hopkins
-
Charles Durning as Dutch Peltz - Jan McGill as Jen Hopkins
Also Starring in Cop
· 23 more- Helen Page Camp Estelle Peltz
- Randi Brooks Joanie Pratt
- Charles Haid Delbert W. 'Whitey' Haines
- John Petievich Deputy
- Lesley Ann Warren Kathleen McCarthy
- Dennis Stewart Lawrence D. 'Birdman' Henderson
- Steven Lambert Bobby Franco
- Raymond J. Barry Captain Frederick W. Gaffney
- Annie McEnroe Amy Cranfield
- Jules Dean Detective (uncredited)
- Scott Sandler Detective
- Jordana Capra Operator's Voice (uncredited)
- Christopher Wynne Jack Gibbs
- Jim Wilkey Watchman
- Randy Pelish Employee
- Jimmy Woodard Robber's Voice
Show all 27 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Michael V. Allen Harry
- Matt Almond Punk #2
- Rick Marotta Wilson
- Lyle Howry Detective (uncredited)
- Melinda Lynch Sarah Smith
- Christopher Blane Punk #1
- Banks Harper Kathleen's Attorney
Cop Plot Summary
What happens in Cop from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 5-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Lloyd Hopkins, [James Woods], is a troubled LAPD detective with a high arrest record and a reputation for bending the rules. When a tip leads him to a murder scene at a provided address, he starts gathering evidence on his own, bypassing the usual chain of command and alerting no one above him. He returns home to a tense moment with his wife, and a growing worry about the impact of his work on their eight-year-old daughter, Jen Hopkins, [Jan McGill], who watches from the doorway. The strain of his job bleeds into his private life, and the drama expands as he drags Dutch Peltz, [Charles Durning], his partner, into a stakeout that will push Hopkins to the edge.
Full summary
The whole story of Cop, scene by scene
Cop Box Office
Cop grossed $2 million worldwide.
Worldwide gross
$2M
- US & Canada
- $2M
How Well Do You Know Cop?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What is the first name of the LAPD detective played by James Woods?
Cars in Cop
9 cars on screen, including the 1985 Chevrolet Camaro and the 1981 Dodge Diplomat.
-
1985 Chevrolet Camaro Minor role -
1981 Dodge Diplomat Minor role -
1983 Ford LTD Crown Victoria Minor role -
1986 Ford Mustang Minor role
Cop Also Known As
14 alternative titles, including “Cop, amb la llei o sense” and “Polda”.
- Also known as
-
- Cop, amb la llei o sense
- Polda
- Cop, con la ley o sin ella
- Indagine ad alto rischio
- Der Cop
- Полицейский
- Zsaru
- Ченге
- Gliniarz
- Коп
- Um Policial Acima da Lei
- Poliš
+2 more Show fewer
- Hırçın Polis
- Polițistul
Seen Cop?
Movies Like Cop
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Copkiller, Cop Hater and Hollywood Cop.
Cop FAQ: Where to Watch, Cast & Box Office
Runtime, release date, director, cast, where to watch, box office, the book behind it and post-credit scenes of Cop, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Cop?
Cop runs 1 hour 50 minutes (110 minutes).
When was Cop released?
Cop was released on February 5, 1988.
Who directed Cop?
Cop was directed by James B. Harris.
More films by James B. Harris Who is in the cast of Cop?
Cop stars James Woods as Lloyd Hopkins, Vicki Wauchope as Penny Hopkins and Charles Durning as Dutch Peltz, among 27 credited actors.
Where can I watch Cop?
In the US, Cop is streaming on ScreenPix and YouTube Free and available to rent or buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home (availability from JustWatch).
How much did Cop make at the box office?
Cop grossed $2 million worldwide.
Is Cop based on a book?
Yes. Cop is partly adapted from Blood on the Moon by James Ellroy.
Does Cop have a post-credit scene?
No. Cop has no extra scene during or after the credits.
Coming soon to your phone
The Plot Explained Movie Summary App
From blockbusters to hidden gems: plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Save your favorites and never miss a twist again.
Be the first to know when it launches. Your email stays private, always. Learn more about the app
