From rom-coms to horror films
Many fictional law enforcement agents seem to have a problem with authority. They are often seen disregarding rules and dismissing their superiors. It goes without saying that this is usually not the case in real life.
Some movie and TV cops depict cops as inherently attractive. While we're not suggesting that there aren’t good-looking cops in real life, most don't, however, look like Brad Pitt in ‘Seven’ (1995).
Nor do they look like Angelina Jolie or Denzel Washington in ‘The Bone Collector’ (1999).
We often see fictional cops working around the clock. No sleep, no shower, no nothing. After all, crime never sleeps, right?
Police officers and detectives have working hours like in any other job. They may work shifts that include unsocial hours, but they won’t continue working nonstop to solve a crime.
Taking someone’s life is a risk of law enforcement work. In movies and TV shows, however, this seems to be taken lightly. Killing a person is a very serious and traumatic experience, however.
Sources: (Ranker) (Screen Rant)
Wouldn’t it be great if crimes could be solved in a 60-minute episode, or a 120-minute movie? This certainly doesn’t happen in real life.
Crime scenes in movies and shows could well be a buzzing café with lots of people wandering about. This is not usually the case in real life. Crime scenes are contained areas that only allow a restricted number of people to enter.
While there are fashion-conscious law enforcement agents, most don't dress as cool as Detectives James "Sonny" Crockett and Ricardo Tubbs in ‘Miami Vice’ (1984–1989).
Criminal investigations sometimes take months or years to conclude.
It’s not uncommon to find cops in movies and TV shows with tragic life stories. From characters with a murdered wife to divorcees, most fictional cops seem to have traumatic lives.
While there are certainly some police officers with such issues, they are not the majority.
Talking to a group of people is far more intimidating than having a conversation with one or two individuals.
Law enforcement is not about being a vigilante. We often see cops behaving like rogue vigilantes, but such behavior in real life would get them fired in record time. Police work is about enforcing the rule of law, not breaking it.
Simple, straightforward evidence trails are something you’d find in games, rather than in real life. Evidence is sometimes scarce and scattered.
Usually, interrogations are conducted by a maximum of one or two people. A roomful of cops interrogating a suspect is something only seen in movies.
Compelling a suspect to talk is hard work, nevermind confessing to a crime. In fact, many won’t even say a word without the presence of a lawyer.
Evidence doesn't always follow a logical sequential order like it does in movies. Nor does the investigation follow a smooth, straightforward line leading to the perpetrator.
Hollywood cops always seem to be able to make suspects talk during interrogations. This doesn’t really happen in real life.
Not to mention that knocking doors down is definitely not as easy as it seems in the movies.
It’s not uncommon to see cops in movies kicking down a door. A forcible entry can actually get a police officer in trouble though.
‘Training Day’ is a good example, where a corrupt veteran “bad cop” is paired with a rookie who plays the “good cop.” It goes without saying that such behavior wouldn’t be acceptable in most police forces.
We’ve all seen it, right? One cop plays the bad, crazy one, and the other is the rational and easygoing one. It turns out this routine is a lot more prevalent in Hollywood than in the real world.
We’ve all seen specialists going solo in cop movies and shows. Take former consultant to the California Bureau of Investigation Patrick Jane in ‘The Mentalist’ (2008–2015).
In movies and TV shows, we often see cops drawing their guns prematurely. Anything remotely suspicious seems to be a reason valid enough to draw a gun.
There are usually a number of people working on a case, though, and this doesn't really change when a specialist is brought in.
Remember seeing NYPD officer John McClane in ‘Die Hard’ (1988) filling out his paperwork after all the havoc caused in Los Angeles? Exactly.
Cops have far less contact with naked bodies (either dead or alive) than film and TV lead us to believe. The chances of encountering a naked gunman or a dead naked woman are not high.
Police officers spend a lot of time doing paperwork. On the big and small screen, we often see cops in hot pursuits, destroying property, and involved in shootouts, and, yet, not a single report seems to be filed.
Cops don’t do this in real life. Not only is it unprofessional, but it can actually be dangerous to do so. In some countries, police officers don’t even carry firearms.
Yes, police chases can be rather dramatic, but Hollywood really takes these scenes over the top!
Contrary to what Hollywood wants us to believe, cops don't actually live off donuts and coffee.
Some things only happen in movies and on TV shows, and, of course, this includes those depicting law enforcement agents. Cop movies and series have been around for a very long time. It's a tried and tested subgenre that many people love. But there is a clear distinction between fact and fiction, and there are some things that Hollywood gets really wrong.
Curious to find out what? Then click through the gallery!
Common misconceptions about police work in movies and TV shows
Law enforcement is very different in Hollywood
MOVIES Genres
Some things only happen in movies and on TV shows, and, of course, this includes those depicting law enforcement agents. Cop movies and series have been around for a very long time. It's a tried and tested subgenre that many people love. But there is a clear distinction between fact and fiction, and there are some things that Hollywood gets really wrong.
Curious to find out what? Then click through the gallery!