What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedLet's Be Cops
Luke Greenfield · Film · 2014
If you loved Let's Be Cops, start with The Rookie (Alexi Hawley, 2018) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Let's Be Cops across media.
You loved Let's Be Cops because of the chaotic, hilarious blend of identity crises, unconventional career pivots, and the enduring power of male camaraderie.
Books on the same thread
The Bad Guys
Aaron Blabey · Book
Explores: Redemption, Unlikely friendships, Subverting tropes.
If the offbeat, rule-breaking spirit of Let's Be Cops appealed to you, these tough animals subverting tropes will satisfy your craving for unconventional heroes and high-stakes comedic adventures.
Dog Man (Captain Underpants: Dog Man #1)
Dav Pilkey · Book · 2016
Explores: Superhero, Crime-fighting, Transformation.
Much like the accidental lawmen in Let's Be Cops, this hybrid hero embraces a ridiculous identity to fight crime, delivering the same brand of absurd, slapstick-heavy police comedy.
Get Shorty
Elmore Leonard · Book · 1990
Explores: Fish-out-of-water, Hollywood satire, Mobster in Hollywood.
Just as the protagonists of Let's Be Cops find themselves in over their heads, this story captures the same fish-out-of-water energy through a career-shifting mobster navigating Hollywood life.
The Scared Stiff
Donald E. Westlake · Book · 2013
Explores: Insurance Fraud, Faked Death, Financial Desperation.
If you enjoyed the desperate, high-stakes deception found in Let's Be Cops, this thriller offers a similar look at couples spiraling into trouble while attempting to fake their way forward.
Series on the same thread
The Rookie
Alexi Hawley · Series · 2018
Shares a thread with Let's Be Cops: Midlife Crisis.
While Let's Be Cops plays the premise for laughs, this show mirrors the midlife crisis and career reinvention themes by following an older rookie attempting a fresh start.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Daniel J. Goor · Series · 2013
Explores: Ensemble Cast, Underdog, Character-Driven.
Fans of the buddy dynamics in Let's Be Cops will appreciate this ensemble comedy, which focuses on the chaotic, character-driven relationships of detectives working within a professional police precinct.
Psych
Steve Franks · Series · 2006
Explores: Fake Psychic, Incompetent Detective, Father-Son Relationship.
If you liked the central deception in Let's Be Cops, you will enjoy this series about a man who fakes his way into a police role using keen observation skills.
19-2
Réal Bossé · Series · 2014
Explores: Partnership, Urban Policing, Moral Ambiguity.
For those who appreciated the male friendship at the core of Let's Be Cops, this drama explores the intense, evolving partnership between two beat cops in a high-pressure environment.
Podcasts on the same thread
Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend
Team Coco & Earwolf · Podcast · 2026
Explores: parasocial relationships, professional intimacy, self-deprecating humor.
If the focus on friendship in Let's Be Cops resonated with you, this podcast provides an honest, self-deprecating look at the complexities of adult male bonds and professional intimacy.
We're Here to Help
Podcast
Explores: Friendship, Improv, Pop Culture.
This podcast captures the same improvised, friendship-driven humor found in Let's Be Cops, featuring two men who lean on their long-term bond to navigate life's absurd, unscripted challenges.
Keep exploring
Common questions
What is the premise of Let's Be Cops?
In Let's Be Cops, two friends named Ryan and Justin are stalled in their careers. After wearing police uniforms to a costume party, they realize the outfits earn them unexpected respect. Ryan decides to continue the charade despite Justin being uncomfortable with the idea of pretending to be officers.
Why do the main characters in Let's Be Cops start wearing uniforms?
Ryan and Justin begin wearing police uniforms in Let's Be Cops because they mistakenly believe they are attending a costume party at a college reunion. Once they realize the uniforms grant them attention and respect from others, they decide to keep wearing them to maintain the ruse.
Is Let's Be Cops about two friends?
Yes, Let's Be Cops follows two best pals, Ryan and Justin. The story focuses on their shared experience of feeling stuck in their professional lives and their decision to impersonate police officers after a misunderstanding at a college reunion leads them to wear uniforms in public.
How does the plot of Let's Be Cops begin?
The plot of Let's Be Cops begins when best friends Ryan and Justin attend a college reunion. They are both struggling with their careers, and the event highlights their lack of progress. They arrive in police costumes due to a misunderstanding, which sets the entire charade into motion.