If you loved
Let's Be Cops
Luke Greenfield · Film · 2014
What hooked you in Let's Be Cops was the way ordinary people adopt high-stakes roles to navigate their own personal midlife stagnation.
Books on the same thread
Dog Man (Captain Underpants: Dog Man #1)
Dav Pilkey · Book · 2016
Explores: Superhero, Crime-fighting, Transformation.
If you enjoyed the absurdity of Let's Be Cops, you will appreciate how this graphic novel leans into the comedic transformation of an unlikely character into a dedicated law enforcement figure.
Things We Hide from the Light
Lucy Score · Book · 2023
Explores: Small Town Secrets, Trauma, Redemption.
You will find that the internal struggle of a police officer navigating personal trauma in this story provides a more grounded, emotional weight to the themes explored in Let's Be Cops.
Greenlights
Matthew McConaughey · Book · 2020
Explores: Self-discovery, Life lessons, Positive thinking.
Much like the characters seeking purpose in Let's Be Cops, you will resonate with these personal lessons on self-discovery and navigating the obstacles of life through an unconventional perspective.
Captain Underpants
Dav Pilkey · Book · 1997
Explores: Friendship, School Life, Pranks.
The humor in Let's Be Cops relies on characters pretending to be someone they are not, a dynamic mirrored perfectly here as children manipulate their principal into a superhero identity.
Series on the same thread
The Rookie
Alexi Hawley · Series · 2018
Shares a thread with Let's Be Cops: Midlife Crisis.
This series captures the midlife crisis and desire for a fresh start that drove the plot of Let's Be Cops, showing how an older rookie handles the realities of police life.
Lethal Weapon
Matthew Miller · Series · 2016
Explores: Mismatched Partners, Redemption, Dealing with Grief.
The buddy cop dynamic is central to Let's Be Cops, and you will appreciate how this show pairs mismatched partners to explore themes of redemption and complex male friendship.
Psych
Steve Franks · Series · 2006
Explores: Fake Psychic, Incompetent Detective, Father-Son Relationship.
If you loved the deception and role-playing at the heart of Let's Be Cops, you will enjoy this series where a man successfully poses as a psychic to solve crimes.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Daniel J. Goor · Series · 2013
Explores: Ensemble Cast, Underdog, Character-Driven.
This workplace comedy shares the lighthearted spirit of Let's Be Cops, focusing on an ensemble of detectives who navigate their professional identities with humor and a deep sense of camaraderie.
Podcasts on the same thread
Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend
Team Coco & Earwolf · Podcast · 2026
Explores: parasocial relationships, professional intimacy, self-deprecating humor.
The focus on male friendship and the quest for connection that defines Let's Be Cops is further explored here as a famous comedian candidly examines his own social and professional life.
Crime in Sports
James Pietragallo, Jimmie Whisman · Podcast · 2026
Explores: athlete misconduct, legal absurdity, scandalous behavior.
If the dark humor and legal absurdity of Let's Be Cops appealed to you, you will enjoy this look at real-life figures who face the consequences of their own questionable choices.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Let's Be Cops about actual police officers?
No, Let's Be Cops features two best friends named Ryan and Justin who are not real police officers. They only impersonate law enforcement after wearing uniforms to a costume party and discovering the respect they receive from the public while dressed as police.
What prompts the main characters in Let's Be Cops to start their charade?
The characters in Let's Be Cops start their charade after attending a college reunion. They realize their careers are stalled and decide to continue wearing the police uniforms because they enjoy the attention and respect they receive from others while pretending to be officers.
Are both main characters in Let's Be Cops excited to pose as police?
No, the two protagonists in Let's Be Cops do not share the same enthusiasm. While Ryan decides to continue the charade to gain attention, Justin is uncomfortable with the idea of pretending to be a police officer despite the respect the uniforms earn them.
Does Let's Be Cops focus on the professional lives of Ryan and Justin?
Let's Be Cops focuses on the fact that Ryan and Justin have stalled careers. This professional frustration is highlighted during their college reunion, which serves as the catalyst for their decision to impersonate police officers to escape their current life circumstances.