Kevin Hart and Ice Cube’s Buddy-Cop Hits Ride Along and Ride Along 2 Are Now Streaming on Hulu

Hulu has refreshed its November lineup, and among the newest additions are Ride Along and Ride Along 2, the popular buddy-cop comedies starring Kevin Hart and Ice Cube. Both films became available on the platform on November 1st, joining earlier November arrivals like Bride Hard, The Assistant, and The First Omen.

Ride Along, released in 2014 and directed by Tim Story, follows Hart as Ben Barber, an eager new police academy recruit trying to prove he deserves both his badge and his relationship with his girlfriend’s brother. Ice Cube plays James Payton, a stern veteran officer who also happens to be Ben’s future brother-in-law. The film centers on Ben’s chaotic ride-along experience as he desperately tries to show he belongs on the force.

The sequel, Ride Along 2, arrived in 2016 and reunited the same cast under director Tim Story. This time, Hart and Ice Cube take the action to Miami as Ben attempts to earn his detective credentials and demonstrate he’s ready for the next step in his career. The sequel mirrors the original’s dynamic, focusing on Ben’s attempts to impress James while getting caught in increasingly outlandish situations.

Neither film earned much praise from critics, and both hold rotten scores on Rotten Tomatoes, with the first movie sitting at 18% critic approval and a 58% audience score. Ride Along 2 performed even worse critically, dropping to 15% from critics and 48% from audiences. Reviews consistently highlight the films’ unoriginal writing, formulaic buddy-cop setup, and uninspired action sequences, though audiences tend to view them more favorably than critics.

Despite the rough reception, Hart and Cube’s on-screen chemistry is widely acknowledged as the highlight of the franchise. Hart’s high-energy charm pairs well with Cube’s deadpan seriousness, creating a comedic contrast that helps keep both films entertaining even when the storytelling falls short. This chemistry is a major reason why the movies still attract large casual audiences and maintain strong rewatch value on streaming platforms.

Commercially, both movies were significant successes. The original Ride Along earned approximately $154 million worldwide, while Ride Along 2 grossed around $124 million, proving that their appeal extended far beyond critical opinion. These box office numbers sparked early discussions about a potential Ride Along 3, with reports in 2016 indicating the sequel was in early development.

Progress on a third movie has been slow, and updates have been scarce. In a 2023 interview with Entertainment Tonight, Ice Cube explained that he and Hart had “been talking a little bit” about the project but hadn’t landed on the right concept. He emphasized that a new installment needs to feel fresh, standalone, and worth revisiting, saying “We need to do it, and it needs to be a standalone movie that works.” You can read similar reporting about the ongoing discussions at CBR.

Alongside the Ride Along films, Hulu’s current catalog now includes popular titles like 13 Going on 30, The Last Duel, Love Actually, Labyrinth, Osiris, and The Sound of Music (1965). December will bring even more additions, including Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, the full Home Alone franchise, and Straight Outta Compton starting December 1st, all of which can be tracked through Hulu’s official listings at Hulu.com.

With both Ride Along movies now streaming, fans of Hart, Cube, and classic mismatched-partner comedies have an easy way to revisit the franchise or check it out for the first time.