Axel Foley, still a Detroit police detective, is supervised by his friend, Deputy Chief Jeffrey Friedman. After causing significant damage while chasing thieves, Jeffrey retires to protect Axel from punishment and encourages him to reconnect with his estranged daughter, Jane Saunders, a defense attorney in LA. Axel’s old friend, Rosewood, now a private investigator, warns Axel that Jane’s life is in danger. Rosewood has been helping Jane, who is representing Enriquez, framed for the murder of an undercover officer. Rosewood is kidnapped by a cartel after recovering evidence.

Axel heads to Beverly Hills, worried about Rosewood’s silence. In Rosewood’s office, he finds a suspicious team searching for something. After a chase, Axel is arrested and taken to the Beverly Hills Police Department, where he reunites with Chief John Taggart and meets Captain Cade Grant, whom he distrusts. Jane bails Axel out but resists reconnecting. Axel and Jane are ambushed but saved by Detective Bobby Abbott. Axel grows suspicious of Grant and questions Taggart’s leadership, causing a rift.

Axel, Abbott, and Jane find a camera with evidence linking Grant’s team to the murder. They discover Grant’s mansion is a cartel money laundering operation. With Serge’s help, Axel gains access to the mansion and finds more evidence. Grant, alerted by surveillance, frames Axel and Abbott for drug possession. Axel escapes and, with Abbott’s reluctant help, steals a helicopter. They crash at the Beverly Hills Police Station, convincing Taggart of the corruption.

Jane is kidnapped by Grant’s thugs. Axel, Rosewood, Abbott, and Taggart storm the cartel’s port operation, rescue Rosewood, and track Jane to the cartel mansion. In a firefight, Jane escapes. Axel is shot protecting Jane, and Abbott kills Grant. With the evidence recovered, charges against Enriquez are dropped. Axel reconciles with Jane during his hospitalization. Later, Axel reunites with Rosewood and Taggart, convincing them to join him for dinner.