I’m not going to lie: Eddie Murphy has made some bad movies. Some really bad movies. Some really, really bad movies. But, come on, he’s made some really good ones, too. In fact, he’s made some great movies. We’re here to praise Eddie, not to bury him. Here are ten movie featuring this comedy legend everyone should see.
10. Metro – 1997
Metro is not, by any means, Eddie’s best movie. Hell, it’s not even his best movie in which he plays a cop (hold your horses, we’re getting there). But after what would be the first in his string of crummy movies, Metro was a breath of fresh air. It played around with a lot of cop movie cliches and tropes and turned out to be a really entertaining flick.
9. The Nutty Professor – 1996
Murphy’s transition into family-friendly movies hasn’t always met with stellar results, but his remake of the Jerry Lewis comedy, however, was both a box office and (for the most part) critical success. He’s done the “playing multiple characters in one movie” schtick before, and in better movies, but this one is pretty good.
8. Mulan – 1998
Murphy’s comedic voice acting was stellar in the Shrek films, but he was sort of lost in a sea of other characters. In Mulan, not only was he the big “name” star but he absolutely shined in the role, as well.
7. The Golden Child – 1986
This was Murphy’s first attempt at both the fantasy genre as well as playing a straight up hero. The critics weren’t big fans of it but people without sticks up their butts who enjoy fun movies loved it.
6. Trading Places – 1983
In Trading Places, Murphy teams up with another comedy legend whose most recent film choices have been more miss than hit. It’s a ridiculously funny comedy with a great ensemble cast and a topless Jamie Lee Curtis. You don’t really get much more 80’s than that.
5. Beverly Hills Cop II – 1987
Murphy’s first sequel, it was almost as good as the original. Almost.
4. Dreamgirls – 2006
This Bill Condon directed film version of the Broadway musical earned Murphy his first and (so far) only Academy Award nomination.
3. 48 Hours – 1982
Murphy’s first movie, it was originally planned to star Clint Eastwood and Richard Pryor. Eastwood actually turned it down as he was looking to play a criminal at the time.
2. Beverly Hills Cop – 1984
While we’re on the topic, the role of Axel Foley was originally offered to, of all people, Mickey Rourke. When that didn’t work out, the role was then offered to Sylvester Stallone, who then proceeded to rewrite the entire movie – rewrites that would eventually become Cobra.
1. Bowfinger – 1999
What the Ackroyd/Murphy team up was in the 1980s with Trading Places, this classic starring Murphy and Steve Martin was for the 1990s – and probably will never be replicated again. A scathing satire of Hollywood as Robert Altman’s The Player, but way more fun. Some of Eddie Murphy’s best work.
