After launching astand-upcareer in the late 1970s, comedianEddie Murphygained fame after becoming a cast member onSaturday Night Livein 1980, when he was just 19 years old, making him one of the youngest performers in the history of the show. Although his time on the show came to an end in 1984—he has returned to host three times—his characters remain some of their funniest and most iconic, a testament to Murphy’s skill as a comedian. It’s no surprise, then, thatMurphy’s success continued outsideSNLand the world of stand-up, including a brief music career and plenty of starring roles in movies, especiallycomedies, beginning in the1980s.
Murphy’s film career continued into the'90s, and much of it built on the success of his films in the ’80s, with sequels to hits like48 Hrs.andBeverly Hills Cop. But the decade also brought underrated comedies about everything from relationship dynamics to politics, as well as acclaimed voiceover work. At his best,Murphy combined his sense of humor with charm, leaving a lasting impression on audiences in movies that are still beloved today.
12’Another 48 Hrs.' (1990)
Directed by Walter Hill
InAnother 48 Hrs., the sequel to the buddy-cop movie48 Hrs., Jack Cates (Nick Nolte) learns that a drug lord known as “The Iceman” has put a bounty out on Reggie Hammond (Murphy), who is days away from being released from prison. After Jack kills a man in self-defense while in pursuit of the Iceman,he’s put under investigation and enlists Reggie to help clear his name.
Another 48 Hrs.wasn’t well-received by audiences or critics when it was released and isn’t remembered as one of Murphy’s best movies. It struggled to capturewhat made the first movie a success. Most notably,Nolte and Murphy just didn’t have the same chemistry as they did before, a crucial element of any buddy-cop film. But Murphy still played Reggie well, with great attitude and humor.
Another 48 Hrs.
In Another 48 Hrs., San Francisco cop Jack Cates enlists the help of ex-con Reggie Hammond to apprehend a mysterious drug kingpin known as the Ice Man. As the pair race against time following Reggie’s release from prison, they become entangled in a dangerous web of crime and intrigue.
11’Metro' (1997)
Directed by Thomas Carter
InMetro, after the best friend of skilled San Francisco hostage negotiator Scott Roper (Murphy) was killed by jewel thief Michael Korda (Michael Wincott), Scott vows to get revenge. After being partnered with rookie Kevin McCall (Michael Rapaport) and in the midst of trying to win back his girlfriend, Ronnie (Carmen Ejogo),Scott is removed from the case but decides to work it on his own anyway—and then is called to negotiate with Korda in the middle of a heist.
It has its funny moments, butMetrowas like a more serious, mature movie thanBeverly Hills Cop. Murphy’s character in particular was more serious, and he showed his skill as an actor, particularly in the aftermath of his best friend’s death.The movie also featured some impressive but admittedly not very believable action sequences, including a great car-chase scene, and made interesting use of genre clichés, using some while subverting others.
10’Vampire in Brooklyn' (1995)
Directed by Wes Craven
Vampire in Brooklynfollows detective Rita Veder (Angela Bassett), who is assigned to a case of bizarre serial murders—a ship was found adrift at sea full of dead bodies. While investigating,Rita encounters a Caribbean playboy named Maximilian(Murphy) who is set on winning her over, and all the while, she begins to suffer from hallucinations and turns to the occultist Dr. Zeko (Zakes Mokae) for help, who suspects a vampire is the culprit.
Vampire lore has been revisited countless times in Hollywood history, and who better to tackle the story than horror masterWes Craven? WhileVampire in Brooklynwasn’t among his best work, it still had some fun moments, and Murphy’s performance was one of the highlights—he played Maximilian just as charming as he was menacing, on top of playing two other characters in the movie,something he first didinComing to Americaand has become known for.
Vampire in Brooklyn
9’Beverly Hills Cop III' (1994)
Directed by John Landis
InBeverly Hills Cop III, cop Axel Foley (Murphy) returns to California and reunites with Detective Billy Rosewood (Judge Reinhold) when his boss in Detroit is killed and the evidence indicates a connection to Wonder World, an amusement park in California. Along with the help of Billy’s new partner, Jon Flint (Héctor Elizondo),their investigation uncovers that the park’s security staff were involved in counterfeiting moneyunder the orders of park manager Orrin Sanderson (John Saxon).
Despite being an entertaining movie,Beverly Hills Cop IIIdidn’t quite live up to the quality of the previous two—but it did still prove that Murphy could be an action hero just as well as a comedian. The movie also featured a number of cameos, perhaps the most notable of which was filmmakerGeorge Lucas, known for creatingStar Warsand seen when Axel cuts in front of him in line for a ride.
Beverly Hills Cop 3
8’Holy Man' (1998)
Directed by Stephen Herek
With sales down, the executive of a home-shopping network, Ricky Hayman (Jeff Goldblum), is on the verge of losing his job inHoly Man. After a chance encounter with a man who called himself “G” (Murphy),Ricky decides to put him on camera, and his appearance leads to a spike in sales. But it doesn’t take long for G’s new role to take its toll, leading Ricky to question his decision to put G on air.
Holy Manfeatured a great cast, including Murphy’s charm at its best. But the movie didn’t quite deliver on its premise—there were some missed opportunities for satire, and Murphy himself has criticized it. Parts of it remain as relevant as ever, though, including a scene in which G criticizes the network’s sale of beauty products as trying to convince viewers they were “not enough” and celebrities promoting their own products.
7’The Nutty Professor' (1996)
Directed by Tom Shadyac
The brilliant overweight scientist Sherman Klump (Murphy) invents a miracle weight-loss drug and tries it on himself after going on a disastrous date with the beautiful Carla (Jada Pinkett Smith) inThe Nutty Professor. But the drug comes with the side effect of transforming Sherman’s personality, as well. The movie was a remake of the 1963 film of the same name. Murphyplayed a total of seven charactersin the movie.
Murphy built on playing three characters inVampire in Brooklynto quite a few more inThe Nutty Professor, and he did it well—each character was unique, and Murphy disappeared into each of them. The movie was a big success for him, and although it was a comedy with a fun spin on the classic story ofDr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, it had some real moments of sincerity and heart.
The Nutty Professor
A brilliant but overweight scientist, Professor Sherman Klump, attempts to overcome personal and professional challenges by inventing a revolutionary weight-loss solution. The experiment dramatically alters his appearance and confidence, leading to comedic situations as he navigates the duality of his new charismatic persona and his true self.
6’Dr. Dolittle' (1998)
Directed by Betty Thomas
InDr. Dolittle, the titular doctor, was able to speak to animals as a child, and the skill returns to him after a fender-bender. It proves to have a downside, however, whenhe is overwhelmed by animals visiting him to ask for help, and his behavior concerns his wife, Lisa (Kristen Wilson), who sends him to a mental institution. The movie was based on the story of the same name byHugh Lofting.
Dr. Dolittlewas a fun family comedy, with a star-studded cast providing the voices of the animals Dr. Dolittle encountered—most of the comedy came from the animals, in fact, rather than Murphy, who served as more of a straight man to them. Despite receiving mixed reviews, the movie did well at the box office. It scored the top spot its opening weekend. Its financial success led to four sequels.
Doctor Dolittle
5’The Distinguished Gentleman' (1992)
Directed by Jonathan Lynn
Political comedyThe Distinguished Gentlemanfollows conman-turned-politician, Thomas Jefferson Johnson (Murphy), whose name is similar to a Congressman who has recently died—somethingThomas uses to his advantage to get elected president after he finds out how lucrative political corruption can be. But his stance changes when he learns of a connection between electrical companies and childhood cancer.
The Distinguished Gentlemanwasn’t as highly regarded as other political satires, but it was still a great entry in the genre and remainsone of Murphy’s underrated comedies. He was as charming and funny as ever as Thomas, whether he was conning politicians or becoming one of them. The film is also as relevant as ever, withits commentary on American voters and the political system.
The Distinguished Gentleman
4’Bowfinger' (1999)
Directed by Frank Oz
Filmmaker Bobby Bowfinger (Steve Martin), on the verge of bankruptcy and desperate for a break, decides to shoot a huge blockbuster inBowfinger. Rounding out the cast would be Hollywood’s most in-demand actor, Kit Ramsey (Murphy), but there’s one problem—Kit isn’t interested.But Bowfinger decides filming would continue without Kit knowing, with the help of Kit’s brother, Jiff (Murphy). In addition to starring inBowfinger, Martin also wrote it.
Bowfingerwas a fun satire of Hollywood. Once again, it featured Murphy in more than one role, andit’s hard to imagine any other actor pulling it off so well. But he wasn’t the only one who stood out—each member of the star-studded cast had their moment to shine. The movie is often hailed as one of Murphy’s best, as well as one of his most underrated, and still holds up today.
3’Life' (1999)
Directed by Ted Demme
InLife, which began during Prohibition, grifter Ray (Murphy) and bank teller Claude (Martin Lawrence), opposites of each other, head to Mississippi to pursue a lucrative bootlegging opportunity to pay off their debts, but are framed for murder after playing in a crooked card game.They develop a close friendship and hope to prove their innocencewhile serving life sentences in prison, and the film follows their lives over the course of 50 years.
Lifereceived mixed reviews when it was released and has been under-appreciated, but it’s come to be a cult classic beloved by fans of both Murphy and Lawrence, who both deliver great performances, along with a memorable supporting cast. Although it was a comedy, it also explored some heavier themes, including racism, but above all,it was a sweet and uplifting movie about the ups and downs of a long-term friendship, which resonated with audiences.
