Eddie Murphy returned to his iconic character Axel Foley after three decades. Titled Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F, the movie was the fourth instalment in the Beverly Hills Cop franchise. For those who watched the original three movies again and again, it felt nostalgic to revisit the character. And Murphy slipped into Foley’s shoes like he had never left. That being said, Foley is just one of the many, many characters that Murphy has essayed over his decades-long career. Here are the best Eddie Murphy movies you should watch.
The list includes Dolemite Is My Name (2019), in which Murphy portrays Rudy Ray Moore, a struggling artiste who creates the outrageous alter ego Dolemite. This comedy-drama biopic set in the 1970s is quite a superb showcase of Murphy’s craft and comedic genius. Also, Murphy fits into the role of Moore like a shoe, as though he was born to play this role.
In Shrek (2001), an animated movie based on a book by William Steig, Murphy lends his voice to the lovable, loquacious and only slightly annoying Donkey, who is simply a donkey who talks. Opinions will vary, but for my money, his portrayal of the character is the MVP of the entire franchise — as much as I like how these movies’ clever subversion of classic fairy tale tropes in other movies of the genre, particularly those involving Disney Princesses.
Speaking of fairy tales, Murphy’s character Billy Ray Valentine finds himself in a modern-day fairy tale of sorts in Trading Places (1983). Here, the tables are turned, and he goes from rags to riches. Bowfinger also plays with fairy tale elements, depicting the “dream come true” scenario of making it in Hollywood.
These and other movies in the list remind us why Murphy is the kind of talent that comes once in a generation.
Ranking the best Eddie Murphy movies to watch in order: Bowfinger and more
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Tower Heist (2011)
IMDb rating: 6.2
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 67 per cent
Director: Brett Ratner
Other cast members: Ben Stiller, Casey Affleck, Alan Alda, Michael Peña, Matthew Broderick
Movie duration: 1 hour 44 minutes
Synopsis: In New York, a luxury apartment complex named The Tower has a manager called Josh Kovacs (Stiller). Arthur Shaw (Alda) owns the Tower’s penthouse and one day, he is found out to be the man behind a Ponzi scheme, and as it turns out, he has also stolen the pension funds belonging to employees. Since there is no legal recourse, Kovacs mobilises disgruntled employees to try a different approach. They decide to rob Shaw of the money he still appears to have in his possession in some form. To do this, Kovacs gets help from a petty thief Darnell Davis (Murphy) who once burglarised a bank that Shaw tried to defraud. The rest of the crew includes Charlie (Affleck), Enrique (Peña) and Mr. Fitzhugh (Broderick).
Why you should watch it: This movie is not perfect, and the script is fairly weak. However, the cast, particularly Murphy and Stiller, elevates the film with their crackling chemistry. Murphy brings his signature wit and charisma to the role of Davis and is not unsurprisingly the standout, even if Stiller has a meatier role.
Bowfinger (1999)
IMDb rating: 6.5
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 81 per cent
Director: Frank Oz
Other cast members: Steve Martin, Heather Graham, Jamie Kennedy
Movie duration: 1 hour 37 minutes
Synopsis: A down-and-out filmmaker Bobby Bowfinger (Martin) still dreams of making it big in Hollywood. He formulates a plan to produce a would-be blockbuster on the budget of an indie movie. He has set his eyes on the industry’s biggest star, Kit Ramsey (Murphy) and even casts him. The trouble is that Kit does not know he is in the film, as Bowfinger plans to secretly record his real-life interactions and pass them off as the movie. Of course, that is easier said than done, though the existence of Kit’s lookalike Jiff (also Murphy) helps matters somewhat.
Why you should watch it: A clever, hilarious take on the absurdities of Hollywood and things people would do to achieve their dreams, Bowfinger is a highly underrated movie that does not get enough attention. Martin, who also wrote the script, is fantastic. And Murphy once again showcases his incredible comedic range in the dual role. You will see what I mean once you watch the movie.
Dreamgirls (2006)
IMDb rating: 6.6
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 79 per cent
Director: Bill Condon
Other cast members: Beyoncé, Anika Noni Rose, Jennifer Hudson, Jamie Foxx, Danny Glover
Movie duration: 2 hours 10 minutes
Synopsis: Dreamgirls centres around a fictional girl band, The Dreams, who make a name for themselves in the 1960s and 1970s music industry, first starting out as The Dreamettes. Murphy plays the role of James “Thunder” Early in the movie who first helps out The Dreams, but at some point faces his own career struggles. Effie White (Hudson), Deena Jones (Knowles), and Lorrell Robinson (Rose) are the members of the group who must wrestle with the fame they have gained. The movie deals with the themes of being true to each other and our dreams.
Why you should watch it: This is the facet of Murphy you have rarely witnessed. Often seen rightly as a comedy powerhouse, this movie has him giving a raw and emotionally charged performance.
Life (1999)
IMDb rating: 6.8
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 52 per cent
Director: Ted Demme
Other cast members: Martin Lawrence, Obba Babatundé, Nick Cassavetes
Movie duration: 1 hour 48 minutes
Synopsis: Two friends Ray Gibson (Murphy) and Claude Banks (Lawrence) were convicted wrongfully in 1932 and are serving a life sentence. The two men bond during their experiences over the years and develop a sweet friendship. In contrast to Ray who is quick-witted and street-smart, Claude is quiet and reserved. We follow their life over six decades, and they undergo much pain and hardship. The plot of the movie is somewhat inspired by The Shawshank Redemption (1994).
Why you should watch it: Like The Shawshank Redemption, this movie is a fine take on human resilience, friendship and hope. Both Murphy and Lawrence (who was recently seen in Bad Boys: Ride or Die) are marvellous in their roles.
48 Hrs (1982)
IMDb rating: 6.9
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 92 per cent
Director: Walter Hill
Other cast members: Nick Nolte, Annette O’Toole, Frank McRae
Movie duration: 1 hour 36 minutes
Synopsis: An action-comedy that has a no-nonsense policeman Jack Cates (Nolte) being paired with a wise-cracking imprisoned convict Reggie Hammond (Murphy) to get a job done. It’s a standard buddy cop template, but the movie does interesting things with it. The two make an uneasy, temporary partnership to catch two criminals. The title refers to the time Hammond is allowed to be free to do the job with Cates. Since Hammond was a partner-in-crime of one of the criminals, he has crucial information that can help Cates. The movie features well-staged action sequences, nicely comedic dialogue and an excellent dynamic between the two leads.
Why you should watch it: This movie was Murphy’s debut but you would not guess this by watching him own nearly every scene he is in, though Nolte is no slouch either. The movie is just packed with entertainment from start to finish. And apart from Hill’s strong direction, the sharp script also deserves praise.
Coming to America (1988)
IMDb rating: 7.1
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 73 per cent
Director: John Landis
Other cast members: Paul Bates, Arsenio Hall, Garcelle Beauvais, Shari Headley
Movie duration: 1 hour 57 minutes
Synopsis: The crown prince of the fictional African nation Zamunda, Akeem Joffer, is not happy with the arranged bride-to-be as he wishes to marry someone who would love him for his character, not his royalty. Accompanied by his loyal servant Semmi (Hall), he leaves for the United States in his search for a woman. He decides to shed his regal paraphernalia and goes undercover in the guise of a poor foreign student, earning his living by working at a fast-food restaurant. He eventually meets Lisa McDowell (Headley), a smart and independent woman who appears to fit the bill.
Why you should watch it: A fabulously entertaining comedy movie that hinges on Murphy’s charisma. And since he has lots of it, this movie works. It is also well written with a compelling examination of love, identity and cultural differences. The unhurried pace allows characters to develop and boasts several memorable scenes.
IMDb rating: 7.2
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 97 per cent
Director: Craig Brewer
Other cast members: Keegan-Michael Key, Mike Epps, Craig Robinson
Movie duration: 1 hour 58 minutes
Synopsis: In this movie, Murphy takes on the role of filmmaker Rudy Ray Moore. Set in Los Angeles during the 1970s, the movie essays Moore as a struggling and flamboyant comedian and self-proclaimed “Godfather of Rap”. He discovers underground comedy clubs and creates the iconic persona Dolemite. A charismatic and foul-mouthed pimp character, Dolemite was inspired by the street characters Moore comes across. Supporting him are his friends and collaborators such as playwright Jerry Jones (Key), comedian Jimmy Lynch (Epps) and music manager Ben Taylor (Robinson).
Why you should watch it: A powerful and funny tribute to creativity, perseverance and the colourful character that was Moore. Murphy is outstanding here, capturing Moore’s larger-than-life personality with sharp wit and an infectious energy. It is one of the best biopics to watch on Netflix.
Beverly Hills Cop (1984)
IMDb rating: 7.4
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 82 per cent
Director: Martin Brest
Other cast members: Judge Reinhold, John Ashton, Lisa Eilbacher
Movie duration: 1 hour 45 minutes
Synopsis: Murphy essays the role of Alex Foley, a street-smart cop and detective in Detroit who uses his charisma and wit instead of brute force to solve crimes and apprehend criminals. He has to travel to Beverly Hills to look into the murder of his friend. He partners with Billy Rosewood (Reinhold), an upright, by-the-book cop. Their paths cross some very powerful people. Foley’s unusual methods and sharp intuition lead him closer to the truth. He also uncovers a network of crime and corruption.
Why you should watch it: It is one of the finest buddy cop movies ever made. If that is not reason enough, this movie showcases Murphy at the height of his comedic prowess. Even if you have seen it already, it is one of those classics that is worth revisiting again and again. It remains one of the comfort movies for Murphy’s fans.
Trading Places (1983)
IMDb rating: 7.5
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 89 per cent
Director: John Landis
Other cast members: Dan Aykroyd, Ralph Bellamy, Don Ameche, Jamie Lee Curtis
Movie duration: 1 hour 56 minutes
Synopsis: A satirical comedy-drama, this movie is based on a complex social experiment performed by two well-off brothers with clearly too much time on their hands — Randolph (Bellamy) and Mortimer Duke (Ameche). They wager whether nature or nurture determines a person’s success. They switch the lives of two individuals who are at opposite ends of the social spectrum: Louis Winthorpe III (Aykroyd), a commodities broker and Billy Ray Valentine (Murphy), a street-smart hustler. Louis is framed for a crime and loses everything, coming down to Billy’s level, while Billy enters the high-society life that Louis once had. But the two discover the Duke brothers’ scheme and join forces to turn the tables.
Why you should watch it: In addition to it being an all-around fun comedy, it is also a trenchant commentary on class and privilege. Murphy and Aykroyd are at the top of their game here and both are excellent to watch. Curtis, otherwise best known for starring in the Halloween series of serial killer movies, is impressive here.
Shrek (2001)
IMDb rating: 7.9
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 88 per cent
Director: Andrew Adamson, Vicky Jenson
Other voice cast members: Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz, John Lithgow
Movie duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Synopsis: Seemingly evil but actually good at heart ogre Shrek (Myers) finds his swamp home overrun by fairy tale creatures like Pinocchio and Three Blind Mice. The creatures lost their home after they were evicted by the Lord Farquaad (Lithgow). When Shrek demands Farquaad get rid of them, the latter tasks him to rescue Princess Fiona (Diaz) from a faraway castle overseen by a huge dragon. Shrek reluctantly agrees and tagging along with him on the journey is annoying Donkey (Murphy).
Why you should watch it: Shrek and its sequels are based on a children’s picture book of the same name by William Steig. Irreverent and uproarious, the film is the ultimate anti-fairy tale movie, even if it boasts numerous classic fantasy characters. It is also a clever satire that takes a dig at Disney’s animated movies even as it stands in its own right as a highly entertaining piece of cinema. We cannot wait for Murphy to reprise the voice-role of Donkey in the Shrek 5, due for release in 2026.
(Hero and featured image: courtesy of Melinda Sue Gordon/Netflix/IMDb)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Eddie Murphy was last seen in 'Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F' (2024).
It is impossible to pinpoint any one movie that made Eddie Murphy famous. Movies of the 1980s like 'Trading Places' (1983), 'Beverly Hills Cop' (1984) and 'Coming to America' (1988) played a big part in making him popular.
Eddie Murphy has 10 biological children, according to online news reports.
He has not stopped filming or doing movies, though he has been more selective about his choices in recent years.
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Kshitij is a journalism graduate who did not initially intend to become a film critic, but such are the vagaries of destiny. Now, Kshitij is a Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic and a member of the Film Critics Guild, bringing expertise and experience in evaluating entertainment content with him. Additionally, he serves as a jury member on the Critics' Choice Awards in India. When he's not busy wielding words, catch him nose-deep in books or joyfully lost in the realms of gaming and photography.
