Debapriya Bhattacharya
Comedian, actor, and singer Edward Regan Murphy became famous for his stand-up comedy before he made his film debut with ’48 Hrs.’ in 1982. At the same time, he became a well-known face on television, starring as a regular cast member as well as performing hosting duties on ‘Saturday Night Live.’ Eddie established himself as a leading man with movies such as ‘Beverly Hills Cop,’ ‘Coming to America,’ ‘Harlem Nights,’ ‘The Nutty Professor,’ ‘Dr. Dolittle,’ and ‘Daddy Day Care.’ He has also worked as a voice actor, and most notably lends his voice to the character of Donkey in the ‘Shrek’ franchise. In addition to winning numerous accolades throughout his career, Eddie has also received the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in 2015 and the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 2023. If you are searching for Eddie Murphy titles to stream on Netflix, the following list is tailored for you.
11. Dreamgirls (2007)
Adapted from the Broadway musical of the same name, the Bill Condon directorial ‘Dreamgirls’ tells the story of music trio Deena (Beyoncé Knowles), Effie (Jennifer Hudson), and Lorrell (Anika Noni Rose) from Detroit. During their appearance at a local talent show, they are noticed by car salesman Curtis Taylor Jr. (Jamie Foxx), who convinces them to make him their manager. He goes on to give them their big break as backup singers for James Early (Eddie Murphy), who engages in an affair with one of them. You can stream the musical drama here.
10. Tower Heist (2011)
Helmed by Brett Ratner, ‘Tower Heist’ centers around a group of employees working at a luxury residence in New York City. They lose their life savings to Arthur Shaw (Alan Alda), one of the building’s most infamous residents, who ran a Ponzi scheme and embezzled billions. In his determination to get back at Arthur, building manager Josh Kovaks (Ben Stiller) comes up with a plan to steal from the businessman’s apartment with his co-workers. To help them prepare for the heist, they take the help of career criminal Darnell “Slide” Davis (Eddie Murphy), who also happens to be Josh’s childhood friend. View the film here.
9. Dolemite is My Name (2019)
Directed by Craig Brewer, ‘Dolemite Is My Name‘ is a biographical comedy film that reimagines the life and work of legendary Black comedian, singer, actor, and film producer Rudolph Frank “Rudy Ray” Moore. Eddie Murphy embodies Rudy Ray, who overcomes extraordinary challenges to become an underground sensation in the 1970s by creating a hilarious, obscene, kung-fu-fighting anti-establishment stage character for himself named Dolemite. When many express doubt over the public acceptability of Dolemite, Rudy Ray takes a huge gamble by bringing the character to the big screen. You can stream the movie here.
8. You People (2023)
Co-written and directed by Kenya Barris, ‘You People’ tells the story of an interracial and interreligious couple who try to bring their families together before getting married. It begins with Ezra Cohen (Jonah Hill), a middle-aged White Jewish man, falling in love with Amira Mohammed, a Black Islamic woman, following a meet-cute where he mistakenly assumes her to be his cab driver. Despite their differences, the two get into a loving relationship. However, modern love gets tested when their families clash over cultural and generational differences and societal expectations. Eddie Murphy stars in the film as Amira’s father, Akbar, who has a difficult time accepting Ezra as the one for his daughter. Watch the romantic comedy here.
7. The Golden Child (1986)
Directed by Michael Ritchie, ‘The Golden Child’ centers around the titular character, a Tibetan boy (J.L. Reate), getting kidnapped by the evil Sardo Numspa (Charles Dance) when he is prophesied to save the world. In a desperate bid to find him, priestess Kee Nang (Charlotte Lewis) hunts for the Chosen One and comes across Los Angeles social worker Chandler Jarrell (Eddie Murphy). Seeing him discuss his talent of finding missing children on television, she tasks him with saving the Golden Child. View the fantasy action comedy film on Netflix.
6. Daddy Day Care (2003)
‘Daddy Day Care’ is set around Charlie (Eddie Murphy), an unemployed father who stays at home with his son while his wife, Kim (Regina King), goes to work as the sole breadwinner of the family. Recognizing a business opportunity with the help of his friend, Phil (Jeff Garlin), Charlie opens up a day care center at his home. The establishment soon becomes popular, but it also comes with its own challenges. Soon, Charlie finds himself fighting to keep his business going while competing with a neighboring day care. You can watch the family comedy directed by Steve Carr here.
5. The Nutty Professor (1996)
A remake of the eponymous 1963 film starring Jerry Lewis, ‘The Nutty Professor’ follows Sherman Klump (Eddie Murphy), a brilliant and kind-hearted science professor who develops a miracle drug to reverse his morbid obesity. However, losing weight also brings about a change in his personality and turns him obnoxious. His thinner and more assertive self takes the name of Buddy Love and proves himself to be more popular than the original Sherman. As Buddy tries to stop reverting to his original self, things go horribly out of hand. The Tom Shadyac directorial, similar to its predecessor, is a parody of Robert Louis Stevenson’s 1886 novella, ‘Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.’ Watch the film here.
4. Beverly Hills Cop (1984)
Martin Brest directorial ‘Beverly Hills Cop’ chronicles the life of Axel Foley (Eddie Murphy), a rebellious detective with the Detroit Police Department, who visits Beverly Hills, California, to investigate the murder of his childhood friend. Playing off his arrival as a vacation, Axel checks in with his friend Jenny Summers (Lisa Eilbacher). He comes to suspect her boss, art dealer Victor Maitland (Steven Berkoff), of being involved with the crime, but the Beverly Hills Police Department refuses to pay heed to his words. Thus, a desperate Axel is forced to take matters into his own hands. You can stream the action comedy film here.
3. Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F (2024)
‘Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F,’ directed by Mark Molloy, is the fourth film in the ‘Beverly Hills Cop’ series starring Eddie Murphy as the titular Detroit Police Detective Axel Foley. After learning of a threat to his estranged daughter Jane’s (Taylour Paige) life, Axel returns to Beverly Hills to get to the bottom of the situation. In addition to reuniting with his old friends, Billy Rosewood (Judge Reinhold) and John Taggart (John Ashton), Axel also teams up with young hotshot cop Bobby Abbott (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) and uncovers a sinister conspiracy. Stream the action comedy film on Netflix.
2. Dr. Dolittle (1998)
Loosely based on the children’s books by Hugh Lofting, ‘Dr. Dolittle’ stars Eddie Murphy as the titular character of Dr John Dolittle, a man with the ability to talk to animals. After rediscovering his talent as an adult, he starts helping all animals and birds with their problems. When this comes to the attention of his wife, Lisa (Kristen Wilson), she initially believes him to be mental before looking at the situation with an open mind. You can view the fantasy comedy film directed by Betty Thomas on Netflix.
1. Coming to America (1988)
Directed by John Landis, ‘Coming to America’ follows Prince Akeem (Eddie Murphy), heir to the throne of the wealthy African nation of Zamunda. When his father, King Jaffe (James Earl Jones), arranges his marriage, Akeem escapes to the US with his personal companion, Semmi (Arsenio Hall), in search of true love. Akeem desires someone who will love him for who he is and not for his title. He assumes the identity of a foreign student and works at a fast food store, where he meets Lisa (Shari Headley). The two hit it off, but he prince begins struggling when the time comes to reveal his true identity. Watch the film here.
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