Eddie Murphy took the comedy world by storm when he first appeared on Saturday Night Live. The 18 year old had no business being so good yet he proved himself to be somewhat of a comedic prodigy. Other comedians at that age may have been struggling to get in the game but Murphy mastered it almost immediately. He had already reached impressive heights when he essentially saved Saturday Night Live from falling into obscurity. Once he left the show, however, it was nothing but film success. Right off the bat, Murphy found himself captivating audiences when he appeared alongside Nick Nolte in 48 Hours.

Murphy dominated the ‘80s when it came to film, headlining some of the best big-budget comedies. Critics and fans loved him and it showed at the box office. This success carried on well into the later years in his famed career. His filmography is extensive, with a long range of films from family comedies to action adventures. His career has had its up and downs but the highs were undoubtedly memorable.

These are the most memorable Eddie Murphy movies we couldn’t live without.

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12 Eddie Murphy Raw

Murphy was the rare comedian who dominated television, film, and standup. He was essentially a rockstar when it came to his standup. So much so that his standup special, Eddie Murphy Raw was given a wide theatrical release. His second standup special after Delirious, Raw was Murphy at his best. He held nothing back, even if some of his jokes may have lost their same appeal years later.

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Fans flocked to see the standup special in theatres, helping the film become the highest-grossing standup special of all time. Murphy’s hilarious standup while wearing his purple jumpsuit remains an indelible image.

11 Mulan

As the years went on, Murphy became well known for his family-friendly films. His raunchier films became less frequent, but he was still making box office hits in the ‘90s. One of those family-friendly hits came courtesy of Disney when he portrayed Mushu the dragon in Mulan. The reimagining of the Chinese fable was a hit with audiences.

His portrayal of the wisecracking dragon lent some much needed comedy to the Disney animated film.

10 Bowfinger

     Via: IMDb

Murphy worked with plenty of comedy legends throughout his career. In 1998, he was finally paired with none other than Steve Martin for the film, Bowfinger. In it, Murphy played the dual roles of Kip Ramsey and Jiff Ramsey. The Hollywood satire followed Martin’s character as he tries to shoot his own blockbuster film with Ramsey in the lead role, despite Ramsey not actually knowing that he’s being filmed.

Murphy’s knack for playing multiple character was as impressive as ever as he juggled between the looney primadonna, Kip, and the nerdy well-meaning Jiff. His and Martin’s pairing was a perfect match that led to both critical and commercial success for Bowfinger.

9 The Golden Child

     Via: The Golden Child

The Golden Child was a bit of a change for Murphy. The 1986 fantasy comedy found Murphy as a social worker who is “chosen” to find a young Tibetan boy with special powers. It was a change of pace for Murphy who at the time was known for starring in R rated comedies. The film marked the first time Murphy ever starred in a PG-13 film. While The Golden Child wasn’t revered by critics–or Murphy himself, it was still a box-office smash. The movie earned well over $100 million, furthering Murphy’s dominance at the cinema.

8 Dolemite Is My Name

Murphy’s career would eventually hit some lows. It didn’t help that the Razzies awarded him the ‘Worst Actor of The Decade’ award in 2010. The legendary comedian knew he needed a hit that he could be proud of and he found that movie in Dolemite Is My Name. The Netflix original film told the story of pioneering raunchy comedian, Rudy Ray Moore, played by Murphy as he attempts to make his low-budget blaxploitation film, Dolemite.

The film proved to be a hit for Murphy and helped in resurging his career. His performance was lauded by critics, netting him a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor in a Comedy in 2019. It was the movie that Murphy was looking for, in fact, it was the best-reviewed film of his career with a 94 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

7 The Nutty Professor

Few comedians were as impressive as Murphy was when he would portray multiple characters in a film. The 1996 version of The Nutty Professor showcased Murphy’s prowess at undergoing large transformations to portray several characters. The movie had Murphy playing seven-character including the lead role of Sherman Klump, a scientist whose experiment creates his evil alter ego, and Buddy Love.

Most fans were mesmerized by Murphy’s portrayal of Klumps’ extended family. One memorable scene in particular included Murphy playing all five members of the Klumps family in a hilarious dinner. The Nutty Professor would become one of Murphy’s most successful films; earning over $200 million at the box-office and earning an Academy Award for Best Makeup.

6 Shrek

Easily his most memorable animated role, Murphy’s turn as Donkey in the classic, Shrek was a laugh riot. His rapport with fellow SNL alum, Mike Myers created an iconic animated duo. Donkey’s wisecracking nature and bizarre relationship with a dragon made for a memorable character. Murphy would go on to star in three sequels to the animated hit.

5 Dreamgirls

     Via: Dreamgirls

Dreamgirls was a large departure for Murphy. It was his most dramatic role at the time and earned him a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Musical and his first Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. Dreamgirls, was an adaptation of a 1981 Broadway musical inspired by some of Motown’s greatest performers. Murphy played Jimmy Early, a composite character for such singers as Marvin Gaye and James Brown.

4 Trading Places

As his star began to rise on SNL, the film offers came in for Murphy. In 1983, Murphy starred in the classic comedy, Trading Places. Starring opposite another SNL alum, Dan Akroyd, Murphy played Billy Ray Valentine, a con man who finds himself in the middle of a social experiment conducted by two shady, wealthy brothers. It was in Trading Places that Murphy proved his worth as film actor. It was only his second role on film and he played it to perfection.

3 Coming To America

It’s hard to find a movie that is just as hilarious on every rewatch. Coming To America is that film. The plot of the film is simple enough, a prince flies to Queens, New York to find his princess. But Murphy and his costar, Arsenio Hall elevated the story. Both actors played multiple roles in the film in hilarious fashion. The side characters are what made this movie as great as it was. Characters like Randy Watson and the cantankerous local barbers at My-T-Sharp truly made Coming to America.

2 48 Hours

     Paramount Pictures

There aren’t too many actors whose first film is as big as Murphy’s 48 Hours. Before the buddy-cop film became such a staple in film, 48 Hours essentially acted as the prototype for the genre. Murphy’s brand of comedy on film was on full display with his portrayal of Reggie Hammond, a convict tasked with helping Nick Nolte’s character track down his former partners in crime. The film was a hit with critics and fans alike and would go on to jumpstart Murphy’s film career before leaving SNL.

1 Beverly Hills Cop

Beverly Hills Cop was the movie that cemented Murphy’s place as movie-star. This was the movie where he showed that he could truly carry a film and be a hit with audiences worldwide. The action-comedy followed Murphy as Detroit detective Axel Foley as he tracks down his friend’s killer in Beverly Hills. Laugh out loud jokes and top-notch action made this Murphy’s most iconic film. That paired with a theme song that was stuck in fans’ heads for days made this Murphy’s most unforgettable film.