13 Eddie Murphy Comedy Hits That Made Him a Legend

13 Eddie Murphy Comedy Hits That Made Him a Legend

Eddie Murphy is one of the funniest people to ever step in front of a camera or microphone.

From his early days on Saturday Night Live to blockbuster movies, he built a career full of unforgettable characters and laugh-out-loud moments.

His comedies range from action-packed buddy films to animated adventures, proving he could do it all.

Get ready to revisit the movies and specials that turned Eddie Murphy into a true comedy legend.

1. 48 Hrs. (1982)

Before anyone knew his name, Eddie Murphy walked onto a movie screen and completely owned it.

In his very first film role, he played Reggie Hammond, a smooth-talking convict let out of jail for just two days to help gruff detective Jack Cates catch a killer.

The chemistry between Murphy and Nick Nolte was electric and totally unpredictable.

Murphy’s fast mouth and fearless energy made every scene pop with life.

One bar scene alone announced to the world that a major star had arrived.

Fun fact: Murphy was only 21 years old when this film was released.

2. Eddie Murphy Delirious (1983)

Picture a 22-year-old in a fire-engine red leather suit commanding a massive crowd like he had been doing it for decades.

That was Eddie Murphy during his Delirious concert special, filmed live at Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C.

The energy in that room was absolutely electric from start to finish.

Murphy’s storytelling style was sharp, physical, and completely fearless.

He turned everyday moments into comedy gold with wild impressions and hilarious family stories.

Delirious helped establish him as more than a TV star — it proved he was a generational comedic talent worth taking seriously on any stage.

3. Trading Places (1983)

What happens when two rich old men decide to ruin one man’s life and reward another, just to win a bet?

Trading Places answers that question with one of the sharpest comedies of the entire decade.

Murphy plays Billy Ray Valentine, a street hustler suddenly dropped into a world of luxury and power.

His comedic timing opposite Dan Aykroyd is nothing short of brilliant.

The two bounce off each other in ways that feel completely natural and wildly funny at the same time.

This film also carries a clever message about class and privilege that still holds up surprisingly well today.

4. Beverly Hills Cop (1984)

Axel Foley might be the most charming, quick-talking detective in movie history.

Beverly Hills Cop gave Murphy a character who could fast-talk his way out of any situation while somehow still catching the bad guys.

The film became a massive blockbuster and helped define 1980s action-comedy as a genre.

Murphy improvised many of his best lines, and it shows — every scene crackles with a spontaneous, unpredictable energy that scripted films rarely capture.

The famous “Banana in the Tailpipe” scene became an instant classic.

With a budget of just $14 million, the movie earned over $316 million worldwide.

Axel Foley was born, and so was a franchise.

5. Eddie Murphy Raw (1987)

Raw is not just a stand-up special — it is a full-on cultural event.

Filmed at Madison Square Garden’s Felt Forum, this concert movie captured Murphy at the absolute peak of his comedic confidence.

Every joke landed with the force of a freight train, and the crowd responded like they were witnessing something historic.

Murphy tackled relationships, fame, and everyday life with a boldness that left audiences breathless.

Raw went on to become the highest-grossing stand-up concert film of all time, a record it held for many years.

Watching it today still feels like sitting front row at the greatest show on earth.

6. Coming to America (1988)

Prince Akeem of Zamunda has everything money can buy — except a woman who loves him for real.

So he travels to Queens, New York, hoping to find genuine love without revealing his royal identity.

What follows is a warm, hilarious, and surprisingly sweet story about identity and belonging.

Murphy played multiple characters thanks to incredible makeup work, including an old Jewish barber, which still amazes viewers today.

Coming to America felt fresh and original because it let Murphy be charming and funny without relying on edge alone.

The film was so beloved that it earned a sequel more than 30 years later.

7. Boomerang (1992)

Marcus Graham is used to being the one in control — always charming, always ahead, never caught off guard.

Boomerang flipped that script completely by giving Murphy a character who finally meets someone who plays the game better than he does.

It was a bold creative choice that paid off beautifully.

The film surrounded Murphy with an outstanding cast including Halle Berry and Robin Givens, which elevated every scene.

Boomerang had genuine style, great music, and real emotional depth underneath all the laughs.

Many fans consider it Murphy’s most underrated performance because he played vulnerable in ways audiences had never seen from him before.

8. The Nutty Professor (1996)

Playing one character in a movie is hard enough — Eddie Murphy played seven.

In The Nutty Professor, he transformed into an entire family of hilariously distinct personalities, each one fully realized with different voices, body language, and comedic rhythms.

The dinner table scene alone is a masterclass in physical comedy.

At the heart of all the laughs is a surprisingly touching story about self-acceptance and confidence.

Professor Sherman Klump is easy to root for because Murphy plays him with real warmth and vulnerability.

The film was a massive comeback hit for Murphy and reminded Hollywood exactly what kind of talent they had on their hands.

9. Dr. Dolittle (1998)

Imagine going through your entire adult life as a respected doctor, only to suddenly start hearing animals talk back to you.

That is exactly the chaos that hits Dr. John Dolittle, and Murphy plays the confusion and comedy with perfect timing throughout.

Kids and parents both found plenty to love here.

The film works because Murphy reacts to the talking animals with the same energy he brings to human co-stars — fully committed and genuinely funny.

Dr. Dolittle became a surprise box-office hit and spawned multiple sequels.

It proved Murphy could anchor family-friendly comedies just as easily as edgier adult fare without losing any of his signature spark.

10. Mulan (1998)

Mushu should not be the most memorable part of an epic Disney adventure about honor, war, and identity — and yet, here we are.

Murphy’s voice work as the tiny, fast-talking dragon guardian is so alive and funny that he practically leaps off the screen with every single line.

Kids quoted him endlessly on playgrounds across the country.

What makes Mushu work is that Murphy brought his full comedic personality to the role without overwhelming the story.

The character has heart and silliness in equal measure.

Mulan proved that Murphy’s voice alone was enough to make any animated character feel electric, memorable, and completely impossible to forget.

11. Life (1999)

Life starts as a funny road-trip comedy and gradually becomes something much more emotional and meaningful.

Murphy and Martin Lawrence play Ray and Claude, two men wrongfully convicted of murder in 1930s Mississippi who end up spending their entire lives in prison together.

Their bond is the true heart of the film.

Watching the two characters age across decades is both comedic and genuinely moving.

Murphy showed real dramatic range here while still delivering plenty of big laughs.

Life is one of those rare films that sneaks up on you — you start out giggling and end up surprisingly invested in two men you never want to see apart.

12. Shrek (2001)

Nobody expected a grumpy green ogre movie to become one of the greatest animated franchises ever made — but nobody expected Donkey either.

Murphy’s voice performance as the relentlessly cheerful, never-stop-talking Donkey stole the entire film right out from under its title character.

Every single line he delivered felt spontaneous and perfectly timed.

Shrek became a global phenomenon, winning the first-ever Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.

Murphy’s Donkey became an instant pop-culture icon, inspiring merchandise, quotes, and memes that are still circulating today.

The friendship between Shrek and Donkey gave the film its emotional core and proved that Murphy could anchor a story with pure voice talent alone.

13. Showtime (2002)

What could possibly go wrong when a no-nonsense detective and a camera-hungry rookie cop are forced to film a reality TV show together while actually solving crimes?

Pretty much everything, and that is exactly what makes Showtime such a fun watch.

Murphy plays officer Trey Sellars, who is absolutely thrilled about the cameras while his partner most definitely is not.

Sharing the screen with Robert De Niro required Murphy to dial up his energy even further, and he delivered.

The comedic contrast between the two actors drives every scene.

Showtime is a breezy, entertaining buddy comedy that showcases Murphy’s ability to generate laughs simply by reacting to the world around him.