A terrific 2019 film helped bring legendary funnyman Eddie Murphy back into the spotlight, but things have been on a downward trend ever since. While he might be best remembered for his goofier roles in the 2000s by some younger fans, Murphy is actually one of the most accomplished humorists of the latter half of the 20th century.

He got his start serving as a beacon of hope during what was one of the driest eras in the history of Saturday Night Live, and his sketches carried the show through a lean period. He would then release some of the most popular stand-up comedy specials of all time while making the natural jump to feature films too.

In 48 Hours, he showed that he could be hilarious and convincing as a bona fide leading man, and Murphy’s starring role in Beverly Hills Cop further cemented that point. Murphy just couldn’t lose in the 1980s, and nearly every movie he made was a major success both critically and commercially.

That carried over into the 1990s and 2000s, where Murphy took a decidedly family-friendly turn. Sadly, the iconic comic began to decline toward the tail end of the 2000s, and he disappeared completely for several years. When he finally did return, it was well worth the wait, but he has yet to follow up his in the 2019 comedy biopic.

Dolemite Is My Name Was Eddie Murphy At His Very Best

The 2019 Netflix exclusive film, Dolemite Is My Name, was something of a surprise. Not only did it suddenly reintroduce Eddie Murphy in a starring role for the first time in several years, it was a biopic with a truly unique subject. The film chronicles the production of the film Dolemite by comic and Blaxploitation auteur, Rudy Ray Moore.

Murphy plays the leading role, and got to show off his full range. Not only did he excel at replicating Moore’s raunchy alter-ego, but he brought humanity and depth to Moore himself. The film is as much about the production of Dolemite as it is about the rebellious spirit that influenced it, as represented by Moore’s radical DIY atтιтude.

Dolemite Is My Name also features strong performances from Wesley Snipes and Da’Vine Joy Randolph a few years before she snagged her Oscar. It is quite different from many of the popular biopics released at the tail end of the 2010s because it is much more down-to-earth, which allows for the story to shine through the brightest.

The movie was an instant success with critics and earned a nearly perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes. It earned two Golden Globe nominations, but was mostly ignored by the larger award shows. Perhaps most importantly, the Craig Brewer-directed comedy was a return to form for Eddie Murphy, and seemingly marked the beginning of a new chapter in his career.

Eddie Murphy’s Movies Over The Past 5 Years Have Been Quite Poor

Dolemite Is My Name certainly began a new chapter for Eddie Murphy’s career, but it hasn’t quite lived up to the expectations. Murphy has released five films in the five years since 2019, but they have all ranged from mildly amusing to mildly disappointing. Nothing about his recent body of work is particularly terrible, but it’s far from interesting either.

He followed the biopic with a sequel, Coming 2 America (also directed by Craig Brewer), but the unnecessary follow-up had none of the heart or humor of its predecessor. Murphy mostly sleep-walked through his return as Akeem, and the film had nothing interesting or new to say about the characters or the original movie’s legacy.

The same could be said for 2024’s Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F, which was yet another shameless exercise in nostalgia where Murphy clearly didn’t care all that much about the final product. His two original comedies released between his legacy sequels at least tried something new, but were honorable misses.

You People just wasn’t clever enough to tackle its social commentary in any kind of meaningful way, and Candy Cane Lane was a misguided attempt at a new Christmas adventure that lacked imagination. However, the former challenged Murphy to play a different type of character, and he certainly elevated what was an otherwise lackluster script.

None of the aforementioned films did for Murphy what Dolemite Is My Name did, which was challenge him to step out of his comfort zone and strive for something new. Rudy Ray Moore is one of Murphy’s best performances because it utilized his entire skillset. Conversely, his various nostalgic sequels didn’t challenge Murphy to do anything new at all.

An Upcoming Eddie Murphy Movie Could Reverse The Downward Trend

Though nostalgic movies might be what’s holding Murphy back in his new chapter, an upcoming sequel could ironically save things. Murphy is set to return to his iconic voice role as Donkey in Shrek 5, and the long-awaited Dreamworks sequel has reᴀssembled the entire cast. If handled properly, the animated film could be just what Eddie Murphy needs.

Reviving characters who have been in mothballs for over 30 years was clearly a mistake, but Shrek is still fresh. Since the movies have a modern tone, the next film could refresh things with topical jokes that feel contemporary. Eddie Murphy has a lot of humor left to give, and Shrek 5 just needs to give him a great script.