Eddie Murphy is one of the most legendary funnymen in the history of Hollywood, but not all of his movies have properly used his hilarious talents. Murphy got his start on Saturday Night Live, and his sketches were often the highlight of what was a rather lackluster period in the sketch show’s history.

Hollywood came calling almost immediately, and Murphy made his big screen debut in 48 Hours. His comedic turn proved so successful that, within a few years, Murphy was promoted to leading man status, where he would stay for decades. Though he was always great in strict comedies, Murphy also excelled in action comedy roles such as Beverly Hills Cop.

However, Eddie Murphy’s amazing catalog of films often distracts from all the lackluster movies he made over the years, and he had his fair share of duds. Though some failed because they just weren’t very good, the worst offenders flopped because they didn’t use Murphy’s talents properly. Those films are most painful because of their wasted potential.

10

The Pickup (2025)

Eddie Murphy’s most recent film, The Pickup, is also one of his worst. On paper, there’s nothing wrong with the buddy action comedy, and pairing Murphy with fellow SNL alum Pete Davidson was an interesting choice. However, the movie’s script is uninspired, and it squanders every good thing it has going for it, including supporting cast members like Keke Palmer.

While casting older actors to play action heroes is noble, it’s clear that The Pickup longs for the Eddie Murphy of 1990 or even 2000. However, the 64-year-old is ill-suited for physical humor, and should have been given the chance to evolve. Murphy is still funny, but The Pickup didn’t allow a more mature version of the actor to materialize.

9

Candy Cane Lane (2023)

An Eddie Murphy Christmas movie was one of the few things missing from the actor’s filmography, but Candy Cane Lane was no gift-wrapped present. The bizarre action film blends genres with seemingly no regard for tone, and its mean-spirited approach is the anтιтhesis of holiday cheer. While all that could have been redeemed through humor, it’s not very funny either.

Eddie Murphy is not very convincing as the highly-compeтιтive holiday decorator, and the part is so restrictive that it doesn’t allow him to cut loose. If Murphy could have been sillier, his performance could have matched the over-the-top tone of the rest of the film. In reality, the comedic icon spends most of the film just looking bored.

8

You People (2023)

Jonah Hill co-wrote You People with Kenya Barris, who directed the film, and they cast Eddie Murphy in one of the major roles. The film concerns interracial relationships and the historical conflict between the Black and Jewish communities, all of which could have made for a comedy with important commentary. Sadly, You People had little interesting to say.

Murphy steps out of his wheelhouse and plays a more subdued character, which could have been the movie’s saving grace. While the social commentary is razor-thin, a star like Eddie Murphy could have transformed the material if allowed. Instead, he was restricted by a script that was far too focused, and could have easily been swapped with another actor.

7

Meet Dave (2008)

Eddie Murphy might not have been the right pick to headline Meet Dave, but he isn’t the main problem. The absurd comedy premise had merit, but the execution is where things completely fall apart. Murphy tries his best to give two parallel performances, but the movie quickly runs out of steam and staggers along with little story to speak of.

Unlike other films which wasted Eddie Murphy’s talents, Meet Dave didn’t try to force the actor into any sort of typecast role. Instead, the movie simply doesn’t have a lot for Murphy to work with. The sci-fi comedy was a box office bomb, and was the beginning of the end of his run as a major movie star.

6

The Haunted Mansion (2003)

Disney has made several films based on their popular rides, but 2003’s The Haunted Mansion was the movie with the most promise. The attraction itself has so much rich history and lore, that Disney could have made an entire movie franchise. Unfortunately, the Eddie Murphy movie missed the mark, and couldn’t match the spooky and fun tone of the ride.

Murphy was the right choice to lead the film, and his scaredy-cat antics are one of the movie’s few highlights. Sadly, the horror elements were rushed and uninspired, and it lacked the grandeur of other recent films like Pirates of the Caribbean. Nevertheless, The Haunted Mansion has become something of a cult classic.

5

Showtime (2002)

Eddie Murphy was already a veteran of the buddy cop genre when he starred in Showtime, but the satirical film didn’t utilize him to his full potential. Teaming Murphy with Robert De Niro, the film has a pretty clever premise involving reality TV and modern police work. Showtime has the unfortunate distinction of wasting both Murphy’s talents and De Niro’s.

The biggest issue with Showtime is that it just isn’t funny. It sets up big ideas about reality TV and the buddy cop genre, but does nothing with them. Murphy struggles to get laughs, and De Niro is shockingly bland as the no-sense cop. Two actors who are best at what they do should have made Showtime an instant classic.

4

Holy Man (1998)

Comedy films can have powerful messages that are imparted to the audience through humor, but Holy Man‘s messaging was just too obvious. Stepping into a unique role at the height of his blockbuster fame, Murphy’s turn as G could have been a new chapter, but the movie fell so flat that he returned to more traditional parts immediately.

Skewering religious dogma and rampant consumerism, Holy Man would have worked better as a dramedy than a sappy mainstream comedy. Murphy and co-star Jeff Goldblum do their best, but the overly sentimental script dulls the edges of its own wit. It was a mᴀssive bomb, making only $27 million against a $60 million budget, according to Box Office Mojo.

3

Metro (1997)

Beverly Hills Cop changed the trajectory of Eddie Murphy’s career, and it’s obvious that Metro was a movie made in the shadow of the classic ’80s cop comedy. Murphy plays a wizened hostage negotiator, and he’s a far cry from the humorous antics of Axel Foley. Sadly, that leaves Metro with a scant few laughs, and an overly serious tone.

A more mature Eddie Murphy is certainly an exciting prospect, but Metro squanders his great dramatic acting with an inconsistent script. It’s just a little too dark for its own good, which makes the humor stick out like a sore thumb. Unfortunately, even if the humor was cut, the story itself is just so-so.

2

Boomerang (1992)

The early 1990s was a bit too late for the “battle of the Sєxes” comedy, and Boomerang always felt a step behind the times. Murphy is brilliant in the leading role, which requires him to be the straight man, and he isn’t particularly goofy. Unfortunately, Boomerang‘s story needed a bit more polish to really have an impact.

Whatever commentary the movie is trying to make about societal double-standards is completely muddled by various love subplots, and a lack of focus is its biggest problem. Boomerang wastes Eddie Murphy not because it’s a terrible film, but because it is just a few tweaks away from being a great romantic comedy with strong Black representation.

1

The Golden Child (1986)

The early days of Eddie Murphy’s movie career produced one hit after another, but 1986’s The Golden Child isn’t usually included in the conversation. Murphy’s star-power willed the action/adventure film to become a box office success, but the movie itself pales in comparison to the decade’s other great oddball movies like Big Trouble in Little China.

The Golden Child is a tad disappointing because it’s missing just a few pieces to make it a complete picture. There’s some light humor which mostly falls flat, and the adventure elements are quite surface-level. Eddie Murphy is strong, but it’s his charisma that keeps the movie from being a completely forgettable experience.