With the release of Coming 2 America (Read our review HERE) this past weekend, we here at Screen One though it would be fun to go and search out the best Eddie Murphy movies that are available on current streaming channels (Netflix, Prime, Disney + & NOWTV) for you our dedicated readers. So without further ado, here are the top 5 Eddie Murphy movies available on streaming channels.
Honourable mentions – Shrek (Prime), Tower Heist (Netflix), Mulan (Disney+), Coming To America (Prime), 48 Hours (Prime) Delirious (Netflix)
Life (1999) – Netflix
Life, was a different move for Eddie, not an out and out comedy such as his earlier movies, here Eddie takes on a more dramatic role in this bittersweet drama co-starring Martin Lawrence as two convicts who live out their life sentences together for a crime they didn’t commit. Eddie is on top form here and while as mentioned it’s not a comedy it does have some superbly comic moments throughout.
Dreamgirls (2006) – Netflix, Prime
Eddie won a Golden Globe as Jimmy ‘Thunder’ Early, but in one of the Academy Awards biggest travesties he didn’t win the Oscar for best supporting actor. Probably one of his career performances, Eddie simply owns the screen everytime he’s in a scene. He also unleashes his brillaint singing voice to full effect and leaves you wanting more and more from him. With a sublime cast around him (Beyonce Knowles, Jennifer Hudson, Danny Glover & Jamie Foxx among others) this film simply shines.
Dolemite Is My Name (2019) – Netflix
Eddie after several years of being away from movies arrived once more with an earth shattering bang! Dolemite Is My Name allowed Eddie to really be the Eddie of old tearing up the screen in a downright hilarious portayl of Rudy Ray Moore, a comedy and rap pioneer who proved naysayers wrong when his hilarious, obscene, kung-fu fighting alter ego, Dolemite, became a 1970s Blaxploitation phenomenon.
Beverly Hills Cop 2 (1987) – NOWTV, Netflix
At height of his popularity here, Eddie returns as Detroit cop Axel Foley, who returns to Beverley Hills when Chief Bogomil’s is nearly killed in a shooting to investigate the Alphabet Crimes. Eddie and the returning cast are absolutely brilliant as they are more comfortable in their characters, the action is ramped up and Eddie is simply brilliant, the best of the series. The original plan for Beverley Hills Cop was a vehicle for Sylvester Stallone, who passed on it and Eddie turned the role more comedic and in doing so launched his career into the stratosphere. Ironically in this sequel, one of the main villians was played by Bridget Nielsen, who at the time was married to Stallone.
The Golden Child (1986) – NOWTV
Another movie that was originally destined for someone else, in this case Mel Gibson, but Eddie Murphy took the role and made it his own. Part Indiana Jones, part Cop thriller, Eddie here seeks to find The Golden Child who will save the world entire, while Charles Dance seeks to destory the Child, Eddie and anyone else who gets in the way. A great fun classic which is iverlooked a lot for the likes of Coming To America and and the Beverley Hills Cop movies. Definetly worth checking out!
The One That Isn’t On Streaming That Should Be…
Bowfinger (1999)
Eddie Murphy, Steve Martin in a film that is downright brillaint and hilarious in equal parts, but for some reason is simply not available anywhere currently. You can’t even buy it online… This needs to change fast! If you get the chance to watch this movie, then make sure you do as it is a whirlwind of laughs from two of the best cinema funnymen of the last few decades.
So there you have it. Do you agree with our choices? Well then let us know! Feel free to share this feature on social media and start the discussion!
