For a comedy star, there sure are plenty of Eddie Murphy Action Movies in existence. Murphy rose to fame with his stint on Saturday Night Live in the early '80s. His movie stardom blossomed almost instantly, with back-to-back hits including Trading Places and the original Beverly Hills Cop movie. There was a freshness and charisma to Murphy that was undeniable, and which even helped power some of his more mediocre outings to success.
It speaks to how beloved Murphy has become in the decades since his screen debut that he's still a star. Like any screen icon, he's had his ups and downs, ranging from the highs of Coming To America to the lows - in more ways than one - of The Adventures Of Plato Nash. After his R-rated comedies started to underperform during the '90s, he switched to more family-friendly fare with Dr. Dolittle, which re-energized his career once more. He's next set to return for Beverly Hills Cop: Axel Foley, which will be another outing on the Eddie Murphy Action Movie list when it lands on Netflix in 2023.
9. Showtime (2002)
There's a universe where pairing Murphy - who made a Beverly Hills Cop pilot - with Robert De Niro for a buddy comedy that also makes fun of the genre would result in a gem. Showtime may have worked in the hands of a filmmaker like De Niro's Midnight Run helmer Martin Brest, but the final film is a slapdash, strained affair that fails short of its aim to send up both the media and the genre. Murphy's performance is a little too broad to earn laughs, while De Niro just looks bored. Comedy points go to William Shatner, who plays himself when he's hired to consult on a Cops-inspired reality show.
8. I Spy (2002)
2002 featured a two-for-one special for mediocre Eddie Murphy action comedies. I Spy updated an old '60s spy series and teamed Murphy's cocky boxer with Owen Wilson's secret agent. I Spy's best decision is its central pairing, but there's literally nothing about the film that's unique. From the sub-James Bond movie spy jinks to the action sequences and humor, it's an almost impressive lukewarm blockbuster. Both performers have worst films on their CVs, and to their credit, their chemistry in I Spy is the only worthwhile thing about it.
7. Beverly Hills Cop III (1994)
Beverly Hills Cop III came after a few of Murphy's previous comedies had underperformed, and was an attempt to merge the franchise with a Die Hard-inspired action thriller. While the first fifteen minutes are reasonably entertaining, it falls apart when Murphy arrives in Beverly Hills to investigate a theme park. The sequel is startlingly low on laughs, Murphy seems intent on playing Foley in a more "mature" way and outside of some well-staged sequences, the action isn't great either. While not a total turkey, Beverly Hills Cop III looks exhausted compared to the original two.
6. The Golden Child (1986)
The Golden Child was one of two blockbusters from the late '80s that combined an Indiana Jones-influenced movie adventure with Chinese mythicism. Murphy's The Golden Child won the box-office fight against John Carpenter's Big Trouble In Little China, but the latter is now considered the better film. The Golden Child leans heavily on Murphy's star power - though it's helped considerably by Charles Dance's villain turn - it often feels like the plot was being stapled together as it shot. The gags only land occasionally while the effects look shonky to modern eyes.
5. Beverly Hills Cop II (1987)
The success of the original Beverly Hills Cop made the sequel a real event. It ramps everything about the first Axel Foley adventure up to 11, including the character's tendency to improv his way into comic situations. Murphy is working overtime to make the material work, while Tony Scott brought his trademark visual flair to the piece. Beverly Hills Cop II - which Venom 2 referenced - will be intensely nostalgic to some viewers, but it's aged poorly. The freshness of Beverly Hills Cop just isn't there, it ticks every '80s cop movie cliché and even the action feels routine. Still, it was another big success in 1987.
4. Metro (1997)
Metro is the most underrated Eddie Murphy action movie, where he plays a hostage negotiator who makes an enemy out of a ruthless jewel thief. Metro feels like the kind of grounded, mature thriller Murphy tried (and failed) to make with Beverly Hills Cop III. It runs through many of the clichés of the genre but offers enough tweaks to keep them interesting. Good as Murphy is, Metro really belongs to the gravelly-voiced Michael Wincott as his foe Korda, who practically radiates menace. Not one of Murphy's best, but certainly something of a forgotten gem.
3. Another 48 Hrs (1990)
In the eight-year gap between the original and Another 48 Hrs - which needs a third entry - Murphy went from a relative unknown to one of the biggest stars in the world. Nick Nolte and director Walter Hill returned too, with the follow-up being a muscular, entertaining action thriller. That said, it follows the typical sequel issue of copying the original's structure and story to lesser effect. Like Beverly Hills Cop II, the energy just isn't the same, despite Nolte and Murphy slipping easily into their old roles. Another 48 Hrs has the feel of a project made for the money, but at the very least, it's an entertaining one.
2. Beverly Hills Cop (1984)
Beverly Hills Cop was Murphy's first solo star vehicle, and the one that cemented his stardom. By modern standards, the film's story will seem weirdly low-key, but for the time, it was a shot in the arm for the action comedy genre. Beverly Hills Cop cast Murphy as a Detroit detective who arrives in Beverly Hills to investigate his friend's death, and despite being entirely out of his element, he charms and fast-talks his way into - and out of - trouble. The movie is a touch grittier than some viewers might recall, and while it has a great supporting cast, Beverly Hills Cop is utterly Eddie Murphy's show.
1. 48 Hrs (1982)
The best Eddie Murphy Action Movie is still 48 Hrs and like Lethal Weapon, it's one of the founding texts of the buddy cop genre. Remarkably, it was Murphy's first-ever movie, where his convict is let out for 48 hours to assist Nolte's grizzled detective. A good deal nastier and edgier than its 1990 sequel, 48 Hrs pulses with intensity, and plays into the uncomfortable racial tension between Nolte's cop and Murphy's con. The Walter Hill movie is anchored by two incredible performances and Hill's lean direction. Murphy's showstopping monologue in the bar around the midway point also proudly announced the emergence of a major new acting talent.