Eddie Murphy – We Are Movie Geeks

Stars Celebrate At 51st AFI Life Achievement Award Honoring Eddie Murphy – Premiering On Netflix May 31

The American Film Institute (AFI) presented the 51st AFI Life Achievement Award to Eddie Murphy on Saturday, April 18, at a Gala Tribute in Hollywood. The tribute special, THE 51st AFI LIFE ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: A TRIBUTE TO EDDIE MURPHY, will premiere on Netflix on May 31, 2026.

Byron Allen, Martin Brest, Jerry Bruckheimer, Colman Domingo, David Alan Grier, Walter Hill, Jaafar Jackson, Keegan-Michael Key, Sugar Ray Leonard, Nia Long, and Joe Piscopo, and more filled the Dolby Theatre to celebrate Murphy’s award-winning career and his significant impact on the moving arts.

Coleman Domingo, Arsenio Hall, and Kenan Thompson attend the 51st AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute To Eddie Murphy at Dolby Theatre on April 18, 2026 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for AFI)

The event began with welcome remarks from Bob Gazzale, AFI President and CEO and featured tributes honoring Murphy, including speeches from Belle Aykroyd on behalf of her father Dan Aykroyd, Bill Burr, Dave Chappelle, Arsenio Hall, Kevin Hart, Martin Lawrence, Eva Longoria, Tracy Morgan, Mike Myers, Judge Reinhold, Chris Rock, Kenan Thompson, Robert Townsend, Stevie Wonder, and a rousing performance from Jennifer Hudson with a house band led by Rickey Minor.

Ted Sarandos, Eddie Murphy and Bob Gazzale

In presenting the award, Spike Lee celebrated Murphy’s remarkable talent and said, “Eddie and I have Brooklyn in our blood. However, Eddie and I took different paths. Eddie made us laugh and made our nation feel better. I took a camera and told stories about how our nation could be better. We both push culture forward. We’re still not even done.”

Spike Lee and Martin Lawrence attend the 51st AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute To Eddie Murphy at Dolby Theatre on April 18, 2026 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Savion Washington/Getty Images for AFI)

Stevie Wonder speaks onstage during the 51st AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute To Eddie Murphy at Dolby Theatre on April 18, 2026 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for AFI)

Murphy accepted the award to a standing ovation. In his acceptance speech, he said, “Looking out and seeing all my family, all my kids and my beautiful wife. Seeing all the different people that I worked with. This is a special moment. I’d like to thank everybody for this night that I will remember forever and ever.”

Ahead of The 51st AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Eddie Murphy, you can get to know more about the actor by streaming Being Eddie. The 2025 Netflix documentary chronicles Murphy’s meteoric rise from teen comic phenom to Saturday Night Live breakout and stand-up supernova to box-office titan. Fans can also revisit some of his past work in Netflix originals, including Dolemite Is My Name, Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F, and You People.

The event also included the presentation of the 2026 Franklin J. Schaffner Alumni Medal to AFI Alumnus and Academy Award® winner Autumn Durald Arkapaw, ASC (AFI Class of 2009). The Schaffner Alumni Medal recognizes the extraordinary creative talents of AFI Alumni who embody the qualities of filmmaker Franklin J. Schaffner. Arkapaw’s latest work can be seen in the Academy Award®-winning SINNERS (2025), directed by Ryan Coogler. Arkapaw made history when she became the first woman to win the Academy Award for Best Cinematography for her work on the film. Autumn said, “AFI is where I learned how to believe in my gut, to appreciate those people around me who wanted to story tell in new ways. There’s such a beautiful power that comes with finding your community.”

Autumn Durald Arkapaw accepts the Franklin J. Shaffner Alumni Medal onstage during the 51st AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute To Eddie Murphy at Dolby Theatre on April 18, 2026 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Savion Washington/Getty Images for AFI)

The event concluded with attendees receiving an exclusive commemorative tribute book about Murphy’s career.

The event raised over $2.5 million, and all proceeds from the AFI Life Achievement Award support the American Film Institute as a nonprofit organization. To donate to AFI, visit AFI.com.

Photos Credit: Courtesy of AFI

Eddie Murphy Alert! Watch The Trailer For The BEING EDDIE Documentary

“There is no one else like him. Nobody. He’s been famous longer than just about anyone alive, and he’s never lost who he is.” – director and two-time Oscar winner Angus Wall.

For those of us who grew up in the 1980’s listening, on cassette, to Eddie Murphy – there was nothing else like it. RAW and DELIRIOUS was and still is COMEDY GOLD. Decades later, so many of his phrases are just as repeatable and memorable as they were in 1983 and 1987.

From stand-up prodigy and Saturday Night Live phenom to beloved Hollywood icon, Being Eddie chronicles the extraordinary life and legacy of the genre-defying star through exclusive interviews with Murphy himself and his comedy peers, offering an intimate portrait of this once-in-a-generation talent.

But wait… there’s more. Check out his hit “Party All The Time”!

It goes without saying that there is only one Eddie Murphy. No other teen comedian shared a stage with Jerry Seinfeld at 17, and joined the cast of Saturday Night Live right out of high school. No actor has ever played a cop, a doctor, and a donkey — and dominated every facet of Hollywood he’s touched. Fewer still have been an A-list celebrity for over four decades, and never succumbed to its darker side. Murphy’s unusual combination of explosive charisma, focused ambition, raw talent, and deep-set circumspection puts him in a league of his own, and is on full display in Being Eddie, directed by two-time Oscar® winner Angus Wall.

The documentary gathers comedy and Hollywood legends like Dave Chappelle, Tracee Ellis Ross, Jamie Foxx, Jerry Seinfeld, Reginald Hudlin and more to celebrate the Oscar®-nominated actor and his nearly 50-year career that’s seen him break barriers, invent genres, and inspire generations of talent. For the first time ever, Murphy invites the public into his home to revisit his breathtaking body of work, all the while revealing the dazzling interior life that has long driven — and grounded — this once-in-a-century star.

Being Eddie premieres on Netflix Nov. 12.

https://www.netflix.com/title/81094163

Being Eddie. Eddie Murphy. Cr. ©2025 Eddie Murphy/Courtesy of Netflix.

Check Out The Trailer For THE PICKUP Starring Eddie Murphy, Pete Davidson, Keke Palmer And Eva Longoria – On Prime Video August 6

Prime Video has released the trailer for action-comedy THE PICKUP.

A routine cash pickup takes a wild turn when two mismatched armored truck drivers, Russell (Eddie Murphy) and Travis (Pete Davidson), are ambushed by ruthless criminals led by a savvy mastermind, Zoe (Keke Palmer), with plans that go way beyond the cash cargo. As chaos unfolds around them, the unlikely duo must navigate high-risk danger, clashing personalities, and one very bad day that keeps getting worse.

In addition to Eddie Murphy, Pete Davidson, and Keke Palmer, the film features a diverse cast including Eva Longoria, Marshawn Lynch, Joe “Roman Reigns” Anoa’i, Andrew Dice Clay, and Ismael Cruz Córdova. Directed by Tim Story, who’s known for his work on The Blackening, Barbershop and Ride Along, the film blends high-octane action with sharp humor.

Everyone’s in for a hilarious and wild ride when THE PICKUP debuts on Prime Video on August 6.

Eddie Murphy Talks Netflix’s BEVERLY HILLS COP: AXEL F With Jimmy Fallon On The Tonight Show

Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F. (Featured L-R) Bria Murphy as Officer Renee Minnick and Eddie Murphy as Axel Foley in Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F. Cr. Melinda Sue Gordon/Netflix ©2023.

Hitting Netflix next month is the long awaited BEVERLY HILLS COP: AXEL F.

Detective Axel Foley (Eddie Murphy) is back on the beat in Beverly Hills. After his daughter’s life is threatened, she (Taylour Paige) and Foley team up with a new partner (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) and old pals Billy Rosewood (Judge Reinhold) and John Taggart (John Ashton) to turn up the heat and uncover a conspiracy. Also returning is Paul Reiser (Aliens, Stranger Things) as Jeffrey Friedman and Bronson Pinchot (Perfect Strangers, Risky Business) as Serge.

On Monday Murphy joined host Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show to talk about the film – check it out below!

Almost a full 40 years after the original hit theaters on December 5, 1984, which was the number one film at the box office for a staggering 14 weeks and received an Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay, see BEVERLY HILLS COP: AXEL F on Netflix July 3rd.

Stream the 1984 Oscar-nominated classic on Netflix.

Watch BEVERLY HILLS COP: AXEL F on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/81076856

Axel Foley Is Back On July 3 – Watch Eddie Murphy In New Trailer For Netflix’s BEVERLY HILLS COP: AXEL F

40 years ago on December 5, 1984, BEVERLY HILLS COP was released in theaters and earned $230 million in the United States, becoming the highest-grossing film in 1984. Eddie Murphy’s role as Axel Foley made him a box office star, Harold Faltermeyer composed the unforgettable theme song, “Axel F,” which became an radio hit, and the movie received nominations for Best Original Screenplay and Best Film Editing at the 57th Academy Awards.

From Producers Jerry Bruckheimer, Eddie Murphy, Chad Oman, and Director Mark Molloy, check out the new trailer for BEVERLY HILLS COP: AXEL F.

As producer Jerry Bruckheimer (Top Gun: Maverick, The Rock) tells Tudum, “Eddie’s such an incredible artist. He can do drama, he can do comedy – he can do anything. And he’s the same Axel Foley. He’s still on the streets. He’s still doing what he does. Obviously with age you get wiser. But he still has the twinkle in his eye.”

Axel’s been back to Beverly Hills a few times since his first jaunt in 1984, but it’s changed just as much as he has. “Detroit is a much different city than Los Angeles and especially Beverly Hills,” Bruckheimer says. “He still has the same kind of wonderment at the things you see walking down Rodeo Drive.”

BEVERLY HILLS COP: AXEL F premieres July 3, only on Netflix.

Watch on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/81076856

Stream the Oscar-nominated classic on Netflix.

Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F. Eddie Murphy as Axel Foley in Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F. Courtesy of Netflix © 2024.

Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F – (L to R) Eddie Murphy as Axel Foley, Taylour Paige as Jane Saunders, Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Detective Bobby Abbott, and Bronson Pinchot as Serge in Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F. Courtesy of Netflix © 2024

Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F – Bronson Pinchot as Serge in Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F. Courtesy of Netflix © 2024.

Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F. (L to R) Eddie Murphy as Axel Foley and Paul Reiser as Jeffrey Friedman in Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F. Courtesy of Netflix © 2024.

Eddie Murphy Is Axel Foley In Trailer For BEVERLY HILLS COP: AXEL F

The first trailer for BEVERLY HILLS COP: AXEL F has dropped today.

https://www.netflix.com/title/81076856

OMG, THIS GAVE ME CHILLS! And the original cast is in it… even Paul Reiser!! This is awesome!!!

Check it out on Netflix Summer 2024.

For more on Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F, read here: https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/beverly-hills-cop-axel-f-release-date-plot

CANDY CANE LANE – Review

*Eddie Murphy as ‘Chris Carver’ stars in CANDY CANE LANE Photo: CLAUDETTE BARIUS © AMAZON CONTENT SERVICES LLC*

CANDY CANE LANE is a light, pleasant little holiday treat, much like the candy its name suggests. The family comedy takes place on one of those streets nearly every town has, the one where neighbors out-do each other with the decorations, competing for the neighborhood honor of being named the annual winner. This story centers on one of those suburban families, headed by dad Chris Carver (Eddie Murphy). Chris Carver does indeed carve, in this case, handmade holiday decorations, which are overlooked for the prize every year. He is married to Carol (Tracee Ellis Ross), and they have three kids, Nicholas (Thaddeus J. Mixson), Joy (Genneya Walton), and Holly (Madison Thomas). Seeing a pattern here?

In case you missed, the film thoughtfully points that Christmas naming theme out for you in one scene.

For CANDY CANE LANE, director Reginald Hudlin pretty much throws in anything that would fit for a Christmas movie, and then goes for some other genres too, like family comedy and even horror. Hudlin’s “everything and the kitchen sink” approach doesn’t really add to “more is better” but there is some fun in this very busy film. And the director also adds subversive little tidbits too, turning holiday movie stereotyping on its head – like making the Black suburban family the film’s main characters instead of supporting ones.

Eddie Murphy’s Chris Carver really wants to win the neighborhood Christmas decorating contest, in part because he just lost his job and the contest has a cash prize this year. Looking for a way to up his decorating game, he stumbles across a holiday shop he never saw before, run by an impish woman named Pepper (Jillian Bell), who has a whiff of something scary about her. She sells Chris an impressively large yard-decor Christmas tree, festooned with the characters from the song “12 Days of Christmas,” and requires him to sign a receipt that as a lot of fine-print. “Just standard,” she says, hurrying him along. Pressed for time, Chris does sign without reading it. You know that can’t be good.

Some very crazy things start happening once Eddie Murphy’s Chris gets the huge decoration home, and there is more magical stuff involving those little Christmas village models, with Nick Offerman as one of the figurines. David Alan Grier shows up later too – as Santa.

Eddie Murphy plays his role straight and leaves the comedy heavy-lifting mostly to Jillian Bell, who chews up some scenery in a most entertaining way. While Murphy plays it straight, Jillian Bell gets the comedy spotlight, as a mischievous elf you don’t want on your shelf. (See, this stuff it contagious.) Still, its fun to see Eddie Murphy on screen again, playing a dad determined to give his kids the best Christmas ever – no matter what gets in his way.

The comedy has a bit of fun with breaking some Christmas movie rules too. For one, this suburban “candy cane lane” is in Southern California, so there is no chance of snow. When Santa rolls his sleigh down the lane, one of the homes is decked out for Hanukkah. As Santa passes, he points at houses to signal the homeowners to switch on the lights – or in case, inflate the army of inflatable figures clogging the yard. And there is a running joke about the clueless neighbors who serve box wine – in wine-growing California, gasp!

If you absolutely love Christmas movies, you should put this on your holiday list. If you are cooler to the genre, know that this isn’t the worst holiday movie – plenty ahead of it there – but it isn’t a must-see holiday future-classic either. Just a bunch of familiar holiday and family film tropes along with a few more surprising ones – a 12 Days of Christmas display come to life – but ideas well within the lane (ahem) of holiday fun.

Every character gets their moment, and the humor is broad and over-the-top. Nothing subtle here. But if Christmas excess is your holiday treat, CANDY CANE LANE might be the stocking-stuffer for you.

CANDY CANE LANE debuts streaming Friday, Dec. 1, on Amazon Prime.

RATING: 2 out of 4 stars

Win A Family 4-Pack Of Passes To The St. Louis Advance Screening Of Prime Video’s CANDY CANE LANE

Eddie Murphy stars in this holiday comedy adventure about a man on a mission to win his neighborhood’s annual Christmas home decoration contest. After Chris (Eddie Murphy) inadvertently makes a deal with a mischievous elf named Pepper (Jillian Bell) to better his chances of winning, she casts a magic spell that brings the 12 Days of Christmas to life and wreaks havoc on the whole town. At the risk of ruining the holidays for his family, Chris, his wife Carol (Tracee Ellis Ross), and their three children must race against the clock to break Pepper’s spell, battle deviously magical characters and save Christmas for everyone.

CANDY CANE LANE premieres globally on Prime Video December 1, 2023.

The special screening is Wednesday, November 29th, 7pm at B&B Creve Coeur West Olive 10.

Please arrive early as seating is not guaranteed.

30 winners will receive 4 passes to the screening.

GET YOUR PASSES HERE: http://amazonscreenings.com/WAMGcandycanelane

CANDY CANE LANE Trailer Features Eddie Murphy In His First Holiday Film

Eddie Murphy stars in this holiday comedy adventure about a man on a mission to win his neighborhood’s annual Christmas home decoration contest. After Chris (Eddie Murphy) inadvertently makes a deal with a mischievous elf named Pepper (Jillian Bell) to better his chances of winning, she casts a magic spell that brings the 12 Days of Christmas to life, and wreaks havoc on the whole town. At the risk of ruining the holidays for his family, Chris, his wife Carol (Tracee Ellis Ross), and their three children must race against the clock to break Pepper’s spell, battle deviously magical characters, and save Christmas for everyone.

Watch the brand new trailer for CANDY CANE LANE now.

The film reunites director Reginald Hudlin, Murphy, and producer Brian Grazer for the first time since their 1992 hit, Boomerang. The screenplay comes from Kelly Younger, inspired by his own holiday experiences on Candy Cane Lane in El Segundo, California.

CANDY CANE LANE premieres globally on Prime Video December 1, 2023.

Jillian Bell as ‘Pepper,’ Eddie Murphy as ‘Chris Carver,’ and Madison Thomas as ‘Holly Carver’ star in CANDY CANE LANE Photo: CLAUDETTE BARIUS © AMAZON CONTENT SERVICES LLC

Thaddeus J. Mixson as ‘Nick Carver,’ Genneya Walton as ‘Joy Carver,’ Madison Thomas as ‘Holly Carver,’ Tracee Ellis Ross as ‘Carol Carver,’ and Eddie Murphy as ‘Chris Carver’ star in CANDY CANE LANE Photo: CLAUDETTE BARIUS © AMAZON CONTENT SERVICES LLC

Must See: Eddie Murphy Stars In Netflix’s YOU PEOPLE This Friday And The Hilarious Interview With Jimmy Kimmel Discussing Star Trek And Planet Of The Apes Movies

You People. (L to R) Jonah Hill (Writer-Producer) as Ezra and Eddie Murphy as Akbar in You People. Cr. Tyler Adams/Netflix © 2023.

For those of us who grew up with comedian and actor Eddie Murphy, our first exposure to this gifted entertainer was on Saturday Night Live’s “Mister Robinson’s Neighborhood“.

For decades now, Murphy has always been there, whether on TV or in the movies, and continues to have loyal, diehard fans who grew up in the 80’s to his hilarious standups “Delirious” and “Raw”, as well as his pop single “Party All The Time”.

Personally, while my siblings and I were in high school, after moving cross country from Connecticut to Idaho, Murphy saved us as we listened repeatedly to the cassette of Delirious in 1984. He had us laughing and made us forget our feelings of being the “new kids” in a new town at a new school.

This was true comedy gold!

In a career that has spanned five decades, Murphy’s multi-faceted and moving performances, such as his role as singer James Thunder in “Dreamgirls,” have earned him a Golden Globe Award, SAG Award, Emmy Award, and Academy Award nomination.

His latest film premieres on Friday titled YOU PEOPLE.

A new couple learns that opposites attract but some families don’t when they find themselves confronting their parent’s clashing views of their relationship in this comedy written by Jonah Hill and Kenya Barris. You People starring Jonah Hill, Lauren London, David Duchovny, and Nia Long with Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Eddie Murphy comes to Netflix on January 27. https://www.netflix.com/title/81194505

In case you missed it on Wednesday, Murphy joined Jimmy Kimmel for a fun and light-hearted interview.

The actor talked about the recent earthquake in LA, receiving the Cecil B. DeMille Award at the Golden Globes, sending texts back and forth with Tracy Morgan quoting Planet of the Apes, the reason he turned down a Star Trek movie, watching Cocoon at Sammy Davis Jr’s house, his friendship with Michael Jackson, meeting Bubbles, making a documentary about his life, getting snowed in Rick James’ house for two weeks, his new movie You People with Jonah Hill.

Recently Murphy was honored with the coveted Cecil B. deMille Award at the 80^th Annual Golden Globe Awards.

Star of films such as 48 Hours, Trading Places, Beverly Hills Cop, Coming to America, The Nutty Professor, Dreamgirls, and others, Murphy accepted the honor at the 2023 Golden Globe Awards Ceremony on Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023.

Murphy was most recently seen starring in the Amazon streaming hit “Coming 2 America,” the long-awaited sequel to his 1988 box-office hit, as well as portraying legendary underground comic personality Rudy Ray Moore in the Netflix biopic “Dolemite Is My Name,” a performance that garnered him Golden Globes nominations for Best Picture Comedy/Musical and Lead Actor Motion Picture Musical or Comedy.

In 2020, he received an Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for his return to Saturday Night Live.

Murphy starred in the 1997 hit comedy The Nutty Professor in which he portrayed multiple characters and received Golden Globe and other award nominations. He also was the voice of Donkey in the Oscar-winning animated film Shrek and its sequel, Shrek 2, which is the top-grossing animated film of all time. Murphy won an Annie Award and earned BAFTA and MTV Movie Award nominations for his performance in the first Shrek, and he reprised the role of Donkey in the final installment of the hugely successful franchise, Shrek Goes Fourth. Murphy’s additional feature credits include Mulan, Dr. Dolittle, and Dr. Dolittle 2, Life, Bowfinger, Nutty Professor II: The Klumps, Daddy Day Care, Norbit, and the drama Mr. Church. Murphy’s upcoming projects include co-starring in the romantic comedy You People and producing and starring in Beverly Hills Cop 4.

In 2015, Murphy received the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor Award from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

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