Eddie Murphy Reveals 4 Movies He Considers His Best

Eddie Murphy has been in Hollywood for more than four decades, so picking just a handful of movies from his career isn’t an easy task. But when he was asked to choose the four films that would make up a kind of “Mount Rushmore of Eddie Murphy,” he gave it a shot.

At first, he sounded unsure. “Coming to America. The Nutty Professor. Shrek,” he said while thinking out loud. Then he added, “It’s like a bunch of joints. If I say 48 Hrs., I can’t say Trading Places. Coming to America. Shrek. Nutty Professor. 48 Hrs.”

That seemed final, but Murphy changed his mind at the last moment. “I’ll take 48 Hrs. off and put Dreamgirls on,” he explained. “48 Hrs. is really good. But Dreamgirls, everybody can enjoy. But 48 Hrs. is a guy movie. I got a lot of joints that worked. It’d be easier to name my four worst movies.”

So in the end, his personal top four came down to “Coming to America,” “The Nutty Professor,” “Shrek,” and “Dreamgirls.”

Looking back at those choices, each one carries a big moment in his career. “Coming to America,” directed by John Landis in 1988, is still one of his most loved comedies.

It showed Murphy at the height of his powers, playing multiple characters and creating a film that fans still quote decades later. The movie got mostly positive reviews at the time and has only grown in popularity since.

“The Nutty Professor” came in 1996, with Murphy again taking on several roles in one film. Critics weren’t blown away by the story, but his performance made the comedy stand out. It became a huge box office hit and showed how much fun he could have transforming himself on screen.

Then there’s “Shrek,” where Murphy didn’t even appear on camera but gave his voice to Donkey, one of the funniest animated sidekicks ever.

The film was a global success, praised for its sharp humor and fresh take on fairy tales. His performance gave kids and adults something to laugh at, and it proved he could shine even when only heard and not seen.

Finally, Murphy included “Dreamgirls,” a musical drama from 2006 that earned him some of the best reviews of his career. His role as James “Thunder” Early showed a different side of his talent, and the movie itself was a critical and commercial hit.

The list might leave out some big titles like “Beverly Hills Cop” and “Trading Places,” but Murphy made his picks clear. And if you asked him again tomorrow, he might just change them all over again.

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