Eddie Murphy has been a Hollywood star for four decades, and he has several classic films to his credit. When it comes to the moment when Murphy really “arrived” in Hollywood as an artist, you can specify several time periods. Some viewers would say his amazing stint on Saturday Night Live was crucial to his career, while other fans would say his standout performance in 1982’s “48 Hours.” While it was monumental, Murphy didn’t feel like he came into the entertainment much later. The comedy legend revealed that the classic scene helped him realize that he had “arrived” in show business.
The rise of the Oscar-nominated actor is atypical for stars, as viewers watched him go from starring in a weekly television series to headlining box office hits. Although, if you ask the actor, Eddie Murphy didn’t have a “did it” moment until he shot the 1996 cult classic “The Nutty Professor,” which could come back with or without Murphy. The SNL graduate told CinemaBlend about a classic scene from a comedy that made him feel like a real Hollywood superstar:
The nutty professor when I was all at the table. I’m like, “Hey, listen, I’m everyone at this table. I’ve arrived, I’ve arrived. Am I done? I’ve arrived.’
It’s amazing to hear that the Klump family dinner sequence was the moment Eddie Murphy felt he had arrived. The box office star did a similar job in another classic film, “Trip to America,” but played several characters along with film partner Arsenio Hall. The nutty professor was the first time he single-handedly battled multiple characters in the same movie. The audience loved watching the family scene, and Murphy was definitely at his best. This scene is one of the most quoted by his fans, who are still reciting lines. His performance of the Clumps was so popular that it led to a sequel, subtitled with the titular brood.
Eddie Murphy liked to play several characters himself, but in recent years he has also achieved success in ensemble productions. Murphy’s latest comedy “You People” (available on a Netflix subscription from January 27) just corresponds to this. Acting alongside other comedians such as Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Jonah Hill was a Hollywood actor’s dream, and he spoke highly of his colleagues on the set:
This cast was an amazing group of people, actors and actresses, who were a pleasure to work with. A bunch of super talented people gathered at the table.
In addition to such comedy titans as Eddie Murphy, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, the cast of the Netflix comedy is completed by David Duchovny, Nia Long and Lauren London. This film is another production that Murphy can mark as a fun experience, and another testament to his dominant position in the film industry. I think we can all agree that Murphy really achieved this, and the Nutty Professor will probably always be special to the actor for giving him that feeling.
You People, one of the biggest new films of 2023, is currently in limited theaters ahead of its Netflix debut. Before you watch a cultural comedy, find out why “The Nutty Professor” is considered one of Eddie Murphy’s best films by watching it on Netflix. And follow the news about Murphy’s movie “Beverly Hills Cop 4” (which will also be on the tape) and the Amazon Candy Cane Lane holiday movie.
