Eddie Murphy, celebrated for his stand-up comedy, Saturday Night Live tenure, and an influential film career, is in the spotlight once more with his new Netflix documentary, Being Eddie. The film tracks over forty years of Murphy’s life in entertainment, combining his insights with commentary from peers like Dave Chappelle, Arsenio Hall, John Landis, Jerry Seinfeld, Pete Davidson, and Chris Rock. As Murphy promotes the release, he’s offered candid revelations about his biggest Eddie Murphy career regrets, unveiling what might have been if some crucial career decisions had gone differently.
Missed Opportunities: Turning Down Iconic Film Roles
During a conversation with the Associated Press, Murphy discussed one particularly significant opportunity he passed on early in his Hollywood journey. When pressed about which film role he most wishes he’d taken, Murphy recounted,
“Ghostbusters, I was supposed to do ‘Ghostbusters.’”
– Eddie Murphy, Actor
He did not specify which of the film’s four leads he had been considered for, but his disclosure underlined the magnitude of the missed chance.
Explaining the decision, Murphy revealed a pivotal career crossroads, sharing,
“With ‘Ghostbusters,’ I did ‘Beverly Hills Cop’ instead… It was ‘do this or that,’ so it worked out cool,”
he said. Ultimately, Beverly Hills Cop solidified Murphy’s status as a Hollywood star, spawning several sequels, with another installment currently in the works. Meanwhile, the Ghostbusters franchise itself became a cultural phenomenon and established its own enduring legacy.
Other Films that Got Away
Beyond Ghostbusters, Murphy expressed regret over declining other well-known films. The Coming to America star listed Rush Hour and Who Framed Roger Rabbit? as projects he wished he hadn’t turned down. In his words,
“Who Framed Roger Rabbit just sounded ridiculous to me, and I passed on it,”
Murphy admitted. After seeing the film’s success, he recalled thinking,
“And afterwards, I was like, ‘Oh, that’s f*cking amazing.”
– Eddie Murphy, Actor
Asked specifically why he regretted passing on these blockbuster roles, Murphy stated,
“They were huge, giant hit movies.”
– Eddie Murphy, Actor
He went on to summarize that
“those are [his] big three ‘wish [he] would have done’ movies.”
– Eddie Murphy, Actor
Defending Norbit Despite Its Critical Reception
Although Murphy has clear reservations about projects he missed, there are also films in his extensive filmography that he stands by, even if critics panned them. Norbit, which was widely criticized and speculated to have cost Murphy a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his role in Dreamgirls, is one such movie. Despite its 9% Rotten Tomatoes critical rating, Murphy affirmed, I love Norbit. He offered his view on its backlash:
“Norbit came out right after I got that Oscar nomination. There were articles like, ‘How can he get an Oscar [if] he did this?’ They’re two different movies. I wrote Norbit with my brother, Charlie, and we think Norbit is funny.”
– Eddie Murphy, Actor
Reflecting on Regret and Success
Murphy’s reflections on missed hits serve as a testament to his long career, where even the regrets are paired with an appreciation for how things turned out. With Being Eddie now streaming on Netflix, fans and critics alike have the chance to explore not only Murphy’s triumphs but also the crossroads, doubts, and decisions that shaped his remarkable path. As his career continues to evolve, Eddie Murphy’s honesty about both his regrets and enduring favorites offers a unique perspective on the unpredictable nature of show business.
Eddie Murphy reveals his top three "wish I would have done" movies. His new documentary "Being Eddie" is out now on Netflix. pic.twitter.com/WLP5IprhAr
— AP Entertainment (@APEntertainment) November 13, 2025
