Eddie Murphy has opened up about his pivotal role as an action comedy pioneer, stating that his work helped shape the genre within Hollywood. The veteran performer, known for his charismatic screen presence, made these remarks in light of a career that continues to spark debate and reflection.
Breaking Barriers in Hollywood
Despite criticisms of some film choices over the past twenty years and a self-imposed hiatus from Hollywood, Murphy’s significance as a leading figure in the industry remains notable. Following in the footsteps of previous Black movie stars such as Sidney Poitier and Richard Pryor—both household names for different reasons—Murphy distinguished himself by headlining a succession of widely successful international blockbusters. No one before him had so consistently achieved this level of mainstream, ongoing global success across multiple films.
Upon his 1982 feature debut with “48 Hrs,” Murphy quickly proved he was destined for more than just sketch comedy fame, outgrowing his “Saturday Night Live” roots. Within five short years, his performances in “Trading Places,” “Beverly Hills Cop,” and “Coming to America” helped secure his reputation as Hollywood’s highest-grossing star during that era.
Murphy’s rise not only shattered limits for himself but also set the stage for a new era in which other leading Black actors like Denzel Washington and Will Smith found prominent positions in the industry. However, Murphy contends that his contribution goes further; he believes he was instrumental in creating a beloved Hollywood subgenre.
Murphy Explains His Claim to the Action Comedy Throne
Addressing The Toronto Sun, Murphy asserted the originality of his role in forging this genre:
“I know it sounds pretentious if you don’t know the history, but I kind of pioneered,”
— Eddie Murphy, The Toronto Sun
He elaborated his point, insisting that before his breakthrough, action and comedy had not truly been mixed in the way audiences now recognize:
“The very first action comedy movie is 48 Hrs. Before 48 Hrs, there were no movies where you had action and comedy. Serious cop movies with people getting killed and bad guys, and comedy. That didn’t exist before 48 Hrs. Then, after 48 Hrs came Beverly Hills Cop, then the genre just exploded.”
— Eddie Murphy, The Toronto Sun
The Lasting Blueprint of ’48 Hrs’
Murphy’s claim does have merit. Although some earlier films blended elements of action and comedy, “48 Hrs,” directed by Walter Hill and starring Murphy alongside Nick Nolte, established a formula that would inform the “buddy cop” format for decades. The dynamic it introduced—pairing sharply contrasting personalities, often with at least one law enforcement officer, thrusting them into an unpredictable situation, and allowing reluctant partners to develop camaraderie—remains a mainstay of the genre to this day.
This approach defined a storytelling method that Hollywood would revisit repeatedly, building on Murphy’s early innovations. His charismatic performance set the standard for subsequent films pairing a straight-laced protagonist with a witty, dynamic partner. Murphy himself commented on the evolution of the genre stemming from his early work:
“All the cops had one-liners, and they started mixing action and comedy,”
— Eddie Murphy, The Toronto Sun
He further underscored the influence of his breakout role:
“But the root of all those pictures is 48 Hrs. Every action comedy.”
— Eddie Murphy, The Toronto Sun
Other Major Contributors and the Ongoing Legacy
Following Murphy’s initial success, creators like Shane Black and Richard Donner refined the action comedy template with works such as “Lethal Weapon,” delivering box office hits and expanding on the format. Yet, as many observers note, the foundation these later works built upon would likely not exist without the precedent set by Eddie Murphy in “48 Hrs” and “Beverly Hills Cop.”
Impact and Future of the Genre
The blueprint that Murphy helped develop has left an enduring legacy, profoundly influencing decades’ worth of action comedies. The success of his films paved the way for actors like Denzel Washington, Will Smith, and others to take leading roles and innovate within the space. As Hollywood continues to revisit and reimagine the action comedy, Murphy’s role as a genre trailblazer remains central to any discussion of its past and future evolution.
