The 1990's and 2000's saw him move down to family entertainment and his voice work has brought joy to millions of people around the world with many memorable characters. It also saw him get his one and only Oscar nomination in 2006.
Sadly, we have not seen Murphy on the big screen that often in the last few years. But I do hope we see a comeback from this feel-good entertainer.
While not many of his back catalogue I would call award-winning. There is most definitely a lot of entertaining ones.
One example that just misses out on my top 10 is Coming To America. When a very rich African Prince is looking for a wife that he can respect, he travels to New York to find her.
The story and comedy is solid, and Murphy creates most of the life and soul of this 80's comedy.
It was made at a time when Murphy could sell any movie, and this is another good time.
Out of his 44 films, I have seen 32 of them. I will rank all of the ones I have seen, and then give a short review of each of my top 10:
32) Nutty Professor II: The Klumps
31) Boomerang
30) The Haunted Mansion
29) Dr. Dolittle 2
28) Daddy Day Care
27) Shrek The Third
26) Meet Dave
25) I Spy
24) Beverly Hills Cop III
23) Imagine That
22) Shrek Forever After
21) The Nutty Professor
20) Doctor Dolittle
20) Doctor Dolittle
19) Coming 2 America
18) Metro
18) Metro
17) Another 48 Hrs.
16) Beverly Hills Cop II
15) Mulan
16) Beverly Hills Cop II
15) Mulan
14) You People
13) Life
13) Life
11) Coming To America
10) A Thousand Words - I was not expecting to enjoy this as much as I did. The concept is very strange at first. Think 'Yes Man' meets 'Click'. But as the film goes on, there are many funny moments that keep the film moving. I thought it was pretty funny and uplifting comedy with a spiritual theme.
Murphy plays a successful businessman that talks too much. But when a mysterious tree arrives in his garden, he must have to choose his words wisely in order to stay alive.
Some moments including the writing did not work or felt too melodramatic. But on the whole, I found it rather enjoyable.
9) 48 Hrs. - Murphy began his acting career with a bang. It sees a hard-nosed cop team up with a wise-ass criminal to track down a killer.
It's a fun solid buddy-cop movie that saw the start of Murphy's career. His on-screen partnership with Nick Nolte keeps the film moving along and good to watch.
One of the most impressive debuts in any actors filmography.
8) Beverly Hills Cop - The film that a lot of people associate with Murphy the most.
Murphy returns in another cop comedy. This time as Axel Foley, a bit free-thinking Detroit cop who travels to Berverly Hills to cover a murder investigation.
For me, this is where Murphy is at his strongest i the 80's.
7) Holy Man - A lot of people will hate me for putting this film so high up. But I just had great fun with this.
Murphy plays a mysterious character that helps a shopping channel producer. Maybe it's just me but I sometimes fall for these type of sappy melodramatic comedy drama's. I had a great time watching this.
6) Bowfinger - A surprisingly funny late 90's comedy, which sees a struggling movie producer turn desperate and a make the film in the most ridiculous and sneaky way.
Along with Steve Martin, him and Murphy give us a winning combination.
5) Trading Places - Quite possible the most critically successful of Murphy's movies from the 80's.
A snob and a con artist find their positions reversed due to a bet. There is heart as well as smart comedy in this, and has grown in popularity over time.
It also should be part of your Christmas viewing.
4) Dolemite Is My Name - Murphy's latest project, his second film in the last seven years and one that sprung a second comeback.
Murphy portrays the real-life Rudy Ray Moore, a rundown comedian who created an alternate ego who became phenomenon and a rap pioneer.
This is a highly entertaining watch and it goes to show that the man has still got it.
3) Dreamgirls - The film that saw Murphy receive his only Oscar nomination.
Loosely based on the rise of Motown group, The Supremes, it sees a group of female soul singers and their struggles as they rise up the charts.
Murphy plays a singer that is loosely based on James Brown. It's quite a serious performance by Murphy and he has never been so engaging.
2) Shrek - The role that people from my generation associate with Murphy the most. It gives the fairy-tale a modern twist. We see an ogre team up with a talking donkey (voiced by Murphy) on a quest to rescue a princess in order to get back his land from a villainous king-to-be.
It is a ground-breaking animation that saw the birth of Dreamworks Animation and a beloved franchise.
1) Shrek 2 - The gang are back, and this fairy-tale kingdom expands in the most entertaining way.
Shrek and Donkey return, and it is time to meet Princess Fiona's parents. However, a jealous Prince with a Fairy Godmother at his side plan to split their marriage.
It's super-fun and Murphy keeps making the character of Donkey fun to watch.
Murphy plays a successful businessman that talks too much. But when a mysterious tree arrives in his garden, he must have to choose his words wisely in order to stay alive.
Some moments including the writing did not work or felt too melodramatic. But on the whole, I found it rather enjoyable.
It's a fun solid buddy-cop movie that saw the start of Murphy's career. His on-screen partnership with Nick Nolte keeps the film moving along and good to watch.
One of the most impressive debuts in any actors filmography.
Murphy returns in another cop comedy. This time as Axel Foley, a bit free-thinking Detroit cop who travels to Berverly Hills to cover a murder investigation.
For me, this is where Murphy is at his strongest i the 80's.
Murphy plays a mysterious character that helps a shopping channel producer. Maybe it's just me but I sometimes fall for these type of sappy melodramatic comedy drama's. I had a great time watching this.
Along with Steve Martin, him and Murphy give us a winning combination.
A snob and a con artist find their positions reversed due to a bet. There is heart as well as smart comedy in this, and has grown in popularity over time.
It also should be part of your Christmas viewing.
Murphy portrays the real-life Rudy Ray Moore, a rundown comedian who created an alternate ego who became phenomenon and a rap pioneer.
This is a highly entertaining watch and it goes to show that the man has still got it.
Loosely based on the rise of Motown group, The Supremes, it sees a group of female soul singers and their struggles as they rise up the charts.
Murphy plays a singer that is loosely based on James Brown. It's quite a serious performance by Murphy and he has never been so engaging.
It is a ground-breaking animation that saw the birth of Dreamworks Animation and a beloved franchise.
Shrek and Donkey return, and it is time to meet Princess Fiona's parents. However, a jealous Prince with a Fairy Godmother at his side plan to split their marriage.
It's super-fun and Murphy keeps making the character of Donkey fun to watch.
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