8 More Sequels Eddie Murphy Should Make After Beverly Hills Cop 4

Summary

  • Eddie Murphy may consider sequels to his classic movies after recent successes like Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F and Coming 2 America.
  • Fans of Eddie Murphy’s comedic roles are excited about the potential return of classic characters in sequels or spinoffs.
  • Murphy’s career renaissance may lead to sequels for movies like Bowfinger or Tower Heist.

After Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F, Eddie Murphy may consider making sequels to some of his other classic movies after decades of silence. Murphy first broke through as a movie star in the early 1980s. Since then, he has built a reputation as an inimitable comedic actor that rivals his success as a stand-up. Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F is the second legacy sequel Murphy has made in recent years. Amazon Prime Video’s Coming 2 America also revived one of his most popular movies, suggesting that he may be open to more.

Eddie Murphy is working on a Pink Panther reboot to continue his career renaissance. While fans will be excited to see new roles, Murphy is also great at bringing back his classic characters from years gone by. Fortunately, he has a plethora of options if he wants to continue this trend, ranging from classic comedies to family movies. It’s safe to assume that for Murphy to consider a sequel after several years, it will need either proven box office success or widespread critical acclaim. This excludes some of his weaker movies, but he still has a few hits which would be prime candidates for sequels or spinoffs.

8 A Third 48 Hrs. Movie

48 Hrs. franchise box office: $232.4

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48 Hrs Where to Watch

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Director Walter Hill Release Date December 2, 1982 Cast Eddie Murphy , Nick Nolte

48 Hrs is one of Eddie Murphy’s best movies, even though it marked his film debut. Murphy was already a star thanks to Saturday Night Live, and his comedy with Nick Nolte proved that he could translate this success to the big screen. Murphy and Nolte play a convict and a cop, respectively, who team up to track down two dangerous criminals. As the title suggests, they have a very limited time in which to do so, and this raises the stakes and lends a frantic energy to their comedic exchanges.

Another 48 Hrs
didn’t receive the same level of critical acclaim as the first movie, but it made just over $150 million at the box office.

48 Hrs was followed by a sequel in 1990. Another 48 Hrs didn’t receive the same level of critical acclaim as the first movie, but it made just over $150 million at the box office. Over 30 years later, a sequel would have to look completely different to the first two movies. Murphy, who plays the brash youngster in 48 Hrs is now older than Nolte was in either movie. His character could take on the role of the experienced head as he teams up with a younger partner, or he and Nolte could reunite for a different kind of case.

7 Bowfinger 2

Bowfinger box office: $98.6 million

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Steve Martin often does his best work when he’s playing the straight man, and Bowfinger gives him the chance to do just that up against Eddie Murphy’s goofy comic energy. Martin plays a B movie director who hires an awkward geek to star in his debut feature because he bears a striking resemblance to a huge Hollywood star. Murphy plays both the star and his unassuming doppelgänger. They’re polar opposites, but Murphy is hilarious in both roles. The big-name actor has elements of Murphy’s public persona, which adds another layer of humor for his fans.

Eddie Murphy and Steve Martin are both enjoying fresh chapters in their careers, so it could be the perfect time for them to reunite.

Bowfinger is one of many Hollywood satires, but it works better than most. A modern-day sequel could catch up with the characters to see how their careers panned out, and it could also lampoon how the movie industry has changed over the years. Murphy and Martin are both enjoying fresh chapters in their careers, so it could be the perfect time for them to reunite. This would also draw more attention to an underrated Eddie Murphy movie that deserves a bigger audience.

6 Tower Heist 2

Tower Heist box office: $152.9 million

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Tower Heist Where to Watch

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Director Brett Ratner Release Date November 10, 2011 Cast Ben Stiller , Eddie Murphy , Casey Affleck , Matthew Broderick

Tower Heist is a fun crime caper led by Ben Stiller, but it features an energetic ensemble cast. Eddie Murphy is the standout performer as a career criminal whose old friend calls on him for help with his first heist. Matthew Broderick, Casey Affleck and Michael Peña complete the crew. Tower Heist is a little formulaic, but its cast is so likable that they can get away with not having such an explosive narrative. Heist franchises are quite rare, since each job needs to have personal stakes, but Tower Heist could have a sequel.

Heist franchises are quite rare, since each job needs to have personal stakes, but
Tower Heist
could have a sequel.

Tower Heist ends with Ben Stiller’s character accepting a prison sentence, knowing that his crew has managed to pull off the job, and he has helped all the people swindled by Alan Alda’s corrupt financier. There’s a glimmer of pride in his eye, which suggests that his Robin Hood heist could be the first of many. A potential sequel could follow his character reconnecting with his crew after he is released from prison.

5 A Mushu Spinoff

Mulan box office: $304.3 million

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Mulan Where to Watch

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Director Barry Cook , Tony Bancroft Release Date June 19, 1998 Cast Ming-Na Wen , Eddie Murphy , BD Wong , Miguel Ferrer , June Foray , James Hong , Pat Morita , George Takei

Eddie Murphy’s most famous animated character is Donkey from Shrek. He has Shrek 5 and a Donkey spinoff to look forward to in the next few years, but this leaves Murphy’s other great animated character behind. If Donkey can have his own movie, then Mushu can too. Both are wisecracking animal sidekicks who steal the show, but Murphy didn’t return for Mulan II, so Mushu never became as popular as Donkey. Mulan II was one of many direct-to-video Disney sequels that underwhelmed critics, and Murphy’s absence was not the only issue.

If Donkey can have his own movie, then Mushu can too.

While Disney continues to look for inspiration from their classic movies, Mushu might be a good candidate for his own spinoff. Cruella was surprisingly well-received, which proves that there are still plenty of interesting ways to reinterpret old characters. Mushu and Cri-Kee could have their own adventure without Mulan. Alternatively, Mushu could be summoned by the Fa family in a different time period, and he would have to contend with an unfamiliar world.

4 A Jimmy Early Spinoff

Dreamgirls box office: $155.4 million

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Dreamgirls Where to Watch

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Director Bill Condon Release Date December 25, 2006 Cast Jamie Foxx , Beyonce Knowles , Eddie Murphy , Danny Glover , Jennifer Hudson , Anika Noni Rose

Just like with Mulan, Eddie Murphy plays an unforgettable supporting role in Dreamgirls. He earned an Academy Award nomination for his performance as Jimmy “Thunder” Early, a soul singer inspired by the likes of James Brown. Murphy overflows with charisma in Dreamgirls, both when he’s performing on stage and when he’s charming The Dreams off of it. Jimmy dies young in Dreamgirls, so a spinoff would have to break with the continuity of the movie.

The soulful music is perfectly suited to Murphy’s voice, and he should consider trying out more musical roles in the future.

Even if Murphy doesn’t get a direct Dreamgirls spinoff, he could work on a similar style of movie. Dreamgirls is a film à clef, and Murphy would be superb as an aging soul singer struggling to keep up with the changing music industry. He showed glimpses of this in Dreamgirls, but the movie kept its focus on other characters. Dreamgirls also shows off Murphy’s singing ability. He holds his own on a soundtrack that includes Beyoncé, Jamie Foxx and Jennifer Hudson. It helps that this musical style is perfectly suited to Murphy’s voice, and he should consider trying out more musical roles in the future.

3 Dolemite Is My Name 2

Dolemite Is My Name Rotten Tomatoes Score: 97%

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Dolemite Is My Name Where to Watch

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Director Chelsea Gilson Release Date October 25, 2019 Cast T.I. , Keegan-Michael Key , Tituss Burgess , Kodi Smit-McPhee , Eddie Murphy , London Worthy , Wesley Snipes , Craig Robinson , Mike Epps , Chris Rock , Chelsea Gilson

Dolemite Is My Name revitalized Eddie Murphy’s career after many years without a big hit. The Netflix comedy, which Murphy also produced, received rave reviews from critics. Since Dolemite Is My Name is based on the life of Rudy Ray Moore, there are plenty of other stories that could work for a potential sequel. Moore enjoyed a long career after Dolemite. He revived the character for several sequels, but he also had plenty of other movies and dozens of comedy albums.

Since
Dolemite Is My Name
is based on the life of Rudy Ray Moore, there are plenty of other stories that could work for a potential sequel.

Rudy Ray Moore is a different kind of character for Eddie Murphy. The actor still gets to flex his comedy muscles, but the role also asks him to tap into some of his hidden dramatic skills. Dolemite Is My Name also benefits from great performances by Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Keegan-Michael Key and Wesley Snipes. Bringing the cast back together for a sequel would be a big step toward replicating the success of the first movie. If Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F is popular, Netflix could leap at the chance to work with Murphy again.

2 Trading Places 2

Trading Places box office: $120.6 million

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Trading Places Where to Watch

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Director John Landis Release Date June 8, 1983 Cast Eddie Murphy , Jamie Lee Curtis , Ralph Bellamy , Don Ameche , Dan Aykroyd , Denholm Elliott

Trading Places stars Eddie Murphy as a street-smart con man who swaps lives with an arrogant Wall Street trader, played by Dan Aykroyd, as part of a bet between two selfish millionaires. Jamie Lee Curtis plays a sex worker who helps the duo fight back against the millionaires. Trading Places has a great cast, and the dynamic between Murphy’s laidback grifter and Aykroyd’s neurotic broker is particularly enjoyable. Curtis’ role helped her break out of her “scream queen” typecasting, and she has since made plenty of memorable comedies.

Trading Places
has a happy ending, so a sequel could follow up on how the characters enjoyed the good life after suddenly striking it rich.

Although it has been over 40 years since the first movie, Dan Aykroyd has stated that he’s working on Trading Places 2. At this early stage, it’s unclear what the plot will be about. Eddie Murphy’s involvement has not been confirmed, but it wouldn’t be much of a sequel without him or Jamie Lee Curtis. Trading Places has a happy ending, so a sequel could follow up on how the characters enjoyed the good life after suddenly striking it rich. The first movie takes aim at the weak foundations of financial institutions, so a 21st century sequel could look at the current economic landscape.

1 Beverly Hills Cop 5

Beverly Hills Cop franchise box office: $735 million

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Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F Where to Watch

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Director Mark Molloy Release Date July 3, 2024 Cast Eddie Murphy , Kevin Bacon , John Ashton , Joseph Gordon-Levitt , Paul Reiser , Judge Reinhold

Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F has revived Eddie Murphy’s biggest franchise, and he could soon be back for more. Murphy has been vocal about his disappointment with the two previous Beverly Hills Cop sequels, something that critics and audiences agreed with him on, but the fourth entry in the franchise has put things back on track. The reviews are much more positive, and Axel F sets up a potential Beverly Hills Cop 5, as Axel reconciles with Jane and gets an open invite to return to Beverly Hills. This means that a sequel would have more freedom to tell a new story.

Beverly Hills Cop:
Axel F
sets up a potential
Beverly Hills Cop 5,
as Axel reconciles with Jane and gets an open invite to return to Beverly Hills.

Beverly Hills Cop could take inspiration from Bad Boys, another cop comedy which has recently been revived after a long wait. The recent Bad Boys movies and Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F show how to revitalize old ideas while still maintaining the things that make them popular. Axel F mixes old characters with new faces, paying tribute to the franchise’s roots while showing the path for a way forward. It’s still a little too soon to see how successful Axel F will be, but there are plenty of positive signs which suggest Eddie Murphy could have another hit on his hands.

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