Eddie Murphy’s 10 Highest-Grossing Movies, Adjusted For Inflation

Eddie Murphy is among the most successful movie actors ever, with his films earning billions of dollars when adjusted for inflation. He began his career on Saturday Night Live, becoming a standout performer during a challenging time for the show. He then transitioned to movies and achieved lasting fame.

As a critic, I always saw massive star power in Eddie Murphy – films like Beverly Hills Cop and 48 Hours really proved it. He was a box office magnet throughout the ’80s, no question. He stumbled a bit in the ’90s with some movies that didn’t quite land, but he bounced back strong when the 2000s arrived. That decade was definitely his peak earning period, though things cooled off for him again after that.

I’ve been a huge Eddie Murphy fan for years, and it’s been a while since he was really the Eddie Murphy we all remember. But seeing him in Dolemite Is My Name felt like a sign he was coming back! And now, the Being Eddie documentary on Netflix makes me think a big comeback is really possible. Honestly, I don’t know if he’ll ever be that box office draw again, but I’m definitely hoping he is!

The Nutty Professor (1996) – $574 Million

Inspired by Peter Sellers, Eddie Murphy’s The Nutty Professor is a fresh take on the classic comedy. Murphy stars as a scientist who invents a weight-loss formula with unexpected and chaotic side effects. The movie successfully blends silly, over-the-top humor with genuine emotion, making it a beloved comedy from the 1990s.

The film was a huge financial success, earning over half a billion dollars when adjusted for inflation (according to Box Office Mojo). This success led to a sequel, though it wasn’t as good or popular as the first movie. The Nutty Professor revitalized Eddie Murphy’s career after a string of less successful films, launching another period of great box office results that continued into the 2000s.

Doctor Dolittle (1998) – $590 Million

After the successful remake of The Nutty Professor, Eddie Murphy revisited classic comedy with 1998’s Doctor Dolittle. He plays a doctor who unexpectedly gains the power to understand animals, though it turns out to be more trouble than it’s worth. Murphy delivers a strong performance, but some of the movie’s attempts at bolder humor don’t quite hit the mark.

As a huge movie fan, I remember everyone being so excited for another Eddie Murphy comedy back then! It really paid off – Doctor Dolittle pulled in an amazing $590 million worldwide (according to Box Office Mojo), which is a lot even by today’s standards. It was a massive year for blockbusters with Titanic still going strong, but Dolittle still managed to become the sixth-highest-grossing film of 1998. And the buzz didn’t stop there – the sequel in 2001 was a big hit too!

Mulan (1998) – $609 Million

Released near the end of Disney’s most celebrated period, Mulan beautifully adapted Chinese folklore using the studio’s classic animation style. Eddie Murphy voiced the memorable character of Mushu, showcasing his comedic timing and vocal talent, which would become a hallmark of his future roles. Featuring gorgeous animation and a fantastic soundtrack, Mulan stood out as a special and memorable film in Disney’s collection.

In 1998, Disney was doing very well, and their film Mulan was a big hit, earning around $609 million by today’s standards (according to Box Office Mojo). However, while successful, Mulan wasn’t as popular as many of Disney’s biggest films, placing it somewhere in the middle of their hits. Eddie Murphy’s involvement definitely boosted the movie, but he would achieve even greater success with animation a few years later.

Coming To America (1988) – $800 Million

Many consider Coming to America to be one of Eddie Murphy’s funniest and most beloved movies. In it, Murphy plays a pampered prince from Africa who travels to the United States to find a wife he can connect with on a real level. The film has all the classic elements of a great Eddie Murphy comedy: he plays multiple characters, the humor is silly and over-the-top, and it’s surprisingly heartwarming.

The movie came out during a golden age for comedy and earned around $800 million (according to Box Office Mojo). While Coming to America is a delightful film, Eddie Murphy’s popularity was a major reason for its huge success, bringing it close to earning a billion dollars. Unfortunately, the sequel wasn’t shown in theaters, so it didn’t have a box office run.

Beverly Hills Cop 2 (1987) – $806 Million

While many movie sequels outperform the originals, Beverly Hills Cop 2 actually earned less money than the first film. Eddie Murphy reprises his role as the memorable Axel Foley, who returns to Los Angeles to solve a new set of crimes committed by a criminal gang. Although not as good as the original, Beverly Hills Cop 2 still delivers plenty of humor and excitement.

While it’s hard to call a film that earned over $806 million (in today’s money) a failure, Beverly Hills Cop 2 was more expensive to make than the first one. Despite this, it was the biggest box office hit of 1987, and one of only three movies that year to earn over $100 million.

Shrek (2001) – $912 Million

Released at the start of the 2000s, Shrek is often seen as the movie that really kicked off the decade’s trend of popular family films. Eddie Murphy voices Donkey, the lovable sidekick to the ogre Shrek, who is on a quest to rescue a princess. The fantastic chemistry between Murphy and Mike Myers is a key reason the film remains so memorable and unique even today.

When Disney struggled, DreamWorks stepped up and earned $912 million (according to Box Office Mojo). Surprisingly, Shrek was the least financially successful movie in the whole series, even though it almost made a billion dollars. Beyond the box office, the delightful animated film also received fantastic reviews.

Beverly Hills Cop (1984) – $1 Billion

While Eddie Murphy had been in movies before, Beverly Hills Cop truly made him a superstar. He plays a clever Detroit police officer who goes to Los Angeles to solve a case that’s personal to him. The movie combines exciting action with plenty of humor, making it enjoyable for a wide range of audiences.

The movie quickly became a huge hit, earning over $1 billion (according to Box Office Mojo). Although it was released in December 1984, most of the money it made came in 1985. Had it been released earlier in the year, Beverly Hills Cop would have been the top-grossing film, surpassing popular movies like Ghostbusters and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.

Shrek Forever After (2010) – $1.1 Billion

Following the disappointing reception of Shrek 3, Shrek Forever After earned slightly less money at the box office. The film brings back Donkey as Shrek grapples with the challenges of married life after several years. Though initially planned as the final Shrek movie, Shrek Forever After is surprisingly touching for a cartoon about an ogre.

Even though the quality of later Shrek movies wasn’t as strong as the first, they remained popular. Shrek Forever After alone earned $1.1 billion worldwide (according to Box Office Mojo). While Eddie Murphy’s role was slightly smaller in the fourth film, Donkey remained a key character. Throughout the 2000s and early 2010s, Shrek was incredibly profitable, and even weaker sequels couldn’t slow it down.

Shrek The Third (2007) – $1.2 Billion

Following the success of the first two movies, a third Shrek film was inevitable. Shrek the Third finds the popular ogre unexpectedly named as the next in line for the throne, but he’s not interested in being king. Unfortunately, the movie didn’t live up to its predecessors, missing both the heartwarming moments and the funny jokes that made the earlier films so enjoyable.

Following the success of the first sequel, Shrek 3 still managed to earn a massive $1.2 billion worldwide, despite being considered a weaker film (according to Box Office Mojo). However, this success didn’t fully carry over, and the fourth Shrek movie saw lower box office numbers. Overall, the Shrek franchise was incredibly profitable, and it helped maintain Eddie Murphy’s popularity throughout the 2000s.

Shrek 2 (2004) – $1.6 Billion

While Shrek was a huge hit, Shrek 2, released a few years later, was even more successful in theaters. The story follows Shrek, Donkey, and Fiona as they travel to the kingdom of Far Far Away to meet Fiona’s strict and demanding parents. Shrek 2 built upon the original film, raising the stakes with more humor and excitement, but still maintaining the heartwarming and simple appeal of the first movie.

Many consider Shrek 2 to be the strongest film in the Shrek series, and it’s also the most financially successful. It earned over $1.5 billion worldwide (according to Box Office Mojo) and remains Eddie Murphy’s biggest hit when accounting for inflation. While Eddie Murphy’s popularity contributed to its success, Shrek 2 stood out for numerous other qualities as well.

2025-11-23 19:34