Eddie Murphy recently addressed one of the most discussed aspects of his career during recent promotions for his new Netflix documentary, Being Eddie. The legendary comedian and actor revealed the three major films he regrets turning down, calling them his “big three ‘wish I would have done’ movies.”
Eddie Murphy lists three movies he regrets declining
In an interview with the Associated Press, Eddie Murphy said, “Yeah, there [are] a couple of movies. Ghostbusters, I was supposed to do Ghostbusters. Didn’t do that. And Rush Hour. Didn’t do that. Oh, and Who Framed Roger Rabbit. Those are my big three ‘wish I would have done’ movies.”
Murphy explained his reasons, stating, “They were huge giant hits.” The original Ghostbusters (1984) grossed over $243 million domestically and led to a 1989 sequel. Who Framed Roger Rabbit earned more than $156 million in the U.S., while Rush Hour spawned two successful sequels.
Discussing Ghostbusters, Murphy said, “Well, with Ghostbusters, I did Beverly Hills Cop instead. So, it was like, it was do this or that, so it worked out cool.” On Roger Rabbit, he added, “It just sounded ridiculous to me, and I passed on it. And, afterwards, I was like, ‘Oh that’s f—ing amazing.’”
Murphy’s career remained strong despite these missed opportunities. He gained acclaim in films like The Nutty Professor, Dr. Dolittle, and Dreamgirls, for which he received an Academy Award nomination.
Murphy reflected on his journey in the Netflix documentary Being Eddie, released on November 12, 2025. The film covers his early comedy years, Saturday Night Live career, and 50 years in show business. Earlier, during an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, he noted the original plan was a return-to-stand-up project, but “Then COVID hit, and everything shut down… I was paranoid about COVID.”
Regarding the upcoming Shrek 5, Murphy, who voices Donkey, shared, “You have a headache after a Shrek session. The donkey has a lot of singing… Everybody loves the movie.” Shrek 5 will include the return of Mike Myers and Cameron Diaz, and introduce Zendaya as one of Shrek and Fiona’s triplets.
