Netflix released Being Eddie , a new documentary that explores one of the greatest comedic talents in the world, Eddie Murphy. I woke up at 4 a.m. fully caffeinated, ready to stream Being Eddie because it was releasing on Netflix “Wednesday”. I apparently didn’t wake up “Wednesday enough” because I couldn’t access the film until 5 a.m. After waking up at 4 a.m., I still watched it — coffee in hand — and it was worth every hour of sleep I lost.
As soon as Being Eddie starts, you are drawn in. It’s Eddie telling you his story —from his career peak to his slump, his family life, and his evolution as an artist and a man. You can hear his humility and his gratitude for the life he has created. But you can also hear that fire in him, like, “No, I am not finished yet.”
I loved that this film was so much more than Eddie reflecting on his own journey (which is amazing to hear in his own voice). You also have some of the biggest names in comedy — Jerry Seinfeld, Chris Rock, Dave Chappelle, and Kevin Hart — sharing how Eddie has impacted their lives and careers and how much they respect and adore him. It really is a love letter from a community of comedians who wouldn’t be where they are without him.
The film also discusses his pivot to the family-friendly market with films like Dr. Dolittle and The Nutty Professor, his transition to parenthood, and how that affected his creative choices. But it’s not all glitz and glam. Eddie is also honest about the low points: the Razzies, the career lulls, the criticism. And it’s him, in raw, humble form, talking about pushing through those low points, persevering, and carrying on.
I was also reminded of the first time I ever saw Eddie live, when I was 15 and saw Raw in theaters. It was such an introduction into the power of stand-up. I remember sneaking into back-to-back showings because I wanted to watch it again and again. Stand-up changed everything for me as an introduction into what real comedy was, and Raw was the moment it all crystallized for me. My mom had Steve Martin and George Carlin on vinyl, so I had comedic air at home. But Raw was just on another level.
In Being Eddie, he talks about why he’s never done a stand-up special since Raw and how that was his moment to shine and that he had his mic drop. But a part of me that keeps whispering that he still has one more in him. I mean you just know Eddie has notebooks upon notebooks of material just waiting to be unleashed.
Being Eddie is a documentary you must see. Inspiring, honest, and deeply entertaining. I ended up at the end ready to get out of bed, take a shower, and punch the day in the face.
Five out of five. Stream it on Netflix. You will be reminded that Eddie Murphy is not just one of the all-time greatest comedians, but one of the greatest storytellers.
