Summary
- Eddie Murphy's decades-long acting career started off successful, with his films earning over $1 billion at the box office by 1990.
- Despite his success, Murphy grew weary of his exclusive contract with Paramount and sought greener pastures.
- Murphy starred in the poorly received film "Vampire in Brooklyn" to fulfill his contractual dues with Paramount and potentially exit the contract.
Despite the heavy critical panning he's endured over the years, renowned comedian Eddie Murphy's decades-long acting career started off on a high note. By 1990, Murphy’s films had raked in over $1 billion in box office revenue, making his near-exclusive contract with Paramount one of the studio’s most lucrative deals. However, after working with the studio for over a decade, Murphy was dead-set on seeking greener pastures.
But before he could give Paramount the slip, the father of ten had to check off his contractual dues, which, as of 1991, included headlining at least four films for the studio. Interestingly, it was right around this time that Murphy starred in Wes Craven's tepidly-received horror film, Vampire in Brooklyn.
So, could it be that Murphy deliberately starred in what would become one of his worst-rated films, potentially tarnishing his own reputation, as an exit strategy?
Was Eddie Murphy Unhappy With His $15 Million Contract With Paramount?
Renowned comedian Eddie Murphy is one of the few Hollywood stars who achieved resounding success on their first foray into acting. The now 62-year-old's big screen debut, 48 Hrs, raked in over $75 million at the box office; an impressive feat considering its modest $12 million budget.
It wasn't long after the film's stellar theatrical run that Paramount Pictures started courting Murphy, offering him a whopping $15 million for a near-exclusive deal that would see him headline several more box office masterpieces.
The deal, which saw Murphy star in mega-hit films like Trading Places and Beverly Hills Cop, was renewed multiple times over the course of a decade. However, by 1991, Eddie Murphy had grown weary of the near-exclusive arrangement.
According to Los Angeles Times, Paramount’s relationship with Murphy faltered in the wake of Art Buchwald’s highly-publicized $6.2 million Coming to America suit, prompting the acclaimed actor to seek greener pastures.
Did Eddie Murphy Star In Vampire in Brooklyn To Get Out Of His Contract With Paramount?
Though on the rocks, Eddie Murphy and Paramount went ahead and renewed their partnership one more time in 1991. Under the terms of the new deal, Murphy would headline a total of four films for the studio, starting with the 1992 romantic comedy, Boomerang.
It wasn't until 1995, when Murphy took on the lead role in Wes Craven's black comedy Vampire in Brooklyn, that he settled the last of his contractual dues.
"I've always wanted to do something where I was the villain in the movie,” the Dolemite is My Name star said of starring in the film in a 2009 interview with Joe Leydon. “I love horror pictures, and I was a big fan of Wes Craven. This movie started out as something small, this was a movie my company was just going to produce, and the screenplay came together so well that I thought it will be a fun role to play."
Though a stark departure from his usual niche, the film held a certain appeal for Murphy. “I got to do something kind of scary and had a safety net because the vampire can turn into other peoples,” he said. “I get to be funny when I'm the preacher and I get to be funny when I'm the Italian guy. And the vampire is pretty straight and I got all these funny stuff happening around me. I felt it was a unique piece to do."
However, just two years after his sit-down with Leydon, it became apparent that Murphy might’ve had an even more compelling reason to headline the ill-fated film.
“The only way I was able to do Nutty Professor and to get out of my Paramount deal, I had to do Vampire in Brooklyn,” he told RollingStone. “But you know what ruined that movie? The wig. I walked out in that longhaired wig and people said, “Oh, get the fuck out of here! What the hell is this?”
Vampire In Brooklyn Is One Of Eddie Murphy’s Worst Rated Films
While it has since clawed its way to cult classic status, Vampire in Brooklyn was mercilessly shredded by critics upon release. Renowned film critic Roger Ebert tossed the film a mere one out of four stars, joining a horde of other critics in chastising both the film and Murphy's performance.
"The movie is unpleasant to look at,” he wrote. “It's darker than Se7en, but without sufficient purpose, and my overall memory of it is people screaming in the shadows. To call this a comedy is a sign of optimism; to call it a comeback for Murphy is a sign of blind faith."
Even Murphy's old comrades at SNL didn't spare him. Around that very time, David Spade conjured up a sketch where he flaunted a picture of Murphy and made the quip, “Look, children! It’s a falling star. Make a wish.”
“There was that David Spade sketch. I made a stink about it, it became part of the folklore,” Murphy later told RollingStone of his reaction to the now infamous sketch. “What really irritated me about it at the time was that it was a career shot. It was like, “Hey, come on, man, it’s one thing for you guys to do a joke about some movie of mine, but my career? I’m one of you guys.”"
Though clearly unhappy with the widespread criticism, Murphy would eventually concede that the film wasn’t exactly his best work. “Well, I don’t think the New Yorker will be singing the praises of Meet Dave,” he admitted in a 2016 interview with Los Angeles Times. “That was a gem!” I don’t know if there’s some Pluto Nash Appreciation Club out there. The Friends of Holy Man Group. The Vampire in Brooklyn Club.“
