Movie News
Being Eddie (2025)
LeftVideo Team •
November 12, 2025
Netflix’s Hangin’ with an Icon series continues, and this time, it’s Eddie Murphy’s turn in the spotlight. Following in the footsteps of Sylvester Stallone and Martha Stewart, Being Eddie invites us into the mansion—and the mind—of one of comedy’s most enduring legends.
From the moment Murphy strolls through his California estate, you can feel the vibe: casual, funny, and effortlessly cool. The man who once electrified stages in red leather is now watching Ridiculousness in sweatpants, cracking jokes with his family, and reminiscing on a career that changed Hollywood forever. It’s Eddie being Eddie—laid-back, wise, and still impossibly funny.
Directed by Angus Wall, the Oscar-winning editor known for shaping The Social Network and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Being Eddie balances nostalgia with introspection. We see a superstar looking back at his wild journey—from his days stealing scenes on Saturday Night Live, to box-office dominance in 48 Hrs., Beverly Hills Cop, Coming to America, and even the voice of Donkey in Shrek.
But this isn’t a simple highlight reel. It’s a reflection. Murphy flips through old fan magazines, chuckles at his younger self, and admits how surreal it feels to have lived all that at lightning speed. He was barely in his twenties when Beverly Hills Cop made him a megastar—yet, through it all, he claims he stayed grounded. No drugs, no scandal—just a self-proclaimed “square” who turned down coke from John Belushi and Robin Williams. Classic Eddie.
The doc also touches on his long break from stand-up comedy. Murphy acknowledges that fame made it hard to test new material, and while he doesn’t say it outright, there’s an air of quiet reflection when his early, controversial jokes come up. Some of his raw humor hasn’t aged gracefully, but instead of running from it, Eddie seems to understand it as part of his growth. Maybe that’s why he spent years doing family comedies—it was balance, not retreat.
Cameos from Dave Chappelle, Chris Rock, Kevin Hart, and Pete Davidson remind us how deep Murphy’s fingerprints are on today’s comedy scene. They don’t just praise him—they credit him for shaping their paths. Yet, amidst the laughter, Being Eddie carries a bittersweet undercurrent. Murphy has lost many along the way—icons like Michael Jackson, Prince, and Whitney Houston; mentors and friends; and, of course, his beloved brother Charlie Murphy. Watching him speak about them with calm acceptance is moving. You sense the gratitude more than the grief.
Even when Being Eddie skirts around some of the messier chapters—like his infamous on-set clashes with director John Landis—the warmth of the storytelling keeps you hooked. This isn’t a tell-all exposé. It’s a love letter to a man who’s done it all, survived it all, and finally found peace.
By the end, as footage rolls of Murphy’s triumphant 2019 Saturday Night Live return, the message is clear: Eddie isn’t chasing the spotlight anymore. He’s nurturing it, shaping it, and sharing it. Being Eddie reveals a comedy king who’s traded chaos for calm, fame for family, and swagger for wisdom.
And honestly? Watching him smile through it all—still sharp, still hilarious, still Eddie—you can’t help but feel inspired. After everything he’s given us, he’s earned the right to just be.
⭐ Verdict:
4.5/5 – A heartfelt, funny, and deeply human portrait of a legend who’s learned to love life beyond the punchline
From the moment Murphy strolls through his California estate, you can feel the vibe: casual, funny, and effortlessly cool. The man who once electrified stages in red leather is now watching Ridiculousness in sweatpants, cracking jokes with his family, and reminiscing on a career that changed Hollywood forever. It’s Eddie being Eddie—laid-back, wise, and still impossibly funny.
Directed by Angus Wall, the Oscar-winning editor known for shaping The Social Network and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Being Eddie balances nostalgia with introspection. We see a superstar looking back at his wild journey—from his days stealing scenes on Saturday Night Live, to box-office dominance in 48 Hrs., Beverly Hills Cop, Coming to America, and even the voice of Donkey in Shrek.
But this isn’t a simple highlight reel. It’s a reflection. Murphy flips through old fan magazines, chuckles at his younger self, and admits how surreal it feels to have lived all that at lightning speed. He was barely in his twenties when Beverly Hills Cop made him a megastar—yet, through it all, he claims he stayed grounded. No drugs, no scandal—just a self-proclaimed “square” who turned down coke from John Belushi and Robin Williams. Classic Eddie.
The doc also touches on his long break from stand-up comedy. Murphy acknowledges that fame made it hard to test new material, and while he doesn’t say it outright, there’s an air of quiet reflection when his early, controversial jokes come up. Some of his raw humor hasn’t aged gracefully, but instead of running from it, Eddie seems to understand it as part of his growth. Maybe that’s why he spent years doing family comedies—it was balance, not retreat.
Cameos from Dave Chappelle, Chris Rock, Kevin Hart, and Pete Davidson remind us how deep Murphy’s fingerprints are on today’s comedy scene. They don’t just praise him—they credit him for shaping their paths. Yet, amidst the laughter, Being Eddie carries a bittersweet undercurrent. Murphy has lost many along the way—icons like Michael Jackson, Prince, and Whitney Houston; mentors and friends; and, of course, his beloved brother Charlie Murphy. Watching him speak about them with calm acceptance is moving. You sense the gratitude more than the grief.
Even when Being Eddie skirts around some of the messier chapters—like his infamous on-set clashes with director John Landis—the warmth of the storytelling keeps you hooked. This isn’t a tell-all exposé. It’s a love letter to a man who’s done it all, survived it all, and finally found peace.
By the end, as footage rolls of Murphy’s triumphant 2019 Saturday Night Live return, the message is clear: Eddie isn’t chasing the spotlight anymore. He’s nurturing it, shaping it, and sharing it. Being Eddie reveals a comedy king who’s traded chaos for calm, fame for family, and swagger for wisdom.
And honestly? Watching him smile through it all—still sharp, still hilarious, still Eddie—you can’t help but feel inspired. After everything he’s given us, he’s earned the right to just be.
⭐ Verdict:
4.5/5 – A heartfelt, funny, and deeply human portrait of a legend who’s learned to love life beyond the punchline
