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Eddie Murphy’s 80s run has possibly given him carte blanche to do any paycheck movie he wants while people still call him the greatest of all time. Murphy has been candid in the past about knowing that he took roles in some stinkers simply because the studio was willing to shell out the dough. While his decisions aren’t motivated by artistic integrity or ego, his motivations were simple and relatable, as he explained, “Every bad decision I’ve made has been based on money. I grew up in the projects and you don’t turn down money there. You take it, because you never know when it’s all going to end.”

IndieWire reports on Murphy’s recent interview with Complex, where he reveals that he turned down the opportunity to do Rush Hour in favor of the movie Holy Man since the nature of the production appealed more to him.

Loni Anderson’s 5 Must-Watch Shows and Films According to IMDb Ratings (Photo Credit – Prime Video)

Loni Anderson, the beloved Hollywood icon, passed away this August, leaving behind a legacy that spanned decades. Best remembered for her role as the glamorous receptionist Jennifer Marlowe in the hit CBS sitcom Wkrp in Cincinnati, she became a household name in the late ‘70s and ‘80s. But her career extended far beyond that iconic portrayal — Anderson brought charm, wit, and elegance to various television and film roles that cemented her place in pop culture history.

A true stalwart of the entertainment industry, she bridged the golden era of network television with the evolving landscape of modern TV, working well into her 70s. From sitcoms to dramas, here’s a look at five of her most acclaimed projects, ranked by IMDb.

5. Ladies of the ‘80s: A Divas Christmas (2023) Streaming on: Lifetime, Amazon Prime Video IMDb...

Roman Reigns’ brief appearance in Prime Video’s The Pickup is winning over fans, and it slams harder than any car stunt from the Fast and Furious spinoff, Hobbs & Shaw. Reigns’ cameo appears at the end of the movie. The WWE star delivered a perfectly timed comedic cameo that feels more impactful than his big-screen turn alongside Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.

He plays an unnamed Mma fighter headlining a casino fight night. The scene is a key moment during the movie’s heist sequence, where Russel (Eddie Murphy), Travis (Pete Davidson), and Zoe (Keke Palmer) are trying to rob the casino. Zoe tricks him into thinking his opponent had insulted him. Then he storms off and clears the way for the crew.

The scene is meant to poke fun at the wrestling culture, where the wrestlers usually fight to exaggerate the drama. That’s exactly what makes the sports entertaining,...

Pete Davidson admired Keke Palmer for seamlessly juggling motherhood and movie-making on the set of The Pickup, a heist comedy now streaming on Prime Video.

Davidson, who is preparing for fatherhood with model Elsie Hewitt, said watching Palmer care for her infant son while filming scenes left a lasting impression.

“What was cool is when we were doing The Pickup, Keke’s baby was just born and she had him on set the whole time, and she would go into a take and then run over, you know, play with the baby, and it made me realise it’s possible to co-exist in both worlds,” he told Extra. “You know? I was really impressed with her… the way she was parenting on set.”

Palmer gave birth to her son Leodis in February 2023 with her then-partner Darius Jackson. She joined Davidson and Eddie Murphy in the film, which blends crime and comedy.

Eddie Murphy stands by the movie that won him multiple Golden Raspberry Awards, aka Razzies, and is speculated to have lost him his one and only Oscar nomination. Murphy is one of the most beloved comedic actors of all time, having made a name for himself as a performer on Saturday Night Live before later dominating the box office.

But since Murphy’s run of well-received 1980s films like Beverly Hills Cop and Coming to America, his projects haven’t always landed with ubiquitous praise. Films like The Nutty Professor, Dr. Doolittle, and I Spy certainly found their audiences, but received mixed reviews from critics. But it sounds like the comedian isn’t letting that get to him.

Eddie Murphy Stands By Norbit (2007), Doesn’t Think It Ruined His Oscar Chances

In an interview with Complex, Eddie Murphy got to talking about Norbit, his 2007 film that was a box office success,...

Eddie Murphy is an Academy Award-nominated actor — but, to him, that doesn’t mean that you only have to make prestige pictures. Firmly established as one of Hollywood’s most bankable stars, Murphy — who just premiered “The Pickup” on Amazon Prime — has always made exactly the kind of movie he wants to make in the moment. Hence why he followed up 2006’s “Dreamgirls” — which netted not just an Oscar nod for Best Supporting Actor, but five other nominations and two wins — with the widely panned “Norbit” in 2007.

“I love ‘Norbit,'” Murphy said on Complex’s interview series “360 With Speedy Morman” (via The Wrap). “There were articles like, ‘How can he get an Oscar, he did this?’ They’re two different movies. I wrote ‘Norbit’ with my brother, Charlie [Murphy], and we think ‘Norbit’ is funny. Here’s the thing with ‘Norbit’: It came out, it got voted for Razzies...

Roman Reigns has a net worth of $14 million, per Sports Illustrated. This includes his WWE salary, brand endorsements, and merchandise sales. However, a substantial portion of it also comes from the upcoming movie projects that he is a part of.

Reigns, whose Quentin-Tarantino-style strategy for upcoming movie projects has become a major talking point, is poised to appear in projects where fans get a glimpse of the other side of his persona. In light of his growing acting career, here are the upcoming projects on the big screen with his presence.

Roman Reigns’ Upcoming Movie Projects Roman Reigns about to enter the ring. (Image Credit: WWE)

Roman Reigns is making significant progress in Hollywood with several well-known and varied projects that showcase his growing popularity outside of the wrestling industry.

The former Universal Champion was recently featured in Tim Story’s heist action-comedy, The Pickup, which stars Eddie Murphy, Keke Palmer,...

Jurassic World Rebirth North America Box Office Day 38: Beats Shrek The Third (Photo Credit –Facebook)

Jurassic World Rebirth has been released online, which has and will further impact the film’s collections in the long run. Scarlett Johansson’s movie has beaten Shrek the Third’s domestic haul to move up the all-time list of the 100 highest-grossing films domestically. Keep scrolling for the deets.

It was also released in Japan this Friday and is poised to make a decent opening. Even after this weekend, the movie is staying put as the third highest-grossing Hollywood release of the year worldwide and the fifth highest-grossing film in the franchise. Scarlett Johansson, back in her element, is always a visual treat for her fans.

Jurassic World Rebirth’s box office collection after 38 days

According to Box Office Mojo, Scarlett Johansson’s Jurassic World Rebirth collected a decent $1.3 million on its sixth Friday in North America.

Oblivion Returns To Streaming (Photo Credit – Prime Video)

Tom Cruise has had a huge year after he returned as Ethan Hunt for the last time in Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning. Now, one of his earlier science fiction films has made a quick return to streaming after disappearing for a while. Around 12 years ago, Cruise teamed up with Olga Kurylenko, Morgan Freeman, and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau in Oblivion, a story about a man fighting to protect humanity after a stranger changes everything on Earth.

Oblivion Returns On This Platform After Leaving Prime Video

The movie was available on Prime Video until June, and it has now reappeared on Peacock for all subscribers. When it first came out, it earned middling scores on Rotten Tomatoes but drew comparisons to Blade Runner for its vision of a bleak future.

Tom Cruise in Oblivion pic.twitter.com/64JlpgIAvi

— Cinema Connoisseur (@MovieEndorser) June 29, 2025

It...

Here’s When & Where You Can Watch Matt Damon’s Stuck On You Again! (Photo Credit – Prime Video)

Matt Damon has delivered some of Hollywood’s most memorable hits, moving effortlessly from survival drama in The Martian to high-speed racing in Ford v Ferrari and heartfelt storytelling in Good Will Hunting. His long-running bond with Ben Affleck has led to celebrated work both in front of and behind the camera, but his latest return to streaming is a buddy comedy without Affleck in the mix.

Stuck On You Returns To Streaming

The Farrelly Brothers’ 2003 comedy Stuck on You returns to Hulu on August 14, 2025, per Collider. It tells the story of conjoined twins Walt, played by Greg Kinnear, and Bob, played by Damon, who work side by side as fast grill cooks. Walt dreams of making it big in acting while Bob prefers a quieter life. Their paths shift when Cher,...

Which MCU Role Did Emily Blunt Miss Out? (Photo Credit – Prime Video)

Imagine being this close to landing an MCU role and then having to walk away. Heartbreaking, no? That was Emily Blunt’s reality with Black Widow in Iron Man 2. The role eventually went to Scarlett Johansson.

From Marvel Dreams to Gulliver’s Detour: The Role Emily Blunt Couldn’t Take

Emily Blunt revealed on The Howard Stern Show that she was originally in the running to play the fearless Natasha Romanoff in the MCU. However, fate had other plans — a binding contract forced her to take on Gulliver’s Travels, a film she admitted she didn’t even want to do, costing her the Black Widow role. “It was a bit of a heartbreaker for me because I take such pride in the decisions that I make,” she said. Blunt added that teaming up with Robert Downey Jr. would have been “legendary,...

WWII Drama Greyhound Dominates Global Streaming Charts(Photo Credit –Prime Video)

Apple TV+ is riding high with Greyhound, a WWII drama written by and starring Tom Hanks. The movie, released in 2020, follows a first-time Navy commander leading a convoy through dangerous waters while German submarines hunt them. Stephen Graham and Elisabeth Shue join Hanks in the cast and the story is adapted from C.S. Forester’s novel The Good Shepherd, with Aaron Schneider directing.

If you haven’t seen @GreyhoundMovie yet, you probably should! #SaturdaySailing

The only thing more dangerous than the front lines was the fight to get there. Starring Tom Hanks, Greyhound is currently streaming on the Apple TV app. pic.twitter.com/S2OOdlRYz5

— U.S. Navy (@USNavy) July 25, 2020

Apple TV+ WWII Hit Greyhound Still Dominating Worldwide

Greyhound was released straight to streaming on Apple TV+ and became a global hit, ranking in the top 10 in over 50 countries,...

A viral Prime Video sci-fi movie has escaped its 0% Rotten Tomatoes fate after receiving a positive critical review. From the critically acclaimed Interstellarto the more recent Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, the streaming platform is home to a variety of science fiction movies.

With new titles regularly added to the platforms, some of the latest in-theater movies being added include 28 Years Later, Jurassic World Rebirth, The Occupant, and Dangerous Animals. Several new straight-to-streaming movies from the studio behind Ben Affleck's The Accountant 2 and Jason Statham's Beekeeper have also arrived on the platform recently, with some ending up on the streamer's Top 10 chart.

Eddie Murphy's action comedy The Pickup, arrived on August 6, is currently the No.1 most popular movie on Prime Video, and it's followed by another new addition.

Ice Cube's War Of The Worlds Is No Longer A 0% Rt Movie

Currently the No.

Eddie Murphy is pushing back on the long-running theory that his 2007 comedy Norbit derailed his Oscar chances for Dreamgirls, saying in a new interview that he still enjoys the film and rejects the idea that it should define awards voting. He characterized the backlash as overblown and dismissed the notion that one broad studio comedy should outweigh a separate dramatic performance.

The “Norbit effect” narrative stems from timing. Murphy’s Dreamgirls performance as James “Thunder” Early made him an awards-season frontrunner after major wins at the Golden Globes and the Screen Actors Guild Awards, and his Oscar nomination arrived days before Norbit opened on February 9, 2007 to harsh reviews. When the Academy’s Best Supporting Actor prize went to Alan Arkin for Little Miss Sunshine, many observers pointed to Norbit’s release as the momentum shift. Official records confirm Murphy’s Globe and SAG wins and Arkin’s Oscar victory.

Murphy...

How Much Did Disney Invest To Acquire Marvel For? (Photo Credit – Prime Video)

Before superheroes dominated the global box office, Marvel’s characters existed mainly on the comic book page and in sporadic TV or film adaptations with varying degrees of success. While iconic names like Spider-Man, X-Men, and Captain America had passionate fan bases, the larger Marvel brand lacked a consistent cinematic presence and cohesive vision on screen.

The late 1990s and early 2000s saw the company navigate a turbulent financial period, licensing characters to multiple studios in order to survive. After the first Iron Man film debuted in 2008, it was clear that Marvel had stumbled onto a formula that could rival any major Hollywood franchise. The concept of an interconnected universe of films quickly became a defining element of modern cinema.

Studios and audiences alike began to see Marvel’s roster not as scattered properties, but as part of a vast,...

Eric Braeden & Peter Bergman Got Into A Physical Fight On The Young & The Restless Set(Photo Credit –Instagram/Facebook)

The Young and the Restless characters Victor Newman (Eric Braeden) and Jack Abbott (Peter Bergman) were bitter rivals who often inflicted unimaginable horrors on each other. Fans were surprised when their on-screen professional animosity spilled into their personal lives in the early 1990s when the two were involved in a physical altercation on set. It’s still one of the most memorable on-set feuds in Hollywood history.

When Fiction Became Reality: Braeden and Bergman’s Off-Screen Conflict

The Young and the Restless revolves around the fictional Genoa City. The show explored the complex relationships around the prominent Abott and Newman families and the bitter feud between Jack Abott and Victor Newman. Eric Braeden has portrayed Victor Newman since 1980, when Peter Bergman stepped into the role of Jack Abbott in 1989.

It appears...

MCU’s Top 5 Sibling Pairs (Photo Credit – Instagram/YouTube)

The life of a superhero isn’t always glamorous. Beneath the mask and beyond the powers, there’s often loneliness. Superheroes can feel isolated with a secret identity to protect and burdens too heavy to share. But for some, there’s one person always constant, their sibling. In the MCU, these sibling relationships add a deeply emotional layer to the stories. These siblings might face off as enemies one moment, only to fight side by side the next. Their bond is not perfect, but it’s real and raw, shaped by the chaos they navigate.

From mischievous gods to fierce warriors, the sibling duos in the MCU are among the franchise’s most compelling characters. They bring sharp, sometimes hilarious banter, but also moments of profound heartbreak and sacrifice. They may clash on a battlefield, but the strength of their bond is always undeniable,...

General Hospital Weekly Spoilers: Tracy Calls Out Cody, Jason Summons Alexis & Anna Corners Brennan (Photo Credit – X)

The previous episode of General Hospital saw Carly pitching an idea to Brennan. On the other hand, Drew seeked out Elizabeth to get information on Willow. Britt defied orders while Lulu and Dante were left livid. And then lastly, Anna gave her two cents to Jason about the whole Britt situation.

From warnings and confrontations to declarations and new missions, the audience has plenty to look forward to on the soap opera show. Here’s what fans can expect from the upcoming week on General Hospital when they tune in to ABC to watch the daytime drama based in Port Charles.

General Hospital: Spoilers Of The Week

Monday, August 11, 2025

The first episode of the week features Anna warning Jason. Is this about Britt? On the other hand, Josslyn and Vaughn check into the Five Poppies.

James Gunn’s Superman Set To Surpass Kong: Skull Island Worldwide After Beating Multiple Box Office Giants (Photo Credit – Instagram)

James Gunn’s Superman reboot, starring David Corenswet in the titular role, is currently among the top ten highest-grossing movies of 2025 at the global box office. In addition to garnering critical acclaim, the film has surpassed several popular 2025 titles like Brad Pitt’s F1, Captain America: Brave New World, Thunderbolts*, and Sinners. Whether it can surpass the lifetime total of Tom Cruise’s Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning remains to be seen.

Superman Set To Outgross This Monster Movie Starring Tom Hiddleston

Just a few days ago, Superman outgrossed Peter Jackson’s 2005 award-winning epic adventure monster movie King Kong. And now, it’s all set to surpass another hit monster film. We are talking about the 2017 film Kong: Skull Island, which starred Loki actor Tom Hiddleston, Samuel L. Jackson, John Goodman,...

Should You Watch The Pickup? Eddie Murphy’s Action-Comedy Delivers Thrills but Lacks Surprises (Photo Credit – Prime Video)

Pick Up, starring Eddie Murphy and Pete Davidson, blends action, heist, and buddy comedy elements, packed with high-speed chases and thrilling on-the-road action. But the real question is, is the movie actually any good? If you’re looking for a pure comedy, it might not appeal to you. However, if you want action-heavy vehicle chases, impressive on-road stunt choreography, and a dash of comedy, then this is an absolute banger. Plus, with a runtime of just 96 minutes, everything is packed in nice and tight.

What Is the Plot of The Pickup (2025)

The plot is straightforward and cliché: two partners working in the transportation business, specifically driving an armored truck. One is a rookie with aspirations of becoming a police officer, while the other is a veteran dreaming of retiring with his wife...

Eddie Murphy is defending his 2007 comedy Norbit, 18 years later.

The actor-comedian was the top contender for the best supporting actor Oscar following his 2006 performance in Dreamgirls, though it’s been long believed that he lost out on the award after Norbit released in 2007. Although it’s commonly assumed that the comedy snuffed out his Oscars campaign, Murphy doesn’t agree with that sentiment.

“I love Norbit. Norbit came out right after I got that Oscar nomination,” he told Complex. “There were articles like, ‘How can he get an Oscar, he did this?’ They’re two different movies.”

The Beverly Hills Cop lead stood ten toes down for the film, which he notably wrote alongside his brother, Charlie Murphy. He continued, “I wrote Norbit with my brother, Charlie, and we think Norbit is funny. Here’s the thing with Norbit — it came out and they gave me Razzie Awards for worst actress,...

Eddie Murphy is standing by one of his less popular comedies, even if people think it lost him a major award!

The 64-year-old actor and comedian was a guest on Complex‘s “360 with Speedy” where he talked about his 2007 movie Norbit. During the interview, Eddie explained why he doesn’t think Norbit is his worst movie and opened up about the claims that it cost him an Oscar!

According to the rumors, Eddie was nominated for an Oscar for his role in Dreamgirls. Unfortunately for Eddie, not long after he was nominated, Norbit hit theaters to less-than-stellar reviews.

Keep reading to find out more…

“Norbit came out right after I got that Oscar nomination [for Dreamgirls]. There were articles like, ‘How can he get an Oscar, he did this?’,” Eddie recalled to complex, saying that he “loves” the comedy even if it’s not his most popular movie. “They’re two different movies.

Although Eddie Murphy worked with Beyoncé and Jennifer Hudson in the aughts, he might have been his own favorite leading lady.

The Oscar nominee recently defended his 2007 comedy Norbit as a “funny” movie, following theories that the Brian Robbins-directed movie cost him the golden statuette for Dreamgirls (2006).

“I love Norbit. Norbit came out right after I got that Oscar nomination. There were articles like, ‘How can he get an Oscar, he did this?’ They’re two different movies,” he explained to Complex.

“I wrote Norbit with my brother, Charlie [Murphy], and we think Norbit is funny,” added Murphy. “Here’s the thing with Norbit; it came out and they gave me Razzie Awards for worst actress, worst actor and worst actor of the decade. And I was like, ‘Come on now, shit ain’t that bad.’ I like Norbit. To this day, I like Norbit. There’s stuff in Norbit that makes me laugh.

Pete Davidson recently revealed the origins of his memorable Chad character from his time on Saturday Night Live.

Characterized by his “Ok” catchphrase, Davidson’s Chad first appeared in a 2016 “Pool Boy” sketch with host and SNL alum Julia Louis-Dreyfus and appeared in sketches with Jennifer Lopez, Adele, Benedict Cumberbatch, John Mulaney and RuPaul. And Chad returned, alongside fellow SNL alum Laraine Newman, in the SNL50 anniversary special, which has been nominated for 12 Emmys.

Appearing on Late Night With Seth Meyers Wednesday night, Davidson explained how the recurring character came to be.

“I don’t know if you know the origin of Chad, but it was a joke on me,” Davidson said. “‘Cause that’s how, if anybody ever gave me notes on set, I’d be like, ‘Ok, cool!'”

“[Mikey Day and writer Streeter Seidell] brought it to the table, and I was like, ‘I don’t get this.

William H. Macy, the revered Oscar-nominated and Emmy-winning character actor, will sit down with yours truly on Sept. 9 in Toronto to record a special episode of The Hollywood Reporter’s Awards Chatter podcast in front of an audience at THR’s Access Canada Summit, a three-day event that spotlights Canada’s vibrant content industry.

The recording will take place at Toronto’s Omni King Edward Hotel at 10:30 a.m. local time. Tickets are available for purchase on the summit’s website.

Macy, 75, is best known for his work in films like 1996’s Fargo, 1997’s Boogie Nights and 2015’s Room, as well as TV series such as ER and Shameless. He will be at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival with Clint Bentley’s Train Dreams, which had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival last January en route to being acquired by Netflix, and for which he...

Eddie Murphy stands by “Norbit,” his infamous 2007 comedy that many have suspected cost him the best supporting actor Oscar for “Dreamgirls” at the 79th Academy Awards. Murphy portrayed multiple roles in “Norbit,” including the title character’s overweight wife Rasputia. The comedy opened in theaters Feb. 9, 2007 amid the comedian’s rave reviews for “Dreamgirls,” in which he played the charismatic soul singer James (Jimmy) “Thunder” Early.

As the story goes, Murphy received his Oscar nomination for “Dreamgirls” just over a week before “Norbit” opened in theaters. He had emerged as the season’s supporting actor frontrunner after winning prizes from the Golden Globes and Screen Actors’ Guild Awards. Then “Norbit” opened to abysmal reviews from critics. Alan Arkin ended up winning the Oscar for best supporting actor for “Little Miss Sunshine.” The industry was quick to blame the “Norbit effect” for why Murphy lost the Oscar.

During a recent video...

Eddie Murphy has given us some all-time comedy classics, and, like any Hollywood veteran, a few stinkers as well, but don’t call Norbit one of them. While speaking with Complex, Murphy started listing some of his worst movies, but went out of his way to defend the 2007 comedy.

“I love Norbit,” he said. “You know, Norbit came out right after I got the Oscar nomination. There were articles, it was like, ‘How can he get an Oscar, he did this.’ It’s like two different movies. I wrote Norbit with my brother Charlie, and we think Norbit is funny.” The late Brian Wilson agrees, as he once called the film his favourite movie.

Murphy received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Dreamgirls, and some point to Norbit as the reason why he didn’t get it. Alan Arkin ultimately won for Little Miss Sunshine.

Eddie Murphy isn't motivated by accolades - but he'd still love to win an Oscar.The 64-year-old actor has enjoyed huge success in Hollywood, starring in hit film franchises like Beverly Hills Cop and Shrek, but Eddie insists that he's not motivated by awards.The comedian-turned-actor told Sky News: "The movies are timeless, and they're special, so for years and years those movies play and the movies have commercial success."So you make a lot of money and people love it, so you don't even think about 'I didn't win a trophy!' The response from the people and that the movie has legs, that's the trophy."You know what I've earned over these years? One day, they'll give me one of those honorary Oscars. When I'm really old. And I'll say thank you so much for this wonderful honour. I'll be old like that and I'll have no teeth.

Eddie Murphy stood 10 toes down on his decision to make his 2007 comedy “Norbit” after he earned his first Oscar nomination for “Dreamgirls.”

The conversation came about while Murphy was appearing on Complex’s interview series “360 With Speedy Morman” on Thursday. Host Speedy Morman asked Murphy what films would make up his Mount Rushmore of best films. After struggling a bit to make a final decision, he shared that it would be easier to name his “worst” projects.

After listing “Pluto Nash” and “Holy Man,” Morman chimed in to mention that some would name “Norbit” as one of Murphy’s worst projects. But Murphy rejected the idea.

“I love ‘Norbit,'” Murphy shared. “‘Norbit’ came out right after I got that Oscar nomination. There were articles like, ‘How can he get an Oscar, he did this?’ They’re two different movies. I wrote ‘Norbit’ with my brother, Charlie [Murphy], and we think ‘Norbit’ is funny.

Roman Reigns is Hollywood-bound, and he has adopted the Quentin Tarantino strategy that will make him the next Dwayne Johnson. During an exclusive interview with Vanity Fair, The Tribal Chief spilled the beans on how he decided to be extremely selective about his films, similar to Tarantino, keeping his calendar open for other ventures.

While talking to the media outlet, Reigns shared that his WWE contract is nearing its end, and he thinks that it’s time to take on a less physically intense form of entertainment. Thus, hinting at transitioning to the film industry and doing roles that intrigue him. He said,

After I finish the contract that I’m in, we probably got another year or two max. Then it’s time to take on a less physical form of entertainment. I almost want to model it after Tarantino, where we’re not just doing anything and everything.

There’s been much talk lately of the decline of the movie comedy. But action-comedies, the movie comedy’s punchier, shootier, more explodey cousin, are all the rage — at least for streaming services looking for undemanding, easy-to-watch, pop-it-on-in-the-background fare. In the last year alone, we’ve had Deep Cover, Heads Of State, Love Hurts, Novocaine, Back In Action, Guns Up — and now The Pickup, starring Eddie Murphy.

Murphy would seem like canny casting: he is largely responsible for the popularity of action-comedies in their modern form, having starred in some of the greatest incarnations of the subgenre in the 1980s, from 48 Hrs. to Beverly Hills Cop. But in The Pickup, he is unwisely and disappointingly placed in the role of the straight man, his natural comedic gifts largely muzzled, while fellow former SNL cast-member Pete Davidson takes the role of his comedic foil. They play mismatched security guards thrown together for a job,...

After several weeks of relative inactivity, during which Ben Affleck and Jon Bernthal's The Accountant 2 had become a fixture at the number one spot, the Prime Video viewership charts have taken a dynamic turn in recent weeks. First, the action-comedy Heads of State claimed the top spot for itself, only to be replaced by the rather unlikely War of the Worlds reimagining a couple of weeks later. What made the development so surprising was that War of the Worlds was one of the most widely panned films in recent memory; it continues to hold a rare 0% score on the aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes. But only a week after its release, the "screenlife" thriller has been unseated from the number one spot by Eddie Murphy's new film, The Pickup.

Also starring Pete Davidson and Keke Palmer, the heist movie opened to mixed reviews. It holds a 33% score on the aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes,...

Eddie Murphy is moving ahead with Playas Ball, an undead-tinged action comedy that will place the veteran performer back in live-action territory after a string of voice roles. Industry sources say Imagine Entertainment is backing the project, with Kyle Newacheck (fresh off Netflix’s successful Happy Gilmore 2) in the director’s chair.

Murphy will star and produce alongside Imagine’s Brian Grazer and Jeb Brody, while Charisse Hewitt-Webster represents Eddie Murphy Productions. The screenplay comes from Myles Murphy, marking another familial collaboration after the younger Murphy’s story credit on Coming 2 America.

Plot details remain under wraps, yet early descriptions liken the film’s supernatural angle to Murphy’s 2003 cult favorite The Haunted Mansion, hinting at a blend of broad set-piece comedy and light horror.

The package reunites Murphy with Imagine, the banner behind The Nutty Professor, Bowfinger, and last year’s holiday release Candy Cane Lane. Observers...

“Saturday Night Live’s” 50th anniversary special in February may have been attended by everyone from Robert De Niro to Kim Kardashian, but according to “SNL” alum Pete Davidson, the audience inside the room was “terrible.”

In an appearance on “Late Night With Seth Meyers” on Wednesday, Davidson — who stars in the new comedy “The Pickup” with Eddie Murphy — revealed that there weren’t as many laughs during the live show as one would expect.

“Well, as you know from ‘SNL40,’ terrible audience,” Davidson told Meyers. “It’s a terrible audience. It’s just famous people, and famous people only like themselves.”

However, Davidson admitted that he’s “guilty of this” as well, with Meyers joking: “I remember when the pre-tape was playing, you were the only one laughing. We were like, ‘Oh, he’s coming in way too hot.'”

For the special, Davidson reprised his famous Chad character...

Eddie Murphy has determined one of his next projects with Playas Ball. Murphy is known for his comedic acting, contributing his talents to everything from Harlem Nights to The Nutty Professor. One of his major franchises is Beverly Hills Cop, which got a new installment last year with Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F.

At 64 years old, Murphy is still a highly prolific actor. Next year, he will reprise one of his most iconic roles by returning to voice Donkey for Shrek 5. He isalso confirmed to be voice acting again for an animated version of The Pink Panther, playing Inspector Clouseau.

Per Deadline, Murphy has now set his next project. He will star in the film Playas Ball, and while the exact plot has yet to be revealed, the source had it described to them as an action comedy focusing on the undead. The movie will be directed by...

Eddie Murphy has starred in a long list of beloved films over the course of his illustrious career, encompassing a wide variety of roles, with some of his most notable performances coming from Beverly Hills Cop, Coming to America, and more recently, Dolemite Is My Name. Despite his on-screen successes, Murphy has never won an Academy Award, and he predicts that he won't be picking up a coveted Oscar statuette any time soon, even though his latest action-comedy The Pickupis currently dominating Prime Video's streaming charts.

Murphy made the surprising Oscars prediction while speaking to Sky News on the press tour for The Pickup, in which he stars as an armored truck driver alongside Pete Davidson. The film debuted on Prime Video on Aug. 6, and immediately found an audience, as it rocketed to the top of the streaming chart within hours of its release. The heist comedy remains in the No.

Keke Palmer held back her inner superfan while working alongside Eddie Murphy on the set of The Pickup, a new heist comedy now streaming on Prime Video, choosing professionalism over peppering the comedy legend with questions.

The actress, known for her roles in Scream Queens and Nope, told Entertainment Weekly that she and co-star Pete Davidson made a conscious effort to avoid overwhelming Murphy with curiosity about his decades-long career.

“I asked him questions and stuff, but it was kinda like being on set with the wise sage, so I didn’t want to overdo it,” Palmer said. “Me and Pete talked about that all the time, where it’s like — you want to know so much and you could literally spend every day interviewing him, but you also want to be respectful of the fact that this isn’t an interview and this is his job and we’re at work.

Pete Davidson responds to whether his character in the new Eddie Murphy action comedy, The Pickup, has anything to do with his SNL character, Chad the pool boy. Introduced in the April 16, 2016, sketch titled "Pool Boy" on Saturday Night Live, Chad famously responded only "okay" and "cool" to the dramatic breakup speech given by housewife Mrs. Handler, with whom he's having an affair.

In Murphy's new movie for Prime Video, Pete Davidson plays Travis, a young truck driver who has trouble reading verbal and physical cues. Characterized by his loudmouthed nature, he comes from a family of cops but failed the police entrance exams.

In an interview with ScreenRant's Liam Crowley, Davidson talked about his iconic SNL character, Chad the pool boy, and how he ended up playing the role when asked whether he tapped into his time at SNL to depict The Pickup's Travis.

Davidson shared that he...

From globe-trotting action to an epic musical, here’s what to stream.

Prime Video has been on a serious roll lately, especially when it comes to action comedies, and I am so here for it. It’s one of my favorite genres, and Prime Video has been dropping a steady stream of big, funny, explosion-filled movies (including the latest one starring Eddie Murphy!). It honestly feels like they’re using these as warm-ups before the next “James Bond” movie — which Amazon now fully controls — and if that’s the case, keep practicing so as not to mess with one of the best franchises of all time. Between these newer titles, some underrated sequels, and a few all-time crowd-pleasers, I went back through everything and pulled the seven best movies streaming on Prime Video right now. Whether you’re into treasure hunts, buddy comedies, or full-blown musical magic, here’s where I’d start.

After foiling an elaborate heist in Amazon MGM‘s The Pickup, Eddie Murphy is ready to square off against the undead for the upcoming action comedy Playas Ball. The beloved entertainer will partner with Imagine Entertainment for his latest project, with Happy Gilmore 2 helmer Kyle Newacheck directing. Details about Playas Ball are scarce, but Deadline says it’s an action comedy about the undead.

Newacheck directs Playas Ball from a script by Myles Murphy, with Brian Grazer and Jeb Brody producing via Imagine Entertainment, with Eddie Murphy Productions’ Eddie Murphy and Christian Hewitt-Webster. Murphy is a frequent partner at Imagine Entertainment, after working on films like The Nutty Professor franchise, Bowfinger, Life, Boomerang, Candy Cane Lane, and Tower Heist. How the group plans to approach an action comedy about the undead remains to be seen, but it should be interesting.

Eddie Murphy’s latest film is The Pickup, which stars Murphy,...

Exclusive: Golden Globe nominee Eva Longoria has signed on to star opposite Maia Reficco in The Last Sunrise, Amazon MGM’s adaptation of the bestselling romance novel by After series author Anna Todd, on which we were first to report.

Longoria will play Isolde, the protective mother of Reficco’s character, Ry. The project puts Longoria back in business with Amazon MGM Studios on the heels of The Pickup, an action comedy where she stars opposite Eddie Murphy that just debuted on Prime Video. She’s also set to appear in the studio’s holiday flick Oh. What. Fun. from Michael Showalter, which is out on Prime Video on December 3rd.

Set in Majorca, The Last Sunrise follows 22-year-old Oriah “Ry” Pera (Reficco), whose life has been shaped by chronic illness and a well-meaning but overbearing mom. When a summer relocation gives her a taste of freedom, she meets Julián,...

Exclusive: Eddie Murphy will continue his long collaborative relationship with Imagine Entertainment. He’s set to star in Playas Ball, a comedy that will be directed by Kyle Newacheck, who just helmed the Netflix hit Happy Gilmore 2. They’re keeping the logline under wraps, but it’s described to me as an action comedy about the undead.

Imagine Entertainment’s Brian Grazer and Jeb Brody will produce with Eddie Murphy Productions’ Eddie Murphy and Charisse Hewitt-Webster. Myles Murphy is scripting.

Eddie Murphy has just opened in The Pickup, the Amazon MGM comedy he stars in with Pete Davidson, Keke Palmer and Eva Longoria. The film just dropped on Amazon Prime.

It has been 40 years since Grazer and director Ron Howard formed Imagine after teaming on the hit Splash. Murphy has been a regular contributor to the company’s ascension, headlining films that include The Nutty Professor franchise, Bowfinger, Life,...

Being number one is not necessarily a good thing, and the latest reimagination of War of the Worlds is a good example. Widely panned by critics and viewers alike, the movie currently stands at 0% on the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. Despite the universal dislike of it, that hasn't stopped viewers from checking out what the fuss is about. As a result, War of the Worlds is the top movie on Prime Video, a week after it was released. The Ice Cube-starring sci-fi movie's description reads:

Will Radford is a top cyber-security analyst for Homeland Security who tracks potential threats to national security through a mass surveillance program, until one day an attack by an unknown entity leads him to question whether the government is hiding something from him... and from the rest of the world.

Adapted from H.G. Wells' book of the same name, War of the Worlds...

Eddie Murphy's 2025 heist comedy is dominating Prime Video immediately after its release. Best known for starring in the Beverly Hills Cop series, Murphy has enjoyed significant box office successes throughout his career — but some of his movies also fell short, with a few considered to be flops.

More recently, the star has found success in the streaming era. In 2023, his Christmas movie, Candy Cane Lane, became Amazon MGM Studios' most-streamed movie at that time despite having received mixed reviews. In 2024, Murphy's Beverly Hills Cop: Alex F debuted as one of the most-watched English-speaking movies on Netflix and spent at least a week in the streamer's Top 10.

Eddie Murphy's The Pickup Is The Most Popular Movie On Prime Video

Arriving on Prime Video on Aug. 6, the new heist comedy The Pickup stars Murphy as a truck driver, Russell Pierce, who is ambushed by criminals at a routine cash pickup. Teaming...

Prime Video’s The Pickup (2025), directed by Tim Story, puts a fresh spin on the buddy heist comedy formula with a vibrant ensemble and no shortage of surprises. The film centers on two armored truck drivers whose delivery spirals into chaos after a daring ambush by a crew of ruthless—and unexpectedly familiar—criminals. Here’s an in-depth look at the cast and the roles they bring to life.

‘The Pickup’: Complete Cast & Characters Guide 1. Eddie Murphy as Russell Pierce

Russell is a veteran armored truck driver who’s spent decades playing it safe for his wife, Natalie. All he wants is to complete his last shift and celebrate their 25th anniversary, but he’s drawn back into action when his route turns dangerous. Murphy’s signature blend of curmudgeonly humor and world-weary wisdom keeps the team grounded amid escalating tensions. Fans know Murphy from classics like Beverly Hills Cop,...

​​A wheel almost literally comes off the armored truck where much of the action and most of the comedy takes place in Tim Story’s action-comedy “The Pickup” (a rather confusing name considering that’s another type of truck altogether). It’s early enough in the proceedings, so a quick repair makes the van roadworthy again. But sadly, no such fix exists for this ungainly star vehicle’s metaphorical wheels which, as the plot squeals around yet another credulity-defying twist, are soon flying off in all directions leaving the movie careening wildly across the freeway, gears grinding, axles sparking, while a checked-out Eddie Murphy and an overcompensatingly antic Pete Davidson strap in, grimly trying to gin up some buddy chemistry.

Murphy and Davidson play armored truck guards — veteran Russell and rookie Travis, respectively — thrown together on this particular day by circumstance and their mean-mannered boss Clark (Andrew Dice Clay). Clark...

Keke Palmer stars opposite Pete Davidson and Eddie Murphy in the heist action comedy The Pickup.

The trailer for the Prime Video movie teases some spicy scenes between Palmer and Davidson, and Palmer recently revealed what it was like filming with the Saturday Night Live alum.

“I honestly think he and I have chemistry. Look, I don’t know anybody that Pete don’t have chemistry with. I mean, he’s pretty well-liked in the female world,” Palmer said in an interview with Entertainment Weekly.

Palmer recalled working with Davidson on Audible’s Hit Job audiobook and remembered they had chemistry “even just with our voices,” adding, “Sometimes you and people just have a vibe. You maybe don’t even talk in everyday life, but when you get on set and you’re working together, there’s that chemistry. And I think he and I had that.”

As far as the bedroom scenes go,...

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The Pickup is a heist action comedy film directed by Tim Story from a screenplay co-written by Matt Mider and Kevin Burrows. The 2025 film follows two armored truck drivers with totally different personalities who get ambushed by ruthless criminals and forced to rob a casino. The Pickup stars Eddie Murphy, Pete Davidson, Keke Palmer, Eva Longoria, Andrew Dice Clay, and Marshawn Lynch. So, if you loved the wild comedy, thrilling heist, and entertaining characters in The Pickup, here are some similar movies you should check out next.

‎30 Minutes or Less (Xumo Play & Rent on Prime Video) Credit – Columbia Pictures

‎30 Minutes or Less is an action comedy film directed by Ruben Fleischer from a screenplay by Michael Diliberti. The 2011 film follows Nick Davis, a hapless pizza boy who is strapped with a bomb and told to rob a bank by two idiotic ne’er-do-wells.

Warning: contains spoilers for The Pickup.

The Prime Video original movie The Pickup isn’t awful. As straight-to-streaming titles go, I actually found it more watchable than last month’s much more high-profile Happy Gilmore 2. But while its genre is officially action comedy, hard laughs were, for me, hard to come by.

If you’re not familiar — and you probably aren’t, since Prime Video is terrible at marketing its own titles; let me probably be the first to tell you that it dropped today — The Pickup is about a heist. Eddie Murphy plays Russell, a veteran armored-car driver in New Jersey. We’re meeting him on his 25th wedding anniversary. He and his wife Natalie (Eva Longoria) have been diligently saving so that he can ditch the job that requires him to get up at 4 a.m., and move on to their next phase of life running a bed and breakfast.

Spoiler Alert !!!This article contains spoilers for 'The Pickup'.

The Pickup’s ending pretty much resolved every main character’s storyline. However, we did get a post-credits scene, which seems to be hinting at a sequel. The scene shows an angry French museum manager yelling at Russ (Eddie Murphy) and Travis’ (Pete Davidson) boss, Clark (Andrew Dice Clay), for messing up the delivery of the encased Squirrel Monkey.

The monkey was briefly acknowledged by the guards as an illegal Costa Rican import during the fast-paced chaos. Not much attention was paid to the creature besides when he was shown flying out of the armored truck when it finally blew up. The post-credits scene, which revolves around the monkey, is an indication that Clark was involved in some shady, illegal business.

Outlets like Dm Talkies are speculating if the scene could be further explored in a potential sequel, and we couldn’t agree more.