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Eddie Murphy: Raw

  • 1987
  • R
  • 1h 33m
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
21K
YOUR RATING
Eddie Murphy: Raw (1987)
Trailer 1
Play trailer1:10
1 Video
11 Photos
Dark ComedyParodySatireStand-UpComedyDocumentary

Eddie Murphy in a stand-up performance recorded live. For an hour and a half he talks about his favourite subjects: sex and women.Eddie Murphy in a stand-up performance recorded live. For an hour and a half he talks about his favourite subjects: sex and women.Eddie Murphy in a stand-up performance recorded live. For an hour and a half he talks about his favourite subjects: sex and women.

  • Director
    • Robert Townsend
  • Writers
    • Eddie Murphy
    • Keenen Ivory Wayans
  • Stars
    • Eddie Murphy
    • Tatyana Ali
    • Billie Allen
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.6/10
    21K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Robert Townsend
    • Writers
      • Eddie Murphy
      • Keenen Ivory Wayans
    • Stars
      • Eddie Murphy
      • Tatyana Ali
      • Billie Allen
    • 66User reviews
    • 13Critic reviews
    • 54Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Eddie Murphy: Raw
    Trailer 1:10
    Eddie Murphy: Raw

    Photos11

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    Top cast26

    Edit
    Eddie Murphy
    Eddie Murphy
    • Self
    Tatyana Ali
    Tatyana Ali
    • Singing Child (sketch)
    Billie Allen
    • Eddie's Aunt (sketch)
    Clebert Ford
    • Uncle Lester (sketch)
    Geri Gibson
    • Card Player #2 (sketch)
    Birdie M. Hale
    • Aunt Rose (sketch)
    Tiger Haynes
    • Card Player #3 (sketch)
    Leonard Jackson
    Leonard Jackson
    • Uncle Gus (sketch)
    Samuel L. Jackson
    Samuel L. Jackson
    • Eddie's Uncle (sketch)
    Jody Jones
    • Eddie's Cousin (sketch)
    Davenia McFadden
    • Eddie's Aunt (sketch)
    Gwen McGee
    Gwen McGee
    • Eddie's Mother (sketch)
    Lex Monson
    • Card Player #4 (sketch)
    Warren Morris
    • Poetry Reader (sketch)
    Deon Richmond
    Deon Richmond
    • Little Eddie (sketch)
    Basil Wallace
    Basil Wallace
    • Eddie's Father (sketch)
    Damien Dante Wayans
    Damien Dante Wayans
    • Child Running in House (sketch)
    • (as Damien Wayans)
    Ellis Williams
    • Eddie's Uncle (sketch)
    • Director
      • Robert Townsend
    • Writers
      • Eddie Murphy
      • Keenen Ivory Wayans
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews66

    7.621.4K
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    Featured reviews

    bob the moo

    Energy and stage presence covers up some weak patches among the laughs

    Live in New York, Eddie Murphy may well look quite ridiculous in his purple jumpsuit but he holds the stage really well in this large arena. It goes without saying that his material is relentlessly foulmouthed and occasionally offensive but it rarely bothered me because he does manage to be consistently funny throughout the show. His topics are mostly in the realm of relationships in regards sex and women generally. This worried me a little bit because these topics hardly offered much in the way of originality but actually he did really well with it.

    It wasn't that he avoided clichés (because he doesn't) but more that he manages to inject energy into his whole show. At times his material is very strong but even when he is being obvious and crude, his energy lifts it, engages the audience and makes it feel better than it is. I wasn't rolling with laughter all the time but I did really enjoy the show so, even when I didn't laugh at some bits, it wasn't really a problem but he was generally still amusing. Director Townsend doesn't really help him by having the camera tight on him so much either; Murphy's energy is in his whole body so the close shots reduce this somewhat – plus the whole setup makes it hard to appreciate the audience being in the room.

    Overall though a funny and energetic show from Murphy. It isn't a classic by any means and his material is hardly original but he has stage presence and energy and that helps a lot. Maybe too crude and foulmouthed to be to everyone's tastes but if it is your thing then it is worth a look.
    7SnoopyStyle

    Eddie Murphy at his height

    This opens with a young Eddie Murphy shocking his family during the Thanksgiving gather in 68. It's his standup in Madison Square Garden. He's afraid of Mr. T but not so much Michael Jackson after making fun of them in Delirious. He imitates Bill Crosby chastising him and praises his hero Richard Pryor. It's a night of foul-mouthed nasty stories with references to various pop culture personalities. He and his purple outfit has the audience in the palm of his hands. This is Eddie Murphy at his highest point. He is irreverent and fearless. He comes off as a homophobic misogynist and it doesn't matter. He takes on anything and anyone. He's full of power and energy. Robert Townsend captures it all.
    8videorama-759-859391

    What a raw old fellow is Eddie

    Like Richard Pryor, I must admit, it is fun to watch another foul mouthed comic, up on stage. Though not matching the credentials of the late, brilliant insightful comic, Pryor, who I believe was even a better actor, what we have is 86 minutes guaranteed worth of raucous laughs. From infidelity to poverty, where the poor Murphy family were reduced to eating slinky springs, Murphy kicks up a storm of laughs, while remaining coolly confident, which a few budding comedian must envy. Murphy knows how to dress too, his attire more effective than his ruddy sort in Delirious. Too, the start was inventive, with Eddie's childhood, Samuel L Jackson, playing a small but fine role as the Grandfather, egging little Eddie on in the tellings of a dirty joke, seeing star potential. And to split opinions, where personally I didn't like Best Defence, I'd choose Beverly Hills Cop over 48 Hours, any day. I must admit, Murphy isn't afraid to be dramatic about the underlying realities of his jokes. it. His impersonations are fantastic, Bill Cosby, is almost nailed, plus others that impress. Here's a great night in, to save you from going out in the cold to a concert. If you don't mind profanity, that is.
    10GMTMaster

    What a show

    Imagine: You produce the taping of the show for, let's be generous, for about 1 Million US$. We're talking six to eight cameras. Then you take the show to the theaters and gross a cool 50.000.000 ! This can only work, when you tape Eddie Murphy on stage in on of the best comedy shows ever! Saw it live in L.A. What a great timing the guy has. Get a chance and see the VHS (where is the DVD?) and you'll have the best of times, while you're at it, grab a "momma burger" and a beer.
    8roddick-1

    Terrific Stand Up Comedy

    I have grown up to know Eddie Murphy as the funny guy who plays multiple people in one movie, but I also knew that some time ago he was a comedian to which no ground was sacred and who wore some crazy outfits. Luckily I was able to watch one of his classic comedy routines recently, Raw.

    The greatest part of Eddie's routine was his impersonations. The voice, mannerisms and stuff the people speak about are all done perfectly. Another great thing is that he tells the humorous truth about things like relationships and how people act and think.

    This movie/performance proves that Eddie Murphy is one of the greatest comedians out there. It is definitely one, for all those mature enough, to see. I will be looking out for more old Eddie Murphy stand up DVDs and I hope he goes back to his old ways.

    The Emmys Air on Sunday, Sep 14

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    Related interests

    Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Sian Clifford in Fleabag (2016)
    Dark Comedy
    Bill Pullman, John Candy, Joan Rivers, Daphne Zuniga, and Lorene Yarnell Jansson in Spaceballs (1987)
    Parody
    Peter Sellers in Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)
    Satire
    John Mulaney in John Mulaney: Kid Gorgeous at Radio City (2018)
    Stand-Up
    Will Ferrell in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
    Comedy
    Dziga Vertov in Man with a Movie Camera (1929)
    Documentary

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The film was originally rated X by the MPAA. It was re-edited many times so the MPAA would give it an R rating.
    • Goofs
      When Murphy does his bit about Johnny Carson's divorce settlement with third wife Joanna Holland, he states that they were married for ten years. It was actually thirteen.
    • Quotes

      Eddie Murphy: Richard said, "The next time the motherfucker call, tell him I said, "Suck *my* dick." I don't give a fuck. Whatever the fuck make the people laugh, say that shit. Do the people laugh when you say what you say?" I said, "Yes." He said, "Do you get paid?" I said, "Yes." He said, "Well, tell Bill I said have a Coke and a smile and shut the fuck up. Jello pudding-eating motherfucker."

    • Alternate versions
      When originally released theatrically in the UK, the BBFC made cuts to secure a '18' rating. All cuts were waived in 1988 when the film was granted a '18' certificate for home video.
    • Connections
      Edited into Tongues Untied (1989)
    • Soundtracks
      Raw
      Written by Eddie Murphy, David Allen Jones & Rod Antoon

      Produced by Eddie Murphy & David Allen Jones

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    FAQ17

    • How long is Eddie Murphy: Raw?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 18, 1987 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Raw
    • Filming locations
      • Felt Forum, Madison Square Garden - 4 Pennsylvania Plaza, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA
    • Production companies
      • Eddie Murphy Productions
      • Paramount Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $50,504,655
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $9,077,324
      • Dec 20, 1987
    • Gross worldwide
      • $50,505,289
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 33m(93 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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