SummaryHe's Quick with a quip, Quick with a gun. And Quick with a scheme to keep mobsters from muscling in on the 1930's Harlem hot spot, Club Sugar Ray. (Paramount Pictures)
Directed By:Eddie Murphy
Written By:Eddie Murphy
Harlem Nights
Metascore
Overwhelming Dislike
16
User score
Mixed or Average
5.6
My Score
Drag or tap to give a rating
Hover and click to give a rating
Not available in your country?
ExpressVPN
Get 3 Extra months free
$6.67/mth
Top Cast
Metascore
Overwhelming Dislike
16
0% Positive
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
21% Mixed
3 Reviews
3 Reviews
79% Negative
11 Reviews
11 Reviews
50
Harlem Nights isn't the embarrassing vanity production it might have been, there's still not a lot to be said for it.
50
People may go to see Eddie Murphy once, twice, three or even six times in disposable movies like Harlem Nights, but if he wants to realize his potential he needs to work with a better writer and director than himself.
User score
Mixed or Average
5.6
48% Positive
11 Ratings
11 Ratings
22% Mixed
5 Ratings
5 Ratings
30% Negative
7 Ratings
7 Ratings
Nov 7, 2024
10
Can't believe the scores I'm seeing for this film. It's a cult classic. Perfect marriage of the comedy from legends at their peak, with a solid heist plot. Do yourself a favor and watch this!
Dec 16, 2014
10
Why oh why oh why is this movie rated so low by the 'experts' ?? I understand that a number of people wont like this movie, like people who watch gone with the wind for 10,000th time on Saturday night. People like my mother who wont find the movie all that amusing because there were no real romantic scenes. Or people like my 5th grade teacher who hated cursing. Yeah fair enough they may hate it - but their views are not the be all and end all view of this movie. I have watched this movie several times and enjoyed it thoroughly. I laughed all the way thru. I loved the chemistry between the characters i thought the movie was brilliant. Sorry experts, you are Wrong.
25
In Harlem Nights, Eddie Murphy continues his one-man war against the female gender. Those women he doesn't kill outright are punched, maimed and slugged with garbage cans. But apparently they deserve it-there isn't a single female character in the film who isn't a prostitute. [17 Nov 1989, p.A]
20
Harlem Nights is not the disaster some people might have been expecting. Mr. Murphy has appeared in far worse films written and directed by people much more experienced.
10
The movie is full of phallic gags about little-bitty guns and crude jokes at physical or emotional infirmities. [17 Nov 1989, p.6]
10
Unfortunately, entertainer-for-life Murphy, directing for the first time, seems to have spent his energies on topping the bill rather than on the bill itself.
0
As it stands, Murphy has put his idols and friends in front of a camera, given them a watered down version of The Sting and hoped they'd make the best of it. They don't. [23 Nov 1989, p.C12]
Jun 23, 2024
7
It is one of the best comedy movies ever released. Eddie Murphy was a great actor. I like the city buildings, streets and cars in the movie. I thought it was a good comedy with a good script and a funny story.
Feb 25, 2020
7
This film may have been panned by critics, but I believe those critics lacked any relatability to the film. The legendary comics a part of this film were hilarious throughout, the setting and cinematography were well chosen, but there is a lackluster story to push through. Overall, this film is extremely funny and a joy to watch.
Sep 17, 2010
7
As a comedy, this movie doesn't really work, but as a rather dark gangster drama with some funny bits thrown in, Harlem Nights is a film that was well ahead of its time. If it were made today, it may of had a different reception. The ending could have been stronger, but I enjoyed the film and see it as a precursor to the type of style adopted by films like Pulp Fiction and shows like The Sopranos.
