| Harlem Nights | |
|---|---|
 Poster artwork by Drew Struzan | |
| Directed by | Eddie Murphy |
| Written by | Eddie Murphy |
| Produced by |
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| Starring |
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| Cinematography | Woody Omens |
| Edited by |
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| Music by | Herbie Hancock |
Production company | Eddie Murphy Productions |
| Distributed by | Paramount Pictures |
Release date |
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Running time | 116 minutes[1] |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $30 million |
| Box office | $60.9 million[2] |
Harlem Nights is a 1989 American crime comedy-drama film starring, written, and directed by Eddie Murphy. The film co-stars Richard Pryor, Redd Foxx (in his last film appearance before his death in 1991), Danny Aiello, Michael Lerner, Della Reese, and Murphy's older brother Charlie. The film was released theatrically on November 17, 1989, by Paramount Pictures. The film tells the story of "Sugar" Ray and Vernest "Quick" Brown as a team running a nightclub in the late 1930s in Harlem while contending with gangsters and corrupt police officials.
Harlem Nights is, as of 2024, Eddie Murphy's only directorial effort. He had always wanted to direct and star in a period piece, as well as work with Pryor, whom he considered his greatest influence in stand-up comedy.[3] Reviewers panned the film, with Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert choosing Harlem Nights as ranking among the worst films of 1989.[4] At the 10th Golden Raspberry Awards, Murphy won the Razzie for Worst Screenplay.
Despite having a strong opening, the $30 million film was a disappointment at the box office, grossing $60.9 million in the United States and Canada.
- ^ "Harlem Nights". British Board of Film Classification. January 10, 1990. Archived from the original on March 27, 2022. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
- ^ "Box Office Information for Harlem Nights". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on May 1, 2012. Retrieved July 13, 2012.
- ^ Reid, Shaheem (December 12, 2005). "Chris Rock, Bernie Mac, Eddie Murphy Call Pryor The Real King Of Comedy". MTV News. Archived from the original on January 3, 2015. Retrieved January 5, 2015.
- ^ "siskelebert.org". Siskel and Ebert Movie Reviews. Retrieved August 19, 2023.