Eddie Murphy says “Ghostbusters,” “Rush Hour” and “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” are the three major films he regrets passing on, though they shaped his career.
Eddie Murphy is reflecting on the blockbuster roles that slipped through his fingers — and how those missed opportunities ultimately helped shape one of Hollywood’s most successful comedy careers.
In a new interview with the Associated Press promoting his Netflix documentary Being Eddie, the 64-year-old actor revealed three major films he wishes he had accepted: Ghostbusters, Rush Hour, and Who Framed Roger Rabbit.
Murphy said he was originally in talks for Ghostbusters, released in 1984 and now considered one of the most iconic comedies in film history. But scheduling conflicts—and competing offers—led him to walk away from the project.
“I was supposed to do Ghostbusters,” Murphy said. “Didn’t do that, and Rush Hour. Didn’t do that. Oh, and Who Framed Roger Rabbit. Those are my big three ‘wish I would have done’ movies.”
While those films went on to massive box-office success without him, Murphy noted that turning down £Ghostbusters opened the door to one of the defining roles of his career.
“With Ghostbusters, I did Beverly Hills Cop instead,” he explained. “It was do this or that, so it worked out cool.” Beverly Hills Cop became a smash hit in 1984, cementing Murphy’s status as a global superstar and launching a franchise that continues today.
As for Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Murphy says he simply didn’t understand the concept at the time. The 1988 film blended live action and animation, something he initially found too odd.
“It just sounded ridiculous to me, and I passed on it,” he said. “And afterwards, I was like, ‘Oh, that’s amazing.’”
Murphy’s reflections come as Being Eddie, which debuted on Netflix on Nov. 12, offers a candid look at his decades in entertainment.
The documentary includes personal revelations, including his lingering hurt over a Saturday Night Live joke that labeled him a “falling star” after the poor reception of his 1995 film Vampire in Brooklyn.
Murphy, who was part of the iconic SNL cast from 1980 to 1984, said he felt blindsided. “It’s like your alma mater taking a shot at you,” he shared. “My feelings were hurt.”
Still, Murphy’s career remains one of the most influential in comedy, and his latest reflections show how even passes and missteps contributed to a decades-long legacy.
