Life

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Life

R

Released Apr 16, 1999

1h 48m

Comedy

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

52%

Tomatometer

58 Reviews

77%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

During Prohibition, loudmouth Harlem grifter Ray (Eddie Murphy) and the no-nonsense Claude (Martin Lawrence) team up on a bootlegging mission to Mississippi that could bring them big bucks. But they run into trouble when a crooked lawman hits them with a phony murder charge. Ray and Claude are given life sentences and shipped off to jail, where they must think of a way to prove their innocence and avoid the brutal guards while battling their biggest enemies -- their opposing personalities.

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Critics Consensus

Entertaining if not over-the-top humor from a solid comic duo provides plenty of laughs.

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Globe and Mail

Rated: 2/4

Mar 22, 2002

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Rod Dreher

New York Post

This prison dramedy's muddled, episodic script seems to have gone on a hunger strike for humor!

Jan 1, 2000

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Owen Gleiberman

Entertainment Weekly

Life desperately wants to let Murphy and Lawrence be actors, but it can't imagine them as anything more than rowdy showmen.

Jan 1, 2000

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Cory Woodroof

615 Film

Y’know, this was pretty solid. Kind of a funnier riff on The Shawshank Redemption, if not … well … as good.

Feb 2, 2023

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David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

...receives plenty of mileage out of the charming, engaging efforts of its two stars...

Rated: 3/4

Jun 26, 2022

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Anderson Jones

The Advocate

Life's base, easy laughs diminish an otherwise sweet fable about two guys who spend the rest of their lives together.

Apr 19, 2022

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Belle P.

Really good and a bit sad

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

07/23/25

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Stephen C

Successful in 1 hour and 48 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! DVD and Blu-Ray Disc releases include blooper reel!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $64,000,000.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! In memory of actor and comedian Bernard Jeffrey McCullough (October 05th, 1957-August 09th, 2008)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/04/25

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Audience Member

I liked the movie, but story is truly saddening...

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

05/13/25

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Farah R

Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence are a superb comedic duo in this unique dramady about life and friendship. The film’s unique story is entertaining and goes beyond just a few laughs, as deeper themes are explored.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

05/08/25

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A R

Seriously one of my favorite movies of all time! Seen it 50 times and every time it's just a riot. Eddie and Martin are FANTASTIC. If you don't laugh at this movie you don't like comedies. Just get through the first 1/2 hour....which still isn't bad but the good stuff comes after. Watch it!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/23/24

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Stephen A

Great movie, Martin and Eddie deliver! Great laughs and quotables.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/18/24

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Ted Demme

Director

Eddie Murphy

Rayford Gibson

Martin Lawrence

Claude Banks

Obba Babatundé

Willie Long

Ned Beatty

Dexter Wilkins

Bernie Mac

Jangle Leg

Life: Official Clip - The Real Killer

2:48

Life: Official Clip - Never Said It Didn't Work

2:02

Life: Official Clip - I'm the Baby's Daddy

2:28

Life: Official Clip - Claude's Plan

2:30

Life: Official Clip - Ray's Boom Boom Room

3:00

Life: Official Clip - The Night Escape

2:48

Life: Official Clip - The Cornbread Fight

2:45

Life: Official Clip - Standing on Bottles

3:02

Life: Official Clip - The Decades Pass

1:58

Life: Official Clip - Biscuit's Release Papers

2:57

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Synopsis

During Prohibition, loudmouth Harlem grifter Ray (Eddie Murphy) and the no-nonsense Claude (Martin Lawrence) team up on a bootlegging mission to Mississippi that could bring them big bucks. But they run into trouble when a crooked lawman hits them with a phony murder charge. Ray and Claude are given life sentences and shipped off to jail, where they must think of a way to prove their innocence and avoid the brutal guards while battling their biggest enemies -- their opposing personalities.

Director: Ted Demme
Producer: Brian Grazer, Eddie Murphy
Screenwriter: Robert Ramsey, Matthew Stone
Distributor: MCA/Universal Pictures [us]
Production Co: Universal Pictures, Imagine Entertainment
Rating: R
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 16, 1999, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 10, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $64.0M
Runtime: 1h 48m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby Digital, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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