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      Harlem Nights

      1989, Comedy, 1h 58m

      38 Reviews 25,000+ Ratings

      What to know

      Critics Consensus

      An all-star comedy lineup is wasted on a paper-thin plot and painfully clunky dialogue. Read critic reviews

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      Harlem Nights  Photos

      Harlem Nights (1989) Harlem Nights (1989) Harlem Nights (1989) Harlem Nights (1989) Harlem Nights (1989) Harlem Nights (1989)

      Movie Info

      In the waning days of Prohibition, Sugar Ray (Richard Pryor) and his adopted son, Quick (Eddie Murphy), run a speakeasy called Club Sugar Ray. When gangster Bugsy Calhoune (Michael Lerner) learns that Sugar Ray's place is pulling in more money than his own establishment, the Pitty Pat Club, he pays corrupt cop Phil Cantone (Danny Aiello) to close Club Sugar Ray down. Quick doesn't exactly help the situation when he falls for Calhoune's gun moll, Miss Dominique La Rue (Jasmine Guy).

      • Rating: R

      • Genre: Comedy

      • Original Language: English

      • Director: Eddie Murphy

      • Producer: Robert D. Wachs, Mark Lipsky

      • Writer: Eddie Murphy

      • Release Date (Theaters):  original

      • Release Date (Streaming):

      • Box Office (Gross USA): $58.5M

      • Runtime:

      • Distributor: Paramount Pictures

      • Production Co: Eddie Murphy Productions, Paramount Pictures

      • Sound Mix: Surround

      Cast & Crew

      News & Interviews for Harlem Nights

      Critic Reviews for Harlem Nights

      Audience Reviews for Harlem Nights

      • Oct 11, 2020

        I don't support the reputation of ‘Harlem Nights' as a stinker. There are noticeable flaws - and yet I enjoyed myself. Even though Pryor is underused, I was grinning ear to ear every moment Della Reese and Redd Foxx are on screen. Really, damn near all of the supporting cast boost the script's shortcomings. This crime saga would've gelled better if Murphy'd prioritized the humor more often; whenever there is levity, 'Harlem' certainly picks up steam. But Murphy wanted his extravagantly-dressed caper and he stocked it using the gangster movie playbook of cliche characters, and that's okay. Everyone looks and acts the part, and it works.

        marisol m Super Reviewer
      • Feb 14, 2013

        Eddie Murphy promised great things with this early attempt at a serious film. He was so serious that he invited comedy legends Richard Pryor and Redd Foxx to join him. They could have used humour to relieve some of the boredom.

        Super Reviewer
      • Sep 06, 2010

        This movie, directed by Eddie Murphy, was boring, unfunny, and forgettable.

        Super Reviewer
      • Oct 25, 2009

        This movie never gets old.1 of my favorites

        Super Reviewer

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