Harlem Nights

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Harlem Nights

R

Released Nov 17, 1989

1h 58m

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

27%

Tomatometer

37 Reviews

80%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

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).

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Critics Consensus

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

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Dave Kehr

Chicago Tribune

''Harlem Nights,'' it's worth remembering, is a comedy, though as the body count piles up and entire reels go by without a joke in sight, it's also easy to forget.

Rated: 1/4

Mar 26, 2019

Full Review

Michael Wilmington

Los Angeles Times

If he's going to confine himself to bad movies like "Harlem Nights," it's probably better that he writes and directs them himself.

Mar 26, 2019

Full Review

Richard Schickel

TIME Magazine

Harlem Nights offers a depressing answer to that not entirely pressing question, "Will success spoil Eddie Murphy?" It looks as if it has.

Mar 26, 2019

Full Review

Terry Francis

Southern Voice (Atlanta)

The degree of ineptness with which this film is made must finally amount to some form of contempt for the audience.

Rated: 0.5/4

May 9, 2023

Full Review

Common Sense Media Editors

Common Sense Media

Instead here lies the rare relish of seeing bonafide comedy legends Murphy, in his first directing jaunt -- he also wrote it -- and Prior play father and son.

Rated: 3/5

Dec 14, 2022

Full Review

Cory Woodroof

615 Film

Look, this is a better film than Dick Tracy, and almost as interesting aesthetically. This also has Eddie Murphy, Richard Pryor and Redd freaking Foxx on the same screen.

Jul 17, 2022

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Jason H

I was under the impression comedies were funny. Considering the talent involved, this should have been great. Far from it. Murphy was quoted as saying "It wasn't a pleasurable experience. I just wanted to direct—just to see if I can do it. And I found out that I can't, and I won't do it anymore. And the biggest thing is I didn't enjoy doing it. The problem with Harlem Nights was I threw it together real quick. And then it was disappointing because Richard wasn't the way I thought Richard was gonna be. I thought it would be like a collaborative thing where I would get to work with my idol. But Richard would come to the set, say his line and leave, it wasn't like a collaborative thing."

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

07/01/25

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Jay O

Timeless classic, full of legends.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

06/22/25

Full Review

Jack M

Despite what the critics have tried to say about this film, it is still, to this day, one of the most quotable eddie murphy films. Absolutely love this movie, even though when it came out and I was way too young to watch it. I managed to convince my mom to let me see it. And of course, she covered my eyes during one of the love scenes, because it wasn't so bad in hindsight. Richard Pryor, Eddie Murphy, and Redd Foxx were a great combination of comedy and drama, and the supporting cast was just as fun.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/30/25

Full Review

Jay W

The Critics who reviewed this movie are like Weathermen/women who get to keep their jobs no matter how wrong they are. Please never judge a movie based on uppity critics. Classic movie. 10 Stars.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/08/25

Full Review

Nikki C

A real classic to those of “us” who actually understand the concept.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/20/25

Full Review

Marquisha M

Great movie, awesome cast definitely a classic

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/28/24

Full Review

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Eddie Murphy

Director

Eddie Murphy

Quick

Richard Pryor

Sugar Ray

Redd Foxx

Bennie Wilson

Danny Aiello

Phil Cantone

Michael Lerner

Bugsy Calhoune

Harlem Nights: Official Clip - This is Personal

2:13

Harlem Nights: Official Clip - Bad Luck With Kids

2:12

Harlem Nights: Official Clip - She's a Sweet Old Woman

2:12

Harlem Nights: Official Clip - I Aint Ever Comin Home

1:58

Harlem Nights: Official Clip - Come on Sucka, Let's Get It On

2:11

Harlem Nights: Official Clip - Bennie "Snake Eyes" Wilson

2:11

Harlem Nights: Official Clip - Shooting Up Quick

2:12

Harlem Nights: Official Clip - Are You Sayin' I'm Stealin'?

2:07

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Synopsis

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).

Director: Eddie Murphy
Producer: Robert D. Wachs, Mark Lipsky
Screenwriter: Eddie Murphy
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Paramount Pictures, Eddie Murphy Productions
Rating: R
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 17, 1989, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2011
Box Office (Gross USA): $58.5M
Runtime: 1h 58m
Sound Mix: Surround

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