Eddie Murphy Jabs at Schwarzenegger: 'Hasta La Vista' Fame Claim

Eddie Murphy Claims to Be the King of Action Comedy

Eddie Murphy, a Hollywood legend who is now 64 years old, has boldly declared himself as the king of the action comedy genre. His journey began in the early 1980s when he gained fame on the popular variety television show “Saturday Night Live.” From there, Murphy transitioned to the big screen with films like 1982’s “48 Hrs.,” 1984’s “Beverly Hills Cop,” and 1988’s “Coming to America.” These movies not only showcased his comedic talents but also helped shape the action comedy genre.

Over four decades later, Murphy is set to star in Amazon MGM Studios’ upcoming film “The Pickup,” which features Keke Palmer and Pete Davidson. In a recent interview with longtime “Today Show” correspondent Al Roker, Murphy reflected on his career and discussed his latest project. During the segment that aired on July 28, Murphy made a surprising claim about his influence on the genre.

“It’s pretentious to actually say it, but my films kind of pioneered … ‘48 Hrs.’ is the first action comedy. And ‘Beverly Hills Cop’ was the second one,” Murphy said, prompting laughter from Roker. He then referenced Arnold Schwarzenegger, another 1980s movie megastar, by adding, “And then after ‘Beverly Hills Cop,’ everybody, all the cops were like, ‘Hasta la vista, baby.’”

Schwarzenegger, known for his iconic role in “Terminator 2: Judgment Day,” famously said “hasta la vista, baby” during the film. Murphy’s bold statement about his films opening the door for future action comedies sparked a range of reactions online. Some praised him for his contributions, while others disagreed with his claim.

One TikTok user wrote, “Eddie Murphy’s films changed the game, bringing a new flavor to action comedies that we still love today.” Another supporter commented, “Pretentious??? He is so underrated and unappreciated.” However, some critics argued that Murphy's claim was inaccurate. One person stated, “It’s not pretentious, Eddie. It’s flat out wrong.”

Despite the debate, many acknowledged Murphy’s impact on the genre. A user noted, “It’s about time Eddie started saying who and what he has meant to the game.” Others pointed out that “48 Hrs.” was indeed the first successful action comedy. Meanwhile, some users questioned whether “T2” could be classified as an action comedy or a cop movie.

While Schwarzenegger is more known for his roles in straightforward action films, he has also dabbled in comedy. His films include “Twins” (1988) with Danny DeVito and “Kindergarten Cop” (1990). In 1993, he starred in “Last Action Hero,” a fantasy action comedy.

Although Murphy and Schwarzenegger never acted together in a feature film, Murphy admitted that Schwarzenegger inspired parts of “Coming 2 America.” In a 2021 interview with Yahoo, Murphy explained that watching a “Terminator” movie with Schwarzenegger led him to think about using special effects to portray younger versions of characters.

Murphy’s career as a movie star began in the 1980s and continued into the next decade. His filmography includes “Boomerang” (1992), “The Nutty Professor” (1996), and “Dr. Dolittle” (1998). After the turn of the millennium, he became a central figure in the “Shrek” franchise by voicing Donkey. He also received an Oscar nomination for his role in “Dreamgirls” (2006).

Murphy’s latest film, “The Pickup,” directed by Tim Story, will premiere on August 6 on Amazon Prime Video. The actor, who is the father of ten children, admitted that he has changed his approach to playing an action star in his 60s.

“I’m trying to do age-appropriate action,” Murphy said in his interview with Roker. “When you get our age, you have to pay. If you whip somebody’s ass, when you’re our age, you kind of whip your own ass, too.”

In addition to “The Pickup,” Murphy will star as George Clinton in a biopic about the Parliament-Funkadelic band frontman and as Inspector Clouseau in a new “Pink Panther” movie. “Shrek 5” is also in the works.

Over the last decade, Schwarzenegger has appeared in several films, including “Terminator Genisys,” “Aftermath,” “Killing Gunther,” and “Terminator: Dark Fate.” He has also taken his talents to the small screen by starring in Netflix’s “FUBAR” action-comedy series for two seasons starting in 2023.