Why Eddie Murphy still remains relevant in Hollywood amidst flops...

Eddie Murphy

Eddie Murphy somehow continues to star in big-budgeted studio film after film, given the percentage that are substantial critical and commercial flops (especially relative to their often hefty budgets), wonder no more. The NY Times' Brooks Barnes explains it all, making what at first seems illogical to us, logical.

Here's a snippet of why Eddie Murphy still remains consistent and relevant in Hollowood' article:

Why does Hollywood keep hiring this man? The answer — multifaceted but almost universally agreed upon by moviedom’s power players — offers insights into how the gears of the modern motion picture business grind. Mr. Murphy is still considered Hollywood royalty, if no longer a member of the A-list then the solid B-plus.

One reason is that, contrary to conventional wisdom, studios have long memories. 

People who prophesied that his career was over in 2002 with “The Adventures of Pluto Nash,” which cost about $100 million to make but only sold about $7 million worldwide in tickets, looked awfully foolish when “Norbit” arrived five years later. It cost about $60 million and featured him in a fat suit, sold $159 million worldwide in tickets and was a smash on DVD.

“He is explosive, given the right project, the right circumstances, the right concept, the right director,” said Jeffrey Katzenberg, the chief executive of DreamWorks Animation and a friend. What of the notion that Mr. Murphy has lost his movie mojo? “Absolute nonsense,” Mr. Katzenberg said.