Summary
Eddie Murphy recalls the harshest review he received of his 2002 flopThe Adventures of Pluto Nash. Murphy took a break from family films to team withCity Slickersdirector Ron Underwood forPluto Nash, a $100 million sci-fi/comedy, co-starring Rosario Dawson, Randy Quaid and John Cleese. Despite the movie’s heavyweight talent and enormous budget, critics abhorred the effort, as reflected in the film’s 5% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, while audiences stayed away in droves, resulting in a $7 million worldwide gross, and a reputation as one of thebiggest-ever box office bombs.
Every critic in the world took their shot atThe Adventures of Pluto Nashwhen it came out, but Murphy recalls one review that stood out as being the harshest of all, in an adorable anecdote he related recently to theNew York Times. Check out his remarks below:
What’s challenging is when you’re in a movie and the movie ain’t [expletive]. That’s challenging: when you’re sitting in the screening room and you see the first print of “Pluto Nash.” I remember the first time we watched “Pluto Nash,” I had my son Myles with me. He was probably about 8. Myles is sitting there with me, and the movie’s all soft. Then at the end, it goes silent, and my little baby son goes, “Corny.” That was challenging. [Laughs.] Even the baby knows it’s corny.
Where Does Pluto Nash Rank Among Eddie Murphy Critical Flops
Myles Murphy was not alone in expressing disdain forThe Adventures of Pluto Nash, a bizarre and misguided PG-13 sci-fi/comedy starring the elder Murphy as the owner of a nightclub on the moon in the year 2087. Corniness is perhaps the least of the movie’s problems, the bigger issue being Murphy’s own performance, which feels completely checked-out.
0%
46%
5%
20%
9%
53%
11%
35%
31%
12%
25%
13%
37%
15%
33%
17%
27%
GivenPluto Nash’s reputation as one of the worst movies ever, it’s no surprise to see it ranking near the bottom of Murphy’s filmography on Rotten Tomatoes. But it’s not the worst Murphy film ever, according to the review aggregator. That honor goes to 2012’sA Thousand Words, Murphy’s failed attempt at a Jim Carrey-style high-concept comedy, which holds the rare distinction of sporting a 0% fresh rating.
Pluto Nashwas in development from 1983, with Harrison Ford at one time rumored to star
Murphy has indeed experienced more than his share of critical bombs over the course of his long career, and currently has 18 movies with 40%-and-below fresh ratings on Rotten Tomatoes, includingThe Adventures of Pluto Nashat 5%. Murphy’s newest film,Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F, awaits its own RT fate, but at least the film won’t have to worry about bad box office publicity, as it’s set to be released exclusively on Netflix.
The Adventures Of Pluto Nash
Cast
The Adventures of Pluto Nash is a science-fiction comedy starring Eddie Murphy as Pluto Nash, a nightclub owner on the Moon. Released in 2002, the film follows Nash as he battles to protect his nightclub from the mafia while uncovering a larger conspiracy. Rosario Dawson and Randy Quaid co-star in this futuristic adventure set in a 2087 lunar colony.
