Common Sense Media Review
By Corrina Antrobus
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Zany gangster comedy with guns, sex, drugs, and language.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Harlem Nights
What's the Story?
HARLEM NIGHTS sees Sugar Ray (Richard Pryor) and his adopted son Quick (Eddie Murphy) run a successful underground speakeasy and brothel in the dwindling days of the prohibition era. When feared gangster Bugsy Calhone (Michael Lerner) and owner of a rival establishment learns of their success, he tasks corrupt policeman Phil Cantone (Danny Aiello) to shut them down unless they give him an unreasonable cut of the profits.
Is It Any Good?
When this crime caper was released it was nominated for Worst Director and won Worst Screenplay at the 1990 Razzie Awards. Critically this may well have been justified, but the enjoyment of Harlem Nights isn't in the quality of the scatty plot, nor the spells of wooden acting. 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.
Having being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, a fews previously, Prior confidently delivers an understated, surprisingly sensitive, performance. The opportunity to witness a mighty collective of 1980s Black American icons who span across TV, film, and comedy -- including Redd Foxx and Arsenio Hall -- also makes this movie something of a cult classic.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violence in Harlem Nights. Did the comedic tone of the movie make the violent scenes less impactful? If so, why? Does exposure to violent media desensitize kids to violence?
Discuss the strong language used in the movie. What did it contribute to the movie? Is a certain kind of language expected in a movie like this?
Talk about the comedy used in the film. Who were the laughs at the expense of? Is it funny to laugh at someone less able than yourself or with a different body shape?
How were romance and sex portrayed? How were women treated in the film? What is a honeytrap? Parents, talk to your teens about your own relationship values.
Can you think of any other gangster movies that have an all-Black leading cast? Why does representation in media matter?
Movie Details
- In theaters : November 17, 1989
- On DVD or streaming : January 29, 2002
- Cast : Eddie Murphy , Richard Pryor , Danny Aiello
- Director : Eddie Murphy
- Inclusion Information : Black Movie Director(s) , Black Movie Actor(s) , Black Movie Writer(s)
- Studio : Paramount Pictures
- Genre : Comedy
- Topics : History
- Run time : 116 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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