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Harlem Nights
Harlem Nights

Harlem Nights

November 17, 1989· 1h 56m
Directed by
Cinemagraphs Score6.7

'Sugar' Ray is the owner of an illegal casino and must contend with the pressure of vicious gangsters and corrupt police who want to see him go out of business. In the world of organised crime and police corruption in the 1920s, any dastardly trick is fair.

Critics Sentiment

Critics6.7
No audience data yet —
1 — Hated it5 — Neutral10 — Masterpiece
Critics
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8+ Great
6-8 Good
<6 Poor
15 reviews·Last updated 2mo ago
Peak Moment

Eddie Murphy and Della Reese have epic memorable fight scene

8.5at 1h 16m
Lowest Moment

Calhoune has enforcer Tommy Smalls killed for embezzlement

5.5at 44m
Biggest Swing

The biggest swing occurs from the violent Tommy Smalls murder sequence (5.5) to the beloved Eddie Murphy and Della Reese fight scene (8.5), representing viewers' shift from finding the violence jarring to embracing the film's most memorable comedic moment.

Harlem Nights received mixed-positive reception from viewers who appreciated Eddie Murphy's ambitious directorial debut and the legendary cast assembly, particularly praising the period production design and standout comedic moments. While critics found the plot predictable and noted uneven tonal shifts between comedy and violence, most acknowledged the entertaining heist elements and Murphy's solid filmmaking effort. The film peaked with universally beloved scenes like the Murphy-Reese fight, though it struggled with balancing its dramatic aspirations against audience expectations for pure comedy.

15 reviews analyzed|Sources: Imdb
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15.510

Rate each story beat:

0 of 8 rated

Young Sugar Ray saved by Vernest Brown in 1918 Harlem
Not rated
Hated itNeutralLoved it
1938 Club Sugar Ray shown as successful gambling and dancing venue
Not rated
Hated itNeutralLoved it
Ray proposes robbing betting houses during Jenkins vs Kirkpatrick fight
Not rated
Hated itNeutralLoved it
Calhoune has enforcer Tommy Smalls killed for embezzlement⬇ Lowest moment
Not rated
Hated itNeutralLoved it
Quick discovers Dominique's gun and shoots her when she tries to use it
Not rated
Hated itNeutralLoved it
Eddie Murphy and Della Reese have epic memorable fight scene⬆ Peak moment
Not rated
Hated itNeutralLoved it
Ray and Quick disguised as police steal money during staged crash
Not rated
Hated itNeutralLoved it
Ray and Quick leave Harlem forever with stolen money
Not rated
Hated itNeutralLoved it

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