Netflix to stream Eddie Murphy's 'AFI Life Achievement Award' special
01 Apr 2026

Netflix and the American Film Institute (AFI) have announced that The 51st AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Eddie Murphy will premiere on Netflix on May 31.

The award ceremony honoring Murphy's contributions as an actor and box office successes will take place at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on April 18.

This is the first time this special will be available for streaming on Netflix.

Bob Gazzale thanked Netflix for the opportunity
Streaming partnership

Bob Gazzale, the President and CEO of AFI, expressed his gratitude to Ted Sarandos and the team.

He said in a statement, "AFI is grateful to Ted Sarandos and the talented team at Netflix for the opportunity to share this proud tradition with the world."

"And to do so in honor of Eddie Murphy will allow us to shine a proper light on the impact of art at a time the world needs it most."

AFI's definition of Murphy's success
Career achievements

The AFI has recognized Murphy as "the most commercially successful African-American actor in the history of the motion picture business and is one of the industry's top five box-office performers overall."

His numerous awards include a Golden Globe and SAG Award for best supporting actor in Dreamgirls, which earned him his first Academy Award nomination in the same category.

Murphy's career highlights and achievements
Filmography highlights

Murphy has starred in several iconic films such as 48 Hrs., Trading Places, Dr. Dolittle, Coming to America, and the Beverly Hills Cop franchise.

He has also lent his voice to Donkey in the popular Shrek franchise.

Starting as a stand-up comedian in 1980, he joined the cast of Saturday Night Live at just 19 years old.

His recent work includes Netflix documentary Being Eddie and Amazon's heist comedy, The Pickup.

The AFI Life Achievement Award
Award significance

The AFI Life Achievement Award is regarded as the highest honor in a film career.

It recognizes individuals who have advanced the cinematic arts, demonstrated lasting excellence, and earned recognition from scholars, critics, peers, and audiences alike.

The last recipient of this prestigious award was Francis Ford Coppola in 2025.

Other previous honorees include Hollywood legends such as Julie Andrews, George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Martin Scorsese, and Steven Spielberg.