Well they showed up for the high concept. That’s what they were selling in the 80s. But Murphy was the draw. Michael Caine in Beverly Hills Cop or The Golden Child wouldn’t have drawn a crowd.
They show up for the story. Murphy was the face. Michael Caine would have done fine in BHC if they’d advertised it right. Hollywood pays for these surveys over and over and over and never freaking listens to the results. Genre and story, those ALWAYS top the list. Actors near the middle, directors on the bottom, and nobody cares about writers and producers. And yet what does Hollywood always advertise: stars, directors, producers and writers. Half the freaking commercials you don’t even know what the damn story is, they Hollywood acts all surprised when it flops.
The facts are in: people want to know what the damn movie is about, and they don’t really care who’s in it. You’re addicted to the star idea in the same way Hollywood is, and just like them you’re wrong. If people watched the movies for the stars then the stars wouldn’t have flops. You want to know which movie people watched 100% because Eddie Murphy was in it? Raw. His standup movie. $50 million grosses. That’s how much Eddie was actually worth in his peak draw.