The Nutty Professor (1996 film)
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| The Nutty Professor (1996 film) | |
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| Name | The Nutty Professor |
| Caption | Theatrical release poster |
| Director | Tom Shadyac |
| Producer | Tom Shadyac · Jim Carrey · Robert Simonds · David E. Kelley |
| Writer | Tom Shadyac · Steve Oedekerk · Judd Apatow · Tom Schulman |
| Based on | "The Nutty Professor" by Jerry Lewis · Bill Richmond |
| Starring | Eddie Murphy · Jada Pinkett Smith · James Coburn · Larry Miller · Peter Boyle |
| Music | David Newman |
| Cinematography | Fred Murphy |
| Editing | Don Zimmerman |
| Studio | Imagine Entertainment · Jellystone Productions · Universal Pictures |
| Distributor | Universal Pictures |
| Released | March 29, 1996 |
| Runtime | 95 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $54 million |
| Gross | $274.8 million |
The Nutty Professor (1996 film) is a American science-fiction comedy directed by Tom Shadyac and starring Eddie Murphy as multiple characters. A contemporary remake and reimagining of the 1963 Jerry Lewis film, it combines slapstick, makeup effects, and social satire. The film foregrounds themes of identity, body image, and interpersonal relationships while showcasing transformative makeup and performance.
Plot
Sherman Klump, a morbidly obese chemistry professor at a university akin to prestigious American campuses, works in a laboratory reminiscent of settings in Back to the Future-era science fiction and medical comedies. He develops an experimental serum that temporarily transforms him into the slim, cocky alter ego "Buddy Love", whose persona echoes figures associated with Frank Sinatra's rat-pack era and the charisma of Cary Grant. Sherman's romantic interest, Carla Purty, is portrayed as a colleague with connections to New York City cultural life and academic circles similar to those in Harvard University narratives. As Buddy's public life propels Sherman into media attention invoking Talk show culture exemplified by hosts like David Letterman and Oprah Winfrey, the serum's side effects create escalating conflicts involving identity, ethics, and scientific responsibility reminiscent of classic cautionary tales akin to Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
Cast
- Eddie Murphy as Sherman Klump / Buddy Love (and multiple Klump family members): Murphy's performance invokes character actors from Saturday Night Live alumni and film ensembles including Mel Brooks-style quick-change comedians. - Jada Pinkett Smith as Carla Purty: Smith's role reflects contemporaneous rising stars similar to Halle Berry and Wesley Snipes collaborators. - James Coburn as Dean Richmond: casting echoes established character actors like Gene Hackman in authority roles. - Larry Miller as Professor Winston: Miller's supporting work parallels appearances in The Nutty Professor (1996 film)-era comedies such as collaborations with Jim Carrey. - Peter Boyle as Anna's husband (supporting role): Boyle's presence invokes veteran performers like John Goodman. - Supporting ensemble includes actors with ties to Saturday Night Live and Hollywood character-actor circuits similar to Chris Rock and Richard Pryor-adjacent traditions.
Production
Development began when Universal Pictures acquired rights to rework the 1963 film by Jerry Lewis, with producers from Imagine Entertainment and creatives including Tom Shadyac and Jim Carrey-era collaborators. Makeup design was led by effects teams that had worked on projects with heavy prosthetics, following techniques used in productions featuring Rick Baker and Stan Winston. The film employed extensive prosthetic appliances and digital compositing techniques contemporaneous with work on Forrest Gump and Jurassic Park to allow a single actor to portray multiple characters. Principal photography occurred on soundstages and Los Angeles locations associated with productions by Universal Studios and Warner Bros.-era crews. The screenplay underwent revisions from comedy writers with credits on The Simpsons and Saturday Night Live, refining character beats and physical-comedy set pieces.
Reception
Critical response was mixed to positive: reviewers compared Murphy's versatility to comic performers like Robin Williams and praised prosthetic craftsmanship akin to The Mask (1994 film) collaborators. Some critics debated the film's tonal balance between sentiment and broad humor, making comparisons to dramatic-comedy hybrids such as Big (film) and adaptations of classic material like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde adaptations. Award bodies including Academy Awards acknowledged makeup achievements in contemporaneous films; the movie received nominations and industry recognition for prosthetic makeup in guild and technical ceremonies like the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences-adjacent events.
Box office
Released by Universal Pictures in spring 1996, the film opened at number one behind major seasonal releases such as Mission: Impossible (film)-era blockbusters. It grossed approximately $274.8 million worldwide against a production budget near $54 million, placing it among commercially successful mid-1990s comedies alongside titles distributed by Buena Vista and Sony Pictures Entertainment.
Home media
The film was released on DVD and later Blu-ray with supplemental features including behind-the-scenes segments on prosthetic makeup, interviews with Eddie Murphy and Tom Shadyac, and deleted scenes. Home releases paralleled special editions from studios like Universal Studios Home Entertainment and followed retail strategies used by distributors such as Paramount Home Entertainment.
Soundtrack
The musical score was composed by David Newman, whose work aligns with film composers like Alan Silvestri and James Horner in blending orchestral motifs with contemporary R&B and soul elements. The soundtrack album featured contributions from contemporary recording artists associated with labels like Motown and Def Jam Recordings and included both score cues and licensed songs used in promotional tie-ins similar to soundtrack campaigns for Dangerous Minds and Waiting to Exhale.
Legacy and influence
The film reinvigorated Hollywood interest in star-driven character comedies and prosthetic-heavy performances, influencing later projects that cast lead actors in multiple roles, as seen in productions associated with Mike Myers and Robin Williams. It contributed to discussions in film studies programs at institutions like UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television and NYU Tisch School of the Arts about performance, makeup, and adaptation theory, and remains a reference point in retrospectives on 1990s American comedy showcased at festivals such as the Sundance Film Festival and museum programs at the American Film Institute.