Eddie Murphy didn't say much while receiving the 51st AFI Life Achievement Award at the two-hour tribute held Saturday night at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood, but he did have some jokes. Holding the silver star-shaped award, he asked, "Have these always been this size? It feels small. Right?" which got a laugh from the audience. The crowd, made up of comedy heavyweights, studio heads, Oscar winners, directors, and fans, responded with laughter to the joke.

Murphy noted that at 65 years old, he arrived on stage just in time. He said he was successful enough to deserve the award, young enough to observe his friends, business partners, and family members around him, and dynamic enough to still deliver his signature jokes. Spike Lee was the last presenter to honor Murphy and presented him with the seemingly small award. Murphy also joked about Lee being there for every classic moment when the New York Knicks failed to win an NBA championship. Lee corrected him by stating that he was there as a good luck charm at the age of 13 when they defeated the Los Angeles Lakers in 1970.

Among the star guests and presenters at the ceremony were Chris Rock, Dave Chappelle, Kevin Hart, Martin Lawrence, Bill Burr, Mike Myers, Tracy Morgan, Kenan Thompson, Arsenio Hall, Stevie Wonder, Robert Townsend, Judge Reinhold, Eva Longoria, Da'Vine Joy Randolph, and Jennifer Hudson (who performed a medley of songs from Dreamgirls). Dan Aykroyd was supposed to present but stepped down due to "personal reasons," and his daughter Belle took his place. The program included significant moments from Murphy's career, from his breakout performance in 48 Hrs to Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F.

Kevin Hart kicked off the show by talking about Murphy's full name, Edward Regan Murphy, and emphasized how much he owed to him for the doors he opened throughout his career, stating, "Wherever you stand today, you stand there because of the work Murphy did before you and the doors he opened." Tracy Morgan described Murphy as an iconic performer and noted that Murphy impersonated him during SNL's 50th anniversary special, saying, "No black man in history has contributed to red leather outfits and cowboy boots as much as Eddie Murphy."

Murphy expressed a mix of emotions during his speech, showing a sense of vulnerability as he noted how special it was to see family, friends, and collaborators in the audience. He remarked that the award came to him at just the right time, considering both his ample experience and the fact that he still feels young enough to truly enjoy it. He humorously referenced the ages of previous recipients like Mel Brooks, Francis Ford Coppola, and Lillian Gish, suggesting that if he had waited until 92, he would have had a very different reaction.