That night, as Razzle snored like a broken chainsaw, Norbit sat on his back porch. The swamp frogs were singing. And for the first time in forty years, he heard a tiny voice inside him—not Mr. Wong’s gentle encouragement, not Razzle’s thunderous demands. It was his own.
But things get even crazier when Norbit's childhood sweetheart, Astrid (played by Thandie Newton), comes back into his life and helps him to see Rasputia for who she really is.
Released in 2007, "Norbit" is an American comedy film directed by Brian Robbins and written by Rob Burnett and Ed Decter. The movie stars Eddie Murphy in a triple-threat performance, playing the titular character, his childhood friend and bully, Rasputia, and the wealthy and beautiful woman, Latisha. The film follows Norbit Ryan (Eddie Murphy), a man who was once a chubby, awkward teenager and has now become a happily married man with a beautiful wife and two kids.
, a domineering figure who represents the "monstrous" obstacles he must overcome [13, 16, 34]. A Story of Second Chances : The return of his childhood sweetheart, Kate Thomas
Upon its release, "Norbit" received mixed reviews from critics but performed well at the box office, grossing over $200 million worldwide. The movie remains a memorable comedic effort from Eddie Murphy, showcasing his comedic genius and his ability to play a wide range of characters. Norbit
A defining aspect of the film is its technical makeup execution. Legendary special effects makeup artist engineered the complex silicone and foam latex appliances required to transform Eddie Murphy into three distinctly proportioned characters. The process required:
While the movie received mixed reviews, it has become a cult classic and is often referenced in popular culture.
“Though widely panned, Norbit offers a critical, if problematic, lens onto the persistence of racial and gender caricatures in mainstream comedy, reflecting post-Civil Rights era tensions in Black representation.”
: Norbit was released just before Oscar voting closed. Many believe the film's "low-brow" humor and negative reviews turned off Academy voters, leading to Alan Arkin winning the award instead. That night, as Razzle snored like a broken
| Theme | Description | Examples from Film | |-------|-------------|--------------------| | | Subverted? Perpetuated? | The orphanage owner (Eddie Murphy in makeup) who offers wisdom. | | Fatphobia & gender | Rasputia as villainous, grotesque, controlling. | Physical humor: breaking furniture, loud eating, violent outbursts. | | Colorism | Light-skinned Kate vs. dark-skinned Rasputia. | Moral alignment: good = thin/light, bad = fat/dark. | | Cross-racial performance | Eddie Murphy in Asian (Mr. Wong) & Black (Rasputia) makeup. | Historical link to minstrelsy and racial masquerade. |
“What did you say?” Razzle hissed.
He felt like himself.
Up to six hours of daily application for the character of Rasputia. Released in 2007, "Norbit" is an American comedy
Furthermore, the release of the film became a notorious talking point during the 2007 awards season. Industry analysts widely speculated that the poor critical reception of Norbit negatively impacted Eddie Murphy’s chances of winning the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his acclaimed role in Dreamgirls , an award that ultimately went to Alan Arkin. Ironically, Norbit itself went on to receive an Academy Award nomination for Best Makeup at the 80th Academy Awards, cementing its dual legacy of critical failure and technical merit. Cult Status and Pop Culture Legacy
Yet, nearly two decades later, refuses to fade away. It has become a cultural touchstone, a meme factory, and for a sizable audience, a genuinely beloved comedy. How did a movie this reviled become so unforgettable? Let’s dive into the strange, gelatinous world of Norbit .
In the end, Norbit defies easy categorization. It’s a film that is at once technically brilliant and creatively bankrupt; a box office hit and a critical laughingstock; a star’s embarrassing nadir and a cult classic that continues to find new defenders. For every person who recoils at its racial politics and mean-spirited humor, there is another who celebrates its unrestrained, id-driven commitment to making an audience laugh, no matter the cost.
The movie received mixed reviews from critics but was a commercial success, grossing over $200 million worldwide.