Eddie Murphy finally addresses the long-standing rumor that Norbit cost him his Oscar for Dreamgirls. Discover what he really thinks, why the film’s reputation is changing, and how his career continues to thrive.
When most people think of Eddie Murphy, they probably remember the quick wit of Beverly Hills Cop, the family charm of Dr. Dolittle, or the comedic genius of Coming to America. But for many movie fans, one of the most contentious chapters in Murphy’s career is associated with the 2007 comedy Norbit — and on whether it ruined his chances of winning an Oscar for his critically praised work in Dreamgirls.
For years, industry and fans alike have wondered: did Norbit ruin Murphy’s chances of winning an Oscar? Now Murphy is finally weighing in, and surprising everyone with his conclusion: “It ain’t that bad.”
The Background: Dreamgirls, Norbit, and the 2007 Oscars
In 2006, Murphy put in one of the more celebrated performances of his career as James “Thunder” Early in Dreamgirls, which earned him a nomination for Best Supporting Actor at the 79th Academy Awards. Critics praised his work as a career-best, with some experts even suggesting he would win.
But then there was Norbit.
First launched in February 2007 – right in the middle of Oscar voting – the film was a broad, slapstick comedy starring Murphy in three parts:
Norbit Albert Rice – the meek, lovable orphan.
Rasputia Latimore – the overbearing, outrageous wife of Norbit.
Mr. Wong – the kooky owner of the orphanage.
Norbit grossed over $160 million at the global box office and was acclaimed as horrible by critics, scoring a measly 9% on Rotten Tomatoes. Most would agree, the timing and tone of the film led many folks in Hollywood to think it tarnished Murphy’s prestige just as he needed it. Alan Arkin famously won the Oscar for Little Miss Sunshine.
Was Norbit really to blame for the Oscar loss?
The Norbit Oscar theory has taken on a life of its own in entertainment discussions, but the truth may be far more complex.
Oscar Voter Mentality – Academy voters, by nature, consider the “overall” standing of an actor when voting for an award in an award season. It is fair to say that Norbit was in the back of voters’ minds, but I don’t think it could be classified as “the” reason.
Heavy Competition – Alan Arkin’s charming performance in Little Miss Sunshine was well received and respected – therefore, his win can be attributed more to that respecter than Murphy’s loss.
Timing – Although Norbit opened at an unfortunate time, there are numerous examples of actors winning Oscars while starring in far worse films during the same calendar year.
Murphy’s Perspective – It was simply part of the wild ride that is the awards season.
Why Eddie Murphy Still Thinks Norbit is Funny
While everyone else pounced upon Norbit for its “antiquated” humor and outrageous performances, Murphy confidently states that there is a funny movie somewhere in Norbit.
Here’s Murphy’s Perspective on Norbit:
Physical Comedy Mastery – The sillyass expressions, pratfalls, and slapstick measurements were all consciously harkening back to the golden age comic actors.
Strong Character Work – You simply cannot play multiple characters in one film; this is certainly something Murphy demonstrated in The Nutty Professor and Coming to America.
Audience Connection – Many fans, often the younger ones, discovered his brand of comedy through Norbit, which has made it a cult classic to some audiences.
In fact, if you scour social media today, you will still find clips from Norbit endlessly bringing laughs, memes, and nostalgic commentary.
Eddie Murphy’s Continued Resilience:
If there is one thing the career of Murphy proves, it is that there is not one good or bad film that will suspend anyone’s career as a Hollywood legend. Murphy certainly stayed resilient after Norbit. Since then, he has:
Received excellent reviews for his role in Dolemite Is My Name (2019).
Revived one of his best characters of all time in Coming 2 America (2020).
Pursuing the balance of family film, but also a few edgier roles.
Been in talks for a number of upcoming projects, including voice work, stand-up specials, and (on a pure rumor basis) possibly collaboration on more dark comedy-style shows (think Dexter).
How the ‘Norbit’ Narrative Fits Into the Larger Hollywood Narrative:
Murphy’s comments reflect a larger pattern in Hollywood: public perception can change consistently over time.
Films that people do not fancy can later become cult classics (The Big Lebowski, Hocus Pocus).
Award winners stem not just from the quality of work but are driven by timing, personal branding, and politics.
Celebrities reclaiming “flops” typically reframes the narrative and introduces a new audience to older films.
To Wrap Things Up
At the end of the day, Murphy is unapologetic about Norbit. Whether he was out of touch regarding the release of the movie like Hollywood movie stars often do when distancing themselves from problematically produced movies, he doesn’t really care that Norbit has been widely disparaged. Murphy’s brazen support of the fan-beloved Norbit (warts and all) is a commentary of sorts relevant to our society that art is subjective.
FAQs
1. Did Norbit cost Eddie Murphy an Oscar?
Not likely. Norbit may have been better evaluated if people had the right context or time to think about it, but ultimately, there were certainly better performances released that year, and it is likely the correct person received the BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR award, Alan Arkin.
2. How much money did Norbit earn?
Norbit grossed over $160 million worldwide regardless of the reviews. Which shows commercial ratings are not always equivalent to critical ratings.
3. How many characters does Eddie Murphy portray in Norbit?
Murphy plays Norbit Albert Rice, Rasputia Latimore, and Mr. Wong, proving he is a gifted character and physical comedy genius while doing it all.
4. Has Eddie Murphy ever won an Oscar?
He was nominated once (in 2007 for Dreamgirls), but he has NEVER won.