--- title: "Norbit" year: 2007 kind: "film" canonical: "https://film.one/film/norbit" fi1m_score: 31 critics_score: 25 critics_reviews: 12 published: "2026-09-16T14:56:04.988464+00:00" updated: "2026-09-16T14:56:05.469638+00:00" region: "US" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Norbit (2007) Directed by Brian Robbins · 1h 42m · MPA PG-13 · Comedy **Fi1m score: 31** · Critics 25 from 12 reviews *In a sentence:* Eddie Murphy changes faces more often than this comedy changes its joke > Eddie Murphy’s commitment to three roles cannot rescue a comedy that keeps mistaking physical mockery for a fresh joke. Some confident performances survive Brian Robbins’s slack direction, but the repetition is exhausting. ## Synopsis Norbit (Eddie Murphy), Rasputia (Eddie Murphy) and Mr. Wong (Eddie Murphy) feature alongside Kate Thomas (Thandiwe Newton) and Deion Hughes (Cuba Gooding Jr.). The cast also includes Big Jack Latimore (Terry Crews), Earl Latimore (Clifton Powell) and Blue Latimore (Lester Speight), as well as Pope Sweet Jesus (Eddie Griffin) and Lord Have Mercy (Katt Williams). This 2007 comedy runs 102 minutes and is directed by Brian Robbins, with a screenplay credited to Eddie Murphy, Charlie Murphy, Jay Scherick and David Ronn. ## Review *Norbit* is a poor comedy with a technically demanding performance at its centre and too little worth doing around it. Eddie Murphy plays Norbit, Rasputia and Mr. Wong, giving director Brian Robbins ample opportunity to build jokes out of different characters. Too often the film settles for the fact that those characters look and sound different. Across 102 minutes, the repetition becomes wearing, and the effort behind the transformations makes the thinness of the material more disappointing. The screenplay, credited to Eddie Murphy, Charlie Murphy, Jay Scherick and David Ronn, keeps returning to physical mockery and racial caricature. Crude comedy can work when a joke has some surprise, or when an unpleasant character gets room to be more than unpleasant. Here, the jokes about Rasputia’s weight quickly become predictable. We were bored by them, then annoyed that the film kept offering her body as though it had just thought of the idea. There is skill in Eddie Murphy’s work, particularly the force with which he commits to Rasputia. The performance has an energy that the writing rarely matches, and the make-up makes the multiple roles convincing as separate physical creations. We can recognise the labour without finding the result funny. Rasputia is allowed plenty of aggression, but so little else that each fresh appearance gives the film less to play with. Brian Robbins does little to vary the comic approach, leaving broad delivery to carry jokes that need sharper construction. Ned Bastille’s editing gives some of the secondary business a more useful pace, though it cannot make the whole story feel properly shaped. The film gets momentary momentum from individual turns, then loses it through another helping of the same material. A comedy built around caricatures still needs scenes that develop, rather than merely make room for another insult. Clark Mathis’s cinematography offers little reason to look beyond the make-up. Clay A. Griffith’s production design does not give the comedy much competing visual interest, leaving almost everything to the performers’ faces and bodies. David Newman’s music cannot provide the lift that the jokes themselves are missing. Thandiwe Newton, playing Kate Thomas, fares poorly in material that gives her little opportunity to be funny. The performance never looks comfortable enough to make the broadness around her feel easy. A cast that also includes Terry Crews, Cuba Gooding Jr., Eddie Griffin and Katt Williams ought to allow the humour more variety. Instead, the film keeps concentrating our attention on the same small supply of jokes. There are isolated laughs here, chiefly from the confidence of the delivery, and they deserve to be acknowledged. Against the modest requirements of broad comedy, though, the film fails to find enough different things to be funny about. Admirers of Eddie Murphy may find the transformations reason enough to investigate. We would not sit through the jokes again. *Fi1m score 31, published 16 September 2026.* ## What the critics say The consensus on Norbit is firmly negative: the reviews find its comedy crude, repetitive and heavily dependent on jokes about weight and racial stereotypes. Most critics see little comic reward for the nastiness, with weak structure and dated material compounding the problem. Praise is scarce and largely technical: the Los Angeles Times acknowledges the skill in Eddie Murphy’s multiple performances and the makeup effects, but considers both wasted on the material. The differences are chiefly in how much the critics find to salvage, rather than in their recommendation. The Guardian admits to occasional laughter, while Eye for Film credits some well-paced subplots and confident delivery despite disliking the humour and familiar story. The harshest reviews find the caricatures actively hateful; the less severe responses describe a sloppy, one-note comedy with isolated strengths. None offers a positive assessment. ### Reviews we read (12) - **Slant Magazine**, Rob Humanick (40/100, inferred): The critic finds Norbit neither particularly good nor bad, noting it owns up to its crude, racist jokes without pretense, but ultimately calls it one-note and discouraging in its low standards and scattershot humor focused on physical mockery. [Read](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/norbit/) - **The Guardian**, Peter Bradshaw (40/100, inferred): The critic admits laughing occasionally at the film. It is presented as a mild-mannered fellow's story involving a monstrous fiancée. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/movie/117418/norbit) - **The New York Times**, A.O. Scott (40/100, inferred): The critic views the film as a raucous but sloppy showcase for Eddie Murphy’s multiple roles and makeup effects that fails to cohere into a satisfying comedy. Direction is deemed merely adequate, with many gags feeling lumbering and graceless. [Read](https://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/09/movies/09norb.html) - **Variety**, Robert Koehler (30/100, inferred): The critic calls the film a broad, nasty low-ball comedy that lacks structure and relies on crude physical gags and contemptuous stereotypes. Murphy’s Rasputia role stands out for its energetic hate-fueled caricature, but the overall effort falls far short of his better work. [Read](https://variety.com/2007/film/awards/norbit-2-1200510508/) - **Los Angeles Times**, Sam Adams (25/100, inferred): The review dismisses the film as tired vaudeville-style caricature that exploits fat jokes and lazy stereotypes without insight or freshness. Murphy’s multi-role performance and the makeup effects are acknowledged as technically impressive but ultimately wasted on dated material. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-feb-09-et-norbit9-story.html) - **Empire**, Tony Horkins (20/100, inferred): The critic finds the film lacking in humor and reliant on offensive stereotypes involving obesity, race, and ethnicity. Eddie Murphy's multiple roles in prosthetics fail to elevate the weak comedy. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/norbit-review/) - **Radio Times**, Jamie Russell (1/5): The critic calls the film an atrocious and offensive comedy centered on Eddie Murphy's multiple roles in fat-suit antics. The review highlights the distasteful jokes about obesity and sex that undermine any family-friendly pretensions. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-jf9ljj/norbit/) - **Time Out**, Melissa Anderson (20/100, inferred): The critic condemns the film's fatphobia and lack of any respect or affection shown toward its obese character, contrasting it unfavorably with other comedies. Thandie Newton's visible discomfort is noted as emblematic of the project's overall indignity. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/norbit) - **The AV Club**, Scott Tobias (F): The review condemns the film as a hateful comedy that turns back the clock on social progress with hideously offensive black stereotypes and other caricatures. It finds the grotesque characters unfunny and a step back for Murphy. [Read](https://www.avclub.com/norbit-1798202397) - **The Hollywood Reporter** (10/100, inferred): The critic calls the film a sensationally abysmal lowbrow comedy and a disappointment as Eddie Murphy's follow-up to Dreamgirls. It is described as racially insensitive, politically incorrect, and beyond crude, with little to recommend beyond a sizable audience for its style. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/norbit-159065/) - **The Times**, Wendy Ide (10/100, inferred): The film is a crass assault on good taste featuring multiple roles by Eddie Murphy in a fat suit, fart gags and insensitive jokes. It is called a big fat failure. [Read](https://www.thetimes.com/travel/destinations/asia-travel/china/norbit-m8hlmnvdf3r) - **Eye for Film**, Jennie Kermode (40/100, inferred): The critic finds the crude humor unpleasant for most viewers and notes the film's low production values and familiar story, though it has some well-paced subplots and confident delivery. [Read](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/norbit-film-review-by-jennie-kermode) ## Details - **Director:** Brian Robbins - **Director:** Brian Robbins - **Screenplay:** Eddie Murphy, Charlie Murphy, Jay Scherick, David Ronn - **Story:** Eddie Murphy, Charlie Murphy - **Cinematography:** Clark Mathis - **Editor:** Ned Bastille - **Music:** David Newman - **Production design:** Clay A. Griffith - **Costume design:** Molly Maginnis - **Producer:** Eddie Murphy, John Davis - **Cast:** Eddie Murphy as Norbit / Rasputia / Mr. Wong; Thandiwe Newton as Kate Thomas; Terry Crews as Big Jack Latimore; Clifton Powell as Earl Latimore; Lester Speight as Blue Latimore; Cuba Gooding Jr. as Deion Hughes; Eddie Griffin as Pope Sweet Jesus; Katt Williams as Lord Have Mercy - **Runtime:** 1h 42m - **Certificate (MPA):** PG-13 - **Release (the US):** 8 February 2007 - **Genres:** Comedy - **Budget:** $10 million - **Box office:** $160 million - **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFIdZpc2L6w ## Where to watch in the US - Starz: streaming - Tubi: free - The Roku Channel: free, hd - Amazon Prime Video: add-on - Apple TV: add-on, hd - The Roku Channel: add-on, hd, leaving 2026-10-01 - Hulu: add-on, hd, leaving 2026-10-01 - Apple TV: rent $4.99, hd - Amazon Prime Video: rent $4.99, hd - Apple TV: buy $14.99, hd - Amazon Prime Video: buy $14.99, hd *Checked 2026-09-16.* Also available in: AR, AT, AU, BE, BG, CA, CH, CL, CO, CZ, DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, GB, HR, HU, IE, IN, IT, JP, LT, MX, NL, NO, NZ, PA, PH, PT, RO, RS, SE, TR, UA, US, ZA. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country. ## Awards - Academy Awards 2008: Best Makeup and Hairstyling (nominated) - Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actor 2007: Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actor (won) - Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Director 2007: Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Director (nominated) - Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Picture 2007: Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Picture (nominated) - Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Screen Couple/Ensemble 2007: Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Screen Couple/Ensemble (nominated) - Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Screenplay 2007: Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Screenplay (nominated) - Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actor - Razzie Award 2007: Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actor - Razzie Award (won) - Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actress 2007: Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actress (won) ## If you liked this - *The Nutty Professor* (1996): Eddie Murphy’s multiple roles come with more warmth and better jokes. - *Tootsie* (1982), Fi1m 85: Another elaborate disguise, this time serving a character worth spending time with. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/tootsie.md) - *Kung Fu Hustle* (2004): Broad caricatures and physical comedy with the invention this film lacks. - *The Ladykillers* (1955): Grotesque characters and criminal scheming, handled with patience and precise timing. - *Hunt for the Wilderpeople* (2016), Fi1m 82: For an awkward outsider treated with affection rather than repeated humiliation. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/hunt-for-the-wilderpeople.md) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/norbit