Following the recent passing of Brian Wilson, legendary member of The Beach Boys, a wave of unusual tributes has appeared online—fans are commemorating him by turning to Eddie Murphy’s infamous comedy Norbit, a movie Wilson unexpectedly championed during his life. This surge in
“Eddie Murphy Norbit Brian Wilson tribute reviews”
has sparked widespread attention, particularly on Letterboxd, following a well-known interview in which Wilson declared Norbit his favorite film.
Bizarre Tribute Emerges After Brian Wilson’s Death
The music world has been in mourning since Brian Wilson’s passing, celebrating his enduring impact by revisiting classic albums like Pet Sounds—but an odd subset of fans has chosen a different route. In the days after his death, a surge of viewers has flocked to watch Norbit, Murphy’s heavily criticized 2007 comedy. This behavior is traced directly to an interview Wilson gave eighteen years ago for the Asbury Park Press, where he was asked about recent movies he had seen.
Wilson’s reply was both unexpected and earnest. He said,
“Well, I’ve only seen one in the last couple of years. It’s called Norbit by Eddie Murphy,”
and went on to call Norbit a “fantastic movie” and “very funny.” When pressed further for his favorite film, he simply answered “Norbit.”
Understanding Norbit’s Infamy and Wilson’s Unique Praise
Norbit, starring Eddie Murphy in multiple outlandish roles and loaded with offensive stereotypes, quickly gained notoriety upon its release. The 2007 film relied heavily on lowbrow humor and fat jokes, with many critics considering it a nadir in Murphy’s filmography. The movie’s impact was significant beyond reviews: as Murphy seemed poised for Oscar recognition for Dreamgirls, Norbit’s massive $60 million marketing campaign coincided with Academy Award voting, damaging his Oscar chances in what became known as the “Norbit effect”—the way a bad movie can derail an actor’s award momentum, a term Entertainment Weekly would later coin.
Despite harsh reviews and the film’s role in Murphy’s lost Oscar shot, Wilson’s advocacy for Norbit stood out. His unexpected affection for the maligned comedy is now drawing a new generation of viewers to the film as fans pay him tribute in their own, peculiar way.
Fans React Online with Emotion and Critique
The tribute to Wilson has taken a distinctly surreal turn on platforms like Letterboxd. Noted writer Zach Schonfeld observed that Norbit’s Letterboxd page was suddenly overflowing with new reviews—many written in direct tribute to Wilson’s unusual cinematic taste and reflecting on the context of his death.
Sentiment among these reviews is intensely conflicted. With emotions running high, many users gave the film scathing scores but acknowledged they were viewing it as part of a larger homage. Some responses were terse, such as
“Missing Brian Wilson like a mfer rn,”
—a user awarded just half a star.
One reviewer stated,
“This was Brian Wilson’s favorite film. Decided to watch it in his honor tonight. A terrifying horror film in which everyone you’ve ever met is played by Eddie Murphy,”
—offering a two-and-a-half star assessment. Another was more forceful, writing,
“Supposedly Brian Wilson’s favorite movie. RIP Brian. This is obviously terrible. Tasteless, horribly offensive stuff. Incredibly racist, misogynistic, and fatphobic,”
—the review pulled no punches in its critique.
Amid harsh criticism, there was also a sense of tenderness for Wilson himself. A three-and-a-half star reviewer reflected,
“I watched this through Brian Wilson’s eyes tonight.”
Others wrestled with the meaning of Wilson’s attachment to a film almost universally considered poor, offering,
“it’s admirable that Brian Wilson found something to like in this.”
Wilson’s Legacy and the Lasting Appeal of Unconventional Tributes
These reviews, no matter how negative toward the movie itself, underscore a profound affection for Brian Wilson as an artist. The swelling interest in Norbit is less about the film’s quality and more about respecting an idiosyncratic aspect of Wilson’s legacy, no matter how baffling it may seem. The emotional and conflicted tone of the viewer commentary, multiplied across tags and influence from entities like Eddie Murphy and the Academy, shows how culture responds to the passing of beloved figures in unexpected ways.
As the Letterboxd tributes continue, it’s clear that the act of revisiting Norbit has evolved into a cathartic, communal ritual—a bittersweet but honest reflection of the strange ways fans come together to remember their heroes, quirks and all. Whether this surge will lead to any reevaluation of Norbit itself remains to be seen, but for now, Brian Wilson’s odd favorite movie is enjoying a strange moment in the spotlight.
