Eddie Murphy Defends ‘Norbit’ After Oscar Nod: “S—t Ain’t That Bad,” Despite Razzie Awards Backlash

Eddie Murphy has firmly stood by his 2007 comedy Norbit, despite the film receiving harsh criticism and multiple Golden Raspberry Awards. His defense came shortly after reflecting on his career during an interview on Complex’s series 360 With Speedy Morman, where he also referenced his Oscar nomination for Dreamgirls.

During the conversation, Murphy was asked about his best films, but he found it easier to name the projects he considered his worst. While some critics include Norbit among those, Murphy rejected that notion, expressing pride in the film’s humor and creation. He wrote Norbit with his brother Charlie Murphy and emphasized that the movie represented a different creative direction following his recognition by the Academy.

A Closer Look at ‘Norbit’s’ Reception and Murphy’s Perspective

Norbit was released in February 2007, just a few months after Murphy’s acclaimed role as Jimmy “Thunder” Early in Dreamgirls earned him an Oscar nomination the previous December. Despite the timing, the film met with significant backlash, sweeping several Razzie Awards including Worst Picture, Worst Actor, Worst Supporting Actor, and Worst Supporting Actress.

Murphy addressed the disconnect between his Oscar nod and Razzie wins by saying,

“‘Norbit’ came out right after I got that Oscar nomination. There were articles like, ‘How can he get an Oscar, he did this?’ They’re two different movies. I wrote ‘Norbit’ with my brother, Charlie [Murphy], and we think ‘Norbit’ is funny. Here’s the thing with ‘Norbit,’ it came out, it got voted for Razzies for Worst Actor of the Decade, Worst Actor’ and Worst Actress. They gave me a Razzy for Worst Actress, Worst Actor and Worst Actor of the Decade. And I was like, ‘Come on now, s—t ain’t that bad.’”

—Eddie Murphy

He repeated his fondness for the film later in the interview, stressing that some scenes still make him laugh.

“I like ‘Norbit.’ To this day, I like ‘Norbit.’ There’s stuff in ‘Norbit’ that makes me laugh.”

—Eddie Murphy

Balancing Career Highlights with Challenging Choices

Regarding his career highs, Murphy identified Coming to America, Shrek, Dreamgirls, 48 Hours, and Nutty Professor as some of his top films. He especially praised Nutty Professor for showcasing his skills as both an actor and comedian.

The interview also provided insight into Murphy’s decision-making process around less successful projects. Notably, he revealed that he had been considered for Chris Tucker’s role in Rush Hour but chose to star in Holy Man instead. Reflecting on this choice, Murphy explained,

“They came to me, it was two scripts, It was ‘Rush Hour,’ it’s going to be action-comedy and you gon’ be with Jackie Chan, and it’s action it’s summertime, running, all this physical stuff. This other was ‘you in a robe in Miami’ — it was a no-brainer. We went to Miami and made a horrendous film, but it was easy. I have to stop saying horrendous. The movie was soft, it wasn’t a great picture.”

—Eddie Murphy

The Ongoing Impact and Legacy of Murphy’s Work

Eddie Murphy’s defense of Norbit highlights the complexity of his career, where critical acclaim and harsh criticism have coexisted. His perspective offers a reminder that even widely panned films can hold personal and comedic value for their creators. As Murphy continues reflecting on his diverse body of work, his unapologetic stance on projects like Norbit signals his commitment to creative freedom and humor, regardless of outside opinions.