Eddie Murphy does not consider his 2007 comedy Norbit among his worst films, placing it above at least two other movies on his personal list of flops. In an interview with Complex 360 host Speedy Morman, Murphy expressed affection for Norbit, which he co-wrote with his brother Charlie, noting that the film contains moments that still make him laugh.
“I wrote Norbit with my brother Charlie, and we think Norbit is fun. To this day, I like Norbit. There’s stuff in Norbit that makes me laugh.”
—Eddie Murphy, Actor and Comedian
He acknowledged, however, that the timing of Norbit’s release contributed to its harsh reception. Coming out shortly after Murphy earned an Oscar nomination for his role in Dreamgirls, the stark contrast between the two films fueled critical backlash.
“You know, Norbit came out right after I got the Oscar nomination (for Dreamgirls). There were articles like, ‘How can he get an Oscar? He did this.’”
—Eddie Murphy, Actor and Comedian
While Norbit received several Razzie nominations and Murphy won awards for Worst Actor, Worst Actress, and Worst Actor of the Decade, he views the criticism as exaggerated, emphasizing the movie is not as bad as its detractors claim.
“Come on, man,” Murphy said with a laugh. “The shit ain’t that bad.”
Films Murphy Considers More Disappointing Than ‘Norbit’
Murphy has identified two films he places below Norbit in terms of failure: The Adventures of Pluto Nash and Holy Man. He regrets choosing Holy Man over the opportunity to star alongside Jackie Chan in Rush Hour, a decision influenced by contrasting script offerings from the studio.
“It’s Rush Hour and it’s going to be action comedy and you’re going to be with Jackie Chan and it’s action, summertime, running, all this physical stuff,”
Murphy recalled.
“And this other one (Holy Man) was you in a robe in Miami. I was like, ‘It’s a no-brainer.’ And we went to Miami and made a horrendous film.”
—Eddie Murphy, Actor and Comedian
Murphy also revealed he was originally considered for the lead in Driving Miss Daisy, but declined because it did not fit his career direction at the time.
“I was the original for Driving Miss Daisy. That was actually developed for me,”
he said.
“I wasn’t doing shit like that back then. I was like, I ain’t driving no Miss Daisy.”
—Eddie Murphy, Actor and Comedian
Critical and Audience Views on Eddie Murphy’s Less Successful Films
According to Rotten Tomatoes, critics rank Norbit as Murphy’s third worst movie, behind The Adventures of Pluto Nash and 2012’s A Thousand Words, the latter holding a rare zero percent rating. Nonetheless, critical opinion contrasts sharply with certain fan reactions.
Brian Wilson, the late Beach Boys co-founder, named Norbit his favorite movie of 2007. Audience scores reflect a divided reception, with 53 percent of movie-goers on Rotten Tomatoes rating Norbit positively. The film also performed well commercially, opening at number one in theaters and grossing over $150 million worldwide, a financial success that pleased Murphy and his brother Charlie.
The Broader Context of Murphy’s Career and Public Perception
Murphy’s career contains a mixture of critical acclaim and public backlash, with his Oscar nomination for Dreamgirls marking a high point of respect amid criticisms for some comedic choices. His acknowledgment of films he regrets and the timing of releases adds complexity to how his body of work is understood.
The divergence between Murphy’s perspective and outsider assessments highlights the tension many performers face when balancing artistic expression and audience expectations. His willingness to openly discuss overlooked missteps like Holy Man and declined roles demonstrates self-awareness within a career often scrutinized for both triumphs and failures.
