However, general audiences responded with overwhelming enthusiasm. The film opened at number one at the North American box office, grossing over $34 million in its four-day holiday opening weekend. It eventually went on to gross over , proving to be a highly profitable venture for DreamWorks Pictures and Paramount Pictures. Budget $60 Million Global Box Office $159.3 Million Opening Weekend $34.2 Million Accolades Academy Award Nominee (Best Makeup) Cultural Legacy and Re-evaluation
While critics saw a vulgar, offensive mess, the internet saw a goldmine. is arguably the most quotable and meme-able Eddie Murphy movie since Coming to America .
Released in 2007 and directed by Brian Robbins, Norbit is a slapstick comedy featuring Eddie Murphy in three distinct roles: the mild-mannered Norbit Rice, his domineering wife Rasputia Latimore, and the orphanage owner Mr. Wong. Despite being a significant commercial success , earning over $159 million worldwide, the film is a frequent subject of academic study regarding its use of stereotypes and its impact on the career of its lead actor.
What makes technically fascinating is that Eddie Murphy doesn't just play two roles; he plays three primary characters, often interacting with himself via groundbreaking (for 2007) split-screen and body-double technology.
: The shy, nerdy, and good-hearted protagonist raised in an orphanage.
Norbit’s success is built on several key strategic pillars:
Despite—or perhaps because of—its critical drubbing, Norbit has never fully faded from the cultural conversation. Over time, it has found a loyal audience. The film’s audience score on Rotten Tomatoes sits at a more favorable 53%, suggesting many viewers find genuine laughs in its unapologetic and outrageous humor. For many, the film is a guilty pleasure, with Eddie Murphy's hilarious physicality and the sheer audacity of its concept still able to generate laughs.
