Eddie Murphy Defends His Controversial Comedy Norbit While Calling Out His Real Worst Movies

Eddie Murphy is back in the spotlight for an unexpected reason: he’s openly defending his 2007 comedy Norbit, a film that critics tore apart but audiences turned into a box-office success. In a new interview, Murphy explained that he still genuinely likes the movie and believes the backlash surrounding it was blown out of proportion.

If you remember, Norbit featured Murphy in three major roles — the timid and gentle Norbit, his abusive and domineering wife Rasputia, and the eccentric orphanage owner Mr. Wong. The movie became widely known for its use of heavy makeup, exaggerated character designs, and humor centered around stereotypes. Critics hammered it for the same reasons, but Murphy says he still stands by the creative choices he and his late brother Charlie Murphy made while writing it.

In his interview with Complex (covered by outlets like People, Entertainment Weekly, and The Independent), Murphy addressed the long-running claim that Norbit damaged his awards momentum after his major performance in Dreamgirls. He had been nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, and many believe the loud negative conversations around Norbit, released shortly after, may have influenced the voting atmosphere.

Murphy pushed back on that narrative, saying the two films have nothing to do with each other. As quoted in coverage by People (People Magazine report), he explained that critics created a link where none existed. He emphasized that he takes pride in the film, especially since it was a passion project developed with his brother.

Despite the harsh reviews, Norbit earned nearly $159 million worldwide on a production budget of around $60 million, making it a financial win for Murphy and the studio. But while audiences showed up, critics delivered a brutal verdict. The film currently holds a 9% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, one of Murphy’s lowest scores on the platform. It also swept multiple Razzie Awards, including categories like Worst Actor, Worst Actress (due to Murphy playing Rasputia), and even Worst Actor of the Decade across all his roles.

Murphy didn’t shy away from discussing the Razzies either. In a report from Entertainment Weekly (EW coverage), he joked that the awards committee was being excessively harsh, noting that their reaction felt like outright hostility rather than fair criticism.

At the same time, he clarified that Norbit is not what he considers his worst film. He specifically called out The Adventures of Pluto Nash (2002) and Holy Man (1998) as the true low points in his filmography. According to Murphy, those movies deserved the negative reception much more than Norbit ever did.

Interestingly, some modern critics have come to Murphy’s defense. For example, certain writers have pointed out that Norbit’s multi-character structure showcases Murphy’s versatility, even if the humor itself hasn’t aged well. Others note that the film’s over-the-top approach might have been better received if it had been marketed differently or released in a less sensitive cultural climate.

For now, Murphy seems completely unfazed by the controversy that has followed Norbit for nearly two decades. He maintains that he enjoys the film, is proud of the work he put into it, and believes it deserves more credit for the commitment and craftsmanship behind the comedic chaos.

Whether audiences agree or not, Murphy’s renewed comments have reopened the conversation about Norbit—a movie once dismissed outright, but now getting a second look thanks to the star who created it.