Norbit
Norbit is a 2007 American slapstick comedy film directed by Brian Robbins and starring Eddie Murphy in the triple lead roles of the timid Norbit Albert Rice, his massively obese and tyrannical wife Rasputia Latimore, and the orphanage proprietor Mr. Wong.[1] The story depicts Norbit's lifelong subjugation under Rasputia's control, from his abandonment as an infant at Mr. Wong's Golden Wonton orphanage to his coerced marriage, culminating in his desperate bid to thwart Rasputia's brothers' scheme to seize the orphanage and reunite with his childhood love interest Kate.[1] Produced by DreamWorks Pictures on a $60 million budget, the film achieved substantial commercial viability by earning $159 million globally, including $95 million domestically, thereby ranking as Eddie Murphy's fourteenth number-one box office opening.[2][3] Notwithstanding this financial triumph, Norbit garnered widespread critical derision, registering a mere 9% approval rating for its reliance on gross-out gags, broad stereotypes, and perceived insensitivity toward body size and ethnicity.[4] The depiction of Rasputia provoked particular backlash, with protests from African American groups decrying it as endorsing derogatory tropes of black women as domineering and unappealing, alongside accusations of misogyny and homophobia in ancillary elements.[5][6][7] Murphy, who co-wrote the screenplay, has retrospectively affirmed the film's value as a cult favorite, contending that its execution merited less scorn than afforded by reviewers.[8]Story and characters
Plot
Norbit, a timid and mild-mannered man, recounts his childhood at the Golden Wonton orphanage, which doubles as a Chinese restaurant operated by the strict proprietor Mr. Wong. Abandoned as an infant when his parents' car discarded him onto the orphanage steps, Norbit forms a deep friendship with fellow orphan Kate, who arrives later and shares playful adventures with him, including building a treehouse.[4][9] Their bond is interrupted when young Norbit is bullied by playground twins, only to be "rescued" by the aggressive, overweight Rasputia Latimore, who intimidates the bullies and declares that he will marry her in the future, setting the stage for his lifelong subjugation.[3] As an adult, Norbit remains at the orphanage, working under Mr. Wong while trapped in a coercive marriage to the now massively obese and tyrannical Rasputia, whose emotional and physical abuse dominates his life. Rasputia's family—her thuggish brothers Big Black Jack, Blue, and Brown, along with their enabling mother—further enforces control through intimidation and violence, preventing Norbit from leaving despite his inventions and mild successes at the orphanage. Rasputia micromanages Norbit's every move, from his job at a local company to household duties, while indulging in gluttony and infidelity, including a later affair with her personal trainer Buster.[1][10] The plot escalates when Kate returns to town as a successful businesswoman, intending to purchase and renovate the financially struggling orphanage to preserve it as a home for children. Engaged to the sleazy, bankrupt Deion Wilson, Kate enlists Norbit's help in the deal, rekindling their childhood affection and prompting Norbit to envision escape from Rasputia. However, Rasputia's brothers scheme to buy the property themselves to demolish it for a strip club, pressuring Mr. Wong with threats and revealing their intent to profit from vice over community welfare. Norbit attempts to sabotage the brothers' plans and expose Deion's fraud, but Rasputia discovers his growing closeness to Kate and retaliates with escalating cruelty, including attempts to undermine the orphanage sale.[11] Tensions culminate in revelations of Rasputia's deceptions, such as her affair and her family's criminal ties, forcing Norbit to confront her publicly during a town event. In a chase sequence, Rasputia pursues Norbit in a golf cart, but her excessive weight causes it to crash into a pool, humiliating her and symbolizing the collapse of her dominance. Norbit rejects Rasputia's dysfunction, divorces her on grounds of infidelity, attempted harm, and the orphanage sabotage plot, then reunites with Kate after she ends her engagement. The resolution sees the orphanage saved through Norbit's ingenuity and loyalty, Mr. Wong reconciling with his sons, and Norbit achieving personal redemption by embracing self-respect, true partnership, and traditional family stability over coercive relationships.[1][10]Cast
Eddie Murphy starred in the lead triple role as Norbit Albert Rice, a timid and submissive bank accountant; Rasputia Latimore, his massively overweight and domineering wife; and Mr. Wong, the acerbic Chinese owner of the Golden Wonton orphanage where Norbit grew up.[12][13] Thandie Newton portrayed Kate Thomas, Norbit's kind-hearted childhood friend and idealized romantic counterpart.[12][14] Cuba Gooding Jr. played Deion Hughes, Rasputia's slick and untrustworthy brother involved in questionable schemes.[12][15] The Latimore family, Rasputia's thuggish relatives, were depicted by Terry Crews as the hulking Big Jack Latimore; Lester Speight as the equally imposing Blue Latimore; and Clifton Powell as the scheming Earl Latimore.[12][13] Additional supporting roles included Eddie Griffin as Pope Sweet Jesus, a flamboyant pimp; Katt Williams as Morris, a streetwise hustler; and Charlie Murphy as Lloyd, a member of the orphanage staff.[12][14]Production
Development
Eddie Murphy co-wrote the original screenplay for Norbit with his brother Charlie Murphy, leveraging Murphy's prior success in physical comedy and multi-character portrayals, as demonstrated in films like The Nutty Professor (1996), where he employed prosthetics for varied roles.[16] [17] A revised draft was contributed by screenwriters Jay Scherick and David Ronn, refining the story of a timid man trapped in an abusive marriage to an obese woman, incorporating broad slapstick elements centered on family dynamics and relational dysfunction.[18] DreamWorks Pictures acquired and greenlit the project for development in the mid-2000s, allocating a production budget of $60 million to support Murphy's dual role as lead actor and producer.[2] [1] The script's emphasis on exaggerated humor, including Murphy's portrayal of the domineering Rasputia via extensive prosthetics, aligned with the studio's interest in family-oriented comedies with satirical undertones on personal relationships and body image.[17] In August 2005, Brian Robbins was selected as director, replacing an initial choice and bringing his experience from prior comedy features such as Varsity Blues (1999).[18] This hiring facilitated the transition from script finalization to pre-production planning, with a revised draft dated April 2005 indicating active conceptualization prior to principal photography.[19]Filming
Principal photography for Norbit took place primarily in the Los Angeles area during 2006.[20] Key locations included the Universal Studios backlot in Universal City, where the suburban home on "Elm Street" was filmed, as well as Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank for town square sequences and the Raging Waters water park for specific scenes.[21] Additional shooting occurred at Paramount Ranch and in Agoura Hills.[22] Sets were constructed to represent the orphanage and suburban environments central to the plot, leveraging studio facilities for controlled physical comedy sequences involving chases and exaggerated antics.[23] Eddie Murphy portrayed multiple characters, requiring extensive prosthetics and makeup designed by special effects artist Rick Baker. The process involved sculpting, molding, and casting to create realistic transformations, particularly for the obese Rasputia Latimore, whose costume and appliances demanded precise fitting to enable Murphy's performance in demanding physical scenes.[24] Baker's team spent nine months developing the suits for Murphy's roles as Norbit, Rasputia, and Mr. Wong, with the Mr. Wong facial mask alone taking a month to perfect.[25] For interactions between Rasputia and Norbit, a stand-in actress, Lauren Miller, wore a matched prosthetic bodysuit to facilitate split-screen or composite shots, ensuring seamless visual integration during summer shoots focused on comedic timing and movement.[26] Filming multiple roles presented logistical challenges, as Murphy alternated between characters on set, necessitating rapid makeup applications and removals to maintain production pace amid the film's emphasis on slapstick humor.[27] No major on-set incidents were reported, though the prosthetics' weight and coverage limited mobility, requiring innovations in application techniques to support extended takes of Rasputia's aggressive physicality.[28]Release
Marketing and premiere
 The promotional campaign for Norbit featured trailers emphasizing Eddie Murphy's dual roles as the meek protagonist Norbit and the overbearing Rasputia, spotlighting slapstick elements to appeal to audiences familiar with Murphy's comedic style.[29] The first theatrical trailer debuted on October 3, 2006, distributed through online platforms and preceding films in theaters.[29] Marketing efforts positioned the film as a lighthearted return to Murphy's humor roots, timed shortly after his critically acclaimed performance in Dreamgirls, which earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor announced on January 23, 2007.[30] DreamWorks Pictures, responsible for the campaign, targeted broad comedy and family demographics through television spots and print ads focusing on the film's exaggerated physical comedy.[31] The world premiere occurred on February 8, 2007, at the Mann Village Theatre in Westwood, California, drawing cast members such as Eddie Murphy, Thandiwe Newton, and Cuba Gooding Jr., one day prior to the wide release.[32] This event generated pre-release buzz via media coverage of red carpet arrivals and interviews highlighting the film's production.[32]Box office performance
Norbit was released on February 9, 2007, and topped the North American box office during its opening weekend, earning $34,195,434 from 3,136 theaters.[2] The film's debut benefited from its proximity to Valentine's Day on February 14, a period that historically boosts attendance for comedies with romantic elements, combined with Eddie Murphy's established draw as a comedian in multiple roles.[33] Despite this strong start, representing about 36% of its eventual domestic total, the movie experienced typical front-loaded performance for broad comedies, with a domestic multiplier of 2.80 times the opening weekend gross.[34] The film ultimately grossed $95,673,607 in the United States and Canada.[2] Internationally, it added $64,140,883 across markets including Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.[2] This yielded a worldwide total of $159,814,490 against a production budget of $60 million, marking a profitable return for DreamWorks Pictures and Paramount Pictures, with the gross exceeding the budget by over 166%.[1][2]| Territory | Gross Earnings |
|---|---|
| Domestic (US & Canada) | $95,673,607 |
| International | $64,140,883 |
| Worldwide | $159,814,490 |