Norbit (2007)
Movie · 2007 · Comedy · 1h 42m · PG-13 · English
Curator score: 0.3/10 (275.4K ratings)
Tagline: Have you ever made a really big mistake?
A mild-mannered guy who is engaged to a monstrous woman meets the woman of his dreams, and schemes to find a way to be with her.
Ratings:
- Curator score: 0.3/10
- IMDb: 4.3/10
- Letterboxd: 2.35/5
- Rotten Tomatoes: 9%
- Metacritic: 27
- TMDB: 5.7/10
Director: Brian Robbins
Production: Davis Entertainment, DreamWorks Pictures
Cast: Eddie Murphy, Thandiwe Newton, Terry Crews, Clifton Powell, Lester Speight, Cuba Gooding Jr., Eddie Griffin, Katt Williams, Floyd Levine, Anthony Russell, Pat Crawford Brown, Jeanette Miller, Michael Colyar, Marlon Wayans, Alexis Rhee, Khamani Griffin, Austin Reid, Lindsey Sims-Lewis, China Anderson, Kristen Schaal
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
Curator Review
Verdict: A broad, aggressively crass studio comedy with a few committed performances and some cult-meme energy, but the humor is mostly dated, mean-spirited, and repetitive. It’s more likely to be endured as a curiosity or quote machine than enjoyed as a genuinely funny film.
Best for: Viewers chasing infamous 2000s comedy curiosities; Fans of outrageous makeup-driven character performances; People who enjoy so-bad-it’s-quotable movie nights
Skip if: You dislike crude, body-shaming, or stereotype-heavy humor; You want sharp writing or elegant farce; You’re sensitive to mean-spirited relationship comedy; You prefer comedies that age well
Overview: Norbit is one of those studio comedies that feels built around a single loud idea and then stretched until it squeals. Eddie Murphy is doing a lot of heavy lifting in multiple roles, and the makeup effects are elaborate, but the movie’s comic rhythm is mostly blunt-force repetition rather than escalation or wit.
Worth noting: There are flashes of absurdity that explain why it became a meme magnet, and some viewers will find a strange, almost hypnotic commitment in how far it goes. But the dominant tone is ugly: broad caricature, fat jokes, and a mean streak that undercuts any sweetness the story wants to claim.
Bottom line: As a curiosity, it has a certain late-2000s studio-comedy time-capsule value. As a recommendation, though, it’s hard to justify unless your goal is to sample a notorious punchline factory and see whether its reputation is earned.
Top Letterboxd reviews:
- Andrew: ILL SHOW YOU HOW A BITCH GO DOWN THE SLIDE
- MovieBoy: Transcends cinema. I’d give it 100 stars if I could. Jesus wept.
- Ian: I don't weigh no damn 300 lbs. I weigh 165! How YOU doin'?
- greyfrantika: rasputia has a kill count of at least 7
- Dale Taylor: Turkey Ass
Recommended similar titles:
- The Nutty Professor (1996 · Fantasy, Comedy, Romance · 1h 35m · PG-13 · Curator 1.2/10 (240.7K ratings))
A better showcase for a performer playing multiple exaggerated characters, with more invention and warmth behind the broad comedy.
- White Chicks (2004 · Comedy, Crime · 1h 49m · PG-13 · Curator 0.0/10 (4.5K ratings) · Where to watch: Hulu)
Another high-concept, makeup-heavy studio comedy that leans into absurdity while staying more intentionally playful.
- The Jerk (1979 · Comedy · 1h 34m · R · Curator 4.4/10 (69K ratings) · Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads)
Classic broad comedy built on a single comic persona, but with far sharper timing and more durable jokes.
- Coming to America (1988 · Comedy, Romance · 1h 57m · R · Curator 4.3/10 (488.2K ratings))
A much stronger Eddie Murphy comedy that balances character work, romance, and fish-out-of-water humor.
- Mrs. Doubtfire (1993 · Comedy, Drama, Family · 2h 5m · PG-13 · Curator 5.1/10 (793.3K ratings) · Where to watch: Disney Plus, Hulu, fuboTV)
A disguise comedy that mines identity chaos and domestic tension with more heart and cleaner structure.
- Tootsie (1982 · Comedy, Romance · 1h 56m · PG · Curator 7.7/10 (238.6K ratings) · Where to watch: Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads)
A classic mistaken-identity comedy that is smarter, more precise, and more observant about performance and gender roles.
- The Mask (1994 · Comedy, Fantasy, Crime · 1h 41m · PG-13 · Curator 4.2/10 (1.3M ratings) · Where to watch: TNT, TBS, tru TV)
For viewers who want loud, cartoonish comedy with a bigger sense of visual invention and momentum.
- The Birdcage (1996 · Comedy, Romance · 1h 59m · R · Curator 7.8/10 (359.1K ratings) · Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, Peacock Premium, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Peacock Premium Plus)
A farce about presentation and family pressure that is much sharper and more affectionate in its humor.
- Raising Arizona (1987 · Comedy, Crime · 1h 34m · PG-13 · Curator 7.5/10 (483.2K ratings))
A manic, offbeat comedy that embraces absurdity but with far more style and control.
- Dumb and Dumber (1994 · Comedy · 1h 47m · PG-13 · Curator 3.3/10 (885.7K ratings))
If the appeal is pure stupidity and quotable chaos, this is a much better-executed version of that impulse.
- Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997 · Comedy, Crime · 1h 29m · PG-13 · Curator 3.9/10 (620.8K ratings))
A broad character-comedy that commits fully to its ridiculousness while staying more inventive and self-aware.
- The Waterboy (1998 · Comedy · 1h 30m · PG-13 · Curator 0.1/10 (2K ratings) · Where to watch: Hulu)
A goofy, high-concept sports comedy with similar mainstream silliness but a more affectionate tone.
Topics: crude humor, farce, body comedy, relationship comedy, mean-spirited, 2000s, identity swap, makeup effects, cult curiosity, studio comedy
https://watchlist.tannermartz.com/apple/movie/norbit/9757
Norbit (2007)
Movie · 2007 · Comedy · 1h 42m · PG-13 · English
Curator score: 0.3/10 (275.4K ratings)
Have you ever made a really big mistake?
Overview A mild-mannered guy who is engaged to a monstrous woman meets the woman of his dreams, and schemes to find a way to be with her.
Ratings
Curator score: 0.3/10
IMDb: 4.3/10
Letterboxd: 2.35/5
Rotten Tomatoes: 9%
Metacritic: 27
TMDB: 5.7/10
Production Davis Entertainment, DreamWorks Pictures
Cast Eddie Murphy, Thandiwe Newton, Terry Crews, Clifton Powell, Lester Speight, Cuba Gooding Jr., Eddie Griffin, Katt Williams, Floyd Levine, Anthony Russell, Pat Crawford Brown, Jeanette Miller, Michael Colyar, Marlon Wayans, Alexis Rhee, Khamani Griffin, Austin Reid, Lindsey Sims-Lewis, China Anderson, Kristen Schaal
Where to watch Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
Curator Review
Verdict
A broad, aggressively crass studio comedy with a few committed performances and some cult-meme energy, but the humor is mostly dated, mean-spirited, and repetitive. It’s more likely to be endured as a curiosity or quote machine than enjoyed as a genuinely funny film.
Best for
Viewers chasing infamous 2000s comedy curiosities
Fans of outrageous makeup-driven character performances
People who enjoy so-bad-it’s-quotable movie nights
Skip if
You dislike crude, body-shaming, or stereotype-heavy humor
You want sharp writing or elegant farce
You’re sensitive to mean-spirited relationship comedy
You prefer comedies that age well
Overview
Norbit is one of those studio comedies that feels built around a single loud idea and then stretched until it squeals. Eddie Murphy is doing a lot of heavy lifting in multiple roles, and the makeup effects are elaborate, but the movie’s comic rhythm is mostly blunt-force repetition rather than escalation or wit.
Worth noting
There are flashes of absurdity that explain why it became a meme magnet, and some viewers will find a strange, almost hypnotic commitment in how far it goes. But the dominant tone is ugly: broad caricature, fat jokes, and a mean streak that undercuts any sweetness the story wants to claim.
Bottom line
As a curiosity, it has a certain late-2000s studio-comedy time-capsule value. As a recommendation, though, it’s hard to justify unless your goal is to sample a notorious punchline factory and see whether its reputation is earned.
Top Letterboxd reviews
Andrew (5★) · 3878 likes
ILL SHOW YOU HOW A BITCH GO DOWN THE SLIDE
MovieBoy (5★) · 2973 likes
Transcends cinema. I’d give it 100 stars if I could. Jesus wept.
Ian (3★) · 1819 likes
I don't weigh no damn 300 lbs. I weigh 165! How YOU doin'?
greyfrantika (0.5★) · 1546 likes
rasputia has a kill count of at least 7
Dale Taylor (5★) · 1267 likes
Turkey Ass
Recommended similar titles
1996 · Fantasy, Comedy, Romance · 1h 35m · PG-13 · Curator 1.2/10 (240.7K ratings)
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2004 · Comedy, Crime · 1h 49m · PG-13 · Curator 0.0/10 (4.5K ratings) · Where to watch: Hulu
Another high-concept, makeup-heavy studio comedy that leans into absurdity while staying more intentionally playful.
1979 · Comedy · 1h 34m · R · Curator 4.4/10 (69K ratings) · Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
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1988 · Comedy, Romance · 1h 57m · R · Curator 4.3/10 (488.2K ratings)
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1993 · Comedy, Drama, Family · 2h 5m · PG-13 · Curator 5.1/10 (793.3K ratings) · Where to watch: Disney Plus, Hulu, fuboTV
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1994 · Comedy, Fantasy, Crime · 1h 41m · PG-13 · Curator 4.2/10 (1.3M ratings) · Where to watch: TNT, TBS, tru TV
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1996 · Comedy, Romance · 1h 59m · R · Curator 7.8/10 (359.1K ratings) · Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, Peacock Premium, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Peacock Premium Plus
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1987 · Comedy, Crime · 1h 34m · PG-13 · Curator 7.5/10 (483.2K ratings)
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1994 · Comedy · 1h 47m · PG-13 · Curator 3.3/10 (885.7K ratings)
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1997 · Comedy, Crime · 1h 29m · PG-13 · Curator 3.9/10 (620.8K ratings)
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1998 · Comedy · 1h 30m · PG-13 · Curator 0.1/10 (2K ratings) · Where to watch: Hulu
A goofy, high-concept sports comedy with similar mainstream silliness but a more affectionate tone.
Topics
crude humor, farce, body comedy, relationship comedy, mean-spirited, 2000s, identity swap, makeup effects, cult curiosity, studio comedy
Open Norbit (2007) on Curator TV