The timing could not have been worse. Dreamgirls was a glossy, prestige picture. Norbit was a broad, critically panned comedy featuring Murphy in a fat suit, engaging in humor that many critics found reg
Critics largely panned the film, with many calling it a low point in Eddie Murphy's career Offensive Stereotypes
In 2025, the portrayal of the elderly, fobby Chinese Mr. Wong feels dated and cringe-inducing. It is a product of the "Ace Ventura" era of racial humor. That said, Murphy’s commitment to the voice and the physical tics is unwavering. Mr. Wong serves as the moral heart, constantly telling Norbit, "You must respect the pussy." Norbit
On paper, Norbit is a romantic comedy. The story follows Norbit Albert Rice, a meek, mild-mannered man who was abandoned as a baby at the Golden Wonton Restaurant and orphanage, run by the eccentric Mr. Wong.
To look back at Norbit is to look at a fascinating case study in Hollywood history. It is a film that simultaneously showcases the technical brilliance of special effects makeup, the daring (and often problematic) nature of broad comedy, and the strange political mechanics of the Academy Awards. Love it or hate it, Norbit remains a significant footnote in the career of one of cinema’s greatest comedians. The timing could not have been worse
Years later, Norbit is trapped in a miserable marriage with Rasputia, working for her family’s construction company. When Kate returns to town to buy the orphanage, Norbit sees a chance at true love. However, he must contend with Rasputia’s tyranny, her three criminal brothers, and a scheming fiancé named Deion Hughes.
If the Millennials rejected Norbit , Gen Z has embraced it. A decade after its release, the film found second life on Twitter (X) and TikTok. Why? Wong feels dated and cringe-inducing
Mine is still: “I’m gonna get you, Norbit!” (while shaking the entire house).
But here is the contradiction: Norbit made money. On a $60 million budget, it grossed nearly $160 million worldwide. Why? Because the audience understood what the critics didn't: Norbit is not trying to be Citizen Kane . It is trying to be a cartoon.
: This is perhaps their most recognized division. Norbit is a leader in high-resolution wideband multibeam sonars . Their systems, such as the iWBMSh , are used globally for everything from mapping unique column formations in Greenland's fjords to measuring seafloor acoustic backscatter for marine research.
Norbit walked so that chaotic movie Twitter discourse could run.