In this week’s article “It Never Makes Sense What People Choose to Watch on Streamers,” we discuss how the comedy film “Norbit” has somehow become one of the most-watched movies on Amazon’s Prime Video. I would like to introduce it to you. This very random news is brought to you thanks to viewership Data site FlixPatrolat the time of publication, the widely criticized Eddie Murphy vehicle sits at No. 5 on the list of the 10 most-watched Prime Video movies in North America. Of course, why not?
To be fair to “Norbit,” Adam Sandler’s “The Longest Yard” also makes the list, and two Christmas movies, “Almost Christmas” and “The Holiday,” have already reached prime prime. It seems like subscribers are having a strange week overall. Upper management. Still, more people watch “Norbit” than watch new Prime Video originals, such as the Peter Dinklage and Josh Brolin-starring action comedy “Brothers” (currently No. 7 on the streaming list) and its unique format. It is noteworthy that many people reportedly do this. -Blending documentary “Megan Thee Stallion: In Her Own Words” (currently in the 10th slot). However, the logic here is very clear. People really like Eddie Murphy’s comedy, even though it’s almost widely considered to be one of the worst works of his career.
“Norbit” is a bad comedy in the worst sense of the word.
To explain “Norbit” to those who haven’t seen it yet, we have to flashback to a particularly strange time in American comedy: 2007. It was a time when the funniest thing you could do was quote McLovin from. Michael Scott from “Superbad” and “The Office.” The humor presented is an uneasy mix between the big-hearted and pathetic and the quirky and relatable, the latter being more akin to aesthetics like “Little Miss Sunshine” and “Juno.” It was represented by “indie” films. Despite some artists and viewers clearly trying to push back against a decade personified by (admittedly very funny) Will Farrell movies and Seth MacFarlane-esque humor, it seems insensitive today. Much of what is believed to be was played for laughs even 17 years ago. .
And then there was “Norbit.” The Eddie Murphy movie, which was a complete flop when it first came out, stars stand-up comedian and Saturday Night Live alum Eddie Murphy in three different roles. Although he plays the nerdy title character, he also embodies Norbit’s wife Rasputia. Rasputia is an overweight woman whose physique is played for laughs, overcontrolling her meek husband. For no particular reason, Murphy also plays a Chinese man named Mr. Wong. Yellowface and fat suits are just the tip of the iceberg for this movie, which currently has an abysmal rating of 9% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Norbit may have been the catalyst for Murphy’s acting hiatus
“‘Norbit’ is supposed to be a heartfelt comedy, but the Farrelly brothers’ exercise in obesity and prosthetics, ‘Shallow Hal,’ makes it look like ‘Schindler’s List,'” George Parasingal of the Sydney Morning Herald said. speaks I wrote it at the time. “The painfully predictable jokes revolve around just about every lame stereotype in the book, from black American pimps to Italian and Chinese restaurateurs, to overweight black people.” The film received eight Razzie Award nominations and is cited by many as Murphy’s worst film. “Norbit” is made even stranger by the fact that it was released just one year after “Dreamgirls,” for which Bill Condon won a SAG Award, the high point of Bill Condon’s filmography. In 2021, Murphy said that winning a Razzie Award for “a shitty movie” inspired him to take a break, hinting that “Norbit” may have been part of the reason he took a break from acting.
We’re not sure why “Norbit” is being watched on Prime Video this week, but it might have something to do with its supporting cast, which includes Terry Crews, Thandiwe Newton, Cuba Gooding Jr., and Kristen Schaal. Maybe. If you succumb to the algorithm and end up watching what might have been the worst movie of 2007, at least cleanse your palate afterwards. One of Murphy’s best films, “Dolmite Is My Name,” can be seen on Netflix.
