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Norbit

Norbit is a 2007 American romantic comedy film directed by Brian Robbins and starring Eddie Murphy, Thandiwe Newton, Terry Crews, and Cuba Gooding Jr.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Norbit is a 2007 American romantic comedy film directed by Brian Robbins and starring Eddie Murphy, Thandiwe Newton, Terry Crews, and Cuba Gooding Jr. The film follows a mild-mannered man who is trapped in an unhappy marriage and reconnects with his childhood crush. It was released in the United States on February 9, 2007.

Plot

Norbit follows a shy man who has endured a difficult life, including an unhappy marriage to Rasputia, before reconnecting with Kate, his childhood sweetheart.

Production

The film was directed by Brian Robbins and produced through studios including DreamWorks-associated production companies and Paramount Pictures as distributor.

Release and reception

Norbit opened in U.S. theatres on February 9, 2007 and received a PG-13 rating. Public-facing reviews and database listings describe it as a broad comedy with crude and sexual humor.

Cast

The principal cast includes Eddie Murphy, Thandiwe Newton, Terry Crews, Clifton Powell, and Cuba Gooding Jr.

Key facts

  • The film was directed by Brian Robbins and released in 2007.
  • Eddie Murphy plays the title character and also appears in multiple other roles in the film.
  • The story centres on Norbit, who is married to Rasputia and reunites with his childhood sweetheart, Kate.
  • It was released by Paramount Pictures and is rated PG-13 for crude and sexual humor, some nudity, and language.
  • The film is generally classified as a comedy-romance.
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Canadian context

Norbit was distributed internationally and is part of the mainstream Hollywood comedy catalogue that has been available to Canadian audiences through theatrical release and later home-entertainment and streaming platforms.

Frequently asked questions

What is Norbit?
Norbit is a 2007 American romantic comedy film directed by Brian Robbins and starring Eddie Murphy.
Who stars in Norbit?
The main cast includes Eddie Murphy, Thandiwe Newton, Terry Crews, Clifton Powell, and Cuba Gooding Jr.
When was Norbit released?
Norbit was released in U.S. theatres on February 9, 2007.
What is Norbit about?
It centres on a mild-mannered man trapped in an unhappy marriage who reunites with his childhood crush and looks for a way to be with her.
What genre is Norbit?
It is generally categorized as a comedy and romance, with some sources calling it a romantic comedy.

References

  1. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0477051/
    Supports: Release year, title, rating, and plot synopsis.
  2. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/norbit
    Supports: Director, producers, writers, distributor, rating, genre, release date, runtime, and synopsis.
  3. IMDbPro — https://pro.imdb.com/title/tt0477051?rf=mojo_tt_summary
    Supports: Runtime, release date, genre, and awards note.
  4. Common Sense Media — https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/norbit
    Supports: Cast, director, runtime, MPAA rating, and content description.
  5. Amblin Entertainment — https://amblin.com/movie/norbit/
    Supports: Plot details and character names.
  6. Netflix — https://www.netflix.com/title/70053831
    Supports: Title, year, genre, and cast listing.
  7. Reelviews — https://www.reelviews.net/reelviews/norbit
    Supports: Cast, screenplay, distributor, release date, MPAA rating, and genre.
  8. Metacritic — https://www.metacritic.com/movie/norbit/details/
    Supports: Release date, duration, and genre classification.