Eddie Murphy’s Hollywood journey has always been anything but predictable — and his latest takes on his own filmography prove exactly that. In a delightfully candid moment that’s pure Murphy, the comedy icon recently doubled down on defending his notorious 2007 film Norbit, while simultaneously raising eyebrows with his personal “Mount Rushmore” of career highlights.
“I love Norbit,” Murphy declared during a Complex interview, delivering the statement with the kind of unapologetic swagger that’s defined his four-decade reign in Hollywood. The timing of this defense feels particularly intriguing as we approach 2025’s anticipated comedy renaissance, where the industry seems desperate for bold, boundary-pushing humor.
Let’s talk about that elephant in the room — or rather, that prosthetic-laden character that earned Murphy multiple Razzie nominations. Norbit, currently sitting at a brutal 9% on Rotten Tomatoes (ouch), dropped right when Murphy was riding high on Oscar buzz for Dreamgirls. Talk about cosmic timing. Critics practically developed carpal tunnel syndrome writing think pieces about how this broad comedy might derail Murphy’s Academy Awards chances.
But here’s where it gets juicy — while critics were clutching their pearls, audiences were clutching their sides laughing all the way to the box office. Norbit hauled in $159 million against its $60 million budget. Not too shabby for a film that some claimed might end careers.
Perhaps even more fascinating is Murphy’s recent curation of his own legacy. When asked to name his personal Mount Rushmore of films, his choices read like a masterclass in career introspection: Trading Places, The Nutty Professor, Dreamgirls, and Shrek. Hold up — no Beverly Hills Cop? The film that transformed him from SNL hotshot to bonafide movie star somehow didn’t make the cut.
Murphy initially included 48 Hrs. in his lineup before swapping it out for Dreamgirls, describing the latter as his “most complete performance.” It’s the kind of artistic self-reflection that feels refreshingly honest in an era where every celebrity interview seems filtered through layers of PR polish.
His career stands as a testament to Hollywood’s evolving landscape — for every Pluto Nash misfire, there’s a Dolemite Is My Name triumph waiting in the wings. As streaming platforms continue reshaping the industry (looking at you, Netflix’s upcoming slate), Murphy’s ability to bounce between critical darlings and crowd-pleasers seems more relevant than ever.
And about those Razzie nominations, including that particularly stinging “worst actor of the decade” nod? Murphy’s response captures his enduring appeal perfectly: “Come on now, shit ain’t that bad.” In an industry that takes itself way too seriously sometimes, his ability to laugh at himself while standing firm on his creative choices feels like a breath of fresh air.
After all, in a world where every tweet becomes a headline and every film choice faces instant judgment, there’s something admirable about an artist who can own both the hits and the misses with equal parts humor and conviction. Now that’s what you call star power.
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