9 Films That Actually Benefited From Bad Reviews
3. Norbit (2007)
Eddie Murphy is a ridiculously talented man.
Whether he's dressed in a full leather suit, strutting around on a stage performing stand-up, or he is lighting up the big-screen as rebellious cop, Axel Foley, in Beverley Hills Cop, this guy could make you laugh.
He dabbled into transformative comedy in 1996's The Nutty Professor remake and gained decent praise (and visual size) for his risky trip into prosthetics. Whereas Nutty Professor found itself an audience, 2007's Norbit appeared to have bitten off more than it could chew.
Murphy obviously took it upon himself to portray his entire Klump family in the prior comedy, inspiring him to attempt something even more daring in the latter - playing both individuals in a toxic relationship (one being a noticeably larger female, Rasputia).
Opening to a dismal 9% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, Paramount didn't have much choice than to think fast to salvage some interest in, the recently Oscar Nominated, star.
In one advertisement of the movie, the Chicago Tribune claimed that 'Eddie Murphy's comic skills are immense,' which left out the key qualifier 'so why does he want to make these huge, belching spectaculars, movies as swollen, monstrous and full of hot air as Rasputia herself'.
Ouch.
It didn't hurt the film's earnings, though, with nearly $160 million off a $60million budget.