With the Golden Globes, SAG Awards and BAFTA Awards behind us, we are coming to the end of this year’s award season. However, it is the Oscars that everyone is anticipating. Despite winning other awards leading up to this event, there is something that can halt a performer from getting that final gold statue. This instance is dubbed the Norbit Effect.

Infamously named after the 2007 film “Norbit,” the term was coined when star Eddie Murphy failed to win the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in “Dreamgirls.” He was the best bet to get the statue after winning the Golden Globe and SAG for it.

Everyone credits “Norbit” for Murphy’s loss, as the film, which came out right before the ceremony, was widely panned by critics and named one of the worst films of the year. From that point on, critics have been more aware of the Norbit Effect threat to others.

One actor that better watch his back this year is, surprisingly, Hugh Jackman. Jackman’s performance in “Les Miserables” has wooed critics and audiences, already getting him a Golden Globe. Competition is tough this year, though, especially with front runners such as Daniel Day-Lewis who already beat him for the SAG as well as grabbing the Golden Globe for Actor in a Drama.

What definitely isn’t going to help Jackman? His “Norbit,” which is this year’s recent film “Movie 43.” The film, named after being the producer’s 43rd film as well as starring 43 actors and actresses, was slammed by critics and currently holds a 5 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Jessica Chastain also has some cause to worry. Nominated for her role in this year’s controversial yet highly talked about “Zero Dark Thirty,” the “Norbit” threatening her isn’t as bad as Jackman’s. “Mama,” which came out almost a month ago, will not be considered one of this year’s greatest horror films yet the reviews were good enough to not call it a flop either.

The film currently holds a 63 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes and got three out of four stars from critic Richard Roeper. Entertainment Weekly even commented, “Doubtful. She landed on Oscar’s radar last year for “The Help” and the momentum’s in her favor for this prestige project.” While there is the off chance it might hurt Chastain, it’s not the least of her troubles since Jennifer Lawrence is putting up a valiant effort to get the Oscar this year for her role in “Silver Linings Playbook.”

Naomi Watts is also in the same boat as Jackman as she too had a role in “Movie 43,” placing a dark shadow on her otherwise fantastic role in this year’s “The Impossible.” It won’t matter much, though, with Chastain and Lawrence already battling it out for the statue and predictions placing Watts behind these two leading ladies.

While the Norbit Effect isn’t present every year nor does it catch too many victims in its clutches when it is around, it is still a threat performers should not take lightly. This year, though, will prove to be interesting as Jackman and Chastain have powerful and acclaimed roles, so powerful in fact that they may be able to break the curse that is “Norbit.”