Boyz n the Hood (1991)
Average Rating: 8.3/10
Reviews Counted: 49
Fresh: 47 | Rotten: 2
No consensus yet.
Average Rating: 7.6/10
Critic Reviews: 10
Fresh: 10 | Rotten: 0
No consensus yet.
liked it
Average Rating: 3.7/5
User Ratings: 127,541
My Rating
Movie Info
Director John Singleton's debut chronicles the trials and tribulations of three young African-American males growing up in South Central Los Angeles. When young Tre (Cuba Gooding Jr.), a bright underachiever, begins to show signs of trouble, his struggling professional mother (Angela Basset) sends him to live with his father (Lawrence Fishburne), a hard-nosed, no-nonsense disciplinarian. There he befriends Ricky (Morris Chestnut), a burgeoning football star, and Doughboy (Ice Cube, in a standout
Jul 12, 1991 Wide
Mar 6, 2001
Columbia Pictures
Watch It Now
Cast
-
Cuba Gooding Jr.
Tre Styles -
Morris Chestnut
Ricky Baker -
Ice Cube
Doughboy -
Angela Bassett
Reva Styles -
Laurence Fishburne
Furious Styles -
Nia Long
Brandi -
Tyra Ferrell
Mrs. Baker -
Meta King
Brandi's Mom -
Whitman Mayo
Old Man -
Desi Arnez Hines II
Tre-Age 10 -
Baha Jackson
Doughboy-Age 10 -
Donovan McCrary
Ricky-Age 10 -
Hudhail Al-Amir
SAT Man -
Lloyd Avery II
2nd Knucklehead -
Mia Bell
Female Club Member -
Lexie D. Bigham
Mad Dog -
Kenneth A. Brown
Little Chris -
Nicole Brown
Brandi-Age 10 -
Ceal
Sheryl -
Darneicea Corley
Keisha -
John Cothran Jr.
Lewis Crump -
Na'Blonka Durden
Trina -
Susan Falcon
Mrs. Olaf -
Jesse Lawrence Ferguson
Officer Coffey -
Dedrick D. Gobert
Dooky -
Redge Green
Chris -
Kareem J. Grimes
Ice Cream Truck Kid -
Tammy Hanson
Rosa -
Valentino Harrison
Bobby-Age 10 -
Dee Dee Jacobs
Renee -
Kirk Kinder
Officer Graham -
Regina King
Shalika -
Leanear Lane
2nd Gangster -
Don Nelson
1st Gangster -
Jimmy Lee Newman
Kid -
Malcolm Norrington
1st Knucklehead -
Alysia M. Rogers
Shanice -
Esther Scott
Tisha's Grandmother -
Leonette Scott
Tisha -
Vonte Sweet
Ric Rock -
Baldwin C. Sykes
Monster -
Raymond D. Turner
Ferris -
Yolanda Whittaker
Yo Yo -
John Singleton
Mailman (uncredited) -
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All Critics (49) | Top Critics (10) | Fresh (52) | Rotten (2) | DVD (20)
Even in its warmest moments, there is a fearful chill in this hood's air. And on the hearts of its boyz.
Top CriticAn absorbing, smartly made dramatic encyclopedia of problems and ethics in the black community, 1991.
A booming, heart slam of a film.
Shows some genuine talent in handling character and action, and equal amounts of confusion and attitude when it comes to matters of gender and ghetto politics.
What makes the film so affecting is the no-nonsense direction and Singleton's sure, specific sense of the rewards and hardships of community; in this, he is lent excellent support from a fine cast.
In this setting, the actors could easily disappear into speeches or stereotypes, but they don't; the film's strength is that it sustains an intimate and realistic tone.
An incredibly moving, character-rich drama about life in South Central L.A.
The movie has not aged well--it's too preachy and didactic--but twenty years ago, when it came out, it was a major event, both culturally and artistically.
A coming-of-age story without fluidity, hopping from scene to scene often indiscriminately. Singleton has stamina but lacks connective tissue, messing up development and motivation, unable to juggle the three distinct perspectives.
An assured effort that hits home in relating to parental responsibility as a means of encouraging good citizenship.
[VIDEO] "Boyz N the Hood" is more than a time-capsule of American existence. It is a boldly defiant, and desperate, call for peace in the midst of anarchy.
One of America's most important films.
A film any seasoned director would be proud of, but as a debut is nothing short of amazing.
Singleton strips his art of almost all ambiguity in the service of thematic and emotional and political transparency.... A tragic purgation of pity, anger, and fear.
Singleton turns a typical coming-of-age yarn into the angry expression of the plight of young black males in the ghetto. This accomplished debut still represents the helmer's best work.
There's a good reason this flick made such a big splash and inspired so many copycats.
Singleton had his fingers on the pulse of South Central at a time when it desperately needed help. It's too bad we didn't listen to him soon enough.
I's a sadly optimistic and touching classic that confidently conveys a coherent solemn mood of a modern American wasteland.
Audience Reviews for Boyz n the Hood
Super Reviewer
-
- Furious Styles: Any fool with a dick can make a baby, but only a real man can raise his children.
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- Tre Styles: RICKY!
-
- Doughboy: Either they don't know...don't show...or don't care about what's going on in the hood.
Discussion Forum
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Latest News on Boyz n the Hood
March 19, 2008:
Total Recall: Directors Who Paved the Way for Tyler PerryThis week, the prolific Tyler Perry reels off Meet the Browns, his latest examination of African...
December 8, 2005:
Singleton to Drive Paramount's "Convoy"The Hollywood Reporter brings news of director John Singleton's next project, an auto-intensive...
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Foreign Titles
- Boyz'n the Hood, la loi de la rue (FR)
The film has good intentions. America as it stands, is looked at as a prosperous, safe, and united nation. Not in the hood. The hood's a dangerous place, which is the main theme that lies in "Boyz n the Hood". This theme's been done an exhaustive amount of times. I could just imagine critics saying, "Yes, we get it black America." Regardless, the way the characters are portrayed, how direct the themes are addressed, and how they're resolved delivered in such an extremely pure, honest, and true to the heart manner, that this theme hits home powerfully. It's apparently clear that the purpose of this film is not just to bring awareness with a lukewarm attempt, but full-heartily wants to pry audiences off their chairs to do something. However, I must stress that it is not executed in a way that is too preachy as well (I'm looking at you "Crash"). It's an engaging narrative bolstered with genuinely relatable characters and a script that's flexible and smooth. I haven't seen a film this straight-forward and non-deceptive with no agenda for a very, very long time.
"Boyz n the Hood" might not have the straps of a technically marvelous film. It doesn't have the prettiest cinematography, camerawork, or editing, but the heart behind the film, the genuinely engaging characters, the themes, and messages push the film to great heights. "Boyz n the Hood" is more than an entertaining hoodrat flick.