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Baadasssss!

Play trailer Poster for Baadasssss! R 2003 1h 48m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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91% Tomatometer 107 Reviews 84% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
Director Mario Van Peebles chronicles the complicated production of his father Melvin's classic 1971 film, Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song. Playing his father in the film, Van Peebles offers an unapologetic account of Melvin's brash and sometimes deceptive conduct on the set of the film, including questionable antics like writing bad checks, tricking a local fire department and allowing his son, Mario, to shoot racy sex scenes at the age of 11.
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Baadasssss!

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Critics Consensus

An entertaining and intriguing tribute to a father from his son.

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Critics Reviews

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David Denby The New Yorker Aug 1, 2004
It's an exhausting, and exhaustingly pleasurable, entertainment. Go to Full Review Marjorie Baumgarten Austin Chronicle Jul 3, 2004
4/5
Seethes with well-targeted humor that mixes comfortably with its simmering energy and anger. Go to Full Review Geoff Pevere Toronto Star Jun 25, 2004
3/5
Effectively raw and stylish. Go to Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Jan 11, 2026
3/4
Ultimately a son's affectionate tribute to his dad, a difficult man who floundered as a regular father but established himself as a "founding father" of a different sort. Go to Full Review Kaleem Aftab The List Apr 24, 2019
3/5
[An] enjoyable docu-romp... Sadly, there's neither enough first-hand evidence from Van Peebles Sr. himself nor sufficient social historical perspective for Baadasssss to make the leap from being a good documentary to a great one. Go to Full Review Deborah Hornblow Hartford Courant Jan 2, 2018
3/5
Audiences unfamiliar with "Sweetback'' can enjoy and understand the story chronicled in "Baadasssss!,'' but the experience is infinitely richer if you have seen the film that inspired it. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Rex W @RT28578097 Jun 7, 2026 When "Sweet Sweetback..." came out in 1971, my friends and I ran to see it. We were in 8th grade. The theater in our neighborhood would let anybody in, no matter how young. My friends thought it was cool. I didn't like it. "Baadassss," on the other hand, is a much better film. There are a few shortcomings, but overall, the writing, direction, and production are more sophisticated. A bigger budget helped, too. See more Sep 29, 2021 An homage of reverence, an almost mythic biography, and yet a terrific (in many ways superior) creation, an essential companion piece yet standing on its own—the son becoming father to the man, and a brother getting the Man's foot out of his ass. See more Jun 15, 2020 Seriously watch this! See more Feb 25, 2016 Entretenida película de esas que cuentan una historia de la vida real, con personajes muy humanos a los que se pueden amar y odiar al mismo tiempo. See more Aug 10, 2014 Very good movie about the struggles of making an all black cast movie with a mixed race film crew backed partially by Bill Cosby. This film led to blaxploitation movies that were prevelant in the 70's. Not quite a documentary, but still was supposed to show some of the behind the scenes of what occurred. See more Jan 28, 2014 A wonderful biopic about a very intriguing story. It was very interesting to learn about this movie and the movie it was portraying the making of. See more Read all reviews
Baadasssss!

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Cast & Crew

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Mario Van Peebles

Director

Mario Van Peebles

Melvin Van Peebles

Joy Bryant

Priscilla

Terry Crews

Big T

Ossie Davis

Granddad

David Alan Grier

Clyde Houston

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Baadasssss!

Baadasssss! (2003) Baadasssss! (2003) A scene from Mario Van Peebles ode to his father Melvin, Baadaasssss! A scene from Mario Van Peebles ode to his father Melvin, Baadaasssss! A scene from Mario Van Peebles ode to his father Melvin, Baadaasssss! A scene from Mario Van Peebles ode to his father Melvin, Baadaasssss! A scene from Mario Van Peebles ode to his father Melvin, Baadaasssss! A scene from Mario Van Peebles ode to his father Melvin, Baadaasssss! A scene from Mario Van Peebles ode to his father Melvin, Baadaasssss! A scene from Mario Van Peebles ode to his father Melvin, Baadaasssss! View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Director Mario Van Peebles chronicles the complicated production of his father Melvin's classic 1971 film, Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song. Playing his father in the film, Van Peebles offers an unapologetic account of Melvin's brash and sometimes deceptive conduct on the set of the film, including questionable antics like writing bad checks, tricking a local fire department and allowing his son, Mario, to shoot racy sex scenes at the age of 11.
Director
Mario Van Peebles
Producer
Bruce Wayne Gillies, Mario Van Peebles
Screenwriter
Mario Van Peebles, Mario Van Peebles
Distributor
Sony Pictures Classics
Production Co
Bad Aaas Cinemas, Showtime Networks Inc.
Rating
R (Some Strong Sexuality|Pervasive Language|Nudity)
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 7, 2003, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Jul 10, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA)
$365.2K
Runtime
1h 48m
Sound Mix
Surround
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