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The Cookout

Play trailer Poster for The Cookout PG-13 2004 1h 28m Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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5% Tomatometer 41 Reviews 37% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
College basketball player Todd Anderson (Storm P) signs a $30 million deal with the New Jersey Nets and promptly moves to a wealthy suburb. His mother (Jenifer Lewis), however, insists that Todd remain connected to his humbler roots. So Todd decides to hold a good old-fashioned cookout at his new mansion. But this turns out to be more difficult than he expected, and his old friends and relatives clash with the sophisticated characters that have recently come into his life.
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The Cookout

The Cookout

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Critics Consensus

Good-natured but prepared with an absence of craft, The Cookout is an unappetizing collection of warmed-over jokes.

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Critics Reviews

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Nell Minow Common Sense Media 12/28/2010
1/5
Avoid this gross, raunchy comedy at all costs. Go to Full Review Keith Phipps AV Club 01/05/2007
Seemingly assembled from ideas on the cutting-room floor of a cancelled sitcom. Go to Full Review J. R. Jones Chicago Reader 01/05/2007
This is one dull party. Go to Full Review Michael Dequina TheMovieReport.com 01/07/2010
1/4
The very definition of an easy target--and, in all fairness, it deserves every last bit of criticism. Go to Full Review Jim Lane Sacramento News & Review 08/07/2008
2/5
Director Lance Rivera has never directed a movie before, and he doesn't start here. Go to Full Review Jeremy C. Fox Pajiba 09/16/2005
There may be someone in the audience who goes into hysterics at the mere sight of a baby's diaper soaked through with ****, but, if so, I hope never to meet him. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Stephen C @bob25009 06/30/2025 Funny in 1 hour and 37 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated PG-13 for Sexual References, Language and Drug Content!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $11,500,000.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! See more 04/10/2022 Ages 13+ only, LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!! Funny, original, and lots of kissing. See more 02/11/2020 Stupid movie bad acting and they have so many good actors in this morning what! 😂🤪 See more 11/02/2016 I'mma cook this movie to perfection See more 07/22/2016 Though Latifah's small part is highly amusing, the rest of the film is not. See more 08/20/2012 Lame jokes and coonery abounds. See more Read all reviews
The Cookout

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Cast & Crew

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Lance Rivera

Director

Ja Rule

Bling Bling

Tim Meadows

Leroy

Jenifer Lewis

Lady Em

Quran Pender

Todd Anderson

Meagan Good

Brittany

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The Cookout

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Movie Info

Synopsis College basketball player Todd Anderson (Storm P) signs a $30 million deal with the New Jersey Nets and promptly moves to a wealthy suburb. His mother (Jenifer Lewis), however, insists that Todd remain connected to his humbler roots. So Todd decides to hold a good old-fashioned cookout at his new mansion. But this turns out to be more difficult than he expected, and his old friends and relatives clash with the sophisticated characters that have recently come into his life.
Director
Lance Rivera
Producer
Queen Latifah
Screenwriter
Jeffrey Brian Holmes, Laurie B. Turner, Ramsey Gbelawoe
Distributor
Lionsgate Films
Production Co
Cookout Productions, Flavor Entertainment Unit
Rating
PG-13 (Sexual References|Language|Drug Content)
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 3, 2004, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 10, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$11.5M
Runtime
1h 28m
Sound Mix
Surround, Dolby SRD, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)