
Hustle & Flow
2005, Drama/Music, 1h 55m
161 Reviews 100,000+ RatingsWhat to know
critics consensus
Hustle & Flow is gritty and redemptive, with a profound sense of place and exciting music. Read critic reviews
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Movie Info
Cast & Crew
Djay
Key
Nola
Shug
Lexus
Yevette
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Critic Reviews for Hustle & Flow
All Critics (161) | Top Critics (48) | Fresh (132) | Rotten (29)
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Hustle & Flow certainly is among the emotional, uplifting feel good films that folks love to watch more than once.
March 31, 2020 | Full Review… -
Hustle & Flow is everything you want a film to be: unpredictable, daring, clever, heartwarming.
July 16, 2019 | Full Review… -
Howard redeems this lumpy fantasy. Soft-spoken and mysterious, he presides over the movie with a dangerous, feline grace.
November 1, 2007 | Full Review… -
Quote not available.
April 1, 2006 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review… -
Follows the traditional Hollywood rags-to-riches tale but throws in unexpected grit and top-class drama.
September 27, 2005 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review… -
It's kind of a conventional story, but it's told in such a unique way and the locations in Memphis all feel very authentic.
July 25, 2005
Audience Reviews for Hustle & Flow
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Jun 08, 2013A pimp tries to make it as a rap star with the help of his hookers and an old friend from the neighborhood. Terrence Howard turns in a fantastic performance, utterly convincing as Djay, a pimp with musical aspirations. His character seems real, fleshed out, and interesting, and Howard's work carries the film. The story is fairly basic, but I think the biggest problem is its misogyny. The filmmakers have to be aware of the ridiculous irony inherent in having a prostitute sing "Whoop that trick!" or "It's hard out here from a pimp." It's too ironic to be unintentional, yet I can't figure out what the intention is. After all, the film identifies with Djay's journey to such a degree that I have a hard time thinking of this film as satire, and trying to prove that prostitutes become agents in their own denigration isn't a productive insight. Overall, this film is worth seeing if only for Terrence Howard.Jim H Super Reviewer
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Feb 17, 2013DJay: I'm here trying to squeeze a dollar out of a dime, and I ain't even got a cent man. "Everybody gotta have a dream." Hustle & Flow is one of those movies that I didn't want to see end. The film had a lot going for it, from a natural knowledge of the small time hustlers and dealers to the surprisingly good music; and of course there's Terrence Howard in the role that really gave him a name. DJay is a smalltime pimp and drug dealer living in Memphis with three of his women and a small child. He's struggling with life as he enters a mid-life crisis because of a memory of his father dying at the age he is now. To try to improve his life, he begins rapping. He meets an old school friend who is now a gospel music producer, and brings him and another producer on to help make DJay's demo tape. This movie isn't overly original in anything it is doing, but the voice is good. The dialogue hits like a hard bass beat the whole film long. Especially when the words are coming out of Howard's mouth. Howard does a phenomenal job with his dialogue and the accent of the character. He basically is this movie and with it resting on his shoulders, it succeeds. The content isn't for everyone as there's a lot of demeaning language toward women and what not, but it can't be slandered for its content. The content is dead on and this fictional story of a hustler turned actor has a basis in real life as many rappers used to be exactly what DJay is. As far as a urban, music, crime drama goes; Hustle & Flow is an entertaining and well-made one to get into.Melvin W Super Reviewer
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Nov 18, 2012I hesitated for 8 years before finally seeing Craig Brewer's debut and I have to say I was very impressed. The biggest surprise to me was the amazing dialogue (written by Brewer as well), it's like if Tarantino made a film about southern hip hop, this would be it. Great performances by the entire cast.Graham J Super Reviewer
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Mar 21, 2012A great film about struggles and music. This film had it all. The acting, directing, writing, and producing. For those that like hip-hop then you should have no problem liking this. If you don't like hip-hop then there's the whole prostitution thing going on. But the plot isn't much about prostitution then it is hip-hop. The writing itself was good especially with all the foul language. I am not joking the writing was good because it stayed true to the plot. The acting was good as well even from Ludacris. Yes I didn't know he could act. The directing could have been better in may ways. First off it could have been more slow paced. I also couldn't believe that MTV made a good film. Why don't they just stick to making films like these instead of all the reality they have on? I really liked the scene where Djay gets in trouble. The film started picking up after that. It gets really emotional. If you like emotional films that depict character struggles then this should be for you.Eduardo T Super Reviewer
Hustle & Flow Quotes
Djay: | Whoop dat trick! |
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