Baby Boy (2001)
85%RT Audience Score: 87%
Awards & Nominations: 1 win & 14 nominations
Preachy and repetitive in parts, Baby Boy still manages to exude authenticity, thanks to its competent cast
Baby Boy is a film that explores the complexities of African American life, and it does so with a raw honesty that is both powerful and entertaining. The characters are full-bodied, and the emotions are complex, making it one of John Singleton’s best works to date. While some critics found the film flawed, others praised it for its bold examination of coming-of-age in a world that is often violent and unforgiving. With strong performances from Tyrese Gibson, Taraji P. Henson, and Ving Rhames, Baby Boy is a must-see for anyone who wants to experience the raw power of African American cinema. So grab some popcorn, settle in, and get ready for a wild ride!
Production Company(ies)
Zanuck Brown Productions, Universal Pictures,
Distributor
Columbia Pictures
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
11th Avenue / Vernon Avenue, Leimert Park, Los Angeles, California, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for strong sexuality, language, violence and some drug use
Year of Release
2001
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Color:Color
Black and White -
Sound mix:DTS Dolby Digital SDDS
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Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
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Runtime:2h 9m
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jun 29, 2001 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 6, 2001
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Tyrese Gibson, Taraji P Henson, Snoop Dogg, Omar Gooding, Adrienne-Joi Johnson, Tamara LaSeon Bass, Ving Rhames, directed by John Singleton, written by John Singleton, produced by John Singleton, drama, R-rated, box office gross $28.7M, Dolby Stereo, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, SDDS, Dolby SR, Flat (1.85:1) aspect ratio, reviewed by Jonathan Rosenbaum, Jane Crowther, Susan Stark, Adam Nayman, Andrew Sarris, David Edelstein, Ar
Worldwide gross: $29,381,649
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $49,516,554
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,336
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 5,399,842
US/Canada gross: $28,734,552
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $48,426,009
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,083
US/Canada opening weekend: $8,606,403
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $14,504,272
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 810
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $16,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $26,964,615
Production budget ranking: 1,217
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $14,520,445
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $8,031,493
ROI to date (est.): 19%
ROI ranking: 1,294
Omar Gooding – Sweetpea
Adrienne-Joi Johnson – Juanita
Taraji P. Henson – Yvette
Snoop Dogg – Rodney
Tamara Bass – Peanut
Director(s)
John Singleton
Writer(s)
John Singleton
Producer(s)
John Singleton
Film Festivals
Cannes, Venice
Awards & Nominations
1 win & 14 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (93) | Top Critics (37) | Fresh (66) | Rotten (27)
The characters are so full-bodied and the feelings so raw and complex that I’d call this the best thing John Singleton has done to date
January 29, 2010
Jonathan Rosenbaum
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
Johnson and Rhames are superb as Jody’s charming, hard-working mother and her ex-con boyfriend Melvin.
November 12, 2001 | Rating: 3/5
Jane Crowther
BBC.com
TOP CRITIC
November 7, 2001 | Rating: 2/4
Susan Stark
Detroit News
TOP CRITIC
It’s an intermittently powerful but deeply flawed film.
August 2, 2001 | Rating: 2/5
Adam Nayman
eye WEEKLY
TOP CRITIC
I felt myself drawn into a vortex of raw emotion from which I could not escape.
July 12, 2001
Andrew Sarris
Observer
TOP CRITIC
One of the most entertaining African-American comedies of manners ever made.
July 6, 2001
David Edelstein
Slate
TOP CRITIC
Singleton never asked for tears or trendy social reform but insisted on the honesty that politicians and the media shunt aside in favor of platitudes. Baby Boy remarkably withholds platitudes.
July 7, 2021
Armond White
National Review
The film is a bold examination of an aspect of African American life. There’s no shortage of sex, violence, or urban realism.
July 4, 2011 | Rating: B
Cole Smithey
ColeSmithey.com
August 7, 2008 | Rating: 2/5
Mark Halverson
Sacramento News & Review
This is yet another coming-of-age tale except that the hero is not a teenager but a young man who goes out of his way to be macho but really is a mama boy.
February 26, 2006 | Rating: C+
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com
Recommended mainly to the more devoted Singleton fans, Baby Boy is pretty strong evidence of a filmmaker who still has plenty to say.
December 21, 2005 | Rating: 3.5/5
Scott Weinberg
DVD Clinic
August 17, 2003 | Rating: 2.5/4
Kit Bowen
Hollywood.com…
Plot
Baby Boy follows the story of Jody, a 20-year-old African-American man who struggles to find direction in his chaotic life, as he is forced to face the commitments of real life and the consequences of his actions, including fathering two children by two different women and still living with his mother.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Ving Rhames’ performance as Marvin is praised for being a standout in the film.
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