Boyz n the Hood (1991)
95%RT Audience Score: 93%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 2 Oscars
12 wins & 23 nominations total
Well-acted and thematically rich, Boyz N the Hood observes Black America with far more depth and compassion than many of the like-minded films its success inspired.
Boyz N the Hood is a classic coming-of-age film that captures the struggles of growing up in a gang-ridden neighborhood. The dialogue is sharp and witty, and the performances from Cuba Gooding Jr. and Ice Cube are outstanding. It’s a powerful and emotional film that will leave you thinking long after the credits roll. Plus, who doesn’t love a good ’90s throwback? It’s a must-watch for anyone who wants to understand the complexities of life in South Central LA.
Production Company(ies)
Columbia Pictures,
Distributor
Columbia Pictures, Criterion Collection
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
5918 Cimarron Street, Los Angeles, California, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for language, violence and sensuality
Year of Release
1991
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby Stereo Dolby Atmos Dolby Digital
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Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
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Runtime:1h 52m
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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): Jul 12, 1991 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 25, 2001
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
Boyz N the Hood, R-rated, drama, 1991, 1h 52m, directed by John Singleton, written by John Singleton, produced by Steve Nicolaides, starring Laurence Fishburne, Ice Cube, Cuba Gooding Jr., Nia Long, Morris Chestnut, Tyra Ferrell, box office gross $55.1M, reviewed by Tara Brady, Kate Muir, Peter Bradshaw, David Jenkins, Steven Wright, Gene Siskel, Nick Levine, Harriet Waugh, Shane Slater, Neil Smith, Andrea Beach, Ralph Novak, MPAA rating R, South Central Los Angeles, gang culture, drugs, violence, coming-of-age, Black America, friendship, family, morality tale, police abuse, misogyny, emotional drive, powerful performances, thematically rich, well-acted, compassionate, depth, fluency, style, study of life during wartime, conservative worldview, breakout performances, urgent state-of-the-nation drama, raw dialogue, simplicity, naive morality tale, pedantic, square, strong emotions, unpretentious portrait, sleek direction, masterful picture
Worldwide gross: $57,529,070
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $126,989,158
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 909
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 13,848,327
US/Canada gross: $57,504,069
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $126,933,971
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 601
US/Canada opening weekend: $10,023,462
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $22,125,701
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 601
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $6,500,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $14,348,042
Production budget ranking: 1,530
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $7,726,421
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $104,914,695
ROI to date (est.): 475%
ROI ranking: 272
Ice Cube – Doughboy (Darin)
Cuba Gooding Jr. – Tre Styles
Nia Long – Brandi, Tre’s Girlfriend
Morris Chestnut – Ricky Baker
Tyra Ferrell – Brenda Baker
Director(s)
John Singleton
Writer(s)
John Singleton
Producer(s)
Steve Nicolaides
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 2 Oscars
12 wins & 23 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Nominees
All Critics (69) | Top Critics (21) | Fresh (66) | Rotten (3)
The dialogue is hilarious, loaded, questioning.
January 10, 2017 | Rating: 5/5
Tara Brady
Irish Times
TOP CRITIC
It seems as box-fresh as a pair of white high-tops and as powerful and funny today as it was in 1991.
October 28, 2016 | Rating: 4/5
Kate Muir
Times (UK)
TOP CRITIC
Boyz N the Hood is a passionate drama shot with fluency and style, a study of what amounts to life during wartime, with people grimly used to gunfire and helicopters thudding overhead.
October 27, 2016 | Rating: 5/5
Peter Bradshaw
Guardian
TOP CRITIC
It feels like it should be cheesy and manipulative, but the utter sincerity lifts it immeasurable.
October 26, 2016 | Rating: 4/5
David Jenkins
Little White Lies
TOP CRITIC
Though it eviscerates the white establishment from the opening reel, much of the film exhibits a deeply conservative worldview, even for 1991.
September 2, 2016
Steven Wright
Slant Magazine
TOP CRITIC
It’s always risky to proclaim a new force in film based upon just one film, but Boyz N the Hood is good enough to suggest that John Singleton is going to be a major player for a long time.
August 1, 2016 | Rating: 4/4
Gene Siskel
Chicago Tribune
TOP CRITIC
Featuring breakout performances from Cuba Gooding Jr. and NWA’s Ice Cube, Singleton’s stunning coming-of-age film offers a compelling and compassionate snapshot of life for a young Black man growing up amid the gang culture of South Central Los Angeles.
May 10, 2021
Nick Levine
NME
The story is laid out with the simplicity of a naive morality tale but is not in the least boring.
July 19, 2018
Harriet Waugh
The Spectator
All of these supporting characters proved indispensable to the film’s lasting power.
April 2, 2018 | Rating: 4/4
Shane Slater
AwardsCircuit.com
Singleton was only 23 when he made this urgent state-of-the-nation drama. But his skill with the camera, handling of actors, and raw dialogue suggests a seasoned pro.
October 24, 2016 | Rating: 4/5
Neil Smith
Total Film
Powerful, old-school look at life surrounded by violence.
September 27, 2016 | Rating: 4/5
Andrea Beach
Common Sense Media
While it’s often as pedantic and square as an Army training film, this movie about black teens trying to grow up in a gang-plagued South Central Los Angeles area generates strong emotions.
August 1, 2016
Ralph Novak
People Magazine…
Plot
Writer and Director John Singleton’s portrayal of social problems in inner-city Los Angeles, California takes the form of a tale of three friends growing up together in the “hood”. Half-brothers Doughboy (Ice Cube) and Ricky Baker (Morris Chestnut) are foils for each other’s personality, presenting very different approaches to the tough lives they face. Ricky is the “All-American” athlete, looking to win a football scholarship to USC and seeks salvation through sports, while Doughboy succumbs to the violence, alcohol, and crime surrounding him in his environment, but maintains a strong sense of pride and code of honor. Between these two is their friend Tre Styles (Cuba Gooding, Jr.), who is lucky to have a father, Furious Styles (Laurence Fishburne), to teach him to have the strength of character to do what is right and to always take responsibility for his actions.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The film features breakout performances from Cuba Gooding Jr. and Ice Cube.
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