House Party (1990)
87%RT Audience Score: 81%
Awards & Nominations: NA
House Party is a film that celebrates modern black culture with no needless apologies, and it’s a view that is often lost in Hollywood’s Wonder Bread world. The performances are all good, and the soundtrack pulses with humor as well as decibels. While some may find the film overlong and under-plotted, it’s a harmless and fun romp through 90s hip-hop culture that holds up well today. The cutting is often dynamic, and Hudlin generally does a good job of keeping things moving. It’s a delightful hangout movie with a great Robin Harris performance and a delightful George Clinton cameo, but it’s also marred by dated comedy bits and gay slurs. Overall, House Party is a classic movie that’s well-written and enjoyable, and it’s a pristine example of serendipity in film.
House Party is a classic ’90s hip-hop comedy that’s a must-watch for anyone who wants to experience the culture of the time. The movie is a fun and harmless romp through the world of hip-hop, with great performances and a killer soundtrack. While some of the humor may be dated, it’s still a great time and a perfect movie to watch with friends. Just be prepared for some cursing and a few gay slurs. Overall, House Party is a fun and energetic movie that’s perfect for anyone who loves hip-hop and wants to relive the ’90s.
Production Company(ies)
HBO Max, High School Comedy, New Line Cinema, The SpringHill Company, Warner Bros., Warner Bros. Pictures
Distributor
New Line Cinema
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Wide)
Filming Location(s)
Atlanta, Georgia, United States; Los Angeles, California, United States; Los Angeles Thirty Mile Zone, California, United States
MPAA / Certificate
R
Year of Release
1990
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby
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Aspect ratio:NA
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Runtime:1h 40m
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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): Mar 9, 1990 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 6, 2000
Genre(s)
Comedy
Keyword(s)
starring Robin Harris, Christopher Reid, Christopher Martin, Martin Lawrence, Tisha Campbell-Martin, Adrienne-Joi Johnson, directed by Reginald Hudlin, written by Reginald Hudlin, produced by Warrington Hudlin, comedy, R rating, box office gross $26.4M, reviewed by Juan Carlos Coto, Owen Gleiberman, Vincent Canby, Marjorie Baumgarten, Ed Gonzalez, Jonathan Rosenbaum, Cory Woodroof, Kevin Carr, Justin Brown, Brandon Collins, Brian Costello, Richard Freedman, house party, teen comedy, New Line Cinema, George Clinton cameo, hip-hop culture, dance scenes, rap scenes, party sequences, high school house parties, 90s hip-hop comedy, sequels, infectious energy, modern black culture, soundtrack, humor, critic reviews, audience reviews, movie guides, TV guides, Fresh Kernels
Worldwide gross: $9,284,647
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): NA
US/Canada gross: $9,002,247
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend:
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $5,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $12,240,459
Production budget ranking: 1,585
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $6,591,487
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Christopher Reid – Christopher ‘Kid’ Harris
Christopher Martin – Peter ‘Play’ Martin
Martin Lawrence – Bilal
Tisha Campbell-Martin – Sidney
Adrienne-Joi Johnson – Sharane
Director – Reginald Hudlin
Producer – Warrington Hudlin
Writer – Reginald Hudlin
Director(s)
Reginald Hudlin
Writer(s)
Reginald Hudlin
Producer(s)
Warrington Hudlin
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
All Critics (31) | Top Critics (11) | Fresh (29) | Rotten (2)
It’s a view often lost in Hollywood’s Wonder Bread world. That’s why the Hudlins are a welcome pair. They celebrate modern black culture with no needless apologies.
August 18, 2021 | Rating: 2.5/4
Juan Carlos Coto
Miami Herald
TOP CRITIC
September 7, 2011 | Rating: B+
Owen Gleiberman
Entertainment Weekly
TOP CRITIC
All of the performances are good and the soundtrack pulses with humor as well as decibels.
May 20, 2003 | Rating: 3.5/5
Vincent Canby
New York Times
TOP CRITIC
This is the only House Party that counts.
March 10, 2003
Marjorie Baumgarten
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
An aged piece of ghetto-lore that has become less black-counterpart to Heathers and Dazed and Confused than pristine example of serendipity in film.
August 14, 2001 | Rating: 62/100
Ed Gonzalez
Apollo Guide
TOP CRITIC
There’s a lot more energy and social reality in this picture than one is accustomed to finding in teen exploitation movies; the cutting is often dynamic, and Hudlin generally does a good job of keeping things moving.
January 1, 2000
Jonathan Rosenbaum
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
It’s the affable hangout movie that I kind of expected it to be, with a delightful George Clinton cameo, a great Robin Harris performance and one of the most “oh…oh dear” dated comedy bits of the early 90s.
January 15, 2023
Cory Woodroof
615 Film
Harmless and fun, this is a nice romp through 90s hip-hop culture.
January 14, 2023 | Rating: 3/4
Kevin Carr
Fat Guys at the Movies
Such a classic movie on so many levels, very well-written and it holds up really well.
June 17, 2019 | Rating: 5/5
Justin Brown
Medium Popcorn
Really fun, not too long, and I enjoyed myself as it kept going. Scenes with cops resonate today…
June 17, 2019 | Rating: 4/5
Brandon Collins
Medium Popcorn
’90 hip-hop comedy marred by gay slurs. Lots of cursing.
March 23, 2018 | Rating: 3/5
Brian Costello
Common Sense Media
One’s enjoyment of House Party, I suspect, will be largely dictated by one’s tolerance of teenage energy. Because there’s not much else going on in this amiable, but overlong and under-plotted movie.
January 5, 2018
Richard Freedman
Newhouse News Service…
Plot
Kid sneaks out of his house to attend the ultimate house party, facing one calamity after another as he makes his way to Play’s house and the party of the school year in House Party.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Rapper Kid ‘n Play star in House Party, with Martin Lawrence in a supporting role.
Reginald-Hudlin.jpg
