Hustle & Flow (2005)
82%RT Audience Score: 82%
Awards & Nominations: Won 1 Oscar
25 wins & 47 nominations total
Hustle & Flow is gritty and redemptive, with a profound sense of place and exciting music
Hustle & Flow is the kind of movie that makes you want to stand up and start rapping, even if you have no rhythm or flow. It’s got heart, soul, and some seriously catchy beats. Terrence Howard gives a standout performance as DJay, a pimp with a dream, and Taraji P. Henson shines as his muse. The movie may follow a familiar formula, but it’s the way it’s told that makes it stand out. Plus, who can resist a good underdog story? Hustle & Flow is a must-watch for anyone who loves music, drama, and a little bit of grit.
Production Company(ies)
Sony Pictures, Classics Radical Media, Sen Art Films,
Distributor
MTV Productions
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Tennessee, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for sex and drug content, pervasive language and some violence
Year of Release
2005
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:DTS Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 55m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jul 22, 2005 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 10, 2006
Genre(s)
Drama/Music
Keyword(s)
starring Terrence Howard, Anthony Anderson, Taryn Manning, Taraji P Henson, Paula Jai Parker, Elise Neal, directed by Craig Brewer, written by Craig Brewer, produced by Stephanie Allain, John Singleton, Drama, Music, R-rated, box office performance, $22.2M, reviewed by Wilson Morales, Heather Havrilesky, David Ansen, Paul Arendt, Richard Roeper, Marjorie Baumgarten, Justin Brown, Brandon Collins, David Walsh, Richard Propes, Nick Rogers, Fernando F Croce
Worldwide gross: $23,563,727
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $35,910,727
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,489
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 3,916,110
US/Canada gross: $22,202,809
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $33,836,711
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,233
US/Canada opening weekend: $8,017,808
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $12,219,006
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 891
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $2,800,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $4,267,153
Production budget ranking: 1,934
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $2,297,862
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $29,345,712
ROI to date (est.): 447%
ROI ranking: 290
Anthony Anderson – Key
Taryn Manning – Nola
Taraji P. Henson – Shug
Paula Jai Parker – Lexus
Elise Neal – Yevette
Director – Craig Brewer
Producer – Stephanie Allain, John Singleton
Writer – Craig Brewer
Director(s)
Craig Brewer
Writer(s)
Craig Brewer
Producer(s)
Stephanie Allain, John Singleton
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Won 1 Oscar
25 wins & 47 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures Winners, Oscar Nominees, Oscar Original Song Winners, Oscar Winners
All Critics (162) | Top Critics (48) | Fresh (133) | Rotten (29)
Hustle & Flow certainly is among the emotional, uplifting feel good films that folks love to watch more than once.
March 31, 2020
Wilson Morales
indieWire
TOP CRITIC
Hustle & Flow is everything you want a film to be: unpredictable, daring, clever, heartwarming.
July 16, 2019
Heather Havrilesky
Salon.com
TOP CRITIC
Howard redeems this lumpy fantasy. Soft-spoken and mysterious, he presides over the movie with a dangerous, feline grace.
November 1, 2007
David Ansen
Newsweek
TOP CRITIC
Follows the traditional Hollywood rags-to-riches tale but throws in unexpected grit and top-class drama.
September 27, 2005 | Rating: 4/5
Paul Arendt
BBC.com
TOP CRITIC
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
Richard Roeper
Ebert & Roeper
TOP CRITIC
The movie’s ability to sway us over to its lyrics may be its ultimate tribute to the powers of art and self-expression.
July 25, 2005 | Rating: 3.5/5
Marjorie Baumgarten
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
This is a two hour movie that flew by. It was fun in some aspects, the music was tight and just clicked well.
April 22, 2021 | Rating: 3/5
Justin Brown
Medium Popcorn
I really liked the performances. It was dope that everyone gave it 110% for this.
April 22, 2021 | Rating: 3/5
Brandon Collins
Medium Popcorn
The social element is undeveloped, uncritically approached, and that largely shapes the piece.
February 15, 2021
David Walsh
World Socialist Web Site
Worth seeing if only for the performance of Terrence Howard.
September 11, 2020 | Rating: 3.0/4.0
Richard Propes
TheIndependentCritic.com
Of all the exuberantly built-up beats, Taraji P. Henson’s beautifully shocked and elated response to unexpectedly forming the nucleus of “It’s Hard Out Here for a Pimp” gives “Hustle” its soul and won that song an Oscar.
September 24, 2010 | Rating: 3.5/4
Nick Rogers
The Film Yap
For an alleged indie hit, the film is nothing if not shrewd about audience-hooking and sensory-manipulation
September 5, 2009
Fernando F. Croce
CinePassion…
Plot
Aspiring emcee DJay works the angles to get his first record made with help from assorted people in his Memphis ‘hood. And when he hears that hip-hop superstar Skinny Black is heading to his area, he throws together a supreme hustle to grab Skinny’s attention.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Rapper Ludacris makes his acting debut in Hustle & Flow.
Craig-Brewer.jpg
