The 1990s were a massive boom period for films with mostly African American casts that focused on topics relating to the black community. While this was a trend that built momentum towards the end of the ‘80s, the success of these movies was the most consistent from 1990 onward. Whether it was a comedy, drama, or a biopic, these films told stories that connected with the black community in ways very few films had before or since. They were not only the breakthroughs for the actors, actresses, and directors that were a part of them, but the impact they’ve had since they’ve been released have made these movies timeless. Let’s not waste any more time as we break down Konscious Kurt’s 10 favorite movies from the ‘90s that featured a pre-dominantly black cast:
10. The Wood (1999)
Starring Omar Epps, Taye Diggs, and Richard T. Johnson, The Wood tells the story of childhood best friends Mike, Roland, and Slim as they prepare for Roland’s wedding. Despite it being his wedding day, Roland has second thoughts about getting married to the point where he shows up drunk to his ex-girlfriend’s house hours before. As Mike and Slim spend the whole day trying to get him to come to his senses, the whole ordeal leads to the three friends reminiscing about their teenage years growing up in Inglewood, CA (The Wood). With half of the film consisting of flashbacks, it delivers a strong balance of the present time mixed with ‘80s nostalgia. In addition to being a box office success when it hit theaters in the Summer of 1999, the stories, music, and the friendship between the main characters gave the audience a lot that they could relate to.
9. House Party (1990)
Before the start of the ‘90s, no hip-hop artists had ever played the lead characters in a major movie. That all changed in early 1990 as rappers Kid N’ Play made their film debuts as fictionized versions of themselves in the comedy/musical, House Party. The movie centers around Play throwing a huge house party while his parents are out of town, and Kid attempting to make it there despite being put on punishment the same day. Also starring the late Robin Harris, Martin Lawrence, Tisha Campbell, and AJ Johnson, some of the aspects of the film that made it stand out were the dancing, rap battles, and the crazy shenanigans all the characters get wrapped up in throughout it. With the success the film had at the box office and with audiences that led to it becoming a franchise, House Party opened the door wide open for other hip-hop artists to find success in Hollywood as the decade progressed.
8. Soul Food (1997)
With a cast featuring Vivica A. Fox, Vanessa Williams, Nia Long, Brandon Hammond, and Irma P. Hall, Soul Food revolves around a Chicago family that’s held together by their matriarch, Mamma Joe. After an operation leads to her falling into a coma, the whole family begins to fall apart piece by piece. From sibling rivalries, infidelity, to skeletons creeping up from the past, the film has zero shortage of family drama. As everything happening throughout the movie is narrated by Mamma Joe’s grandson Ahmad, he starts to see himself as the only hope in bringing the family back together. Released in the Fall of 1997, the movie was a big hit with critics and audiences as it made six times its budget at the box office.
7. Friday (1995)
During the filming of his breakout performance in Boyz N The Hood (more on that later), rapper Ice Cube was told by director John Singleton that if he could write a song, he could write a movie. Cube later took Singleton’s advice as along with DJ Pooh, he wrote a comedy called Friday. Wanting to show the funnier side of life in the hood, the movie centered around friends Craig and Smokey as well as all the crazy situations they’d get caught up in throughout the day in their South-Central LA neighborhood. In addition to co-writing the film, Ice Cube also starred in it along with Chris Tucker, the late John Witherspoon, and the late Tiny Lister, Jr. The writing, setting, and the characters helped Friday become a huge success when it hit theaters in the Spring of 1995, and has since gone on to be a comedic cult classic.
6. Set It Off (1996)
The first action movie to ever feature four black women as the main characters, 1996’s Set It Off was loaded with action, violence, and drama. Released in November of that year, the movie focuses on four struggling women who resort to robbing a bank in order to lift themselves out of their financial troubles. Starring Jade Pinkett, Queen Latifah, Vivica A. Fox, and Kimberly Elise in her film debut, the film dives into many issues such as financial struggles, personal tragedy, and constantly being abused by the system. Making over $40 million at the box office, Set It Off and the performances of all four women were well received. The success of the movie not only helped elevate their careers, but it also opened the doors for the success of many black actresses in the years that followed.
5. Malcolm X (1992)
For as impressive of a resume as Denzel Washington has, Malcolm X is one of the movies he is most remembered for. The biopic covers the life of Malcolm from his time in prison, his transition into activism, and his fallout with the Nation of Islam that ended tragically. Aside from 1989’s Do the Right Thing; Malcolm X is also considered the defining film in the catalog of director Spike Lee. Despite a challenging filming process that even required donations from black celebrities to get it finished, Malcolm X grossed $73 million when it was released in November of 1992 and Denzel’s performance as the activist received an Oscar nomination for Best Actor (which many believed he should’ve won). Of all the many classic films that Denzel and Spike made together over the years, none of them impacted the black community as strongly as this film did.
4. Juice (1992)
Starring Omar Epps and late rapper Tupac Shakur in his movie debut, Juice focuses on Harlem teenagers Q, Bishop, Raheem, and Steel as they spend their days skipping school and clowning around. The movie takes a turn when Bishop comes up with a plan for the four of them to rob a local corner store. However, the robbery doesn’t go as planned as Bishop kills the store clerk for no reason. Bishop quickly becomes consumed by the power and respect he feels he has from the gun to the point where he uses it to strike fear into anyone who gets in his way, even his own friends. While the movie was a hit and has become a hood classic since its release in January 1992, what its most remembered for is Tupac’s performance as his portrayal of Bishop is considered to be one of the best movie villains of all time.
3. Menace II Society (1993)
Hitting theaters in May of 1993, Menace II Society doesn’t hold back with its portrayal of life in the Watts section of Los Angeles. Starring Tyrin Turner, Larenz Tate, and Jada Pinkett in her first movie role, the movie tells the story of recent high school graduate Caine, his best friend O-Dog, and the constant trouble they get in due to being wrapped up in the street life. As the first few minutes of the movie show Caine being exposed to that life at an early age, it’s not that hard to understand why he grows up to be the way he is. Seeing the dark path that he’s headed down, Caine’s friend Ronnie among many others strongly encourage him to leave the streets behind before he ends up dead or in jail. Menace II Society made 10 times its budget at the box office, was highly praised by critics and audiences, and its graphic portrayal of the street life is one that few hood movies had ever shown before or since.
2. New Jack City (1991)
The crack epidemic of the 1980s was brought to the big screen in 1991’s New Jack City. Released in March of that year, the movie centers around crack kingpin Nino Brown and his crew the CMB (Cash Money Brothers) as they take over Harlem at the expense of everyone in the neighborhood. Wanting to put a stop to their criminal enterprise, detectives Scotty Appleton and Nick Peretti create a plan to infiltrate the CMB. Starring Wesley Snipes in his first leading role, rapper Ice-T in his acting debut, Chris Rock, Allen Payne, and Judd Nelson, the movie proved to be a success as it went on to be the highest grossing independent film of the year. In addition to resonating with audiences and the cult status it’s achieved since its release, New Jack City was the catalyst for Wesley becoming a leading man in Hollywood as well as for Ice-T’s 25-year stint on Law & Order: SVU.
1. Boyz N The Hood (1991)
In the same year that the brutal beating of Rodney King by LA police officers was exposed on video for the world to see, John Singleton exposed the world to the harsh reality of life in South-Central LA in his directorial debut, Boyz N The Hood. Starring Cuba Gooding Jr., rapper Ice Cube in his acting debut, Morris Chestnut, Angela Basset, and Laurence Fishburne, the movie focuses on how the experiences of teenagers Tre, Doughboy, and Ricky growing up in South-Central LA shape who they are. While all of them are very different despite growing up in the same neighborhood, the biggest difference between them is Tre having the guidance of his father to lead him down the right path. A reflection of life in the hood that desperately needed to be seen at the time, Boyz N The Hood was a smash hit with both audiences and critics when it hit theaters in the Summer of 1991. In addition to launching the successful acting careers of Ice Cube as well as everyone else involved in it, the movie led to John Singleton making history as he became the youngest director to ever be nominated for an Oscar.
Honorable Mentions:
• What’s Love Got to Do with It (1993)
• The Best Man (1999)
• Fresh (1994)
• Dead Presidents (1995)
• He Got Game (1998)
Konscious Kurt's Movie Reviews 