Title: Boyz N The Hood (1991)
Director: John Singleton
Duration: 1h 52m
Cast: Cuba Gooding Jr., Ice Cube, Laurence Fishburne, Nia Long, Morris Chestnut, Angela Bassett, Regina King
John Singleton will never forget his first Grammy nomination for Boyz N The Hood and the African-American community will never forget this movie. It’s not just a classic story but something that feels so real, it depicts what the lives of black people in the ghetto in 20th-century America were like. For that, Singleton got a NAACP and he won’t forget that either.
It’s no mistake that this movie came two years after Spike Lee’s classic Do the Right Thing. Now more than ever, we can reflect on the conditions of African-American existence. From a racial perspective, from an economic viewpoint, in terms of socialization, everything. And that was exactly what Boyz N The Hood depicted way back in 1991.
In 1991, the consensus was that Boyz N The Hood could easily have been based on a true story given the situation of things in those days. The sad truth is that things are not much different then than now. Black people are still poor, there is gang violence, and racial profiling by the police in America, and a lot of lives are wasted in jail and some are just outright taken out. It’s a sad reality and that is why important films like Boyz N The Hood are heralded as classics. It’s not just history, it’s not just fiction, it’s real life.
Boyz N The Hood follows a couple of young boys in the hood of Los Angeles as they come of age and choose different paths. They do their best to navigate the hurdles of life, most times falling just short of the expectations because of their intricate conditions. Trey, for instance, is a high achiever whose only problem is that he can’t seem to get a girl to bed and has to lie that he’s not a virgin. His best friend Ricky is a football player who’s hoping to get a college scholarship with his talent so he can afford a life for his child and wife. Meanwhile, Doughboy, the troublesome ex-convict older brother of Ricky, is on the streets running with drug dealers.
While Doughboy is out there, Trey and Ricky try to stay off the streets but the streets could never leave them alone. One day, the streets catch up to them and tensions rise leading to violence and bloodshed. And the worst part is, while some families mourn, it’s just another day in the hood for most people.
The cast is an ensemble no doubt with each and every one of them pulling out their best performances. from Cuba Gooding Jr. to Morris Chestnut to Nia Long and the multitalented Ice Cube. The casting was on fire and one of them definitely deserved an Oscar.
Boyz N The Hood is John Singleton’s best work and everything he did after that paled in comparison. The film is up there with the best black film, the best coming-of-age drama, the best crime drama, and perhaps even the best American film of all time.
The film was a very explosive success in the box office grossing $57m over a $6m budget. What a success it was!
Rotten Tomatoes: 96%
IMDb: 7.8/10
Where to Watch Boyz N The Hood (1991)?
You can be able to stream Boyz N The Hood (1991) by renting or purchasing on
- Apple TV
- Google Play Movies
- Vudu
- Netflix
