Have you heard hip-hop music? I am sure you have, but what about movies that show the true hip-hop culture and lifestyle? Hip movies have been part of the music in the early 90s.
Boys N The Hood is more than a thirty-year-old. It was directed by John Singleton when he was 24. It gave him a nomination as the youngest filmmaker to earn an Oscar for Best Director. The movie is filled with high-potential performances, adorable characters, an interesting story, and a hidden message about all the street violence that has left deep impacts on many young ones.
Movies Like Boyz N The Hood
This list is just the right list for you, and it enlists movies like Boyz N The Hood. It is easy to find horror, action, and thriller movie suggestions. But it becomes increasingly tricky to enumerate a list based on a hip-hop movie.
This list is in no particular order. Just look for your favorite movies on the list, call your friends, and go for it.
Menace II Society
Menace II Society came out in 1999 as a directorial debut of The Huges Brothers, and it focuses on teen drama. The movie’s plot revolves around Kaydee Caine Lawson and his friends.
It displayed how an intellectual kid is brought up in harsh surroundings just to see the future he never wanted. The flick shows the life of the main characters and others like him who were just there at the wrong place, and all their natural intelligence is wasted.
Their surroundings force them to go into the wrong patch of gangster life, and you know very well that it never ends in peace. The movie is very similar to Boys N The Hood, so you should check it out.
- Released in: 1993
- Runtime: 1h 37m
- IMDB Score: 7.5
- Cast: Tyrin Turner, Larenz Tate, Jada Pinkett Smith, Samuel L. Jackson, Vonte Sweet, Jullian Roy Doster, Bill Duke, Glenn Plummer, MC Eiht, Khandi Alexander, Anthony Johnson, Clifton Powell, Charles S. Dutton, and many others
- Directed By: Allen Hughes and Albert Hughes
- Streaming Platform: Amazon Prime Videos
Juice
It’s an American thriller movie, and the plot revolves around four best friends and what is happening to them while they are growing up in the streets of Harlem.
The four of them regularly get in trouble with rival neighborhoods, police harassment, and their families. They also do small robberies and shoplifting, but all four of them have big desires to get out of Harlem and live life as responsible citizens.
But all their plan goes too haywire when an unfortunate incident happens to them. The movie displays with authenticity how difficult it is to get out of a shady situation once you are a part of it. A great watch that will appreciate your green life a bit more.
- Released in: 1992
- Runtime: 1h 35m
- IMDB Score: 7
- Cast: Omar Epps, Tupac Shakur, Ernest Dickerson, Jermaine Hopkins, Khalil Kain, Samuel L. Jackson, Queen Latifah, Vincent Laresca, Donald Faison, George O. Gore II, Cindy Herron, Norman Douglass, Michael Badalucco, Bruklin Harris, and many others
- Directed By: Ernest Dickerson
- Streaming Platform: Hulu
The Wood
It is based in America, and the plot revolves around the coming-age story of three friends who are learning and discovering new things in life while learning and steering through problems.
The story starts when one guy is getting married, but the other one goes missing just before the marriage. The other two begin the search, and in the process, they recall their life while growing up.
The movie is fun, and it is exciting and humorous to see some teens exploring life in their teenage years.
- Released in: 1999
- Runtime: 1h 46m
- IMDB Score: 7
- Cast: Omar Epps, Richard T. Jones, Taye Diggs, Tamala Jones, Malinda Williams, Duane Finley, Sanaa Lathan, Sean Nelson, Trent Cameron, LisaRaye McCoy, Christina Milian, DeAndre Bonds, Antwon Tanner, Patricia Belcher, and many others
- Directed By: Rick Famuyiwa
- Streaming Platform: Amazon Prime Videos
New Jack City
New Jack City is a true American thriller movie, which means it is based on a true story. Wesley Snipes plays Nino, and his gang members represent the Chamber brothers. This gang was active in the 1908s, and they ruled the streets of Detroit.
The movie tells the story of Nino and how he became a drug lord in the city of New York during the ongoing coke shortage. Ice-T played Scotty, an undercover cop who plans to bring Nino and his gang down.
He enters the gang in disguise to share the secrets of the gang with the police. New Jack City is a classic that shows a cat-and-mouse chase between the cops and a drug lord. A fully entertaining movie.
- Released in: 1991
- Runtime: 1h 40m
- IMDB Score: 6.6
- Cast: Wesley Snipes, Mario Van Peebles, Ice-T, Chris Rock, Allen Payne, Judd Nelson, Michael Michele, Bill Nunn, Christopher Williams, Tracy Camilla Johns, Flavor Flav, Russell Wong, Bill Cobbs, Anthony DeSando and many others
- Directed By: Mario Van Peebles
- Streaming Platform: Amazon Prime Videos
Baby Boy
Baby Boy is directed by the director who gave us Boys N The Hood. It’s a coming-age movie by an award-winning director who illustrated perfectly what it actually feels like to grow up in the hood and the surroundings. The plot focuses on Joseph Jody Summers, who is a bicycle mechanic.
He looks after his single mother and has a girlfriend and friends who reside in the less flashy areas of Los Angeles. We see the main character as a restless man who doesn’t care much about the world.
But things quickly turn upside down for him when the criminal people begin to threaten his girlfriend and mother in society. You will see the beautiful emotions of the character, and it will be easy to connect to them fluently.
- Released in: 2001
- Runtime: 2h 10m
- IMDB Score: 6.4
- Cast: Tyrese Gibson, Taraji P. Henson, Ving Rhames, A.J. Johnson, Snoop Dogg, Tamara LaSeon Bass, Omar Gooding, Angell Conwell, Jamaica Carter, Diamond Dawn Cook, Kareem Grimes, Tracey Cherelle Jones, Tawny Dahl, Kylan Bolton, and many others
- Directed By: John Singleton
- Streaming Platform: Amazon Prime Videos
Fresh
Fresh is the directorial debut of Boaz Yakin. The movie focuses on Michael, a.k.a. Fresh, a teenager. He is stuck in the criminal life and involved in drug dealing too with his addicted sister.
But inspired by his father’s chess lessons, who is a speed chess master, he wants to get out of this negative vibe he is stuck in. The movie did not earn much at the box office but earned accolades in the eyes of critics.
It reflects the dangers of the negative effects of drugs and the world surrounding it ideally. The movie also stars some of the most talkative faces of the early 90s.
- Released in: 1994
- Runtime: 1h 55m
- IMDB Score: 7.5
- Cast: Samuel L. Jackson, Sean Nelson, Giancarlo Esposito, Luis Lantigua, N’Bushe Wright, Jean-Claude La Marre, Ron Brice, Guillermo Díaz, Curtis McClarin, José Zúñiga, Charles Malik Whitfield, F. Murray Abraham, Cheryl Freeman, Yul Vazquez, and many others
- Directed By: Boaz Yakin
- Streaming Platform: Amazon Prime Videos
American Gangster
American Gangster shows the story of Frank Lucas, and it’s a biography from 2007. Frank a North Carolina gangster from La Grange.
He is famous for smuggling drugs into the land of the US using the service plans that are coming back from the Vietnam War. Richie Roberts was the detective who was leading a task force that eventually caught Frank.
Ruby Lee was also applauded for her screen skills. The movies showcase the life of Frank Lucas and his morals, as he was a very straightforward guy filled with self-respect. But the writers made it a little bend and added exciting plots to make the story more attractive and watchable.
The movie gained a lot of praise from critics and viewers. You will love Denzel Washington in the movie. His portrayal of Frank Lucas is done to perfection. This is a big recommendation to the core fans of Denzel.
- Released in: 2007
- Runtime: 2h 37m
- IMDB Score: 7.8
- Cast: Denzel Washington, Lymari Nadal, Russell Crowe, Carla Gugino, Josh Brolin, Idris Elba, KaDee Strickland, Norman Reedus, John Ortiz, Armand Assante, RZA, Ruby Dee, Cuba Gooding Jr., T.I., and many others
- Directed By: Ridley Scott
- Streaming Platform: Amazon Prime Videos
Paid in Full
Paid in Full is actually a song by Eric B. and Rakim from a 1997 album. The name of the 2002 movie is taken from the song itself. The main characters are taken from the real drug dealers of Harlem from the 1980s.
The movie is based in the 1980s, and it will surely take you on a nostalgic trip and the pre-internet time period. The movie spotlights a young adult who builds a corrupt empire to balance out the increase in drug usage in Harlem.
And as usual in this kind of business, others are not happy seeing him succeed and constantly trying to step on him and drag him down. The movie got mixed feelings from the critics, and it was average in the halls.
But on the contrary, the audience loved it so much that the movie has gained a cult. Watch it yourself to see where you fit in.
- Released in: 2002
- Runtime: 1h 37m
- IMDB Score: 7
- Cast: Wood Harris, Mekhi Phifer, Cam’ron, Kevin Carroll, Esai Morales, Regina Hall, Elise Neal, Chi McBride, Cynthia Martells, Remo Greene, Damon Dash, Jonas Chernick, Joyce Walker, Ron Cephas Jones, N.O.R.E., and many others
- Directed By: Charles Stone III
- Streaming Platform: Apple TV
Hoodlum
1997’s Hoodlum is a fictionalized criminal drama focusing on the gang war of Italian/Jewish and Black Gangsters mafia from the 1920s to 1930s.
Both parties are trying to take the first movie to get control of illegal betting in the town of Harlem. Lucky Luciano, a syndicate boss, offers negotiations, but they never come to work, and all the gangs fight and kill, leading to blood spillage.
Meanwhile, Bumpy Johnson, who is a black gang leader, goes to jail just to come out after some years. But he pauses on revenge with the rival members and chooses to live peacefully and forget about his previous life.
- Released in: 1997
- Runtime: 2h 10m
- IMDB Score: 6.3
- Cast: Laurence Fishburne, Cicely Tyson, Tim Roth, Andy Garcia, Vanessa Williams, Loretta Devine, Queen Latifah, Clarence Williams III, Chi McBride, Richard Bradford, Paul Benjamin, Paul Eckstein, Ed O’Ross, Mike Starr, and many others
- Directed By: Bill Duke
- Streaming Platform: Amazon Prime Videos
Straight Outta Compton
Straight Outta Compton is a musical biography in which we see the rise and fall of N.W.A., the gangster rap group. The movie picturizes the to and fro of the gang performing their music when the federal laws were in full force and acting opposite to them.
The band made what Hip Hop is today, it made the genre famous and trendy, but in the process, they faced brutal treatment from the cops and people.
The movie clearly shows the hardships and struggles of the members residing in the hood. Boys N The Hood director John Singleton was being considered to direct Straight Outta Compton, but Gary was finalized.
The movie was a great hit among fans and critics. Straight Outta Compton is a must-watch for fans of Hip Hop music and culture and for people who want to see the real struggle back then.
- Released in: 2015
- Runtime: 2h 27m
- IMDB Score: 7.8
- Cast: Dr. Dre, O’Shea Jackson Jr., Eazy-E, Jason Mitchell, Corey Hawkins, MC Ren, Aldis Hodge, Neil Brown Jr., Paul Giamatti, LaKeith Stanfield, Orlando Brown, Marcc Rose, Alexandra Shipp, and many others
- Directed By: F. Gary Gray
- Streaming Platform: Amazon Prime Videos
City of God
2002’s City of God is a Brazilian crime flick which got adapted from the book of the same name written by Paulo Lins in 1997. Movie writer Braulio Mantovani has added some real incidents from the 1970s.
The movie shows the increase in crimes in the Cidade de Deus (translation, City of God), which is a suburb in Rio de Janeiro. In the screen time of the movie, we see the battle between drug kingpin Lil Ze and Ned, who was a vigilante but now is a criminal.
The film was praised by the critics and the audience so much that it even got 4 Academy Awards nominations in 2004. All in all, it is one of the best movies on the list. It has action, emotions, and, more importantly, feelings from the main characters.
- Released in: 2002
- Runtime: 2h 11m
- IMDB Score: 8.6
- Cast: Alexandre Rodrigues, Alice Braga, Douglas Silva, Phellipe Haagensen, Darlan Cunha, Jonathan Haagensen, Leandro Firmino, Seu Jorge, Paulo Lins, Roberta Rodrigues, Daniel Zettel, Renato de Souza, Rubens Sabino, and many others
- Directed By: Fernando Meirelles and Kátia Lund
- Streaming Platform: Apple TV
New Jersey Drive
New Jersey Drive is a crime drama from 1995 that revolves around a gang of teenagers who enjoy stealing cars and riding them for fun. Back then, stealing was a common practice in New Jersey which was also known as the ‘car theft city.’
But all of the fun life stopped for them when they stole a car from a policeman. When the police noticed this, they became active and took heavy measures, including shooting on sight, beating, and other harsh punishments.
New Jersey Drive is one of those movies that shows the authentic surroundings and of being brought up in the hood. It is somewhat similar to Boys N The Hood, and both movies showed the reality of young boys falling into the hands of a criminal lifestyle.
- Released in: 1995
- Runtime: 1h 38m
- IMDB Score: 6.6
- Cast: Sharron Corley, Gabriel Casseus, Saul Stein, Andre Moore, Samantha Brown, Donald Faison, Conrad Meertins Jr., Gary DeWitt Marshall, Gwen McGee, Christine Baranski, Roscoe Orman, Heavy D, Leslie Segar, and many others
- Directed By: Nick Gomez
- Streaming Platform: Amazon Prime Videos
Kidulthood
Kidulthood is a 2006 British drama based on some teen boys of Ladbroke Grove, west London. The plot shows the scrambled life of teenagers when a girl from their school dies by suicide.
The fast-paced screenplay and hard life shown at such a young age from the generation is thought-provoking. It played a major hand in making the movie hit, which opened the door for other movies making it a franchise.
In some scenes, the film is funny and tickles you hard. The movie is enjoyable as it shows what a teenager has to go through on a daily basis. All the parents must watch this movie to see what actually happens in the life of teens.
- Released in: 2006
- Runtime: 1h 32m
- IMDB Score: 6.7
- Cast: Noel Clarke, Red Madrell, Aml Ameen, Adam Deacon, Jaime Winstone, Femi Oyeniran, Rafe Spall, Kate Magowan, Cornell John, Nicholas Hoult, Pierre Mascolo, Madeleine Fairley, Ben McKay, and many others
- Directed By: Menhaj Huda
- Streaming Platform: Google Play Movies
Adulthood
Adulthood is an extension of the 2006 movie Kidulthood. Sam Peel is the writer, director, and protagonist of the movie. The story is based on the return of Sam from prison after six years.
He has changed a lot after the incident (no spoilers, watch it to find out). The movie shows Sam seeking everyone around him who might hurt him or his family. On his way, while exploring, he finds out about the lives of other characters.
The movie received average responses from the audience and the critics and performed adequately well in the cinemas. Brotherhood, a sequel, was also released in 2016.
- Released in: 2008
- Runtime: 1h 39m
- IMDB Score: 6.6
- Cast: Noel Clarke, Danny Dyer, Cornell John, Red Madrell, Adam Deacon, Wil Johnson, Scarlett Alice Johnson, Femi Oyeniran, Jacob Anderson, Shanika Warren-Markland, Plan B, Nathan Constance, Don Klass, Madeleine Fairley, Arnold Oceng and many others
- Directed By: Noel Clarke
- Streaming Platform: Tubitv
One Eight Seven
One Eight Seven starring Samuel L. Jackson as one of his first lead thriller movies came out in 1997. The plot revolves around a teacher from Los Angeles who gets caught up in gang problems in an urban High school.
As it is evident that the title of the movie is taken from Penal Code Section 187 of California, which is a murder charge. The majority of the screenplay is based on real-life events that happened when Scott Yagemann was a high school teacher in Los Angeles.
Samuel L. Jackson’s performance was applauded by critics and the audience. It put him on the radar and opened his career wide open. A decent watch for all Samuel Jackson fans.
- Released in: 1997
- Runtime: 2 hours
- IMDB Score: 6.6
- Cast: Samuel L. Jackson, Clifton Collins Jr., Karina Arroyave, John Heard, Kelly Rowan, Tony Plana, Lobo Sebastian, Jonah Rooney, Demetrius Navarro, Method Man, Jack Kehler, Esther Mercado, Richard Riehle, and many others
- Directed By: Kevin Reynolds
- Streaming Platform: Amazon Prime Videos
In Too Deep
In Too Deep is an American thriller that puts a spotlight on a newly selected police officer, Jeff Cole. His stint begins as an undercover cop solving small cases, but he proves his worth and soon gains respect and attention after making a friendly acquaintance with Dwane Gittens, which earns him a major case.
Dwane has this aura of a decent family man who is always ready to help someone who needs it. But on the other hand, he runs a big drug empire secretly. Cole has to prove his loyalty by choosing what to do after getting enough evidence to bring Dwane down.
The movie was liked by the audience and the critics. Due to the build-up, it is exciting to see what will happen next. It is a decent movie that keeps the spectators entertained.
- Released in: 2002
- Runtime: 1h 44m
- IMDB Score: 6.2
- Cast: Omar Epps, LL Cool J, Nia Long, Hill Harper, Stanley Tucci, Pam Grier, Aunjanue Ellis, Mýa, Shyheim, Anna Carolina Alvim, Katherine Trowell, Hassan Johnson, Gano Grills, David Patrick Kelly, and many others
- Directed By: Michael Rymer
- Streaming Platform: Amazon Prime Videos
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