Soul Men

Play trailer

Soul Men

R

2008

1h 40m

Comedy

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

44%

Tomatometer

99 Reviews

57%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

Louis (Samuel L. Jackson) and Floyd (Bernie Mac) used to be one of the country's top musical duos, until they broke up and never spoke again. Old animosities resurface 20 years later when the two are thrust together on a cross-country trip to take part in a tribute concert honoring their late band leader. Louis and Floyd have just five short days to bury the hatchet -- hopefully not in someone's head -- before they take the stage at New York's Apollo Theater.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

Soul Men features lively performances from Bernie Mac and Samuel L. Jackson and some hilarious moments, but ultimately suffers from an unoriginal script.

Read Critics Reviews

Peter Howell

Toronto Star

Soul Men could have been so much more.

Rated: 1.5/4

Nov 13, 2008

Full Review

Jonathan F. Richards

Film.com

Considering the canvas the story provides, and the richness of the tradition it taps into, the amount and quality of the music is pretty disappointing.

Nov 10, 2008

Full Review

Michael Phillips

Chicago Tribune

This one's only fair, but it has its low-down wiles and its moments.

Rated: 2.5/4

Nov 10, 2008

Full Review

Justin Brown

Medium Popcorn

It has some great bits but they're all spaced out. I feel like the editing really messed up the pacing, which is probably why it felt uneven.

Rated: 2/5

Feb 4, 2022

Full Review

Brandon Collins

Medium Popcorn

There's enough here that was entertaining for me to power through the film but it felt uneven in the comedy. That was frustrating as a viewer watching Bernie Mac's final film performance.

Rated: 2/5

Feb 4, 2022

Full Review

Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

Not a hint of originality can be found in this lifeless tribute to music and old school mayhem.

Rated: 2/10

Nov 28, 2020

Full Review

Read all reviews

thiago s

Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

10/31/25

Full Review

David W

Soul Men would likely be unnoteworthy if not for the fact that it is the among the last appearances of both Bernie Mac and Isaac Hayes. It's a fun film that delivers laughs and doesn't ask much in return. It may not be winning any awards, but it will lift your spirts and give you a good time. The special tribute in the credits is worth sticking around for. I would watch this again.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/21/24

Full Review

steve d

A want to be gross out version of The Sunshine Boys, all it does is make you roll your eyes. The cast is solid, the script is not.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This raunchy anti buddy comedy also had some heart at times and definitely kept giving me Blues Brothers vibes. Even though this was pretty predictable, and muddled tonally, I enjoyed the chemistry between the two leads, and am definitely glad they didn't shy away from the R rating. The end credits scene heavily featured Bernie Mac and was a pretty touching tribute to him and Isaac Hayes. Samuel L. Jackson Binge: This felt like they may have been writing this character with Mr. Jackson in mind all along. 4.5/10 *SLJ #11

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/20/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This months movie review for March 2017 is Soul Men. This movie came out in 2008. This movie is good. Bernie Mac is in this movie along with Samuel L. Jackson. My favourite part of this movie is when Bernie have intercourse with the woman in American Pie and the she has false teeth and Bernie was upset. This part of the movie was the funniest part. The Legendary Soul and Blues Musician Isaac Hayes is also in this movie. The R & B Musician John Legend is in this movie too. It was a short role for John Legend. I give this movie two thumbs up. 3 and half stars.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/24/23

Full Review

Audience Member

An r&b duo who scored a big hit some twenty plus years earlier split up because of creative differences and reunite in present day in this typical buddy breakup comedy.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/19/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Malcolm D. Lee

Director

Samuel L. Jackson

Louis

Bernie Mac

Floyd

Sharon Leal

Cleo Whitfield

Adam Herschman

Phillip Newman

Sean Hayes

Danny Epstein

The Promotion

54%

28%

The Promotion

Watchlist

Semi-Pro

23%

39%

Semi-Pro

Watchlist

The Hangover

79%

84%

The Hangover

Watchlist

Harold & Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay

53%

60%

Harold & Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay

Watchlist

The Banger Sisters

47%

42%

The Banger Sisters

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

RT on DVD: Oliver’s W, Spike’s St. Anna, and My Name is Bruce!

Critics Consensus: Positive Role Models, So-So Soul Men

Box Office Guru Preview: Kids Set to Escape 2 Africa This Weekend

View more photos

Synopsis

Louis (Samuel L. Jackson) and Floyd (Bernie Mac) used to be one of the country's top musical duos, until they broke up and never spoke again. Old animosities resurface 20 years later when the two are thrust together on a cross-country trip to take part in a tribute concert honoring their late band leader. Louis and Floyd have just five short days to bury the hatchet -- hopefully not in someone's head -- before they take the stage at New York's Apollo Theater.

Director: Malcolm D. Lee
Producer: David T. Friendly, Steve Greener, Charles Castaldi
Screenwriter: Robert Ramsey, Matthew Stone
Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Production Co: Dimension Films, Friendly Films
Rating: R (Pervasive Language|Nudity|Sexual Content)
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 7, 2008, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 14, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $12.1M
Runtime: 1h 40m

Most Popular at Home Now