Hoodlum

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Hoodlum

R

Released Aug 27, 1997

2h 10m

Crime

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

43%

Tomatometer

21 Reviews

65%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

Having just been released from jail, Bumpy Johnson (Laurence Fishburne) returns to his criminal ways as a linchpin in the African-American-run numbers racket. However, Bumpy's longtime friend Illinois Gordon (Chi McBride) and girlfriend Francine Hughes (Vanessa Williams) are both eager to get him back on the straight and narrow. But a brewing rivalry with Mafia boss Lucky Luciano (Andy Garcia) and his henchman Dutch Schultz (Tim Roth) threatens to raise the stakes to dangerous new levels.

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Owen Gleiberman

Entertainment Weekly

Rated: B

Sep 7, 2011

Full Review

Globe and Mail

Rated: 2.5/4

Apr 12, 2002

Full Review

Susan Stark

Detroit News

Rated: 3/4

Jan 1, 2000

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Creative Loafing

Impressively mounted if overly familiar gangster tale.

Rated: 2.5/4

Jul 24, 2016

Full Review

Michael Dequina

TheMovieReport.com

This slow-going, talky film is in a constant struggle to hold the audience's interest.

Rated: 2/4

Feb 14, 2009

Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 3/5

Jul 28, 2005

Full Review

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D P

I didn't even know this movie existed. I try to support black cinema, but this won't suffice. Everything about this movie was subpar.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

06/18/25

Full Review

Nunn Y

I love this gangster flick. The acting, atmosphere of the scenes was on point and I love seeing this piece of Harlem history as a beautiful cinematic period piece.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/28/25

Full Review

Jelisije J

An enjoyable gangster flick where the tone is all over the place, but leaves a memorable experience at the end of the day.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/27/24

Full Review

andre k

Laurence Fishburne!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Harlem-set gangster film that at 130 minutes feels too long, but has enough underdeveloped storylines to feel like it's not long enough.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/27/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Boring, predictable, over-dramatized, bad acting, unrealistic, over-the-top.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

01/27/23

Full Review

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Bill Duke

Director

Laurence Fishburne

Bumpy Johnson

Tim Roth

Dutch Schultz

Vanessa Williams

Francine Hughes

Andy Garcia

Lucky Luciano

Cicely Tyson

Stephanie St. Clair

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3%

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Synopsis

Having just been released from jail, Bumpy Johnson (Laurence Fishburne) returns to his criminal ways as a linchpin in the African-American-run numbers racket. However, Bumpy's longtime friend Illinois Gordon (Chi McBride) and girlfriend Francine Hughes (Vanessa Williams) are both eager to get him back on the straight and narrow. But a brewing rivalry with Mafia boss Lucky Luciano (Andy Garcia) and his henchman Dutch Schultz (Tim Roth) threatens to raise the stakes to dangerous new levels.

Director: Bill Duke
Producer: Frank Mancuso Jr.
Screenwriter: Chris Brancato
Distributor: United Artists, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Production Co: United Artists
Rating: R
Genre: Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 27, 1997, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 16, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA): $23.5M
Runtime: 2h 10m
Sound Mix: Surround, DTS

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