Menace II Society

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1:40

Menace II Society

R

1993

1h 37m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

84%

Tomatometer

45 Reviews

93%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

After growing up in the gang lifestyle of the Los Angeles projects, 18-year-old Caine Lawson (Tyrin Turner) wants a way out. Everyone around him, including his unpredictable friend O-Dog (Larenz Tate), is trapped in their lives of crime and violence. With the help of his caring teacher (Charles Dutton) and supportive girlfriend (Jada Pinkett), Caine plans to leave the city for good. But in a series of tragic events, Caine realizes that escape will not be easy.

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Critics Consensus

Told with grit and verve by the Hughes brothers in their feature debut, Menace II Society is a gangland epic that breathes with authenticity while steeped in style.

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Lawrence Ware

New York Times

10/13/2023

A

With a tragic hero at its heart, the Hughes brothers’ debut drama painted nuanced portraits of characters rarely fleshed out in other films.

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Peter Rainer

Los Angeles Times

03/07/2021

The Hughes brothers are torn between the hopelessness of what they depict and a kind of haloed view of a better life.

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Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

03/17/2008

Don't let the silly styling of the title put you off; this is a powerful, convincing, and terrifying look at teenage crime in contemporary Watts.

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Brian Susbielles

InSession Film

03/01/2023

A lot like Boyz N Da Hood released two years earlier, it is a bleak picture and captures lightning in a bottle in which the city was still fuming from the Rodney King riots.

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Kelechi Ehenulo

FILMHOUNDS Magazine

12/17/2021

4/5

Now that it is a Criterion release with a stunning 4K restoration, [Menace II Society] remains an important chapter in understanding why the streets are more than what is stereotypically portrayed in the media.

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Rob Aldam

Backseat Mafia

12/06/2021

Remains a powerful indictment of a country which was failing young black men in in the 1990s.

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Blake- N

@PBSAniDom May 16

Menace II Society is a powerful and gritty urban drama that delivers a raw and unfiltered look at life in its setting. It stands out for its intensity and realistic tone, making it a compelling watch from start to finish. The film is driven by strong performances, especially from its lead, who brings depth and authenticity to the role. The supporting cast also adds to the overall realism, helping the story feel grounded and impactful. The direction and pacing keep things tense and engaging, with a style that emphasizes atmosphere and emotional weight. It doesn’t shy away from difficult themes, which gives it a lasting sense of seriousness. Overall, Menace II Society is a very good film to watch if you appreciate hard-hitting drama with strong storytelling and performances. I would rate it an 8/10 for its impact, realism, and memorable execution.

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Dixie M.

@DMDarne123 Apr 24

This is one of my favorite hood movies of all time.

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aasim R

@Aasim688 Mar 28

Great Gangster film with a mix of Hood drama, Absolute must watch,It's Like Goodfellas.

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James K

@Jamesdkman Mar 20

This was really the first movie of its kind for the 90s to truly embody the essence of that decade, without pulling from the previous one. This was purely a 90s flick, one that kind of felt like an exaggerated example at first. but ends up being a true representation in hindsight. It was gritty, it was scary to see that people are really like that, and it really did a good job of conveying a message. I loved that the movie stayed relatively grounded, even though I felt in spots that O-Dog was working with plot armor. Besides that, if you're looking for a film that is geniune representation of the early 90s, Menace to Society would be a pretty good choice.

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Damon G

@Dmoney420 Feb 22

Westcoast classic had legendary actors too short mc eight super dope hood movie

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Joy B.

@9mr_0 Jan 12

فلم حلو . قصة جيده و متماسكة لكنها قاسية. المخرج او المخرجان سردوا القصة بشكل هادىء رغم قساوة القصة . الممثلين كان ادائهم واقعي و جيد في بعض الاحيان يكون مبالغ به لكن جيد. التصوير كان متزن يتناسب مع القصة . الموسيقى جيده و تتناسب مع المشهد.

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Allen Hughes

Director

Albert Hughes

Director

Tyrin Turner

Caine "Kaydee" Lawson

Jada Pinkett Smith

Ronnie

Vonte Sweet

Sharif

Larenz Tate

Kevin 'O-Dog'

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Menace II Society: Trailer 1

1:40

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Synopsis

After growing up in the gang lifestyle of the Los Angeles projects, 18-year-old Caine Lawson (Tyrin Turner) wants a way out. Everyone around him, including his unpredictable friend O-Dog (Larenz Tate), is trapped in their lives of crime and violence. With the help of his caring teacher (Charles Dutton) and supportive girlfriend (Jada Pinkett), Caine plans to leave the city for good. But in a series of tragic events, Caine realizes that escape will not be easy.

Director: Allen Hughes, Albert Hughes
Producer: Darin Scott
Screenwriter: Allen Hughes, Albert Hughes, Tyger Williams
Distributor: 20th Century Fox of Germany, New Line Cinema
Production Co: New Line Cinema
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 26, 1993, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 10, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $27.7M
Runtime: 1h 37m
Sound Mix: Surround, Stereo