Menace II Society

R

Released May 26, 1993

1 hr. 37 min.

Drama

TRAILER

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List

84%

45 Reviews

Tomatometer

93%

50,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

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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Ben V

I think the point of this movie was to insert where law can trump innocence and I don't even think the judiciary knows why.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/22/24

Full Review

TJ L

instant Classic, a Beyond Authentic Portrayal of South Central Los Angeles California in the 90's . . . this my Number 1 Favorite Movie of All Time, i can Relate to Caine alot More than i can to Tre from Boyz N the Hood because my Parents was More Similar to Caine's Parents than to Tre's Parents, this Movie Fully Shows what Life was Like Living/Growing up in (The Hood) in the 1990's

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/22/23

Full Review

Red T

An Urban Drama Classic. The music is the best part it is phenomenal across the board, its worth sitting through the end credits just to hear the end song which is the best one. Everything else is really good across the board. The cinematography can be a bit surreal sometimes with lots of moving shots and zoom ins that can feel a bit obnoxious and unneeded at times along with lots of over the top scenes with violence and shock value which works for and against this. Kane is a really good character but he makes some dumb choices that don't have the emotional backing to make us sympathize vs someone like Troy from Boyz in Da Hood. Also it would've been nice to see him be raised as a teen with Ronnie's former man in prison as we never see him until the one scene at the end. Also Shariff and Kane getting beaten by the police feels completely unneeded and is there for shock value along with Dog killing the basehead over a burger which was a bit stupid. Also, it is a bit of a coincidence that her cousin waited weeks and chose the EXACT moment they were leaving for ATL to kill him finally and how he knew they were there is beyond me but its still a powerful brutal ending and the best part of the film. Also, sometimes this goes in circles in the middle with trying to show Cane is gonna end up dead if he doesn't stop making dumb decisions and can be borderline self righteous. However it does work because of how well done everything is and its underlying commentary about someone having no direction and falling into a life of crime. Anyone who is a fan of urban dramas, or 90's films will enjoy this a lot.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

05/17/23

Full Review

stephen b

In a time where tragedies have little commercial appeal, this is a stellar one exemplifying the 1990s.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/25/23

Full Review

isaac m

Menace II Society is an amazing movie that resembles Boyz N The Hood, but with an original story and characters. I love the performances, the direction, the story and the realism of Los Angeles. I am really surprised how the director's took every step to shock audiences about life in the hood. Overall, Menace II Society doesn't apologize to highlight the realism of Los Angeles neighborhood.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

w b

Something to watch if wanting more 90's hood movies like Boyz n the Hood. You'll enjoy it

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

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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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Lawrence Ware

New York Times

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

Rated: A

Oct 13, 2023

Full Review

Peter Rainer

Los Angeles Times

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

Mar 7, 2021

Full Review

Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

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.

Mar 17, 2008

Full Review

Brian Susbielles

InSession Film

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.

Mar 1, 2023

Full Review

Kelechi Ehenulo

FILMHOUNDS Magazine

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.

Rated: 4/5

Dec 17, 2021

Full Review

Rob Aldam

Backseat Mafia

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

Dec 6, 2021

Full Review

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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
Executive Producer: Kevin Moreton
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
Sound Mix: Surround, Stereo

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