Poetic Justice

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2:58

Poetic Justice

R

1993

1h 50m

Romance

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

35%

Tomatometer

31 Reviews

83%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

Still grieving after the murder of her boyfriend, hairdresser Justice (Janet Jackson) writes poetry to deal with the pain of her loss. Unable to get to Oakland to attend a convention because of her broken-down car, Justice gets a lift with her friend, Iesha (Regina King) and Iesha's postal worker boyfriend, Chicago (Joe Torry). Along for the ride is Chicago's co-worker, Lucky (Tupac Shakur), to whom Justice grows close after some initial problems. But is she ready to open her heart again?

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Critics Consensus

Poetic Justice is commendably ambitious and boasts a pair of appealing stars, but they're undermined by writer-director John Singleton's frustrating lack of discipline.

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Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

04/26/2019

After a deceptively funny and offbeat beginning, the movie keeps restarting; each new start shows some promise, and Singleton's talent never really deserts him-but the parts don't come together to create a unified story.

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Kenneth Turan

Los Angeles Times

04/26/2019

"Poetic Justice" is a disappointment.

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Angie Errigo

Empire Magazine

04/26/2019

2/5

Some good performances are balanced out by the film's contrivances and gratuitously foul-mouthed characters.

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Justin Brown

Medium Popcorn

03/05/2020

2/5

Outside of a certain demographic, it's just not going to hit the same way.

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Brandon Collins

Medium Popcorn

03/05/2020

2/5

It was fine, I loved Janet Jackson, but for me watching it now, my brain is blank. it wasn't terrible, wasn't good, it was just there. Respect to a Black romantic drama revered in the community, but I'd rather watch Love & Basketball...

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Stephen Hunter

Baltimore Sun

04/26/2019

2/4

In short, the movie's pretty much of a mess, as it struggles with big themes but hasn't figured out what to do with them.

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Damon G

@Dmoney420 Feb 22

Super good movie man people need to watch movies like this

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Joy B.

@9mr_0 Jan 5

لا توجد قصة في الفلم و لا عمق درامي للاحداث الفلم عبارة عن يوميات ببناء ضعيف . المخرج يروي الاحداث بشكل متسارع لم يبني الشخصيات بشكل جيد ولم يطورها . الفلم ضايع بين الكوميديا السطحية و الرومانسية الخجوله و الدراما الضعيفة . الا توجد كيمياء بين الشخصيات و حظور الممثلين ضعيف. التصوير فوضوي مع موسيقى صاخبة . لا ننكر ان الشخصيات حاولت تقديم شيء جيد لكن هم ضعيفين فنياً.الشعر كان جيد . هناك بعض الدقايق الجيدة لكن السيء عم على الجيد.

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Stephen C

@bob25009 Jan 5

The worldwide gross is $27,515,786.00. Ages 17 and older.

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alan g

@agenser Jul 25

Narcissistic rappers who can't act each trying to out do the others and failing miserably. Janet trying to be an "artiste". Good thing she has a rich family.

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Deontae D

@Deontae301 Jul 3

Great movie, I never knew it was connected with Boyz n the hood, I figured that though, Because it had some of the actors from that movie, Janet Jackson and Tupac is amazing, And John Singleton is a great director, They don't make movie's like this no more, The 90's had great movies

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pgill61 T

@RT75620848 Mar 20

I just saw this movie for the first time in 2025. And I must say even though the two leads are iconic stars with an accomplished director. The movie fell so flat. I must say even though I finished it because that’s just what I do the movie was garbage. No cohesion no direction to the story just a trifling drunk and a stuck up poet who you never even really get to hear the poetry outside a little snippet. It had promised but failed to deliver.

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John Singleton

Director

Janet Jackson

Justice

Tupac Shakur

Lucky

Regina King

Iesha

Joe Torry

Chicago

Maya Angelou

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Poetic Justice: Trailer 1

2:58

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Synopsis

Still grieving after the murder of her boyfriend, hairdresser Justice (Janet Jackson) writes poetry to deal with the pain of her loss. Unable to get to Oakland to attend a convention because of her broken-down car, Justice gets a lift with her friend, Iesha (Regina King) and Iesha's postal worker boyfriend, Chicago (Joe Torry). Along for the ride is Chicago's co-worker, Lucky (Tupac Shakur), to whom Justice grows close after some initial problems. But is she ready to open her heart again?

Director: John Singleton
Producer: Steve Nicolaides, John Singleton
Screenwriter: John Singleton
Distributor: Columbia Pictures, Columbia Tristar
Production Co: New Deal Productions, Sony Pictures, Columbia Pictures Corporation
Rating: R
Genre: Romance, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 23, 1993, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 3, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $27.5M
Runtime: 1h 50m
Sound Mix: Surround

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