Set It Off

R

1996

2 hr. 0 min.

Action

Mystery & Thriller

Crime

Drama

List

70%

37 Reviews

Tomatometer

89%

50,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

After being fired from her job as a bank teller, Frankie (Vivica A. Fox) begins working at a janitorial service with her friends Tisean (Kimberly Elise), a single mother; Cleo (Queen Latifah), a boisterous lesbian; and Stony (Jada Pinkett), who is dealing with the recent death of her brother. The women are struggling with their finances, so they decide to start robbing banks. At first the group is successful, but they soon attract the attention of an obsessive detective (John C. McGinley).

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Critics Consensus

It may not boast an original plot, but Set It Off is a satisfying, socially conscious heist film thanks largely to fine performances from its leads.

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Devon K

A violent, realistic take on the reality of this life. Even when pushed to the absolute edge we must be reminded that decisions, even with good intentions have consequences. Stellar performances from the main cast and great direction from F. Gary Gray. Definitely recommend to fans of the Bank Robbery sub-genre and film buffs! give it a watch.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/23/24

Full Review

B Dub

Phenomenal movie! Plenty of dramatic scenes with an amazing storyline! Perfect cast with this movie too!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/10/24

Full Review

Audience Member

F. Gary Gray breaks new ground 4 black women have been screwed by the justice system in Los Angeles So they decide to get back at the higher powers by robbing a series of banks covering their expenses The sympathetic bank robbers genre is injected with new life thanks to Gray 4 great leads, amazing shots of the LA cityscape, intense camera angles, sharp social commentary, and slick cinematography with washed out blues The shootouts and the car chases are fierce as well A pleasant surprise being more socially conscious than the average heist movie that also challenges audiences new and old

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/18/23

Full Review

marc r

Entertainment with fire and fury. Overcooked, but it still hits. Cast carries it.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Keshon L

happy 130 review for me!!!!!!!!!! so this movie is good movie i really love it. i like the cast of characters really makes does movie very good man i love the heist in does movie there pretty enteraining.I love the actors like the girl group was very smart like this director genuis.the 3rd act is the best part of the movie and its very good i was sad when they dead jada penkins character didn't dead but all right but that was sad that i was thinking in my head when i had to go to bed that is heavy heavy heavy supsense.I really liked the movie but like it gets off track of the heist stuff and cuts to does stuff that really stops and makes no sense and the girl tried but they like one more time it makes me so mad a and those cops lord they don't lesson.this movie is good but has awkward moments,and stuff that is not about it its not bad but i just hesit i don't care about the other stuff.but this movie is good go watch do let kids watch it but you can watch it if you like heist if you don't like these types of movies don't see then.its a 7.5/10 pretty heist good.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

05/19/22

Full Review

Audience Member

There are many movies about people who rob banks out there but very few with female lead roles and saying that very few of those female lead bank roberry movies are good. Set I Off is different though. Set It Off is a movie about 4 females who's lives have been negatively affected by society. Frankie loses her job, Stony's brother is killed by police, Tissan's baby boy is taken by child services and cleo is basically a black woman whi has had enough of it all so all 4 of them.turn to robbing banks not only for the money but also to get back at society for the way they are treated. This movie is an action packed, heartfelt well detailed movie that shows the world how the working class black women are treated and seen by people all over America and the world as Jada Pinkett, Queen Latifah, Vivica A. Fox and Kimberly Elise deliver masterful performances. I highly suggest you watch this movie if possible.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/11/23

Full Review

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F. Gary Gray

Director

Jada Pinkett Smith

Lida "Stony" Newsom

Queen Latifah

Cleo Sims

Vivica A. Fox

Frankie Sutton

Blair Underwood

Keith Weston

John C. McGinley

Detective Strode

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Rosalind Bentley

Minneapolis Star Tribune

It is perhaps one of the best of the few films in the last several years to give voice to the stress and struggle of being poor, working class, black and female in downsized America.

Rated: 4/5

Jan 26, 2022

Full Review

Alyx Vesey

Bitch Media

An important film that continues to challenge old and new audiences.

Jan 11, 2021

Full Review

Carmen Phillips

Autostraddle

F. Gary Gray does so nearly flawlessly because he understands that first and foremost the story belongs to the Black women upon whose shoulders this entangled mess has always fallen onto in the first place.

Sep 4, 2020

Full Review

Latoya Austin

Cinerama Film

Set It Off transcends and rewrites the classic heist movie through an all-female, all-black group of friends and their love for one another ... it is ultimately a tale of sacrifice, love and belonging .. a heartfelt ode to female friendships

Mar 27, 2023

Full Review

David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

...slightly erratic yet mostly engrossing...

Rated: 3/4

Jan 14, 2023

Full Review

Sheila Reid

Women in the Life

I must admit I didn't go into this flick with high expectations. So, I was pleasantly surprised when I thoroughly enjoyed it.

May 16, 2022

Full Review

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Synopsis

After being fired from her job as a bank teller, Frankie (Vivica A. Fox) begins working at a janitorial service with her friends Tisean (Kimberly Elise), a single mother; Cleo (Queen Latifah), a boisterous lesbian; and Stony (Jada Pinkett), who is dealing with the recent death of her brother. The women are struggling with their finances, so they decide to start robbing banks. At first the group is successful, but they soon attract the attention of an obsessive detective (John C. McGinley).

Director: F. Gary Gray
Executive Producer: Mary Parent, F. Gary Gray
Screenwriter: Takashi Bufford, Kate Lanier
Production Co: New Line Cinema
Rating: R
Genre: Action, Mystery & Thriller, Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 1, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $36.1M
Sound Mix: Surround

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