Hood films were quintessential to the 1990s cinema landscape, yet their appeal has waned since their inception. The genre’s diminishing popularity may stem from its central themes that delve into gang violence, racism, drugs, and crime within urban settings—topics that have attracted considerable critique. Nevertheless, certain films within this category have transcended the controversy to achieve critical success, earning them a place among the genre’s classics.
In that context, here’s our compilation. Dedicate a moment to exploring these films and discovering the essence of what defines a hood movie.
10 Best Hood Movies You Should See
1. Do the Right Thing (1989)
- IMDB rating: 8/10
- Rotten Tomatoes rating: 92%
- Metacritic rating: 93%
Directed by Spike Lee, Do the Right Thing explores racial tensions in a Brooklyn neighborhood. Set on a scorching summer day, the film builds toward a tragic confrontation as simmering resentments boil over. A stellar cast featuring Danny Aiello, Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee, Giancarlo Esposito, Bill Nunn, John Turturro, and Samuel L. Jackson brings Lee’s vision to life.
Achieving both critical acclaim and financial success, the movie garnered $37.3 million against a budget of $6.2 million. It also earned two Oscar nominations, celebrating Danny Aiello’s performance with a nod for Best Supporting Actor and Spike Lee’s writing with a nomination for Best Original Screenplay.
2. Boyz n the Hood (1991)
- IMDB rating: 7.8/10
- Rotten Tomatoes rating: 96%
- Metacritic rating: 76%
John Singleton’s directorial debut, Boyz n the Hood, follows Tre Styles (Cuba Gooding Jr.), a young man sent to live with his strict but caring father (Laurence Fishburne) in South Central Los Angeles. Tre must navigate a world of violence and gang culture, all while trying to find his place. Will he choose the path his father sets, or succumb to the pressures of the streets?
The movie was both a critical and commercial success, grossing $57 million and receiving two Academy Award nominations, including Best Director for Singleton, the youngest and first African-American to be nominated.
3. Straight out of Brooklyn (1991)
- IMDB rating: 5.8/10
- Rotten Tomatoes rating: 80%
Driven by frustration and helplessness, many people turn to crime. Dennis Brown (Larry Gilliard Jr.) finds himself at a crossroads. Tired of his family’s struggles and facing a bleak future, he hatches a risky plan to rob a drug dealer with his two friends, but his choices lead to unforeseen consequences.
Matty Rich’s Straight Out of Brooklyn secured the Independent Spirit Award for Best First Feature and received nominations for Best Supporting Male and Best Film Music in 1992.
4. Juice (1992)
- IMDB rating: 7/10
- Rotten Tomatoes rating: 80%
- Metacritic rating: 60%
Ernest R. Dickerson’s Juice dives into the lives of four friends in Harlem: Quincy (Omar Epps), Bishop (Tupac Shakur), Raheem (Khalil Kain), and Steel (Jermaine Hopkins). Fueled by frustration and yearning for a better life, they decide to rob a convenience store. Tensions rise when Bishop insists on bringing a gun, sparking conflict with the more cautious Quincy.
The film garnered positive reviews, with Roger Ebert praising the cast’s raw performances. Juice grossed $20 million on a $5 million budget.
5. A Bronx Tale (1993)
- IMDB rating: 7.8/10
- Rotten Tomatoes rating: 97%
- Metacritic rating: 80%
Torn between loyalty to his father and the allure of the mob, Calogero (played by Francis Capra as a child and Lillo Brancato Jr. as a teenager) grapples with a difficult choice in Robert De Niro’s directorial debut, A Bronx Tale.
De Niro himself plays Calogero’s honest bus driver father, Lorenzo, while Chazz Palminteri portrays Sonny, the charismatic local mafia boss. The film was a critical success, with Palminteri earning a Sant Jordi Award for Best Foreign Actor. It earned slightly above its production $10 million budget.
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6. Carlito’s Way (1993)
- IMDB rating: 7.9/10
- Rotten Tomatoes rating: 84%
- Metacritic rating: 66%
At times, the pull of past habits proves too strong to resist. Carlito’s Way tells the story of Carlito Brigante (Al Pacino), an ex-con determined to go straight after prison. But leaving his criminal past behind proves harder than he imagined. Despite his best intentions, Carlito gets pulled back into the world that initially landed him behind bars.
Directed by Brian De Palma and loosely based on Judge Edwin Torres’ two novels (Carlito’s Way and After Hours), the film initially received a mixed critical reception, which has improved over time. It achieved commercial success, grossing $64 million on a $30 million budget, and garnered Golden Globe nominations for Sean Penn and Penelope Ann Miller for their supporting roles.
7. Menace II Society (1993)
- IMDB rating: 7.5/10
- Rotten Tomatoes rating: 84%
- Metacritic rating: 76%
Upbringing can have a powerful influence on life’s path. Caine Lawson (Tyrin Turner) exemplifies this. Born into a drug-dealing family, Caine witnessed tragedy firsthand: his father, Tat Lawson (Samuel L. Jackson), died in a drug deal, and his mother, Karen Lawson (Khandi Alexander), succumbed to a drug overdose. Trapped in this violent cycle, Caine turned to crime himself, ultimately meeting a similar fate.
Helmed by The Hughes Brothers, Menace II Society was met with widespread acclaim, amassing $30 million against a modest budget of $3.5 million. The film’s visual storytelling was honored with the Best Cinematography award at the 1993 Independent Spirit Awards, and it clinched the title of Best Movie at the 1994 MTV Movie Awards.
8. American History X (1998)
- IMDB rating: 8.5/10
- Rotten Tomatoes rating: 84%
- Metacritic rating: 62%
Tony Kaye’s American History X stars Edward Norton as Derek Vinyard, a reformed white supremacist, and Edward Furlong as his younger brother, Danny.
The film explores racism’s destructive impact on a family. Fresh out of prison after a three-year sentence for voluntary manslaughter, Derek attempts to shield Danny from the white supremacist ideology that consumed him.
Despite modest box office success, the film garnered critical acclaim, with Norton receiving a Best Actor Academy Award nomination.
9. American Gangster (2007)
- IMDB rating: 7.8/10
- Rotten Tomatoes rating: 81%
- Metacritic rating: 76%
In Ridley Scott’s American Gangster, the narrative is woven around the criminal life of Frank Lucas, a notorious drug kingpin played by Denzel Washington, and his adversary, Detective Richie Roberts portrayed by Russell Crowe. Set against the backdrop of crime and justice, their intense rivalry begs the question: who will prevail?
The movie was a financial success, grossing $266 million against its $100 million production cost. It was lauded by critics and received Oscar nods for Best Art Direction and Best Supporting Actress for Ruby Dee’s role as Mahalee Lucas, in addition to a Screen Actors Guild Award for her outstanding supporting performance.
10. Straight Outta Campton (2015)
- IMDB rating: 7.8/10
- Rotten Tomatoes rating: 89%
- Metacritic rating: 72%
Straight Outta Compton chronicles the meteoric rise and fall of N.W.A., the Compton rap group that revolutionized hip-hop. Eazy-E, Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, MC Ren, and DJ Yella channeled their raw experiences into music that sparked a cultural firestorm. F. Gary Gray directs the film, featuring powerful performances by O’Shea Jackson Jr. (Ice Cube), Corey Hawkins (Dr. Dre), Jason Mitchell (Eazy-E), Neil Brown Jr. (DJ Yella), and Aldis Hodge (MC Ren).
The movie resonated with audiences and critics alike, raking in $201 million and scoring an Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay. It also took home the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Motion Picture.
