Originally by Ranker FilmList RulesMovies must take place in an urban ghetto.
This list of the best hood movies includes some of the greatest hood films set in, and about, the 'hood.' Hood films began appearing in the late '80s and early '90s, with the most widely-known examples being Boyz n the Hood and Hustle n Flow. These films explore themes of life in African-American urban communities, including poverty, violence, gangsters, education, drugs, sports, and music.
Any top hood movies list would be incomplete without a mention of Friday or Next Friday - both funny and classic hood movies. More recently, these types of films have fallen out of favor, as many became cliched, being parodied, and even garnering criticism for promoting stereotypes. That said, the 1980s and 1990s good old hood movies are a testament to top-quality and low budget film making - even hood movies from the 21st century are popular and entertaining to audiences. Other new hood movies include Straight Outta Compton, Moonlight, and Dope. You can also find some of these movies on the best hip hop movies of the 2010s list. And movies like Dead Presidents can also be found on this list of the best Black heist movies.
Hood films deal with urban Black culture, often touching on the various struggles of growing up in that type of environment. Vote for your favorite gangsta movies, whether they're hilarious comedies or heart-wrenching dramas, and check out Ranker's list of the best Black movies.
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5,201469Boyz n the Hood
Ice Cube, Angela BassettReleased: 1991
Directed by: John Singleton
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4,568314Menace II Society
Samuel L. Jackson, Jada Pinkett SmithReleased: 1993
Directed by: Albert Hughes, Allen Hughes
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3,360339Juice
Tupac Shakur, Samuel L. JacksonReleased: 1992
Directed by: Ernest R. Dickerson
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4,624857Friday
Ice Cube, Meagan GoodReleased: 1995
Directed by: F. Gary Gray
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1,386226South Central
Glenn Plummer, Carl LumblyReleased: 1992
Directed by: Stephen Milburn Anderson
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2,463410Paid in Full
Regina Hall, Cam'ronReleased: 2002
Directed by: Charles Stone III
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2,495525Training Day
Eva Mendes, Snoop DoggReleased: 2001
Directed by: Antoine Fuqua
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1,221163Straight Outta Compton
O'Shea Jackson Jr., Corey HawkinsReleased: 2015
Directed by: F. Gary Gray
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2,227471Set It Off
Queen Latifah, Dr. DreReleased: 1996
Directed by: F. Gary Gray
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1,760332Poetic Justice
Janet Jackson, Keanu ReevesReleased: 1993
Directed by: John Singleton
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1,079143Next Friday
Ice Cube, Chris TuckerReleased: 2000
Directed by: Steve Carr
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1,608345Dead Presidents
Martin Sheen, Terrence HowardReleased: 1995
Directed by: Albert Hughes, Allen Hughes
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1,656335Above the Rim
Tupac Shakur, Bernie MacReleased: 1994
Directed by: Jeff Pollack
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1,322231American Gangster
Denzel Washington, Russell CroweReleased: 2007
Directed by: Ridley Scott
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1,747362Belly
Nas, DMXReleased: 1998
Directed by: Hype Williams
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2,472600New Jack City
Chris Rock, Ice-TReleased: 1991
Directed by: Mario Van Peebles
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2,125543Baby Boy
Snoop Dogg, Taraji P. HensonReleased: 2001
Directed by: John Singleton
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1,395377Hustle & Flow
Taraji P. Henson, LudacrisReleased: 2005
Directed by: Craig Brewer
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1,569397Get Rich or Die Tryin'
50 Cent, Viola DavisReleased: 2005
Directed by: Jim Sheridan
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1,063216Friday After Next
Ice Cube, Terry CrewsReleased: 2002
Directed by: Marcus Raboy
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1,369372ATL
T.I., Lauren LondonReleased: 2006
Directed by: Chris Robinson
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891231Do the Right Thing
Samuel L. Jackson, Martin LawrenceReleased: 1989
Directed by: Spike Lee
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1,037278Fresh
Samuel L. Jackson, Giancarlo EspositoReleased: 1994
Directed by: Boaz Yakin
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886223Colors
Sean Penn, Robert DuvallReleased: 1988
Directed by: Dennis Hopper
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1,031295In Too Deep
LL Cool J, NasReleased: 1999
Directed by: Michael Rymer
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