The best ghetto movies explore life in urban communities. This list includes Black ghetto movies, hood movies, and ghetto comedies. Characters that live in the ghetto are often depicted as impoverished, engaged in or concerned about gang activity, and mixed up in drugs and other bad behaviors. While some want to escape the lives the were born into, others want to stick around and rule their neighborhoods. Ghetto films began appearing in the late '80s and early '90s with one of the most widely known examples being Menace II Society and Boyz in the Hood. These movies focus on African American characters who were born and raised in the "ghetto." Other movies like Baby Boy, Training Day, and City of God tackle life in the ghetto from other perspectives. There are also white ghetto film like 8 Mile. All-in-all this a bigger list than just the top 10 ghetto movies.
What are the best ghetto movies? What are some example of hood films? Ghetto films deal with the urban culture of minorities, and frequently with the plight of growing up in that type of environment. Use this ghetto movie list as a starting off point to vote on what you think are the best films in the genre and to find new movies that you'd enjoy watching.
- 1
Actors: Ice Cube, Angela Bassett, Cuba Gooding Jr., Laurence Fishburne, Nia Long
Directed by: John Singleton
- 2
Actors: Samuel L. Jackson, Jada Pinkett Smith, Charles S. Dutton, Khandi Alexander, Bill Duke
Directed by: Albert Hughes, Allen Hughes
- 3
Actors: Ice Cube, Meagan Good, Nia Long, Bernie Mac, Chris Tucker
Directed by: F. Gary Gray
- 4
Actors: Eva Mendes, Snoop Dogg, Denzel Washington, Dr. Dre, Ethan Hawke
Directed by: Antoine Fuqua
- 5
Actors: Tupac Shakur, Samuel L. Jackson, Queen Latifah, Omar Epps, Donald Faison
Directed by: Ernest R. Dickerson
- 6
Actors: Chris Rock, Ice-T, Judd Nelson, Wesley Snipes, Flavor Flav
Directed by: Mario Van Peebles
- 7
Actors: Regina Hall, Cam'ron, Angie Martinez, Chi McBride, Damon Dash
Directed by: Charles Stone III
- 8
Actors: O'Shea Jackson Jr., Corey Hawkins, Jason Mitchell, Paul Giamatti, Aldis Hodge
Directed by: F. Gary Gray
- 9
Actors: Alice Braga, Seu Jorge, Matheus Nachtergaele, Douglas Silva, Darlan Cunha
Directed by: Fernando Meirelles
- 10
Actors: Snoop Dogg, Taraji P. Henson, Tyrese Gibson, Mo'Nique Imes-Jackson, Ving Rhames
Directed by: John Singleton
- 11
Actors: Ice Cube, Chris Tucker, Mike Epps, Michael Rapaport, Tamala Jones
Directed by: Steve Carr
- 12
Actors: Glenn Plummer, Carl Lumbly, Byron Minns, Lexie Bigham, LaRita Shelby
Directed by: Stephen Milburn Anderson
- 13
Actors: Samuel L. Jackson, Martin Lawrence, Spike Lee, John Turturro, Rosie Perez
Directed by: Spike Lee
- 14
Actors: Angela Bassett, Anthony Mackie, Derek Luke, Naturi Naughton, Aunjanue Ellis
Directed by: George Tillman, Jr.
- 15
Actors: Janet Jackson, Keanu Reeves, Tupac Shakur, Maya Angelou, Billy Zane
Directed by: John Singleton
- 16
Actors: Sean Penn, Robert Duvall, Don Cheadle, Mario Lopez, Damon Wayans
Directed by: Dennis Hopper
- 17
Actors: 50 Cent, Viola Davis, Terrence Howard, Joy Bryant, Bill Duke
Directed by: Jim Sheridan
- 18
Actors: Eminem, Kim Basinger, Brittany Murphy, Michael Shannon, Taryn Manning
Directed by: Curtis Hanson
- 19
Actors: Nas, DMX, Method Man, Sean Paul, AZ
Directed by: Hype Williams
- 20
Actors: Tupac Shakur, Bernie Mac, Marlon Wayans, Wood Harris, Henry Simmons
Directed by: Jeff Pollack
- 21
Actors: Vivica A. Fox, Bernie Mac, Damon Wayans, Marlon Wayans, Shawn Wayans
Directed by: Paris Barclay
- 22
Actors: Queen Latifah, Dr. Dre, Jada Pinkett Smith, Vivica A. Fox, Blair Underwood
Directed by: F. Gary Gray
- 23
Actors: Spike Lee, Harvey Keitel, John Turturro, Keith David, Isaiah Washington
Directed by: Spike Lee
- 24
Dope
2015Actors: Shameik Moore, Tony Revolori, Kiersey Clemons, Kimberly Elise, Chanel Iman
Directed by: Rick Famuyiwa
- 25
Actors: Ice Cube, Terry Crews, Katt Williams, K. D. Aubert, Mike Epps
Directed by: Marcus Raboy
