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      New Jack City

      R Now Playing 1 hr. 41 min. Crime Drama List
      80% 35 Reviews Tomatometer 80% 25,000+ Ratings Audience Score Drug tycoon Nino Brown (Wesley Snipes) and his minions, known collectively as the Cash Money Brothers, have rapidly risen to the top of the New York City narcotics trade. Under Nino's heartless leadership, the drug operation has grown into a multimillion-dollar empire. Scotty (Ice-T) and Nick (Judd Nelson), two police officers who know their way around the streets of Harlem, aim to bring Nino and his cohorts down. To do so, though, they'll have to play by Nino's rules and go undercover. Read More Read Less Now in Theaters Now Playing Buy Tickets

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      New Jack City

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      New Jack City

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      Critics Consensus

      Stylishly directed by Mario Van Peebles, New Jack City offsets its melodramatic streak with electrifying action and a cavalcade of effective performances.

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      Audience Reviews

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      Alec C Living in a New Jack City is not for the faint of heart! As a ruthless drug dealer rises through the ranks of the inner-city drug trade, two cops infiltrate his organization and attempt to take him down on the inside, only for them to realize the insanity and corruption comes from the city itself. Shot with a distinct style and backed up by its explosive cast, this film shows us the true degradation of the crack epidemic and its consequences! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/14/24 Full Review Audience Member Taking place in NYC 1980s the gangs are at war with one another. Drugs run rampant; everything from cocaine to meth. Mario Van Peebles stars and directs in a big cast of Wesley Snipes, Ice-T, Judd Nelson, Vanessa Williams, Allen Payne, the late Bill Nunn, and Chris Rock. As part of the narcotics trade tycoon Nino Brown and his followers are at the top of their game. It's a multimillion dollar empire that doesn't seem to end. That is until 2 police officers Scotty and Nick step in. They know the streets of Harlem to know what's right and wrong. It's an undercover operation but they'll have to abide by Nino's rules to make it in his world. The war against drugs seems like a losing one so the precinct needs a the best to bring it down. The movie does inform us that many Nino Browns exist and if the problem isn't looked at realistically the drug wave will affect future generations. Peebles makes the impact linger seeing the rise and fall of a drug kingpin. Above average but as far as blaxploitation cinema it works enough. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/09/24 Full Review M R A classic of sorts. It captures the times and issues affecting the inner city circa late 80's, early 90's perfectly. The acting is great. Mario Van Peebles is a gifted filmmaker. The story is quite engaging and sometimes sad like with Chris Rock's infamous 'Pookie' role. I would definitely recommend it. 85/100 B Rated 4 out of 5 stars 06/01/23 Full Review Khalan C One of the most quotable and memorable crime movies of all time. It shows how crime and addiction can make or break a city and even in crime, it's an dog eat dog world and there are no happy endings, only shortcomings and danger. Yes the acting can be cheesy at shortc and the story at times can need an slowdown, but the emotion and message especially towards the climax is strong through and through. Great movie. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 05/18/23 Full Review BioLogical E New Jack City is still till this day my favorite crime movie ever. 10 out of 10 Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/15/23 Full Review Correll M Wesley Snipes as the lead, with a great supporting cast, Mario Van Peebles did his thing from top to bottom. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/09/22 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      Critics Reviews

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      Owen Gleiberman Entertainment Weekly Rated: C- Sep 7, 2011 Full Review J. R. Jones Chicago Reader Though this often plays like a 70s cop show, it became a prototype for the bling-heavy gangsta melodramas of the 90s. Oct 30, 2007 Full Review Variety Staff Variety Filmmakers pull off a provocative, pulsating update on gangster pics with this action-laden epic about the rise and fall of an inner city crack dealer. Oct 30, 2007 Full Review Sean Burns WBUR’s Arts & Culture I mean, what else can one say about a film in which even Judd Nelson is an enjoyable presence? Aug 20, 2023 Full Review KT Mahe For Your Reference Podcast New Jack City layers seasoning through charming characters, slick dialogue and memorable visuals that propels the film into legendary status. Rated: 5/5 Jul 11, 2023 Full Review Oti For Your Reference Podcast A visceral exposition of the narcotics underbelly, fusing stark realism with narrative finesse. The protagonist portrayal impresses with an unorthodox blend of charm and menace. Rated: 5/5 Jul 11, 2023 Full Review Read all reviews

      Movie Info

      Synopsis Drug tycoon Nino Brown (Wesley Snipes) and his minions, known collectively as the Cash Money Brothers, have rapidly risen to the top of the New York City narcotics trade. Under Nino's heartless leadership, the drug operation has grown into a multimillion-dollar empire. Scotty (Ice-T) and Nick (Judd Nelson), two police officers who know their way around the streets of Harlem, aim to bring Nino and his cohorts down. To do so, though, they'll have to play by Nino's rules and go undercover.
      Director
      Mario Van Peebles
      Screenwriter
      Thomas Lee Wright, Barry Michael Cooper
      Distributor
      Warner Bros.
      Production Co
      Jacmac Films, Warner Brothers
      Rating
      R
      Genre
      Crime, Drama
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Theaters)
      Mar 8, 1991, Original
      Release Date (Streaming)
      Oct 31, 2008
      Box Office (Gross USA)
      $44.1M
      Sound Mix
      Dolby, Surround
      Aspect Ratio
      35mm
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