Overview
A gripping tale of survival in a world where violence is a way of life.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Extreme
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Graphic
- bleak
- angry
- gritty
- serious movie night
- social issue film discussion
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the Hughes brothers' gritty, stylish, and authentic portrait of teenage crime in contemporary Watts, while some found its characters and plotting clichéd.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Caine has just graduated high school and tries to imagine a future beyond the violent projects of Watts.
Caine's environment is shaped by gang conflict, drug crime, traumatic family history, and recurring shootings.
The film spends several days in the projects of Watts, California, portraying poverty, gangs, and drug-related crime with documentary-like force.
The Hughes brothers' feature debut is praised for grit, verve, authenticity, and a heavily stylized depiction of gangland life.
Films like Menace II Society, and why
Boyz n the Hood
shared coming-of-age crime drama, urban violence, and cycle of violence in african american communities
Juice
shared gritty hood film tradition, drug-related crime, and bleak social realism
New Jack City
shared intense urban crime setting, young protagonists, and institutional neglect
Fresh
shared uncompromising african american crime drama and morally complex street-world portrait
Movie Details
- Directors
- Albert Hughes, Allen Hughes
- Release Date
- 1993-05-26
- Runtime
- 97 min
- Rating
- 7.5 / 10 (956)
Cast
- Tyrin Turner
- Larenz Tate
- Glenn Plummer
- Jada Pinkett Smith
- Samuel L. Jackson
- June Kyoto Lu
- Toshi Toda
- Reginald Ballard
- Khandi Alexander
- Jullian Roy Doster
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Starz Apple TV channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Menace II Society about?
- A newly graduated young man struggles to break from the violent drug-and-gang world that has shaped his life in Watts.
- What is Menace II Society like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Menace II Society as brisk, its intensity as extreme and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Menace II Society violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Menace II Society as graphic.
- What did critics think of Menace II Society?
- Critics broadly praised the Hughes brothers' gritty, stylish, and authentic portrait of teenage crime in contemporary Watts, while some found its characters and plotting clichéd.
- Which films are like Menace II Society?
- Films with a similar feel include Boyz n the Hood, Juice, New Jack City, and Fresh.
- How long is Menace II Society?
- Menace II Society runs 97 minutes.
- Where can I watch Menace II Society?
- In United States, Menace II Society streams on Starz Apple TV channel.
