Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Moderate
- raw
- ambitious
- melancholic
- music movie night
- hip hop history night
What critics said
Critics generally found the film a conventional rise-and-fall biopic that offers a useful introduction to Christopher Wallace despite lacking the luster of its subject.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Christopher Wallace moves from Brooklyn street hustling and crack dealing into the international success of the Notorious B.I.G.
The story emphasizes Christopher Wallace as a person rather than only presenting his rapping persona.
The film places Wallace alongside figures such as Sean Combs, Lil' Kim, Tupac Shakur, and Faith Evans within 1990s hip hop culture.
Brooklyn street life and hustling are set against Wallace’s meteoric ascent as one of rap’s defining stars.
Films like Notorious, and why
Straight Outta Compton
music biopic centered on a troubled artist’s rise from poverty to cultural fame, with strong hip hop context
Ray
biographical music drama about a gifted performer navigating ambition, identity, and the pressures of fame
Get Rich or Die Tryin'
raw rise-and-fall music drama shaped by street origins, artistic talent, and personal conflict
Walk the Line
stylized musical biopic about an iconic performer whose public persona emerges from a difficult personal history
Movie Details
- Director
- George Tillman Jr.
- Release Date
- 2009-01-16
- Runtime
- 122 min
- Rating
- 7.0 / 10 (826)
Cast
- Jamal Woolard
- Derek Luke
- Naturi Naughton
- Anthony Mackie
- Antonique Smith
- Angela Bassett
- Marc John Jefferies
- Sean Ringgold
- C.J. Wallace
- Dennis L.A. White
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Starz Apple TV channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Notorious about?
- A gifted Brooklyn hustler becomes the Notorious B.I.G. while fame, loyalty, and violence reshape his life and legacy.
- What is Notorious like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Notorious as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Notorious violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Notorious as moderate.
- What did critics think of Notorious?
- Critics generally found the film a conventional rise-and-fall biopic that offers a useful introduction to Christopher Wallace despite lacking the luster of its subject.
- Which films are like Notorious?
- Films with a similar feel include Straight Outta Compton, Ray, Get Rich or Die Tryin', and Walk the Line.
- How long is Notorious?
- Notorious runs 122 minutes.
- Where can I watch Notorious?
- In United States, Notorious streams on Starz Apple TV channel.
