Set It Off (1996)

Four close friends in Los Angeles plan a series of bank robberies to improve their lives, only to find themselves entangled in a violent cycle of crime and tragedy.

First release year

1996

Runtime (minutes)

123

Production countries

United States

Original languages

English

Directors

F. Gary Gray

Writers

Kate Lanier · screenplay; Takashi Bufford · screenplay; Takashi Bufford · story

Cast and characters

Jada Pinkett; Queen Latifah; Vivica A. Fox; John C. McGinley; Kimberly Elise; Blair Underwood

Genres

crime; action; thriller; drama

Themes

Friendship; Poverty; Crime; Survival; Social Injustice

Tone and mood

Action-packed; Dramatic; Gritty; Poignant

Premise and plot tags

Heist; Female-led; Crime Drama; Buddy Film

Content notes

Violence

Reception

The film was a box office success and received generally positive reviews from critics and audiences, who praised the performances, chemistry, and music.

Reported review scores

Rotten Tomatoes · score: 71% · review count: 38; CinemaScore · score: A · scale: A to F

Awards and nominations

Best Director · Acapulco Black Film Festival · 1997 · won; Special Jury Prize · Cognac Film Festival · 1997 · won; Best Supporting Female · Independent Spirit Awards · 1996 · nominated; Outstanding Lead Actress in a Motion Picture · NAACP Image Awards · 1997 · nominated; Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture · NAACP Image Awards · 1997 · nominated

Production trivia

The script was offered to New Line three times before finally being accepted.; The film was New Line Cinema's highest-grossing film of 1996.; The climactic song 'Up Against the Wind' became a popular viral internet meme sound bite in the late 2010s.

Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.

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