Menace II Society

1993
R
1h 37m

IMDb RATING

7.5/10

66K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

Play trailer1:42

Dark Comedy Teen Drama Crime Drama Thriller

A young street hustler attempts to escape the rigors and temptations of the ghetto in a quest for a better life.A young street hustler attempts to escape the rigors and temptations of the ghetto in a quest for a better life.A young street hustler attempts to escape the rigors and temptations of the ghetto in a quest for a better life.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.5/10

66K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

4,385

716

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 2 wins & 5 nominations

Trivia
Tupac Shakur was originally cast to play Sharif but was fired, which led to a physical fight with co-director Allen Hughes. Shakur was charged with assault and battery and bragged about the altercation on an appearance on Yo! MTV Raps (1988). A tape of the appearance was played at the trial as evidence against Shakur, and he was sentenced to fifteen days in jail.

Goofs
Before the drive-by shooting at the end of the film, Illena's cousin is seen loading an Uzi machine pistol, and when the shooting is about to begin, he aims this gun out of the car window. However, when the shooting actually starts, he has changed over to a TEC-9, a completely different type of machine pistol.

Quotes
[Caine Lawson reflecting after being shot]
Caine: After stomping Ilena's cousin like that, I knew I was gonna have to deal with that fool someday. Damn. I never thought he'd come back like this, blasting. Like I said, it was funny like that in the hood sometimes. I mean, you never knew what was gonna happen, or when. I'd done too much to turn back, and I'd done too much to go on. I guess in the end it all catches up with you. My grandpa asked me one time if I care whether I live or die. Yeah, I do. Now it's too late.

Alternate versions
The Criterion Collection director's cut on LaserDisc includes the following additional footage:
An extra shot of bullets leaving the back of the guy Samuel L. Jackson kills
An extra shot of Awax holding the gang member while he shoots him
An small scene showing how Caine and O Dog brake into the car in the garage
Two extra shots of bullet wounds during the final scene
It also includes two deleted scenes; the funeral of Caine's cousin and a scene at his grandparents' house after the funeral

Connections
Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Made in America/Menace II Society/Cliffhanger/Hot Shots! Part Deux/The Long Day Closes (1993)

Soundtracks
Trigga Gots No Heart
Written by Spice 1 (as R.L. Green, Jr.), E-A-Ski (as S. Adams) and M. Ogleton
Performed by Spice 1
Courtesy of Jive Records

User reviews156

Review

Featured review

powerfully good

Extremely brutal, but gripping and compelling story of a volatile, alienated young teenager (Turner) growing up in the violent atmosphere of the L.A. Watts District and—against the advice of family and friends—makes no effort to transcend the harshness and ignorance of his surroundings, instead choosing to head down a dead-end path. Violent, almost unbearable at times, but faultlessly acted by the cast, and filled with powerful, authentic scenes. Tate is an absolute powerhouse as Turner's younger, impulsive, and extremely cold-blooded pal. Obviously not for all tastes, but a monumental achievement regardless, thanks to a superior cast of actors. ***½