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Set It Off (1996)

R  |   |  Action, Crime, Drama  |  6 November 1996 (USA)
6.8
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Ratings: 6.8/10 from 9,271 users  
Reviews: 70 user | 29 critic

Desperation drives four inner-city women (Queen Latifah, Jada Pinkett Smith, Vivica A. Fox, Kimberly Elise) to bank robbery in Los Angeles, then they start mistrusting one another.

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(story), (screenplay), 1 more credit »
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Title: Set It Off (1996)

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
...
Lida 'Stony' Newsom (as Jada Pinkett)
...
...
...
...
...
Vincent Baum ...
Jajuan
Van Baum ...
Jajuan
...
Stevie Newsom (as Chaz Lamar Shepard)
...
Luther (as Thom Byrd)
...
Nate Andrews (as Charlie Robinson)
...
Detective Waller
...
Ms. Wells
Samantha MacLachlan ...
Ursula
Samuel Monroe Jr. ...
Lorenz
Edit

Storyline

Four Black women, all of whom have suffered for lack of money and at the hands of the majority, undertake to rob banks. While initially successful, a policeman who was involved in shooting one of the women's brothers is on their trail. As the women add to the loot, their tastes and interests begin to change and their suspicions of each other increase on the way to a climactic robbery. Written by Robert Drake <robert.drake@index.com>

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Taglines:

Deal with this. The only breaks you get are the ones you take. See more »


Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong graphic violence, pervasive language, some sex and drug use | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Country:

Language:

Release Date:

6 November 1996 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

A nagy dobás  »

Box Office

Budget:

$9,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$11,807,451 (USA) (8 November 1996)

Gross:

$36,049,108 (USA) (28 February 1997)
 »

Company Credits

Production Co:

,  »
Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

|

Color:

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1
See  »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

According to the documentary Set It Straight: The Making Of Set It Off, the movie was shot in 39 days under the budget of 9 millon dollars. See more »

Goofs

When Stony's brother is murdered the same police officers on the scene are the same officers investigating the bank robberies. The murder was a State crime, bank robbery is a Federal crime. The same officers would not be investigating both of those crimes. See more »

Quotes

Cleo: Shit, we're ain't robbing stagecoaches, man! We need something to set it off with.
See more »

Connections

References Reservoir Dogs (1992) See more »

Soundtracks

Love Theme From The Godfather
Composed by Nino Rota
Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
See more »

Frequently Asked Questions

See more (Spoiler Alert!) »

User Reviews

this movie shows us the possibility of what we might do
2 July 1999 | by (W Palm Beach, FL) – See all my reviews

This movie gives us a graphic insight into the possibility of what people might do under certain circumstances and situations. These young ladies' misfortunes in life have driven them to do something that otherwise would not have entered their minds: robbing a bank. Their participation in this criminal activity is a crying-out against the evils of their society and environment. In other words, they are saying "because of what you did to me...this is how I will respond". Anyone who has seen this film honestly knows that what they're doing is just as morally wrong as what has happened to each of them, but, for some deep-seated reason, we find ourselves rooting for them - even hoping that they get away with it. Each character reveals a problematic area in our working society: unfair employment and termination practices, inadequate childcare options, hindrances and distractions of the ghetto and other social plights and dilemmas.

We may not agree with what these young ladies are doing but somehow we understand. (please see this movie...)


20 of 26 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you?

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