Set It Off: Queen Latifah & Jada Pinkett Smith’s Classic Heist Film Tops Streaming Charts

In the 1996 heist thriller “Set It Off”, which is now the top-rated film on Tubi, Queen Latifah, Jada Pinkett Smith, and Vivica A. Fox took on leading roles. This movie was directed by F. Gary Gray, who is also known for directing “Friday” and “The Negotiator”. The film made a significant impact at the box office upon its release in November 1996, earning approximately $41.2 million worldwide against a production budget of $9 million. Currently, it holds a 70% critical rating and an impressive 89% audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Set It Off’s official plot reads:

In the heart of Los Angeles, a sense of desperation pushes four women from the city’s core into the unconventional act of bank robbery. Over time, however, they find themselves growing suspicious of one another.

The movie focuses on a band of companions who shift their professional endeavors to a cleaning company following Frankie’s dismissal as a bank teller. Among them are Cleo, Stony, and T.T., with Jurnee Smollett-Bell playing Frankie (Fox). As they embark on their new venture, the friends contemplate an unconventional approach to banking – robbery. At first, their heists prove fruitful; however, as trust among them erodes, suspicion sets in. Meanwhile, Detective Strode (John C. McGinley) is hot on the trail of these unsolved crimes.

Praise was heaped upon the actors’ performances and their on-screen chemistry, with a special focus on Latifah and Pinkett Smith. According to Rotten Tomatoes’ general consensus, this is commendable.

As a cinephile, I’d say that while it doesn’t break new ground in terms of storyline, Set It Off still manages to deliver as a thought-provoking, engaging heist movie, largely due to the stellar acting from its leading ladies.

The soundtrack likewise achieved success, reaching the fourth spot on the Billboard 200, while popular tunes like “Set It Off,” “Days of Our Lifez,” and “Come On” all made it onto the charts.

The Cast and Director of ‘Set It Off’ Have had Multiple Hit Shows and Movies

Over the past three decades, I’ve been fortunate to have my hands full with various projects, both in music and film – from blockbusters like “Chicago” (2002) and “Bringing Down the House” (2003), to musical comedies like “Hairspray” (2007) and multiple installments of the popular “Ice Age” series. I also had the privilege of portraying Robyn McCall in the hit TV series adaptation of “The Equalizer,” where I played a former CIA operative who assists others. The latest season premiered last fall.

Concurrently, Gray has led the production of numerous successful films such as Friday (1995), The Negotiator (1998), a remake of The Italian Job (2003), Be Cool, a sequel to Get Shorty (2005), Straight Outta Compton (2015), The Fate of the Furious (2017), and many more. Additionally, he has directed music videos for renowned artists like Outkast, Queen Latifah, TLC (“Waterfalls”), Ice Cube, Whitney Houston, among others. His upcoming project is a prequel to Men in Black; he recently directed Men in Black: International, which premiered in 2019.

I played Niobe in the movies “Tale From the Crypt: Demon Knight” (1995), “The Matrix Reloaded” and “The Matrix Revolutions” (both in 2003) and “The Matrix Resurrections” (2021). I also starred in several “Madagascar” films, “Collateral” (2004), and the TV series “Gotham” as Fish Mooney. I had significant roles in “Independence Day” (1996) as Jasmine, “Kill Bill Vol. 1 and 2” as Vernita Green, aka Copperhead, and various other films and shows. Lastly, Kimberly Elise was featured in “Diary of a Mad Black Woman” (2005), “John Q” (2002), “The Manchurian Candidate” (2004), among others. She also appeared in the 2021 TV series adaptation of the film “The Mosquito Coast”.

2025-02-18 02:32

The Cast and Director of ‘Set It Off’ Have had Multiple Hit Shows and Movies

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