Let’s be honest, not every Black movie from the ’90s was a hit. Some were a lot to sit through, but we still packed the theaters to show love because we needed to see ourselves on the big screen. Even when the movies didn’t always land, they were ours — giving us that timeless ’90s feel. Here is a look back at a few Black movie fails (see Rotten Tomatoes ratings) we watched, but we didn’t love.
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“Woo”
“Woo,” starring Jada Pinkett Smith and Tommy Davidson, follows the bold and free-spirited Woo and an uptight man named Tim. They embark on a wild night of misadventures, discovering their unexpected chemistry. While the movie was enjoyable, its storyline and punchlines were a bit flat.
Rotten Tomatoes rating of 3.7/10
“Low Down Dirty Shame”
Written, directed, and starring Keenan Ivory-Wayans, “Low Down Dirty Shame” follows an ex-cop turned private detective, who takes on the search for the millions stolen from a drug lord. Although the film was enjoyable to most, some viewers couldn’t decide whether it was an action thriller or a straight comedy.
Rotten Tomatoes: 4/10
“Girl 6”
Spike Lee’s 1996 film “Girl 6” is about an aspiring actress in New York, played by Theresa Randle, who struggles to find work and becomes a phone sex operator. Although Randle’s performance was praised, the film’s weak script ultimately hindered the actress from shining.
Rotten Tomatoes: 3/10
“How To Be A Player”
The classic Black film, “How to Be a Player,” is a funny flick about Dray, played by Bill Bellamy, a ladies’ man who juggles multiple women. His double life is exposed by his sister, and over one wild day, Dray scrambles to keep his lies straight while realizing that being a “player” comes with a price.
While the film is laughable, some viewers found the acting to be over-the-top and the plot a bit cartoonish.
Rotten Tomatoes: 3.1/10
“B.A.P.S.”
Two Georgia waitresses leave their small-town lives behind and head to Los Angeles to pursue their dream of opening a soul food restaurant and hair salon. Instead, they get caught up in a scheme involving a wealthy older man, which takes them on wild adventures that test their friendship.
Despite it gaining a cult following and the celebration of Black female friendships, some viewers found the movie “embarrassing” and “cartoonish,” and even Halle Berry admitted it was one of her least favorite films.
Rotten Tomatoes: 3/10
“I Got The Hookup”
If you were a No Limit Records fans, we’re pretty sure that you remember “I Got The Hookup.” The comedy centers on two New Orleans hustlers, Kid and Babyface, who stumble upon a huge shipment of electronics. Seeing an opportunity to make money, they try to sell the goods while dodging local rivals, the police, and various crazy schemes. While the film is humorous, its plot is weak and chaotic.
Rotten Tomatoes: 3.3/10
“Sprung”
“Sprung” is a ’90s romantic comedy about two couples navigating love, lust, and relationship complications. El, a charming ladies’ man, and his girlfriend, along with Clyde, a commitment-phobic player, and his love interest, all face misunderstandings, jealousy, and comedic schemes that lead to some interesting outcomes. Overall, the plot was just too predictable, even with some calling the movie, “forgettable.”
The plot was just too predicable, even with some calling the movie, “forgettable.
Rotten Tomatoes: 4.2/10
“House Party 3”
Kid N’ Play carried the 90s, especially in their films. “House Party follows Kid (Christopher Reid) and Play (Christopher Martin) as they prepare to throw their last party before Kid gets married. Through all the chaos of planning, old rivalries, and everything in between, the two friends navigate romantic entanglements and lots of drama. Compared to the first two films, it had less funny moments and the Kid N’ Play seemed less engaged than what fans were used to seeing.
Rotten Tomatoe: 2.8/10
“Blankman”
“Blankman,” a superhero comedy, stars Damon Wayans as Darryl, a nerdy inventor who becomes a low-budget superhero after his grandmother is killed. Armed with homemade gadgets and a makeshift superhero costume, he and his brother fight crime in their city. While Wayans received endless praise for his creativity, the movie felt like an awkward push to be funny.
Rotten Tomatoes: 3.8/10
“CB4”
The popular comedy “CB4” stars Chris Rock as one of three friends who form a gangsta rap group to chase fame and success. As their “street” fame grows, they face chaos from rivals, the police, and their own struggles to maintain the act. A spot-on satire depiction on early ’90s hip-hop, the film was a commercial disappointment due to its weak storyline and jokes that didn’t land.
Unfortunately, people couldn’t get into the movie because the punchlines didn’t land, the storyline was weak, and it didn’t live up to the promotional hype.
Rotten Tomatoes: 5.5/10
“Strictly Business”
“Strictly Business” is a romantic comedy about a successful Black professional who asks his best friend for help in pursuing a nightclub promoter he has fallen for. Through his pursuit, he rediscovered himself by learning how to balance his career, love interests, and embracing a life outside of his corporate role. We enjoyed seeing Halle Berry in the film, but the storyline was just too predictable and not exciting.
We love seeing Halle Berry in the movie, but the movie was just too predictable.
Rotten Tomatoes: 3.2/10
“The Meteor Man”
“The Meteor Man,” starring Robert Townsend, is a superhero comedy about a Washington, D.C. teacher who gains superpowers after being struck by a mysterious green meteor. Using his new abilities to clean up his neighborhood and battle a violent street gang, he struggles with his new identity as a hero. Although a comedic staple, the film fell short due to its predictable plot and cheap-looking special effects.
Rotten Tomatoes: 4.4/10
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