All About the Benjamins (2002)

30% of critics liked it
(76 reviews)
76% of users liked it
(33,316 ratings)

Rap star and actor Ice Cube produces, co-writes, and stars in this comic crime thriller that reunites him with his Next Friday (1999) co-star Mike Epps in the 48 Hrs. (1982) mold. Cube plays Bucum Jackson, a Miami bounty hunter for Martinez Bail Bonds who's tired of his dangerous, unprofitable… More Rap star and actor Ice Cube produces, co-writes, and stars in this comic crime thriller that reunites him with his Next Friday (1999) co-star Mike Epps in the 48 Hrs. (1982) mold. Cube plays Bucum Jackson, a Miami bounty hunter for Martinez Bail Bonds who's tired of his dangerous, unprofitable profession and wants to start his own private investigation firm. Lacking stake money, Bucum is forced to hunt down a small-time grafter named Reggie Wright (Epps), a fast-talking confidence man who's crossed his path before. Except that this time, Wright tries to avoid his pursuer by hiding in a van being driven by a pair of murderous diamond thieves who've just made off with 20 million dollars worth of stones. They're in the employ of lethal crime lord and yacht broker Williamson (Tommy Flanagan), someone that neither Reggie nor Bucum is anxious to cross, but it seems that Reggie left his wallet in the van, a wallet containing a winning lottery ticket worth 60 million dollars. The hunt is on for big money as the mismatched duo tries to outfox a wily syndicate for both the ticket and the precious gems. The directorial debut of music video director Kevin Bray, All About the Benjamins (2002) co-stars Eva Mendes, Carmen Chaplin, Valarie Rae Miller, Jeff Chase, Roger Guenveur Smith, Anthony Michael Hall, and Lil' Bow Wow. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 38 min.
Directed By: Kevin Bray
Written By: Ice Cube, Ron Lang
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Mystery & Suspense, Comedy

In Theaters: Mar 8, 2002 Wide
On DVD: Aug 20, 2002
Studio: New Line Cinema

Critic Reviews

Robert K. Elder, Chicago Tribune
The home-run performances of Cube and Epps are handicapped by inept and illogical action sequences.
Geoff Pevere, Toronto Star
Goes a long way on hedonistic gusto.
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail
In this refreshingly shameless celebration of money and expensive stuff, director Kevin Bray grabs every retro action-film cliché.
Nick Rutigliano, Village Voice
Mugging, not robbery, is the name of the game.
Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly
Something puddles to nothing in this relentless Miami sun.
Desson Thomson, Washington Post
One groan-inducing familiarity begets another.
Nell Minow, Common Sense Media
Violent film for Ice Cube. He can do better.
Greg Maki, Star-Democrat (Easton, MD)
They failed to get a consistently funny script or a director capable of effectively staging an action scene.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
This one is a waste of your Washingtons.
Marcus D. Russell, Film Threat
I could go on and on about how funny this film is, because it is truly great comedy.
Hazel-Dawn Dumpert, L.A. Weekly
Directed by Kevin Bray, whose crisp framing, edgy camera work, and wholesale ineptitude with acting, tone and pace very obviously mark him as a video helmer making his feature debut.
Eric D. Snider, EricDSnider.com
It plays like a by-the-numbers action flick that happens to have a few funny lines in it. It is barely watchable.
Ryan Cracknell, Apollo Guide
Hit and miss as far as the comedy goes and a big ole' miss in the way of story.
Scott Weinberg, DVD Clinic
It's often a sloppy and muddled tale - but there are much worse ways to spend a random 90 minutes.
Philip Martin, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Unremittingly over-the-top and brutal, All About the Benjamins is as cunning as it is crude.
Jeffrey Westhoff, Northwest Herald (Crystal Lake, IL)
the heroes become more loathsome as the story progresses.

Read all 16 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Nani V

Meh.
Aaron N

Bucum: Shoot out the back tire! Reggie: Who do you think I am, Mel Gibson? A stupid funny buddy-action-comedy that works because of how well Cube and Mike Epps get along. A lot of fun to watch, with nothing else to it, but still funny enough. And Eva Mendez is always welcome, so that… More
Bucum: Shoot out the back tire! Reggie: Who do you think I am, Mel Gibson? A stupid funny buddy-action-comedy that works because of how well Cube and Mike Epps get along. A lot of fun to watch, with nothing else to it, but still funny enough. And Eva Mendez is always welcome, so that also helps. Funny parts and decent action.
Khris N

Enjoyable black comedy. But Bad Boys is the definitive. Some good moments - especially the scenes with the stun gun and Eva Mendes is prety wacky - but a good action flick for a night in.
Burger S

Mike Epps, the worst stand up I've ever seen.
Steven V

This was an interesting movie. I like Ice Cubes character but I think Mike Epps may have stolen the show because his character was the funniest throughout the film.
Fascade F

Incredibly funny...these two ought to make more movies in the future. Mike Epps is a rare find. Ice Cube is a genius in the making. Undeniably a classic.
Deb S

All About The Benjamins" isn't a great movie by any means but it is funny with some really hilarious scenes. Ice Cube plays Bucum Jackson, a Miami bounty hunter who will do anything to make a quick buck. One of his jobs includes relentlessly chasing down the fast-talking con… More
All About The Benjamins" isn't a great movie by any means but it is funny with some really hilarious scenes. Ice Cube plays Bucum Jackson, a Miami bounty hunter who will do anything to make a quick buck. One of his jobs includes relentlessly chasing down the fast-talking con man Reggie Wright (Mike Epps) who while being pursued through city streets and back alleys stumbles upon a vicious criminal planning to exchange stolen diamonds worth $20 million dollars. Reggie hides out in the back of the getaway van, but is quickly found out. After a narrow escape, he returns home to his girlfriend Gina, played by the lovely and sexy Eva Mendes. Whilst watching the lottery on TV they realize that they have won and $60 million dollars could soon be theirs. Unfortunately Reggie accidentally left his wallet, with the winning ticket inside, back in the thieves' van. To compound his misery, he is nabbed the next day by Bucum, who is determined to throw him in jail. Suspicious of his claims to have won the lottery, Bucum reluctantly goes along with Reggie's claims of diamond theft, and soon finds out that he's telling the truth and gets more than he bargained for as they become partners, and go ahead with their plan to outsmart the bad guys. Many obstacles lie in their path, and both soon find their lives in danger.
Joseph E

HHAHAHAHAHA! Stupid!