Foxy Brown (1974)

56% of critics liked it
(18 reviews)
65% of users liked it
(7,232 ratings)

Blaxploitation icon Pam Grier stars as Foxy Brown, a sexy but streetwise woman whose ne'er-do-well brother Link (Antonio Fargas) is a drug dealer who owes mobsters 20,000 dollars. To get the hoods off his back, Link names Foxy's boyfriend as a government agent trying to wipe out organized crime, and… More Blaxploitation icon Pam Grier stars as Foxy Brown, a sexy but streetwise woman whose ne'er-do-well brother Link (Antonio Fargas) is a drug dealer who owes mobsters 20,000 dollars. To get the hoods off his back, Link names Foxy's boyfriend as a government agent trying to wipe out organized crime, and the mob soon has him rubbed out. But Hell hath no fury like Foxy Brown scorned; posing as a hooker to get the inside scoop on the mob, she goes on a crusade to find out who murdered her man, and she exacts revenge with the help of a local activist group. The supporting cast includes cult figure Sid Haig as a bad guy (as usual) and Peter Brown and Kathryn Loder as a seriously kinky couple who rule the local mob. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 31 min.
Directed By: Jack Hill
Written By: Jack Hill
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Mystery & Suspense, Classics

In Theaters: May 4, 1974 Wide
On DVD: Jan 9, 2001
Studio: MGM Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Barbara Scharres, Chicago Reader
The film is dated, but its mixed message -- and its potential to offend virtually everyone -- still makes it a powerful discussion starter.
, New York Times
Miss Grier is obviously durable but, unfortunately, is fast becoming a bore despite all the sex, brawls and gore in Foxy Brown.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
The unapologetically exploitative proceedings take a turn for the disturbingly nasty, but manage to generate an undeniable adrenaline rush.
Jerry Renshaw, Austin Chronicle
This is fun action sleaze from the classic era of drive-in blaxploitation films, driven by the no-nonsense direction of Jack Hill, and did well enough at the box office to help put the still-gorgeous Pam Grier on the map. Don't miss it.
, Time Out
Grier is an actress able to convey an amazing and unflinching strength, and she reveals the film for the dross it is.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Sleazy blaxploitation film from the 70s.
Daniel Eagan, Film Journal International
Adequate pulp carried by the engaging Pam Grier
Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com
A cult classic that's best enjoyed with your tongue firmly in cheek and your political correctness gene locked out in the backyard.
Bill Chambers, Film Freak Central
Foxy Brown dubiously embraces its inner minstrel show
James Rocchi, Netflix
Vigilante-justice film flickers between camp and chauvinism, slam-bang action and sexist idiocy.
Kurt Dahlke, Apollo Guide
Foxy Brown exists to give us some shocks and a good time, which it definitely delivers.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, San Francisco Examiner
Fearless, explosive action. Grier is astonishing.

Read all 12 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Cassandra M

This may seem a high score for a film that has rather a lot of very average acting, gaping plot holes and continuity mistakes a plenty, but, it works. And how! Most 'blaxploitation' has good bits, slow bits and bad bits culminating in a rousing ending. This one goes from the… More
This may seem a high score for a film that has rather a lot of very average acting, gaping plot holes and continuity mistakes a plenty, but, it works. And how! Most 'blaxploitation' has good bits, slow bits and bad bits culminating in a rousing ending. This one goes from the very start and doesn't stop. Moreover, whilst like in others, we see lots of outrageous costumes spread across amazing bodies, here the action is rugged throughout. These people don't just seem mean, they are mean. The scenes of Pam's abduction are painful, shocking (and sexy!) and she plays hurt just as well as she plays kick ass. And does she play kick ass! In a surprising scene in a lesbian bar a challenger tells her to watch out and says something like, 'I'm a black belt in karate.' Pam decks her with a stool and yells back, 'I'm a black belt in bar stools.' Fabulous stuff. In fact this innovative film has great dialogue as well as action and there are scenes that would fit well into a movie dealing with racial issues even today. You wouldn't be permitted to show a lot of the action, however. Not too many leading ladies get raped a couple of times and have to suffer the indignities this young lady does before she can get back on top and then show herself to be just as torturous!
Anthony L

A classic Jack Hill Blaxpliotation flick starring the ever sexy Pam Grier. This is probably their best collaboration but I find it hard to choose between them as they?re all so good. My kind of film!
Chris W

Entertaining and thrilling, definitely worth watching, especially for tyhe music and Pam Grier's performance.
Drew S

I saw Foxy Brown at Sacramento's Trash Film Orgy and I don't think I've had this much fun watching a movie in a long time. What this movie lacks in technical skill, it makes up for in Pam Grier being a total badass. Can you just imagine being a script-reader and seeing… More
I saw Foxy Brown at Sacramento's Trash Film Orgy and I don't think I've had this much fun watching a movie in a long time. What this movie lacks in technical skill, it makes up for in Pam Grier being a total badass. Can you just imagine being a script-reader and seeing "Foxy pulls a gun out of her afro and shoots two men to death" on the page? Probably not, and that's what makes this movie as ludicrously fun as it is.
Daniel H

The shock of the volatile ingredients of "Coffy" have been diluted somewhat in "Foxy Brown." Violent sex, female domination, strangulation, and Gier's blouse being pulled open every 10 to 15 minutes is not as outrageous as it was in Coffy, and thus becomes… More
The shock of the volatile ingredients of "Coffy" have been diluted somewhat in "Foxy Brown." Violent sex, female domination, strangulation, and Gier's blouse being pulled open every 10 to 15 minutes is not as outrageous as it was in Coffy, and thus becomes much more a part of the standard vengeance plot. More blatantly racist overtones, interracial rape, and setting people on fire push this movie much more seriously into a violent blaxploitation category... one where Geier is not an invincible heroine, but a girl who can be exploited yet goes to unthinkable levels for revenge afterwards. Less set-pieces than Coffy with more gore... but in the end, less original, and overly violent, where characters are obviously introduced merely to be brutalized and killed; or seduced, brutalized, and killed. One can't deny how bad-ass Foxy is... but her remorseless joy of killing people seems at odds with the compassion for others which supposedly gives her justification for it.
danny d

decent flick
Michael G

Amusing at best.
Mister C

This was the movie that cemented Pam Grier as one the top female action superstars of the 1970's. And the movie "Foxy Brown" is one of them. One kick ass flick and one bad-ass sista that is NOT to mess with! Classic! The theme song from Wille Hutch is among the best.
Lesley N

A remake of Coffy only this time Pam Grier's seeking revenge on the baddies who brought down her man, rather than her little sister. Apart from a shift in motive, Foxy Brown is also a whole heap more violent with some thoroughly nasty characters out to get her before she gets… More
A remake of Coffy only this time Pam Grier's seeking revenge on the baddies who brought down her man, rather than her little sister. Apart from a shift in motive, Foxy Brown is also a whole heap more violent with some thoroughly nasty characters out to get her before she gets them. Good film, but I still prefer the original.