Set It Off (1996)

63% of critics liked it
(24 reviews)
85% of users liked it
(51,708 ratings)

The sophomore film effort from music video director F. Gary Gray, Set It Off is a crime thriller about four women bank robbers from a housing project in L.A. Ever since her parents' death, Stony (Jada Pinkett Smith) has had to act as a parent to her little brother Stevie (Chaz Lamar Shepard). She… More The sophomore film effort from music video director F. Gary Gray, Set It Off is a crime thriller about four women bank robbers from a housing project in L.A. Ever since her parents' death, Stony (Jada Pinkett Smith) has had to act as a parent to her little brother Stevie (Chaz Lamar Shepard). She works in various capacities to make a future for him at U.C.L.A. Cleo (Queen Latifah) is a butch lesbian who wants nothing more than to customize her classic car. Tisean (Kimberly Elise) is a painfully shy single mother to her son Jajuan, struggling to make ends meet. Frankie (Vivica A. Fox) is the stylish bank teller who gets fired in the opening scene and ends up working with the other three at a janitorial service owned by irritating boss Luther (Thomas Jefferson Byrd). With Frankie upset from her unjust firing, Stony angry from the wrongful killing of her brother, and Tisean losing her baby to the child protective services, the four friends are motivated to rob a bank themselves. Looking for thrills, Cleo gets some guns from Black Sam (Dr. Dre in a cameo role), and they pull off their first job without a hitch. Their success starts a trend and they rob other banks in the area, all the while being investigated by Detective Strode (John C. McGinley). In a romantic subplot, Stony finds romance with wealthy Harvard-educated Keith (Blair Underwood) before the violent chase-scene ending. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 2 hr.
Directed By: F. Gary Gray
Written By: Takashi Bufford, Kate Lanier
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Mystery & Suspense

In Theaters: Nov 6, 1996 Wide
On DVD: Sep 14, 1999
Studio: New Line Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Emanuel Levy, Variety
Influenced by Thelma & Louise and Waiting to Exhale, this well-crafted Girls N the Hood has social conscience and soul; Queen Latifah gives a career-making performance that should made her a big Hollywood star
, USA Today
Overlong, overdone and overwrought, the narratively challenged Set It Off gets off on exploitation shock and social-conscience schlock in equal measure.
Chris Cabin, Filmcritic.com
Despite Gray's galvanic ability with action sequences, there are very few surprises to be found in Set It Off
Rob Gonsalves, eFilmCritic.com
One of the rare movies sporting great action sequences and a ring of truth.
Larry Carroll, Countingdown.com
A tense, original caper film full of excellent performances, particularly by Queen Latifah
Nick Davis, Nick's Flick Picks
Fierce and emotionally resonant action-drama, anchored by four smart performances.

Read all 6 critic reviews

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

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Featured Audience Ratings

Tim S

Pretty decent heist movie.
danny d

chicks rob banks and then they die
Leigh R

Good movie. I love Queen Latifah.
Deb S

The Only Breaks You Get Are the Ones You Take. Stoney (Jada Pinkett Smith), Cleo (Queen Latifah), Frankie (Vivica A. Fox) and Tisean (Kimberly Elise) have been close friends for years living in the Los Angeles ghetto; each of them struggles with economic and emotional hardships.… More
The Only Breaks You Get Are the Ones You Take. Stoney (Jada Pinkett Smith), Cleo (Queen Latifah), Frankie (Vivica A. Fox) and Tisean (Kimberly Elise) have been close friends for years living in the Los Angeles ghetto; each of them struggles with economic and emotional hardships. Fed-up with how life has knocked them around, and desperate to escape the ghetto, the four friends decide to resort to robbing banks. But what begins as a daring plan to make some extra cash soon grows out of control, as the four of them test the limits of their friendship with the police hot on their trail. There were some great moments in this film, particularly among the four principal characters culminating into a nice finale. <a href="http://tinypic.com?ref=acsosy" target="_blank"><img src="http://i52.tinypic.com/acsosy.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"></a>
Ina S

Surprisingly good film - fast-paced, emotional and with highly likeable female characters and cast.
Leo L

A great film!