Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood
Seen it?1996 | 89 min | Comedy, Crime
Weeknight WatchWhy it’s a Weeknight Watch
It made about 6 times its budget, but middling reviews (32% on Rotten Tomatoes) held it back. Fine if it's on; don't plan your night around it.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for crime fans and anyone who wants a laugh. If you loved The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!, start here. Audiences love it more than critics do: a crowd-pleaser first.
- The mood
- Provocative satire that goes after everyone.
- The pace
- Breezy, at 1 hr 29 min.
- What might put you off
- Rated R: meant for adults.
When Ashtray moves to South Central L.A. to live with his father (who appears to be the same age he is) and grandmother (who likes to talk tough and smoke reefer), he falls in with his gang-banging cousin Loc Dog, who along with the requisite pistols and Uzi carries a thermo-nuclear warhead for self-defense. Will Ashtray be able to keep living the straight life?
How it earned its rating
- CriticsBelow par
32% on Rotten Tomatoes, 53 on Metacritic
- AudiencesSolid
7.0 out of 10
- AwardsNot counted
No major awards or nominations
- Box office & staying powerStrong
$21 million worldwide on a $4 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactStrong
About 293K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Paris Barclay
- Shawn WayansAshtray
- Marlon WayansLoc Dog
- Tracey Cherelle JonesDashiki
- Chris SpencerPreach
- Vivica A. FoxAshtray's Mother
- Lahmard J. TateAshtray's Father
- Rappin' GrannySister Williams
- Suli McCulloughCrazy Legs
- Bernie MacOfficer Self Hatred
- Faizon LoveRufus