Monday Morning Maybe

Add your email and we'll match picks to the services you stream at home.

Poster for Life Is Hot in Cracktown

Life Is Hot in Cracktown

Seen it?

2009 | 99 min | Drama

Weeknight Watchearly rating

Why it’s a Weeknight Watch

With middling reviews (50% on Rotten Tomatoes) and soft box office, it's a mixed bag. 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
A natural pick for book lovers and anyone who likes a story with emotional weight. Adapted from a book, so readers can compare notes. Same wavelength as GoodFellas or New Jack City. Set against the energy of New York.
The mood
Thoughtful and character-driven.
The pace
Gives its people room to develop, at 1 hr 39 min.
What might put you off
  • Rated R: expect drug use.
  • Skip it if you need something light and fast tonight.

Various stories of how crack cocaine has infiltrated the inner-city streets. Based on Buddy Giovinazzo's novel "Life is Hot in Cracktown".

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsBelow par

    50% on Rotten Tomatoes

  • AudiencesNot counted

    Not measured yet: not enough ratings

  • AwardsNot counted

    No major awards or nominations

  • Reach & staying powerBelow par

    Streaming release that reached a small audience so far; still draws a steady audience long after release

  • Buzz & cultural impactBelow par

    About 16K people sought it out in the past year, and interest is climbing

Trailer

More like this

Want more like this, picked just for you? Get my picks

Cast & crew

Directed by Buddy Giovinazzo

  • Kerry WashingtonMarybeth
  • Victor RasukManny
  • Evan RossRomeo
  • Brandon RouthSizemore
  • Shannyn SossamonConcetta
  • Vondie Curtis-HallDixon
  • RZASammy
  • Thomas Ian NicholasChad Wesley
  • Lara Flynn BoyleBetty McBain
  • Illeana DouglasMommy