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Straight Outta Compton

Straight Outta Compton

Drama · Music · History · 2015

In 1987, five young men, using brutally honest rhymes and hardcore beats, put their frustration and anger about life in the most dangerous place in America into the most powerful weapon they had: their music. Taking us back to where it all began, Straight Outta Compton tells the true story of how these cultural rebels—armed only with their lyrics, swagger, bravado and raw talent—stood up to the authorities that meant to keep them down and formed the world’s most dangerous group, N.W.A. And as they spoke the truth that no one had before and exposed life in the hood, their voice ignited a social revolution that is still reverberating today.

Movie details

Straight Outta Compton

“The world's most dangerous times created the world's most dangerous group.”

2015 Drama · Music · History 2h 27m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

7.8 / 10

Community rating

In 1987, five young men, using brutally honest rhymes and hardcore beats, put their frustration and anger about life in the most dangerous place in America into the most powerful weapon they had: their music. Taking us back to where it all began, Straight Outta Compton tells the true story of how these cultural rebels—armed only with their lyrics, swagger, bravado and raw talent—stood up to the authorities that meant to keep them down and formed the world’s most dangerous group, N.W.A. And as they spoke the truth that no one had before and exposed life in the hood, their voice ignited a social revolution that is still reverberating today.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Straight Outta Compton?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

F. Gary Gray

Written by

S. Leigh Savidge · Alan Wenkus · Andrea Berloff · Jonathan Herman

O'Shea Jackson Jr.

O'Shea Jackson Jr.

Ice Cube

Corey Hawkins

Corey Hawkins

Dr. Dre

Jason Mitchell

Jason Mitchell

Eazy-E

Neil Brown Jr.

Neil Brown Jr.

DJ Yella

Aldis Hodge

Aldis Hodge

MC Ren

Paul Giamatti

Paul Giamatti

Jerry Heller

R. Marcos Taylor

R. Marcos Taylor

Suge Knight

Court is in session

Put Straight Outta Compton on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Ambition earns the room.”

The film reaches for consequence and scale, accepting the risk of seriousness instead of shrinking from it.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Importance has entered the chat.”

The production keeps announcing its significance, as though awards-season posture were proof of insight.