Straight Outta Compton

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2:15

Straight Outta Compton

R

2015

2h 27m

Biography

Drama

Music

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

89%

Tomatometer

244 Reviews

91%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

In 1988, a groundbreaking new group revolutionizes music and pop culture, changing and influencing hip-hop forever. N.W.A's first studio album, "Straight Outta Compton," stirs controversy with its brutally honest depiction of life in Southern Los Angeles. With guidance from veteran manager Jerry Heller, band members Ice Cube (O'Shea Jackson Jr.), Dr. Dre (Corey Hawkins), Eazy-E, DJ Yella and MC Ren navigate their way through the industry, acquiring fame, fortune and a place in history.

Critics Consensus

Straight Outta Compton is a biopic that's built to last, thanks to F. Gary Gray's confident direction and engaging performances from a solid cast.

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Nijla Mu'min

Bitch Media

02/03/2021

Through the evocative lens of cinematographer Matthew Libatique, Gray illustrates the vibrancy and pain of this moment and, for the most part, does not leave out the contradictions.

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Aramide Tinubu

Shadow and Act

04/12/2017

The film is remarkable because of how deeply it will resonate with today's audience.

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Dwight Brown

National Newspaper Publishers Association

03/15/2017

This is a monster film. You will walk out feeling like you have been entertained, educated and emotionally fulfilled. Eight months into the year 2015, and this is the only perfect film that has hit the theaters. This is it.

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Jeffrey Peterson

Indie Film Minute

09/01/2023

What musicians would America have oppressed if Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, Eazy-E, MC Ren, and DJ Yella listened to the naysayers and followed those who said rap music, sampling, reality rap, all of it, was a waste of time and definitely illegal?

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Zita Short

InSession Film

02/07/2023

D

It would be nicer to savor a smaller portion of chocolate ice cream and take your time appreciating the scent of the fudge swirls or the texture of the melted ice cream. That was a long, drawn-out metaphor for what this film could have been.

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

05/29/2022

3/4

The story is epic enough that audiences will experience the significant musical and social influence N.W.A. had on the larger community of hip-hop, and how that influence continues to shape contemporary artists.

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Damon

03/18/2025

Excellent, masterpiece, phenomenon.... I know the story is common to a specific region, but the subject matter crosses continents.

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Sara

01/05/2025

Was a good one. But definitely loved the original more.

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Jonathon E.

@JonathonViciouss97 Apr 28

Amazing story telling. Sad in parts and eye opening in others.

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Mark C.

@mrpiggy1992 Apr 26

What a beautiful masterpiece of a film

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Nick R

@NocturnalWalrus Apr 21

Excellent direction and casting put 'Straight Outta Compton' in the appropriate light to shine.

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Kevin P

@RT55971421 Mar 24

A very solid music biopic about the founding of NWA. The casting is great, especially Paul Giamatti. The movie does a great job showing how groundbreaking NWA's music was for the gangster rap subgenre and setting the trends for modern hip-hop/rap. But there's real pathos in their music as they sing and rap about the harsh realities of both gang violence and police brutality. This injustice brings them all together to vent their frustrations through rap music and their first album. It's funny and endearing watching NWA brainstorm music in the studio for their first album. It's clever when NWA decides to use the FBI warning as free publicity with controversy, even with the people who bought the CDs to step on it. The movie is guilty of some historical embellishments (noticeably Dr Dre's notorious violence against women). However, it's still a very passionate and entertaining music biopic that does a great job at celebrating these groundbreaking rap artists.

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F. Gary Gray

Director

O'Shea Jackson Jr.

Ice Cube

Corey Hawkins

Dr. Dre

Jason Mitchell

Eazy-E

Neil Brown Jr.

DJ Yella

Aldis Hodge

MC Ren

Straight Outta Compton: Official Clip - Gangsta Gangsta

2:29

Straight Outta Compton: Official Clip - Cube's Diss Track

2:28

Straight Outta Compton: Official Clip - Madness in Detroit

3:32

Straight Outta Compton: Official Clip - Raid on the Dope House

2:42

Straight Outta Compton: Official Clip - Eazy-E Has HIV

2:37

Straight Outta Compton: Official Clip - Police Harassment

3:04

Straight Outta Compton: Official Clip - Always Going to Be Brothers

2:28

Straight Outta Compton: Official Clip - Cruisin' Down the Street in My 64

2:33

Straight Outta Compton: Official Clip - N.W.A. Plays Dopeman

2:51

Straight Outta Compton: Official Clip - F*** Tha Police

1:42

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Straight Outta Compton: International Trailer 1

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Synopsis

In 1988, a groundbreaking new group revolutionizes music and pop culture, changing and influencing hip-hop forever. N.W.A's first studio album, "Straight Outta Compton," stirs controversy with its brutally honest depiction of life in Southern Los Angeles. With guidance from veteran manager Jerry Heller, band members Ice Cube (O'Shea Jackson Jr.), Dr. Dre (Corey Hawkins), Eazy-E, DJ Yella and MC Ren navigate their way through the industry, acquiring fame, fortune and a place in history.

Director: F. Gary Gray
Producer: Ice Cube, Tomica Woods-Wright, Matt Alvarez, Scott Bernstein, Dr. Dre
Screenwriter: Jonathan Herman, Andrea Berloff
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Production Co: Circle of Confusion, New Line Cinema, Legendary Pictures, Cubevision
Rating: R (Language Throughout|Drug Use|Strong Sexuality/Nudity|Violence)
Genre: Biography, Drama, Music
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 14, 2015, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 6, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $161.0M
Runtime: 2h 27m
Sound Mix: SDDS, Dolby Digital, Datasat
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)