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Get Rich or Die Tryin'
Paramount Pictures


4.6

based on 33 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

based on 88 votes
Read user comments
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FILM:

MUSIC:

GAMES:

MPAA RATING: R for strong violence, pervasive language, drug content, sexuality and nudity

Starring 50 Cent, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Joy Bryant, Omar Benson Miller, Tory Kittles, Terrence Howard, Ashley Walters, and Marc John Jefferies

This hard-hitting drama stars 50 Cent as an orphaned street kid who makes his mark in the drug trade but finally dares to leave the violence behind and become the rap artist he was meant to be. (Paramount Pictures)

GENRE(S):	Action \| Crime \| Drama \| Musical
WRITTEN BY:	Terence Winter
DIRECTED BY:	Jim Sheridan
RELEASE DATE:	DVD: March 28, 2006 Theatrical: November 9, 2005
RUNNING TIME:	134 minutes, Color
ORIGIN:	USA

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert

A film with a rich and convincing texture, a drama with power and anger.

Salon.com Stephanie Zacharek

This isn't Sheridan's most complex or richest picture, but there's lots of life to it: This is an unapologetically glossy pop product, powered by a strong, old-fashioned sense of B-movie melodrama.

Boston Globe Wesley Morris

On most levels his performance is as flat as his abs: very early Wahlberg.

Chicago Tribune Michael Phillips

Sheridan's ensemble ensures that "Get Rich," the film, comes to life around the edges, if not at its center.

Variety Todd McCarthy

Mildly engaging but very far from being for 50 Cent what "8 Mile" was for Eminem, this lurchingly structured story of survival against the odds looks to get off to a strong start thanks to the singer's large following.

The Hollywood Reporter Kirk Honeycutt

For all its biographical truth, Get Rich's journey into a ghetto of hustlers, gangstas and mindless violence is all too familiar.

Chicago Reader J.R. Jones

Sheridan gives this a pacing and depth one doesn't often find in "urban" product, though Jackson, reliving his own life traumas, is handily upstaged at every turn by Terrence Howard (Crash) as his oddball manager.

Entertainment Weekly Lisa Schwarzbaum

Neither powerful nor interesting. It is a run-of-the-mill movie ''product'' developed as part of a 50 Cent marketing plan.

Baltimore Sun Michael Sragow

Terrence Howard has stolen 50 Cent's thunder - and his lightning, and his storm clouds, too - twice in one year.

USA Today Claudia Puig

Movie stardom is seductive, but 50 Cent and his fans will be best served if he sticks to to his day job.

Film Threat Pete Vonder Haar

Too much of the time, Jackson is a complete blank, like he's bored with his own story.

New York Post Lou Lumenick

The erstwhile crack dealer born Curtis Jackson may be a prot‚g‚ of Eminem, but this shapeless and derivative gangsta saga is no "8 Mile."

TV Guide Ken Fox

Fans of 50 Cent, whose own endlessly exploited past keeps him surrounded by Kevlar and bodyguards, will probably see the film for what it is -- a weak, watered roman à clef -- while admirers of Irish director Jim Sheridan (My Left Foot, In America) will marvel that he had anything to do with such a trite variation on the venerable "Star is Born" scenario.

The Onion (A.V. Club) Nathan Rabin

Parts of Get Rich Or Die Tryin' crackle with energy, vitality, and texture, like the prison-shower fight that descends into a weird sort of slapstick farce. But 50's leaden turn drags the film down. Scenes celebrating his personal and professional triumph ring hollow, since Rich never really gets under his skin.

The New York Times Dana Stevens

The parts of Get Rich or Die Tryin' that feel most genuine have to do with friendship and family, rather than with criminal intrigue. But the movie ultimately lacks an emotional core. It will certainly make 50 Cent even richer, but it wouldn't have killed him to try a bit harder.

Los Angeles Times Kenneth Turan

A motion picture with one foot in artistic expression and one in pulp fiction and commercialized violence. It wants the respect that goes with a quality production, but it can't resist providing the brutality and exploitation the film's core audience expects.

Miami Herald Peter Debruge

Unlike this summer's compulsively watchable "Hustle & Flow," Get Rich or Die Tryin' captures none of the thrill of finding your voice, recording a demo or landing a concert.

Philadelphia Inquirer Carrie Rickey

If, like me, you were hoping for "Scarface" as a hip-hopera, I am sad to report that Get Rich or Die Tryin' has heat, but not sweep.

Portland Oregonian Shawn Levy

Marcus, like the real-life Jackson, survives being shot nine times. But this film is dead on arrival.

The Globe and Mail (Toronto) Rick Groen

Hard-working to a fault, this is a movie that's all effort and no direction, a movie completely lacking in what its hero eventually finds -- a sense of identity.

Dallas Observer Luke Y. Thompson

50 Cent sounds articulate in his raps, but as a lead actor, he talks like his mouth is filled with food.

Rolling Stone Peter Travers

The film is shockingly light on music and heavy on crime scenes that play as bogus.

San Francisco Chronicle Mick LaSalle

Missing a purpose.

Christian Science Monitor Peter Rainer

This thinly autobiographical gangsta odyssey never achieves liftoff, and Jackson is unconvincing.

Austin Chronicle Marc Savlov

Broad across and rippling with muscle, 50 Cent mumbles his way through his hits.

LA Weekly John Patterson

Even more problematic is the script's clumsy, sprawling architecture, Sheridan's clubfooted sense of pacing and his grubby, indistinct visuals. The only upside? The Chieftains aren't on the soundtrack.

Village Voice Laura Sinagra

Unfortunately "My Left Foot's" Jim Sheridan, that reliable purveyor of Irish struggle-porn, anchors us in tedious exposition.

Premiere Aaron Hillis

Unstylized, inconsistent, unconvincing, and familiar to a fault.

New York Daily News Jami Bernard

A gangsta rapper without fire in the belly isn't terribly interesting, cinematically or musically.

Charlotte Observer Lawrence Toppman

I expected Get Rich or Die Tryin' to be gritty, scary, maybe disturbing or thought-provoking. What I didn't realize was that it would be so dull that any other effect it could have made was wiped away.

Washington Post Ann Hornaday

Shockingly inert.

Empire Colin Kennedy

It's bad enough to ban on purely artistic grounds.

Seattle Post-Intelligencer Bill White

A disaster on all levels.

The average user rating for this movie is 4.6 (out of 10) based on 88 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

James R. gave it a0:
The concept was dreadful, acting pathetic. How did this even get off the shelf?

Zack L. gave it a7:
I loved it! The story is well-paced, the script isn't half as bad as people claim it to be, the setting and music is great and the characters are interesting. It may not be as good as 8 mile, but Get Rich or Die Tryin' is still an inspiring and well-directed movie. I definately recommend it.

Greg L. gave it a9:
Way above what I thought it would be. I like the story line and it made me wish for a few minutes that my occupation was a "Gangsta" as 50 so cooly says to his future wife in the movie. If you like 50/Eminem/or Dr. Dre you should check this out it really has a decent story and i'm for sure buying it when it comes out next tuesday on DVD.

Chrissy gave it a2:
Honestly.. is it really a surprise that this movie is so terrible? The plot really only appeals to one person. And that's 50 Cent himself. The acting (especially on his part) is absolutely appauling; and there is absolutely nothing that makes this movie particularly interesting. In my opinion the only people who should go to see this movie are die-hard 50 Cent fans. However I have the greatest suspicion that no one who enjoys his music, will enjoy his acting quite as well.

Alex Z. gave it a0:
First off: I know, I know I don't like 50 Cent that's why I'm giving it a bad rating. While this is out of the way, though I hope you noticed the sarcasm, I may be able to state my opinion on this movie. Even though I ain't a fan of him a good friend of mine is. So that day I had nothing to do and he made his best to convince me watching this movie. I went there without any prejudices because I never really cared about 50 Cent and 2Pac shown us that rappers CAN be able to act ok. Though the whole movie reminded me of a movie which my friend shown me a few weeks before and which was one of the worst I've ever seen . State Property. If you know that movie you'll understand what kind of acting and what a "deep" storyline is gonna await you. If you go there because you love his music then better listen to his CDs. All in all I have to agree with 2Pac Game. 50 Cent first made fun out of the music industry, now its the movie industry.

Chris D. gave it a7:
There is bound to be negative reviews and i bet that most the people who have slated this movie had already made up their mind before they saw it. I was tahnkfully the opposite, afetr readin a few reviews in which it was torn apart i was going in anticipating 2hrs of 50 Cent showing off his bling and enhancing his gangsta reputation. I was pleasently surprised. The opening scene which combines some masterful directing by Sheridan and a Bass beating tune by 50 (I'll Whip Ya Head Boy) actually makes u think that the movie aint gonig to be that abd and the film is in capable hands. And it is. Sheridan carries it through with some surprisingly adequate acting by 50 Cent. Screen time isnt taken up by rapping which works well as when 50 does rap it has a greater impact. Good support acting make this an enjoyable. If you go into this with a clear mind and willinmg to except its a good advert for his soundtrack then you will enjoy this above average gangsta movie.

Nick K. gave it a0:
Truly dire. Should be renamed Get Rich with Bad Actin'.

Get Rich or Die Tryin' Paramount Pictures

Get Rich or Die Tryin'
Paramount Pictures