Black Dynamite
User Score
8.7 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 50 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 47 out of 50
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 50
  3. Negative: 1 out of 50

Review this movie

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. beehivehornetnest
    Jan 4, 2010
    10
    This movie is a diamond in the rough. what's up with the limited release in my city. That's ok cause the DVD is mine upon release. Cult Classic material.
  2. AaronS
    Oct 18, 2009
    9
    Hilarious. That's the best word to describe this film. Yes, it's one joke that plays out for an entire 90 minutes, but who cares? Any joke that can be told for 90 minutes and keep audiences entertained is one hell of a thing. The film hits the nail on the head every single time...even making fun of the poor production values from the blacksploitation era, with intentional "bad" editing, and ridiculous cheesy special FX. Even the acting is intentionally "bad." I can honestly say that this is the best comedy that has come out so far this year (and that includes The Hangover).… Expand
  3. eric
    Oct 19, 2009
    10
    Greatest late night film experience since the first time i saw Heavy Metal, Up in Smoke, or Rocky Horror. must be experienced with a live crowd that is feeling the vibe to really get the total vision.
  4. Sira-ha-ha
    Oct 20, 2009
    8
    Always silly and occasionally smart. Definitely worth seeing in the theater.
  5. JN.
    Nov 12, 2009
    10
    Absolutely hilarious. I especially love the flashbacks. You don't even have to be old enough to remember the blaxploitation era, it's still funny.
  6. JoshuaS
    Nov 7, 2009
    10
    Best, most entertaining film of 2009. Drive as far as you have to in order to see it. And to hell with the critics. Except Roger Ebert. He got it right about this one.
  7. TaylorR
    Nov 9, 2009
    9
    Flat out, ridiculous hilarity from beginning to end. "I threw that one before i entered the room sukka!" Just go see it with a silly frame of mind and you'll thank yourself later.
  8. Dillin
    Oct 22, 2011
    8
    Ya'll be jivin' me? This is sum hot ****
  9. RyanGee
    Sep 28, 2010
    5
    Black Dynamite is a movie that executes the spoof genre in the utterly correct way to create a parody. With its vintage-style appearance and 70s style soundtrack, the film performs in a way that resembles the old martial arts movies that were popularized back in the day. Although its style is its strong point, there are large lapses between the laughs. There are enormous instances of humor in a lot of the one-liners and monologues, but unfortunately those entice long waits of slow dialogue. Overall, this film packs bits of action and humor, but it is apparent that it is flawed with its lack of movement in wittiness and in dialogue.… Expand
  10. PYRiAH
    Dec 13, 2010
    8
    The parody genre is one that has sadly fizzled out with movies like "Date Movie", "Meet the Spartans", "Superhero Movie", and the recent "Stan Hellsing." Thank God that director Scott Sanders has come back from his ten year hiatus to give us the parody film "Black Dynamite." Taking all the things that were great about the "Dolemite" movies and flicks such as "Superfly" and then mixing it with the intelligent comedy of "I'm Gonna Get You Sucka." "Black Dynamite" is a parody done right. This is a slapstick comedy that knows you need to focus on how the stick is swung rather than the sound effect of the slap.

    Read full review at FlicksWorthWatching.com    … Expand
  11. j30
    Sep 27, 2011
    9
    Hilarious 70's style, exploitation movie. Sex, Kung-fu, and political thriller?? It has is all.
  12. CooterPatooter
    Feb 14, 2012
    9
    As a white midwestern teenager in the 90's, I haven't the foggiest what turned me on to blaxploitation films. All it took was a single viewing of "Cotton Comes to Harlem" and I was hooked on the genre forever. The edgy (for it's time), raw style of these zero-budget gems is perfectly captured (and parodied) by "Black Dynamite". The film's charm comes from the fact that it both lambasts and reverentially honors these films at the same time. Absolutely recommended!… Expand
  13. keep_yr_bias
    Feb 29, 2012
    10
    This is without question one of the five funniest movies I've ever seen. It's a spoof movie that is just as smart as it is dumb. The production is excellent... excellent in the sense that it looks exactly like a blaxploitation film from the 70's. Everything in it is campy as hell, but that's the way it's supposed to be. There are so many randomly hilarious moments that come out of nowhere, that make me laugh just thinking about it. Some may say it's a one joke movie, but you couldn't be anymore wrong about this movie. It's as entertaining as they come, and is only 1 hour and 20 minutes as it is, so it isn't overly indulgent like some comedies are. It's a quick, fun, hilarious ride, and is completely original. This is easily the funniest spoof movie of all time, and you don't even need to know anything about blaxploitation films to appreciate the humor.… Expand
  14. ILHM
    Feb 2, 2013
    8
    He's super bad. He's outta sight. He's... BLACK DYNAMITE! Michael Jai White stars in this hilarious parody of classic Soul Cinema. Black Dynamite hits the streets to find the man responsible for his brother's murder, but he uncovers a much more sinister plot that involves crooked cops, drug-dealing pimps, and a trail of evidence that leads all the way back to the White House! The creative team behind BLACK DYNAMITE has struck comic gold with their new cult-sensation. With the help of talented wardrobe and location scouts, Scott Sanders has truly allowed this film to walk out of the 70's. Every suit, every store, and every line of dialog feels authentic to the era of Blaxploitation films, while the script brilliantly highlights all of the unintentional humor and absurdity found therein. Visible boom mics and out-of-place edits are only a few of the entertaining visual references, but the clever dialog and straight-faced performances are what make this a classic. Sanders even uses the Super 16 color reversal process to give BLACK DYNAMITE a vintage look that succeeds even over major throwback pictures like Quentin Tarantino's GRINDHOUSE double-bill. While featuring a number of hysterical cameos by top comedians like Arsenio Hall, Tommy Davidson, and screenwriter Bryon Minns, no one can top Michael Jai White as Black Dynamite. He is a bad ass motha' and the ultimate ladies' man, rightfully earning his place beside cult heroes like Shaft and Dolemite. On top of that, White is insanely funny, and plays into the ironic nature of the script perfectly. Although BLACK DYNAMITE does require a basic underlying knowledge of the Blaxploitation genre in order to fully appreciate the humor, it is still a twisted treat for any fan to pick up and enjoy!

    -Carl Manes
    I Like Horror Movies    … Expand

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
65 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 14 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 14
  3. Negative: 0 out of 14
  1. The Hollywood Reporter
    Reviewed by: James Greenberg
    60
    Even if it's a one-joke movie that runs out of steam, director Scott Sanders manages to keep the gag going for 90 minutes.
    Read full review
  2. Variety
    Reviewed by: Rob Nelson
    80
    This film will delight both discriminating fans of the blaxploitation tradition and ordinary lovers of goofy, in-ya-face thrills.
    Read full review
  3. Village Voice
    Reviewed by: Melissa Anderson
    50
    No matter how many trips to Kung Fu Island our hero makes, nothing in Black Dynamite captures the exhilarating absurdity of Pam Grier hiding razors in her Afro in "Coffy"--or the loony genre experimentation in "Pootie Tang."
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »