Notorious
2009 · Movie · R · 122 min · ★ 7.0 · 56% critics
A young man from Brooklyn uses sharp lyrics and relentless drive to move from street hustling into the rap spotlight. As success brings money, pressure, and complicated relationships, he fights to define himself on his own terms while chasing a version of the American Dream.
Where to watch
Streaming on Starz.
2 hours to watch.
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Details
- Years
- 2009
- Release date
- 2009-01-16
- Language
- English
- Rated
- R
- Runtime
- 122 min
- Critic score
- 56/100
- TMDB rating
- 7.0/10 (798 votes)
About
You’ll likely enjoy this if you want a straightforward hip-hop rise-to-fame biopic with drama, relationships, and explicit content, especially if you liked Straight Outta Compton; Not for you if you want deep analysis or a tightly focused story.
Pros: strong central performance; engaging music moments; shows flaws and ambition | Cons: covers too much; feels shallow at times; leans on clichés
Themes
- rap music
- ghetto
- murder
- death
- boom box
- rapping
- crack addict
- gold tooth
- praying
Cast & crew
Jamal Woolard
as Christopher 'Biggie' Wallace
Derek Luke
as Sean 'Puffy' Combs
Naturi Naughton
as Lil' Kim
Anthony Mackie
as Tupac "2Pac" Shakur
Antonique Smith
as Faith Evans
Angela Bassett
as Voletta Wallace
Marc John Jefferies
as Lil Cease
Sean Ringgold
as Suge Knight
C.J. Wallace
as Biggie (age 8-13)
Dennis L.A. White
as Damion 'D-Roc' Butler
Directed by George Tillman Jr.