Hoodlum

Set in 1934 Harlem, Hoodlum examines the gritty world of the numbers racket and street power. When Harlem’s queen of the game, Madam Queen, is arrested, Ellsworth 'Bumpy' Johnson asserts control and faces a determined challenge from a ruthless rival. Johnson forges fragile alliances with other gangsters and wary officials as he tries to hold the empire together. He weighs loyalty, violence, and political pressure while navigating a city where race and money drive everything. The film offers a vivid snapshot of a neighborhood in flux, where ambition and survival push people to the edge and redraw the lines of power in New York. Power and fear shape every decision.

Directed by Bill Duke, Hoodlum delivers a hard-edged crime drama anchored by Chris Brancato's screenplay. The film recreates 1930s Harlem with period detail and a star-studded cast that includes Fishburne, Roth, Williams, Garcia, and Tyson. Duke blends brisk action with social commentary and authentic period detail, aided by production design that textures 1930s storefronts and street scenes.

Hoodlum is frequently remembered for its generous ensemble and the way it stages Harlem power dynamics on screen. The performances, especially Fishburne and Tyson, give texture to a chapter of New York crime history that isn’t often dramatized in film. The production captures neighborhood detail and a sense of community resilience that lingers after the credits.

Critics offered a mixed verdict, praising atmosphere, the cast, and production mood while noting uneven pacing and melodramatic devices. The film probes ambition, loyalty, and the human cost of crime, with race and community standing as persistent undercurrents. Its handling of historical context and real figures invites comparisons with other mob stories of the era.

The movie earned 23,461,013 at the worldwide box office against a 30,000,000 budget, signaling a modest reception from audiences overall. It found a following among fans of period crime sagas and performances that foreground Harlem's history, ensuring Hoodlum remains a notable snapshot of the era.