Hoodlum
“Power is measured in enemies.”
Synopsis
In 1934, the second most lucrative business in New York City was running 'the numbers'. When Madam Queen—the powerful woman who runs the scam in Harlem—is arrested, Ellsworth 'Bumpy' Johnson takes over the business and must resist an invasion from a merciless mobster.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Official TrailerOfficial
Type: Trailer • Published 2026-07-20
Top Cast
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Laurence Fishburne
Bumpy Johnson
Tim Roth
Dutch Schultz
Vanessa Williams
Francine Hughes
Andy Garcia
Lucky Luciano
Cicely Tyson
Stephanie St. Clair
Chi McBride
Illinois Gordon
Clarence Williams III
Bub Hewlett
Richard Bradford
Captain Foley
William Atherton
Thomas E. Dewey
Loretta Devine
Pigfoot Mary
Queen Latifah
Sulie
Mike Starr
Albert Salke
Beau Starr
Jules Salke
Paul Benjamin
Whispers
Joe Guzaldo
Bo Weinberg
Ed O'Ross
Lulu Rosenkrantz
J.W. Smith
Calvin
Eddie Bo Smith Jr.
Tee-Ninchy
Release History & Theatrical Window
August 27, 1997
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$30M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$23.5M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
0.78x
-$6.5M deficit
Theatrical Status
Budget Return
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Bill Duke
- Screenplay & Story
- Chris Brancato
- Original Score
- Elmer Bernstein
- Original Title
- Hoodlum
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 2h 10m
- Production Budget
- $30M
- Worldwide Gross
- $23.5M
- Production Studios
- United Artists, Frank Mancuso Jr. Productions, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Bill Duke
Chris Brancato
Elmer Bernstein
Frank Tidy
Harry Keramidas
Frank Mancuso Jr., Bill Duke, Laurence Fishburne, Helen Sugland
Department Leadership Roster
Bill Duke
Director
Chris Brancato
Screenplay
Frank Mancuso Jr.
Producer
Elmer Bernstein
Original Music Composer
Frank Tidy
Director of Photography
Harry Keramidas
Editor
Charles C. Bennett
Production Design
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
R: Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
International Certification Matrix
Mature — Recommended for viewers 15 and older.
FSK 16 — Restricted to viewers aged 16 and older.
Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Hoodlum.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Hoodlum.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Hoodlum
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Hoodlum about?
In 1934, the second most lucrative business in New York City was running 'the numbers'. When Madam Queen—the powerful woman who runs the scam in Harlem—is arrested, Ellsworth 'Bumpy' Johnson takes over the business and must resist an invasion from a merciless mobster.
Who directed Hoodlum?
Hoodlum was directed by Bill Duke.
Who stars in Hoodlum?
The principal cast of Hoodlum includes Laurence Fishburne, Tim Roth, Vanessa Williams, Andy Garcia, Cicely Tyson.
When was Hoodlum released and how long is it?
Hoodlum was released in 1997 with a total runtime of 2h 10m.
What was the box office and production budget of Hoodlum?
Hoodlum had a reported production budget of $30M and grossed $23.5M at the worldwide box office (0.78 return on budget, classified as a underperformed).
Who composed the musical score for Hoodlum?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Hoodlum was composed by Elmer Bernstein.
What is the age rating and content advisory for Hoodlum?
Hoodlum holds official age classifications: AU: M (Mature — Recommended for viewers 15 and older.); DE: 16 (FSK 16 — Restricted to viewers aged 16 and older.); US: R (Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.).