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A Rage in Harlem poster
5.5 / 10(58 votes)IMDbR19911h 55m$10.4M Worldwide GrossUnited Kingdom, United States of America

A Rage in Harlem

“In the next 24 hours they'll have to outrun the law, outsmart the mob and outshoot the competition.”

Synopsis

A beautiful black gangster's moll flees to Harlem with a trunkload of gold after a shootout, unaware that the rest of the gang, and a few other unsavoury characters, are on her trail. A pudgy momma's boy becomes the object of her affections and the unlikely hero of the tale.

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Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes

Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.

A Rage in Harlem - Trailer (Upscaled HD) (1991)

Type: Trailer • Published 2025-11-23

Release History & Theatrical Window

Theatrical Premiere

May 3, 1991

Wide Cinema Exhibition

Financials & Box Office Performance

ReleasedBudget Recovered (1.3x ROI)

Production Budget

$8M

Filming & production cost

Worldwide Gross

$10.4M

Total global ticket sales

Box Office Return

1.3x

+$2.4M net gain

Theatrical Status

Budget Return

Box office tier

Budget: $8MWorldwide: $10.4M

Key Information & Fast Facts

Director
Bill Duke
Screenplay & Story
John Toles-Bey, Bobby Crawford, Chester Himes
Original Score
Elmer Bernstein
Original Title
A Rage in Harlem
Country of Origin
United Kingdom, United States of America
Spoken Languages
English
Runtime
1h 55m
Production Budget
$8M
Worldwide Gross
$10.4M
Production Studios
Palace Pictures, Miramax, New Line Cinema

Creative Leadership & Key Crew

Director

Bill Duke

Screenplay & Story

John Toles-Bey, Bobby Crawford, Chester Himes

Original Score & Music

Elmer Bernstein

Director of Photography

Toyomichi Kurita

Film Editing

Curtiss Clayton

Producers

Stephen Woolley, Kerry Rock, Terry Glinwood, William Horberg, Nik Powell

Literary Origin & Source Material
Novel:Chester Himes

Department Leadership Roster

Bill Duke

Bill Duke

Director

John Toles-Bey

John Toles-Bey

Writer

Bobby Crawford

Writer

Stephen Woolley

Stephen Woolley

Producer

Kerry Rock

Producer

Toyomichi Kurita

Toyomichi Kurita

Director of Photography

Curtiss Clayton

Editor

Elmer Bernstein

Elmer Bernstein

Original Music Composer

Steven Legler

Production Design

Age Classification & Content Advisories

Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.

Primary: R

R: Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

International Certification Matrix

United States (MPAA)R

Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

Official cinematic photography and background stills for A Rage in Harlem.

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Frequently Asked Questions About A Rage in Harlem

Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.

What is A Rage in Harlem about?

A beautiful black gangster's moll flees to Harlem with a trunkload of gold after a shootout, unaware that the rest of the gang, and a few other unsavoury characters, are on her trail. A pudgy momma's boy becomes the object of her affections and the unlikely hero of the tale.

Who directed A Rage in Harlem?

A Rage in Harlem was directed by Bill Duke.

Who stars in A Rage in Harlem?

The principal cast of A Rage in Harlem includes Forest Whitaker, Gregory Hines, Robin Givens, Danny Glover, Samm-Art Williams.

When was A Rage in Harlem released and how long is it?

A Rage in Harlem was released in 1991 with a total runtime of 1h 55m.

What was the box office and production budget of A Rage in Harlem?

A Rage in Harlem had a reported production budget of $8M and grossed $10.4M at the worldwide box office (1.3 return on budget, classified as a budget recovered).

Who composed the musical score for A Rage in Harlem?

The original motion picture soundtrack for A Rage in Harlem was composed by Elmer Bernstein.

Is A Rage in Harlem based on a book or true story?

A Rage in Harlem is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Chester Himes".

What is the age rating and content advisory for A Rage in Harlem?

A Rage in Harlem holds official age classifications: US: R (Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.).