Set It Off (film)

Set It Off
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	F. Gary Gray
Produced by	Oren Koules Dale Pollock
Screenplay by	Takashi Bufford Kate Lanier
Story by	Takashi Bufford
Starring	Jada Pinkett Queen Latifah Vivica A. Fox John C. McGinley Kimberly Elise Blair Underwood
Music by	Christopher Young
Cinematography	Marc Reshovsky
Edited by	John Carter
Distributed by	New Line Cinema
Release date	November 6, 1996 (1996-11-06)
Running time	123 minutes
Language	English
Budget	$9 million
Box office	$41 million

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Set It Off is a 1996 American crime action film directed by F. Gary Gray, and written by Kate Lanier and Takashi Bufford. The film stars Jada Pinkett Smith, Queen Latifah, Vivica A. Fox and Kimberly Elise (in her theatrical acting debut). It follows four close friends in Los Angeles, California, who decide to plan and execute a bank robbery. They decide to do so for different reasons, although all four want better for themselves and their families. The film became a critical and box office success, grossing over $41 million against a budget of $9 million.

Francesca "Frankie" Sutton is a Los Angeles bank teller who witnesses a robbery. Shortly after the incident, the bank fires Frankie after the police uncover a connection between her and Darnell, one of the three robbers; despite the fact that Frankie knew nothing of the robbery Darnell had planned. Later, Frankie reunites with her three best friends, Lida "Stoney" Newsome, Cleopatra "Cleo" Sims, and Tisean "T.T." Williams in the projects and is furious because she was fired. Cleo states they should rob a bank themselves to collect all of the money and get out of the projects while being able to have what they want. Frankie agrees, while the other two friends aren't following along with what they are saying. Eventually, Frankie decides to work at a janitorial company with her friends even though they are treated with no respect from their boss, Luther, and receive little pay.

Stoney's brother Stevie was wrongfully gunned down by the police after they mistake him for one of the men involved in the previous robbery. Lorenz gets into a shootout with the ATF agents. The incident prompts Frankie to again suggest that they should rob a bank themselves. While Stoney is happy to go along with the plan, T.T. is initially opposed to the idea. However, when an accident at work leads to her toddler being taken away by social services, T.T. commits to the plot as well to get the money she needs to go to court and get her son back.

The four women embark on a series of bank robberies, which are investigated by LAPD detective Strode. The four women stash the money in an air vent at one of their work sites. However, Cleo, Frankie, and T.T. show up for work one day and realize that their boss, Luther has discovered the money and fled. While Stoney attends banking event with her lover Keith, the three women track down Luther. They find him at a motel with a woman having sex and Cleo tells Frankie to look for the money. When they confront Luther, he pulls a gun on Cleo and T.T. shoots him, which results in his death. Cleo takes the woman's drivers license to prevent her from contacting the police. Afterwards, Detective Strode questions Cleo and takes her to the police station to participate in a lineup. A glare from Cleo intimidates the woman to remain quiet. Stoney gets angry at Frankie and T.T. about the incident at the motel until Cleo arrives and tells them to rob another bank or they'll be in jail the next morning.