Open Road Films
Raised in the Los Angeles projects by his mother (Kimberly Elise), Malcolm (Shameik Moore) aspires to Harvard, plays punk music with his pals (Tony Revolori and Kiersey Clemons) and is obsessed with ’90s hip-hop.
He’s bullied by drug dealer Dom (A$AP Rocky), who demands Malcolm’s help wooing Nakia (Zoë Kravitz). At Dom’s birthday party a drug deal gone wrong lands $100,000 worth of Ecstasy in Malcolm’s backpack.
Their band suddenly rising in YouTube popularity, Malcolm and friends debate whether to return the stash or sell it and pocket the money.
Written and directed by Rick Famuyiwa, this coming-of-age dramedy was a Sundance Festival hit. (Lisa Miller)