Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
An excerpt from John Singleton’s 1991 commentary on BOYZ N THE HOOD, his electrifying debut feature that joins POETIC JUSTICE (1993) and BABY BOY (2001) in the Criterion Collection’s new 4K box set JOHN SINGLETON’S HOOD TRILOGY: criterion.com/boxsets/8684-john-singleton-s-hood-trilogy
In this commentary (recorded for Criterion’s original Laserdisc release) the late writer-director discusses scripting BOYZ N THE HOOD in his penultimate semester at USC, casting Ice Cube in the role of Doughboy, and helming the film that would go on to make him the youngest person and first African American to be nominated for Best Director at the Academy Awards.
Watch Regina King and Ryan Coogler remember meeting with John Singleton, and the role he played in supporting their filmmaking careers: youtu.be/gTNo5kajxvo
The full commentary on the 4K restoration of BOYZ N THE HOOD is available in the new three-film box set, alongside audio commentaries on POETIC JUSTICE and BABY BOY; a conversation between filmmakers Ryan Coogler and Regina King; a new documentary on Singleton’s filmmaking process; new interviews with actors Taraji P. Henson and Tyrese Gibson; deleted scenes; original audition tapes; music videos; and much more! criterion.com/boxsets/8684-john-singleton-s-hood-trilogy
Enjoy the best moments from the over forty years of the Criterion commentary in this playlist, with new videos arriving weekly: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLd0WKGexn9FAdCRP0pWcgC2BrYhwlYhZu
An excerpt from John Singleton’s 1991 commentary on BOYZ N THE HOOD, his electrifying debut feature that joins POETIC JUSTICE (1993) and BABY BOY (2001) in the Criterion Collection’s new 4K box set JOHN SINGLETON’S HOOD TRILOGY: criterion.com/boxsets/8684-john-singleton-s-hood-trilogy
In this commentary (recorded for Criterion’s original Laserdisc release) the late writer-director discusses scripting BOYZ N THE HOOD in his penultimate semester at USC, casting Ice Cube in the role of Doughboy, and helming the film that would go on to make him the youngest person and first African American to be nominated for Best Director at the Academy Awards.
Watch Regina King and Ryan Coogler remember meeting with John Singleton, and the role he played in supporting their filmmaking careers: youtu.be/gTNo5kajxvo
The full commentary on the 4K restoration of BOYZ N THE HOOD is available in the new three-film box set, alongside audio commentaries on POETIC JUSTICE and BABY BOY; a conversation between filmmakers Ryan Coogler and Regina King; a new documentary on Singleton’s filmmaking process; new interviews with actors Taraji P. Henson and Tyrese Gibson; deleted scenes; original audition tapes; music videos; and much more! criterion.com/boxsets/8684-john-singleton-s-hood-trilogy
Enjoy the best moments from the over forty years of the Criterion commentary in this playlist, with new videos arriving weekly: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLd0WKGexn9FAdCRP0pWcgC2BrYhwlYhZu
