Foxy Brown Movie Poster

Foxy Brown is an African American blaxploitation film released on April 5th, 1974. American International Pictures released the film as a double feature with Truck Turner. Blaxploitation films are a movie genre of exploitation targeted to black audiences in black culture. The genre was popular in the 1960s and 70s, mainly dealing with urban black life. It provided one of the few ways for African Americans to enter the film industry. Like many other blaxploitation films, Foxy Brown uses Afrocentric references, including in fashion, culture, speech, and other references to black culture. The film has been criticized for having disturbing portrayals of black women and black stereotypes of crime and violence. Others say Pam Grier liberated her role in the picture by portraying herself as a strong, independent black woman willing to sacrifice everything she has for justice. Written and directed by Jack Hill, it stars legendary actress Pam Grier. In the story, she takes down a gang of drug dealers who murdered her boyfriend. The film had a budget of $500,000 but exceeded that, making over 2.4 million dollars at the box office.

Foxy Brown is considered one of the most influential blaxploitation films ever created. Pam Grier became a household name and helped usher in more black female movie leads. The character Foxy Brown has become an archetype for other female black leads in the film. This includes movies like Girl 6 (1996), Undercover Brother (2002), and Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002). Pam Grier would later pay homage to her role as Foxy Brown in Quentin Tarantino’s film Jackie Brown.