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Turn It Up

Play trailer Poster for Turn It Up R 2000 1h 26m Drama Music Action Crime Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
10% Tomatometer 39 Reviews 25% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
In the ghetto, the only thing more dangerous than a gun is a dream. And gifted Brooklyn hip-hop artist Diamond has a big dream to rise from the streets of New York to superstardom in the music world.... if only he can survive the ride. A hip-hop sensation in his own right, Fugee's founding band member Prakazrel Michel (known widely as Pras) stars as Diamond in the compelling urban drama.
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Turn It Up

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Critics Consensus

Reviewers say Turn It Up has a derivative feel, running through too many urban movie cliches.

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Critics Reviews

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Robert Koehler Variety Jun 6, 2008
Turn It Up is a hip-hop downer that makes the high-risk high-life of contempo gangstas seem glumly routine. Go to Full Review Christy Lemire Associated Press Mar 5, 2007
Surprisingly, for a movie about music, the sound is lousy. Some of the songs sound distorted because they have so much bass. In other moments, the dialogue is so low, it's hard to understand what the characters are saying. Go to Full Review Ernest Hardy Film.com Jan 1, 2000
As both writer and director, Adetuyi doesn't bother bringing any emotional or psychological twists or nuances to these familiar character types; he gives them no depth whatsoever. Go to Full Review Chuck Klosterman Akron Beacon Journal Oct 30, 2023
2.5/4
This is one of those pictures that is at its best when illustrating a certain kind of life in a certain kind of place at a certain point in U.S. history. In 40 years, it might make a valuable period piece. Go to Full Review Frank Swietek One Guy's Opinion Jul 24, 2006
D-
In the final analysis it's more exploitative than uplifting. Go to Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Jul 4, 2005
1/5
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Audience Reviews

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Stephen C @bob25009 Jul 22, 2025 Success in 1 hour and 26 minutes. Rated R. See more Joy S. @online Jun 27, 2025 If I could give it no stars I would. I had to say something about this movie even though it’s old and whoever put this awful garbage out you should be horse whipped!!! Beware DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME!!🫠😵😵‍💫 See more steve d @RT35616104 Jul 1, 2020 It may have worked if any of its musicians could actually act. See more May 24, 2010 it was good ja rule always makes me laugh See more nilufer e @Nilicim May 3, 2010 The only reason I wanted to watch this movie was Jason Statham and he was all I got. No wonder why very few people know about it. See more Apr 1, 2009 The movie was decent. But Pras lacks acting ability, which really dragged the movie down some. His total, straight face, no emotion performance was needed during a few scenes but the rest of the movie he needed to show some kind of emotions or at least facial expressions which were not there. Ja Rule did a great job in his first role and had some great lines to work with. Worth renting but not buying. See more Read all reviews
Turn It Up

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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Robert Adetuyi

Director

Pras Michel

Denzel

Ja Rule

David 'Gage' Williams

Vondie Curtis-Hall

Cliff

Tamala Jones

Kia

Jason Statham

Mr. B

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Turn It Up

Pras and Ja Rule. Ja Rule and Pras. Pras stars as Diamond. Pras and Ja Rule. Ja Rule. Turn It Up (2000) Turn It Up (2000) Turn It Up (2000) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis In the ghetto, the only thing more dangerous than a gun is a dream. And gifted Brooklyn hip-hop artist Diamond has a big dream to rise from the streets of New York to superstardom in the music world.... if only he can survive the ride. A hip-hop sensation in his own right, Fugee's founding band member Prakazrel Michel (known widely as Pras) stars as Diamond in the compelling urban drama.
Director
Robert Adetuyi
Producer
Guy Oseary
Screenwriter
Robert Adetuyi, Ray "Cory" Daniels, Kelly Hilaire, Chris Hudson
Distributor
New Line Cinema
Production Co
New Line Cinema, Paris Brothers, Mad Guy Films
Rating
R
Genre
Drama, Music, Action, Crime
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 6, 2000, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 1, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA)
$1.2M
Runtime
1h 26m
Sound Mix
Surround, Dolby SR, Dolby Digital, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)
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