"Dope" rises above the weak comedic formula of going to the well too often for the repetitive gross-out gags and childish sexual humor that normally saddle coming-of-age comedies.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Apr 7, 2024

As the characters of Dope meander their hometown of Inglewood, they have to grow up, and yes, they do have role models, but no one really wants to hear the teens’ truth, the justification for their choices.

| Sep 1, 2023

The world certainly doesn’t need another coming-of-age movie, but Dope is evidence that stories can add an undeniable new dimension to old stories.

| Aug 2, 2023

With a summer full of action movies and blockbuster hits, Dope stands out as both a comedy as well as a dramatic film written about teens growing up in this generation

| Original Score: 4.5/5 | Oct 9, 2021

While individuals like the overachiever Malcolm may well escape the relatively mean streets of Inglewood, Dope seems largely unconcerned with the majority condemned to remain.

| Feb 26, 2021

In the end, the film is smart, fun, and wild.

| Feb 3, 2021

Dope is a colorful story, chock full of fantastic music culled from the golden age of hip hop... smart performances, and a beautiful message hidden behind a good ol' time at the movies.

| Apr 9, 2020

In Dope he (Keith Stanfield) gets another understated but powerful dramatic moment, and I hope to see a lot more from him and all the other young cast members in the future.

| Feb 6, 2020

With Dope, writer/director Rick Famuyiwa has given the teen-movie genre a 21st-century upgrade.

| Jan 10, 2020

Jam-packed with fantastic characters and performances, a soundtrack that may jockey with Guardians of the Galaxy's for bragging rights and thoughtful social commentary, Dope made my heart hurt I loved it so much.

| Original Score: A | Jul 30, 2019

Dope works best as a flashy and whip-smart pop culture comedy, but falters with its multiple endings and the over-egging of its political message.

| Original Score: 3/5 | May 10, 2019

Diluted by too many coincidences and a heavy-handed voice-over... Dope proves that not all Sundance audience hits are necessarily true gold.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Apr 6, 2019

The movie doesn't get weighed down by the serious business, though: it's a terrific hangout flick in the vein of Cooley High and Friday. Dope's dopeness is off the charts.

| Original Score: 8/10 | Mar 13, 2019

The film is a nice melange of an updated, John Hughes film (without the racist jokes) and early Tarantino (ditto) though the writing, while including some sharp humor in the comedic sequences, falls flat in the dramatic scenes.

| Mar 8, 2019

Dope is one busy movie, filled to overflowing with adventure, style, young love, and some revolutionary racial and political messages as well. It's wonderful.

| Jan 28, 2019

A charming spin on the teen genre. It's a movie that just has a lot of fun, something that spills over to the audience -- who can't help but have a good time as well.

| Original Score: B | Jan 23, 2019

A hilarious and thoughtful coming of age tale about identity, Dope tells a story from a truly unique perspective whilst dealing with familiar tropes in fresh ways.

| Original Score: 8.5/10 | Nov 2, 2018

A coming-of-age tale as vibrant and whimsical as it is overstuffed and fragmented.

| Oct 10, 2018

Fun, exciting and fast moving. But most of all, it is hilarious.

| Aug 23, 2018

Maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan, Dope delivered with interest.

| Jun 12, 2018