Honestly, it’s rare to see a Hollywood friendship that doesn’t feel like a PR stunt. But when you look at every queen latifah jada pinkett movie, you aren’t just watching two A-listers clocking in for a paycheck. You’re watching a friendship that actually predates their fame. It’s wild to think they’ve been in each other's orbits since they were teenagers in the late '80s, long before the red carpets and the Oscars.
Most people point to Set It Off or Girls Trip as the big ones. And they are. But the connection goes way deeper than a IMDB credit list. It started in a gritty Baltimore club where a 15-year-old Jada—who basically snuck in—convinced a promoter to let her introduce a 17-year-old rapper named Queen Latifah. Latifah’s mom was even there. That’s the kind of "started from the bottom" energy they bring to the screen, and it’s exactly why their chemistry feels so lived-in.
Why Set It Off Is Still the Ultimate Queen Latifah Jada Pinkett Movie
If you haven’t seen the 1996 classic Set It Off lately, you need to fix that. It wasn't just a "heist movie." It was a visceral reaction to the systemic rot of the '90s. Jada Pinkett Smith played Stony, the heart of the group trying to save her brother, while Queen Latifah gave us Cleo, the unapologetic, fierce, and ultimately tragic engine of the film.
There was a raw desperation in that movie. It wasn't about getting rich; it was about survival.
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When they’re sitting on that rooftop, passing around a joint and dreaming of a life that doesn’t involve cleaning toilets for pennies, that’s not "acting" in the traditional sense. It’s a reflection of the real-world exhaustion many Black women felt then—and still feel now. The movie grossed over $41 million on a tiny budget, proving that audiences were starving for stories where women of color were the protagonists of their own action-packed lives, not just the sidekicks.
The Career Shift: From Gritty Drama to Global Comedy
Fast forward 21 years. Most Hollywood pairings burn out or fade away. Instead, we got the "Flossy Posse."
Girls Trip was a massive pivot. It traded the bank bags and police chases for grapefruit jokes and New Orleans chaos. Seeing Jada and Latifah reunite was like a shot of adrenaline for fans who grew up on Set It Off. It wasn't just a funny movie; it was a cultural moment that blew past $140 million at the box office.
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Girls Trip 2: What’s Actually Happening in 2026?
The rumors have been swirling for years, but as of early 2026, the wheels are finally turning. You’ve probably heard a dozen different "confirmed" locations, but here is what’s real: producer Will Packer has a script, and the core four—Latifah, Jada, Regina Hall, and Tiffany Haddish—are locked in.
- The Location: The latest word from the set is that the Flossy Posse is heading to Ghana.
- The Vibe: It's looking like the movie will coincide with the Black Star Line Festival or a similar massive cultural event in West Africa.
- The Timeline: Cameras are expected to roll by summer 2026.
This isn't just about repeating the success of the first one. It’s about showing these characters in a new phase of life. Jada’s character, Lisa, was the uptight "mom" of the group, and Latifah’s Sasha was the struggling journalist. Seeing how those dynamics have aged nearly a decade later is what’s going to make or break the sequel.
Beyond the Big Screen: The Equalizer Connection
You might have missed it if you don't watch much broadcast TV, but they recently reunited on the small screen too. Jada joined Latifah on her hit CBS show, The Equalizer. Jada played Jessie Cook, a master thief with a brilliant (and slightly annoying) memory who used to work with Latifah’s Robyn McCall.
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It was a total "Easter egg" for fans. Seeing Cleo and Stony—essentially—trading quips again, but this time as seasoned veterans of the underground world, felt like a full-circle moment. It’s these little nods that keep the queen latifah jada pinkett movie legacy alive even when they aren't technically making a movie.
Navigating the Controversy
We have to be real: the last few years haven't been all sunshine for this duo's public image. Between the 2022 Oscars "slap" involving Jada’s husband and the general divisiveness of Red Table Talk, Jada has been a lightning rod for criticism.
What’s interesting is how Latifah has handled it. She’s stayed the course. She’s remained the loyal friend, the same way Cleo was for Stony. In an industry where people jump ship the second a brand becomes "toxic," their bond seems to be built on something much more sturdy than social media sentiment. They acknowledge that they’ve grown up, made mistakes, and changed, but the foundation remains.
What You Can Do Now
If you’re looking to dive back into the world of these two powerhouses, don't just wait for the sequel. There’s a lot of ground to cover.
- Watch the "Set It Off" Director’s Cut: If you can find it, the commentary by F. Gary Gray offers a ton of insight into how Latifah and Jada helped shape their characters' motivations.
- Stream The Equalizer Episode: Look for Season 2, Episode 15, titled "Hard Out." It’s the best way to see their current-day chemistry without the "Flossy Posse" lens.
- Track the Ghana Production: Keep an eye on trade publications like Deadline or Variety starting in June 2026 for the first official set photos from the Girls Trip sequel.
The reality is that a queen latifah jada pinkett movie represents more than just entertainment. It’s a rare timeline of two women who refused to let Hollywood pit them against each other, choosing instead to build a multi-decade career side-by-side. Whether they are robbing banks or drinking too much Absinthe in New Orleans, the magic is in the fact that they actually like each other. And in Hollywood, that’s the biggest plot twist of all.