It’s actually kinda wild when you think about it. Most Hollywood pairings are a one-and-done deal, a bit of professional chemistry that disappears once the press tour wraps up. But when people search for a movie with jada pinkett and queen latifah, they aren't just looking for a title on Netflix. They’re looking for a specific type of energy that hasn't really been replicated since the mid-90s.
Honestly, these two are the blueprint.
Their connection dates back to before they were even stars. Jada was just a 17-year-old kid in Baltimore when she basically bullied a club promoter into letting her introduce a rising rapper named Queen Latifah. Imagine that: two future icons meeting in a club before the world even knew their names.
The Heist That Changed Everything
If you're looking for the definitive movie with jada pinkett and queen latifah, you’re talking about Set It Off. Released in 1996, this wasn't just another crime flick. It was a cultural earthquake.
Most "hood movies" of the 90s were focused on men. You had Boyz n the Hood, Menace II Society, South Central. Then came F. Gary Gray with a script about four women—Stony, Cleo, Frankie, and T.T.—who decide they've had enough of being ground down by a system that doesn't care if they live or die.
Why Cleo and Stony Worked
Queen Latifah played Cleo, the brash, cigarette-smoking, low-rider-driving powerhouse who was the muscle and the heart of the group. Jada Pinkett (now Smith) was Stony, the one trying to keep her little brother on the right path until the police took him away.
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Their chemistry felt lived-in. When they were sitting on that rooftop, passing a joint and talking about what they’d do with the money, you didn't feel like you were watching actors. You felt like you were eavesdropping on a real conversation between friends who were scared but determined.
- Budget: $9 million
- Box Office: Over $41 million
- Legacy: It became New Line Cinema's highest-grossing film of 1996.
The studio actually rejected the script three times. They didn't think Black men would show up to see women with guns. Boy, were they wrong. It wasn't just about the action; it was about the desperation.
The Long Wait for a Reunion
After Set It Off, fans waited. And waited.
It took 21 years for them to share the screen again. During those two decades, Latifah became an Oscar nominee and a talk show host. Jada became one of the most influential women in Hollywood. They were doing their own thing, but the "Flossy Posse" vibes were still simmering in the background.
Then came 2017.
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Girls Trip was the reunion everyone wanted, even if it was a total 180 from the grit of their first collaboration. Instead of robbing banks, they were drinking "absinthe" in New Orleans and hanging from zip lines.
Breaking the $100 Million Ceiling
Girls Trip wasn't just a funny movie. It was a massive financial success, grossing over $140 million. It proved that the movie with jada pinkett and queen latifah dynamic was still bankable.
In this film, Jada played Lisa, a repressed, "straight-laced" mom who needed to find her groove again. Latifah played Sasha, a gossip blogger struggling with her own integrity. While Tiffany Haddish was the breakout star of that movie, the grounded history between Jada and Latifah provided the emotional anchor. You believed they had been friends for thirty years because, well, they actually had been.
Beyond the Main Castings
A lot of people forget that their professional lives overlapped in other ways too. Jada Pinkett Smith actually produced The Secret Life of Bees (2008), which starred Queen Latifah as August Boatwright.
Even when Jada wasn't in front of the camera with her, she was behind the scenes supporting her friend’s work. That’s the kind of industry longevity you rarely see. It’s not just about the "keyword" or the "branding"—it’s a legitimate sisterhood that has survived the meat grinder of the entertainment business.
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What Most People Get Wrong
People often group these movies into "Black cinema" as if that’s a subgenre with limited appeal. But Set It Off is a top-tier heist movie by any standard, and Girls Trip is a masterclass in ensemble comedy.
The real magic of any movie with jada pinkett and queen latifah is that they don't play "types." They play people. Cleo wasn't just a "tough girl"; she was a woman who loved her girlfriend and her friends so much she was willing to drive into a hail of bullets for them. Lisa wasn't just a "boring mom"; she was a woman rediscovering her agency.
Looking Toward the Future
There has been talk of a Girls Trip 2 for years. Producer Will Packer recently confirmed that a script finally exists. Whether they head to Ghana or stay stateside, the draw remains the same. We want to see those women together again.
If you're looking to revisit their work, start with Set It Off to see the raw talent that launched their careers, then move to Girls Trip to see the evolution.
Next Steps for the Fan:
- Watch the Director's Cut of Set It Off: It includes some additional character beats that make the ending even more devastating.
- Check out the Set It Off Soundtrack: It’s a 90s time capsule featuring Brandy, En Vogue, and Queen Latifah herself.
- Track the Girls Trip 2 Updates: Keep an eye on trade publications like Deadline for the official production start date, as the cast has expressed interest in returning.
The impact of their collaboration is more than just box office numbers. It’s about representation that doesn't feel forced. It’s about seeing two women grow up together on screen and off.