1992 (film)
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''1992'' is a 2024 American heist
thriller film Thriller film, also known as suspense film or suspense thriller, is a broad film genre that evokes excitement and suspense in the audience. The suspense element found in most films' plots is particularly exploited by the filmmaker in this genre. ...
directed by Ariel Vromen and written by Sascha Penn and Vromen from a story by Penn. The film stars Tyrese Gibson, Scott Eastwood, and Ray Liotta. Producer Dot da Genius makes a cameo appearance in the film as his film debut. The working title of the film, ''April 29, 1992'', refers to the first night of the
1992 Los Angeles riots The 1992 Los Angeles riots were a series of riots and civil disturbances that occurred in Los Angeles County, California, United States, during April and May 1992. Unrest began in South Los Angeles, South Central Los Angeles on April 29, after ...
, which is when and where the film is set; the title was later simplified to ''1992''. The film was released in the United States on August 30, 2024. It received mixed reviews from critics and grossed $2.9 million worldwide.


Plot

In 1992
Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...
, ex-con Mercer endeavors to restore his life and relationship with his son during the unrest following the
Rodney King Rodney Glen King (April 2, 1965June 17, 2012) was a Black American victim of police brutality. On March 3, 1991, he was severely beaten by Police officer, officers of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) during his arrest after a high spe ...
verdict. Meanwhile, in another part of town, a father and son confront their troubled relationship by planning a perilous heist at Mercer's workplace. As tensions in Los Angeles escalate and chaos ensues, the two families cross paths.


Cast


Production

In August 2015, it was reported that Ice Cube and O'Shea Jackson Jr. would star in the film, then titled ''April 29, 1992'', with Will Packer producing, Donovan Marsh directing and Lionsgate serving as distributor. However, Cube's publicist released a statement confirming that Cube and Jackson have no involvement with the film. In March 2021, it was announced that Vromen would direct the film. In July 2021, it was announced that Gibson, Liotta and Eastwood were cast in the film. In September 2021, it was announced that Beasley was cast in the film and that filming was underway in Bulgaria and Los Angeles. In February 2022, it was announced that Ammanuel and Arnold were cast in the film. '' Collider'' reported that Liotta completed the filming of his scenes before his death in May 2022.


Release

''1992'' was given a limited theatrical release in the United States on August 30, 2024.


Reception


Box office

In the United States and Canada, ''1992'' was released alongside '' Reagan'', ''
Slingshot A slingshot or catapult is a small hand-powered projectile weapon. The classic form consists of a Y-shaped frame, with two tubes or strips made from either a natural rubber or synthetic elastic material. These are attached to the upper two ends ...
'', '' AfrAId'', and '' City of Dreams'', and was projected to gross around $2.5 million in its opening weekend. It debuted to $1.8 million over the four-day Labor Day weekend.


Critical response

Audiences polled by
CinemaScore CinemaScore is an American market research firm based in Las Vegas. It surveys film audiences to rate their viewing experiences with letter grades, reports the results, and forecasts box office receipts from the data. Background Ed Mintz, who ...
gave the film an average grade of "A-" on an A+ to F scale. Randy Myers of the ''
San Jose Mercury News ''The Mercury News'' (formerly ''San Jose Mercury News'', often locally known as ''The Merc'') is a morning daily newspaper published in San Jose, California, in the San Francisco Bay Area. It is published by the Bay Area News Group, a subsidia ...
'' said, "Genuine scenes between Gibson and Ammanuel, aid in making “1992” a genre exercise with much more on its mind than you might suspect." Jeremy K. Gover of the ''Untitled Film Project Podcast'' said, "Remove the historical context and ''1992'' still encompasses a remarkable story about race relations, intergenerational empathy, socioeconomic divides, moral navigation and family dynamics, all while being a solid heist film." Ben Kenigsberg of ''
The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...
'' wrote that "The look is drab, the action is barely coherent, and Liotta deserved to go out with a better line than 'I did the best that I could, son. I’m sorry it wasn’t enough'." A sentiment echoed by Roger Moore of Movie Nation, who felt that the film was "even straining to get to the label 'solid'." Richard Whittaker of the '' Austin Chronicle'' in a mixed summary noted the "feel" of the period, but was disappointed that "the only element of Nineties Americana he (Vromen) really resurrects is the mediocre amoral crime flick", while other reviewers bemoaned the "glaring plot holes" and "Formulaic plotting".


References


External links

* * {{Ariel Vromen 2024 drama films 2024 films 2020s American films 2020s English-language films 2020s heist films American drama films American heist films Films about father–son relationships Films directed by Ariel Vromen Films set in 1992 Films set in Los Angeles Films shot in Bulgaria Films shot in Los Angeles 1990s hood films Lionsgate films 1992 Los Angeles riots English-language crime films