The Great White Hype
1996 film / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Not to be confused with Great White Hope.
The Great White Hype is a 1996 American sports comedy film directed by Reginald Hudlin. It stars Samuel L. Jackson, Peter Berg, Damon Wayans, Jeff Goldblum, Jon Lovitz, Cheech Marin, John Rhys-Davies, Salli Richardson and Jamie Foxx.
Quick Facts The Great White Hype, Directed by ...
The Great White Hype | |
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![]() Theatrical release poster | |
Directed by | Reginald Hudlin |
Written by | |
Produced by |
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Starring | |
Cinematography | Ronald Víctor García |
Edited by | Earl Watson |
Music by | Marcus Miller |
Production companies | Fred Berner Films Altman Entertainment |
Distributed by | 20th Century Fox |
Release date |
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Running time | 91 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Box office | $8 million |
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The film satirizes racial preferences in boxing, and was inspired by Larry Holmes's 1982 fight with Gerry Cooney (who was known as "The Great White Hope") and Mike Tyson's 1995 return fight vs. Peter McNeeley.[1] Entertainment Weekly called Rev. Fred Sultan (Samuel L. Jackson) a "Don King-clone."[2]
The film was distributed by 20th Century Fox and was released on May 3, 1996.