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The Meteor Man

  • 1993
  • PG
  • 1h 40m
IMDb RATING
5.2/10
9.3K
YOUR RATING
James Earl Jones, Bill Cosby, Marla Gibbs, Sinbad, Luther Vandross, Eddie Griffin, Robert Guillaume, Big Daddy Kane, Robert Townsend, and Another Bad Creation in The Meteor Man (1993)
Home Video Trailer from MGM
Play trailer1:04
1 Video
99+ Photos
ParodySuperheroActionComedyFantasySci-Fi

A high school teacher from a troubled inner city Washington D.C. neighborhood becomes a super-powered hero and takes on the gang that has been terrorizing his streets.A high school teacher from a troubled inner city Washington D.C. neighborhood becomes a super-powered hero and takes on the gang that has been terrorizing his streets.A high school teacher from a troubled inner city Washington D.C. neighborhood becomes a super-powered hero and takes on the gang that has been terrorizing his streets.

  • Director
    • Robert Townsend
  • Writer
    • Robert Townsend
  • Stars
    • Robert Townsend
    • Marla Gibbs
    • Eddie Griffin
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.2/10
    9.3K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Robert Townsend
    • Writer
      • Robert Townsend
    • Stars
      • Robert Townsend
      • Marla Gibbs
      • Eddie Griffin
    • 33User reviews
    • 35Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination total

    Videos1

    The Meteor Man
    Trailer 1:04
    The Meteor Man

    Photos253

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    + 247
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    Top Cast73

    Edit
    Robert Townsend
    Robert Townsend
    • Jefferson Reed
    Marla Gibbs
    Marla Gibbs
    • Mrs. Reed
    Eddie Griffin
    Eddie Griffin
    • Michael
    Robert Guillaume
    Robert Guillaume
    • Mr. Reed
    James Earl Jones
    James Earl Jones
    • Mr. Moses
    Roy Fegan
    Roy Fegan
    • Simon
    Cynthia Belgrave
    • Mrs. Harris
    Marilyn Coleman
    • Mrs. Walker
    Don Cheadle
    Don Cheadle
    • Goldilocks
    Bobby McGee
    • Uzi
    Bill Cosby
    Bill Cosby
    • Marvin
    Big Daddy Kane
    Big Daddy Kane
    • Pirate
    Frank Gorshin
    Frank Gorshin
    • Byers
    Sinbad
    Sinbad
    • Malik
    Nancy Wilson
    Nancy Wilson
    • Mrs. Laws
    Luther Vandross
    Luther Vandross
    • Jamison
    Another Bad Creation
    • Jr. Lords
    Romelle 'Ro Ro' Chapman
    • Jr. Lord
    • Director
      • Robert Townsend
    • Writer
      • Robert Townsend
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews33

    5.29.3K
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    Featured reviews

    Blueghost

    Not a bad film, but I think I know what's wrong.

    There's no plot.

    There's a fine story about a man gaining superpowers to clean up the neighborhood, but his adventures seem rather random. His adversaries also seem to lack a larger plan. The combination of the two makes for a fairly decent film that lacks a couple of key elements to make it an increbidly good film.

    The comedy is good, as is the overall story. The acting is also top notch, as the characters portrayed are fun and enjoyable (I'm at a real loss to understand why other reviewers panned the acting ... possibly because they don't understand what it is they didn't like about the movie). But again the characters seem to lack a plan for their actions.

    The gags in the film are exceptional, as is the case with the supermajority of Townsend's material. However a dash more comedy could've served this film as the jokes are more sporatic than constant. Not a whole lot more but a few more comic bits and comical characters could've really helped the film, because, like I said, the film bounces between a light hearted adventured and comedy. And I think this too probably confounded the people who didn't like the film.

    The one thing I liked a great deal was seeing a lot of familiar actors one normally doesn't see. Read that as "black actors." Regrettably it takes a man like Townsend to bring a black cast to life. And I suppose on one plane that is as it should be; for who better to bring to life a tale of a Black/African-American/person-of-color superhero than a Black/African-American/person-of-color writer-director-actor?

    An enjoyable film that strives for an A, but just misses its mark. It's definately worth seeing, and is very enjoyable, but if you come away somewhat empty understand that it's essentially a one man show where the writing is concerned.

    A note to Townsend; make a sequel. This film deserves one, but bring in other writers to help you out with the script. A few more gags/jokes, and more plot, and you have yourself one fine film.
    slimm

    Hella Funny Movie

    I remember seeing this film about 5 years back and geez, did it make me laugh it is an extremely funny movie starring robert townsend with cameos from such greats as cypress hill's B-Real and comedic genius Sinbad and the Hilarious Eddie Griffin this film is a great. The Story basically is jeffery reid gains super powers and becomes a crime fighting super hero.
    nehesi

    Seriously silly fun.

    I think the previous commentor missed the point of the movie. This movie is intended to be silly fun, not a serious superhero movie. Granted, Townsend's comedy is not always ROFLMBAO hilarious, but the movie has a good message about coming together to fight evil and the showdown at the end, where both antagonists use the powers gained from various books to fight each other, almost makes the movie worth the price of admission. Its a "I've got nothing better to do and some time to kill" matinee movie, but still worth watching once.
    6Orisha Shango

    Ambitious and refreshing

    Following an encounter with a mysterious meteorite, a Washington D.C. school teacher (Robert Townsend) discovers that he has developed super powers and subsequently uses them to become a caped crusader against the forces of evil in his own inner-city community. Although the ambitious, imaginative script is loaded with misfired comedic gags, it does produce several genuinely amusing sequences--in particular, the climactic showdown between Meteor Man and his golden-haired drug lord nemesis. Biggest plus: the extremely talented (but frustratingly underused) supporting cast that reads like a Who's Who list of black television and movie greats. It includes: Bill Cosby ("The Cosby Show" and "Ghost Dad"), James Earl Jones ("The Great White Hope" and "Roots: The Next Generation"), Marla Gibbs ("The Jeffersons" and "227"), and Robert Guillaume ("Benson" and "Lean On Me").

    Also, it's just plain refreshing to see a 1990's larger-than-life black superhero/role model in a family-oriented film.
    KGB-Greece-Patras

    silly fun indeed! Just dont expect too much

    Ok this was rather made for kids, rather than some 25-year-old who are looking for B-movie fun. Reading some stuff in here I decided to give it a try. About the jokes: some worked and some didn't with me - I guess the movie along with its funny special FX is OK.

    I suggest some (or more!) beer along with this, unless of course you're under 18 and alcohol consumption is prohibited for your age in your country. WARNING! This is not extreme fun, rather stupid but it has its moments.

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    Related interests

    Bill Pullman, John Candy, Joan Rivers, Daphne Zuniga, and Lorene Yarnell Jansson in Spaceballs (1987)
    Parody
    Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Mark Ruffalo, and Chris Hemsworth
    Superhero
    Bruce Willis and Taniel in Die Hard (1988)
    Action
    Will Ferrell in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
    Comedy
    Elijah Wood in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
    Fantasy
    James Earl Jones and David Prowse in Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
    Sci-Fi

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Chris Tucker: As the voice of the MC in the mall when Eddie Griffin's character Michael pretends to be Meteor Man. Tucker has no screen time, and only his voice can be heard.
    • Goofs
      While Jeff is fighting Simon, the character Goldilocks (Don Cheadle) can be seen goofing around, as if he's coming out of his character.
    • Quotes

      Byers the Mobster: What? WHAAAAAT?

    • Alternate versions
      UK version was edited (14 sec.) to secure a 'PG' rating:
      • [74 mins] Remove backward kick to man's stomach (3.02 sec.)
      • [77 mins] Remove sight of man's arm being broken over bonnet of car (2.48 sec.)
    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert: The Fugitive/The Meteor Man/Manhattan Murder Mystery/The Secret Garden/The Wedding Banquet (1993)
    • Soundtracks
      Can't Let Her Get Away
      Written by Michael Jackson and Teddy Riley

      Performed by Michael Jackson

      Courtesy of Epic Records

      by arrangement with Sony Music Licensing

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    FAQ18

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 6, 1993 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Людина-метеор
    • Filming locations
      • Baltimore, Maryland, USA
    • Production companies
      • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
      • Tinsel Townsend
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $20,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $8,016,708
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $2,643,091
      • Aug 8, 1993
    • Gross worldwide
      • $8,016,708
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 40m(100 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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