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A Thin Line Between Love and Hate

  • 1996
  • R
  • 1h 48m
IMDb RATING
5.7/10
5.8K
YOUR RATING
Martin Lawrence and Lynn Whitfield in A Thin Line Between Love and Hate (1996)
An observable, fast-talking party man Darnell Wright, gets his punishment when one of his conquests takes it personally and comes back for revenge in this 'Fatal Attraction'-esque comic thriller.
Play trailer2:18
1 Video
24 Photos
Dark ComedyComedyCrimeDramaRomanceThriller

A fast paced, womanizing nightclub promoter gets paid back in full when he scorns a beautiful woman with psychotic tendencies who will punish him for breaking her heart.A fast paced, womanizing nightclub promoter gets paid back in full when he scorns a beautiful woman with psychotic tendencies who will punish him for breaking her heart.A fast paced, womanizing nightclub promoter gets paid back in full when he scorns a beautiful woman with psychotic tendencies who will punish him for breaking her heart.

  • Director
    • Martin Lawrence
  • Writers
    • Martin Lawrence
    • Bentley Kyle Evans
    • Kenny Buford
  • Stars
    • Martin Lawrence
    • Lynn Whitfield
    • Regina King
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.7/10
    5.8K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Martin Lawrence
    • Writers
      • Martin Lawrence
      • Bentley Kyle Evans
      • Kenny Buford
    • Stars
      • Martin Lawrence
      • Lynn Whitfield
      • Regina King
    • 20User reviews
    • 11Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 2:18
    Trailer

    Photos24

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    Top cast25

    Edit
    Martin Lawrence
    Martin Lawrence
    • Darnell Wright
    Lynn Whitfield
    Lynn Whitfield
    • Brandi Web
    Regina King
    Regina King
    • Mia Williams
    Bobby Brown
    Bobby Brown
    • Tee
    Della Reese
    Della Reese
    • Ma Wright
    Malinda Williams
    Malinda Williams
    • Erica Wright
    Daryl Mitchell
    Daryl Mitchell
    • Earl
    • (as Daryl M. Mitchell)
    Roger E. Mosley
    Roger E. Mosley
    • Smitty
    Simbi Kali
    Simbi Kali
    • Adrienne
    • (as Simbi Khali)
    Tangie Ambrose
    Tangie Ambrose
    • Nikki
    Wendy Raquel Robinson
    Wendy Raquel Robinson
    • Gwen
    • (as Wendy Robinson)
    Stacii Jae Johnson
    • Peaches
    Miguel A. Núñez Jr.
    Miguel A. Núñez Jr.
    • Reggie
    • (as Miguel A. Nunez Jr.)
    Faizon Love
    Faizon Love
    • Manny
    Michael Bell
    Michael Bell
    • Marvis
    Dartanyan Edmonds
    Dartanyan Edmonds
    • Rodney
    • (as Dartanyan Edmunds)
    Greer Bohanon
    • Parking Attendant
    Michael Taliferro
    Michael Taliferro
    • Club Security #1
    • Director
      • Martin Lawrence
    • Writers
      • Martin Lawrence
      • Bentley Kyle Evans
      • Kenny Buford
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews20

    5.75.8K
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    Featured reviews

    8macnjnc

    Comedy with a surprisingly evil and sinister twist.

    A Thin Line Between Love And Hate is a very solid movie production job from Martin Lawrence. The film provides a nice mix of drama and comedy. The story line revolves around Darnell (Martin Lawrence) Brandi (Lynn Whitfield) and Mia (Regina King). Darnell is a ladies man who thinks he says all the right things to the ladies. He runs across Brandi and makes a bet with his buddy Tee (Bobby Brown) that he would have sex with her once he gets to know her. Eventually he gets his chance and hits paydirt with Brandi sexually. Brandi was hurt before by her cheating husband and holds brutal grudges for "womanizing" men (She killed her ex husband after finding him in bed with another women) As her relationship with Darnell develops she warns him that she is not the type of woman to be hurt and taken advantage of. The Producer does a good job of bringing along Darnel's rekindling relationship with ex flame Mia. Somehow you feel that Darnel and Mia's future relationship holds promise despite Darnel's flirtatious ways. Some of the things that happen to Darnel because of his womanizing ways you feel are justified but Brandi is out for serious revenge. Brandi inflicts injury to herself and convinces police that Darnel is the perpetrator, she leaves his Truck on bricks outside of a police station, she stops at nothing. Darnel calls off his relationship with Mia due to threats by Brandi that she would hurt Mia. Determined to settle the score once and for all he goes to Brandi beautiful estate overlooking the Pacific....

    > Thin Line Between Love And Hate was much better than I thought it would be. The movie definitely is funny but also provides plenty of drama. Lynn Whitfield is ever convincing in her role as Brandi, her piercing eyes slamming a knife down wickedly into her birthday cake is a scene worth remembering. What adds greatly to the movie is the fact that everything is centered around a nightclub which adds a certain feel and environment. This is a movie that is better than you would think. A definite thumbs up 8/10 on the scale.
    7kackjing

    Great for date nite

    This movie isn't Citizen Kane but it's enjoyable. It could've been done better but if you're patient there's some unique (original) bits like the car scene or the chicken delivery bit. It's great for date night. It's like a diff kind of mumblecore.
    9Catherine_Grace_Zeh

    Hilarious, witty, sexy, suspenseful, and totally beautiful!

    In my opinion, A THIN LINE BETWEEN LOVE AND HATE is a hilarious, witty, sexy, suspenseful, and totally beautiful movie. It is also one of the best Martin Lawrence films I have ever seen. I thought that Martin (Lawrence) and Lynn (Whitfield) lit up the screen like magic! One of my favorite quotes of this movie is, "You put your hands on the wrong woman." That really made me feel good and smile. The part that really made me feel good and smile, though, was when Brandi (Lynn Whitfield) got even with Darnell (Martin Lawrence) at her home towards the end of the movie. Also, I thought that Erica (Malinda Williams) looked very beautiful in her prom dress, especially with the way she had her hair done. That sure brings back memories for me. In conclusion, to anyone who's a fan of Martin Lawrence, I recommend this movie. You're in for lots of laughs and thrills, so go to the video store, rent it or buy it, kick back with a friend, and watch it.
    bob the moo

    A black Fatal Attraction

    If you looking for a black-plotation version of Fatal Attraction then this is the one for you. I thought Lynn Whitfield was great as Brandi and played all her emotions really well, and the filming was nice and glossy like a pop video...and that's it for the good things.

    Lawrence was poor - he really needs a comedy like Bad Boys which won't stretch his acting muscles. His narration is also simplistic and insulting - not letting the audience draw it's own conclusion and treating us like idiots. His acting is only on one level - the playa, and it doesn't seem to change at any point. Even when he hurts all his women we only really see it in terms of how it affects him and not them..

    The story is straight-forward and offers nothing new...even the soundtrack is rubbish (full of B-side RnB).

    We don't need a black Fatal Attraction - especially one that's boring and predictable from start to finish.
    7kevin_robbins

    This isn't a perfect movie but it is a very entertaining and a worthwhile watch

    A Thin Line Between Love and Hate (1996) is a movie I recently rewatched for the first time in a long time on Tubi. The storyline for this picture involves a club promoter in the neighborhood he grew up in who is a womanizer with his best friend. He has specific rules for his womanizing ways. One crazy summer his childhood crush returns home and he meets the woman of his dreams who is independent, rich, smart and successful. He will need to make some tough decisions on both ladies and will likely break every rule along the way.

    This movie is directed by and stars Martin Lawrence in his directorial debut and also stars Lynn Whitfield (Eve's Bayou), Regina King (Poetic Justice), Malinda Williams (Soul Food), Della Reese (Harlem Nights) and Bobby Brown (Ghostbusters II).

    This was perfectly written, directed and executed by Martin Lawrence. His mannerisms, facial expressions and body language made this work as much as the comedic content. The dialogue is very good with some subtle content to go with Martin's standard shenanigans. Bobby Brown being in this is hilarious and Reese was the perfect mother characters. King and Whitfield also deliver strong performances. The soundtrack and settings were great and the ending was perfect.

    Overall this isn't a perfect movie but it is a very entertaining and a worthwhile watch. I would score this a solid 7/10 and strongly recommend it.

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    Related interests

    Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Sian Clifford in Fleabag (2016)
    Dark Comedy
    Will Ferrell in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
    Comedy
    James Gandolfini, Edie Falco, Sharon Angela, Max Casella, Dan Grimaldi, Joe Perrino, Donna Pescow, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Tony Sirico, and Michael Drayer in The Sopranos (1999)
    Crime
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama
    Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca (1942)
    Romance
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    Thriller

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Directorial debut of Martin Lawrence.
    • Goofs
      When Brandi goes to Darnell's mother's house, the cameraman is reflected in the car's tinted rear window as she speeds off.
    • Quotes

      Brandi Web: You know, a man just comes along and he buys us off a shelf. Then he plays. Plays with us until he thinks we're no longer fun. Or until he gets us all dirty, right? Then he just wants to throw us away.

    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Primal Fear/A Thin Line Between Love and Hate/Faithful/The Last Supper/The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1996)
    • Soundtracks
      A Thin Line Between Love And Hate
      Performed by H-Town

      Produced by Roger Troutman

      Written by Robert Poindexter, Richard Poindexter and Jackie Members

      Courtesy of Luke Records

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    FAQ18

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 3, 1996 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • A Thin Line Between Love & Hate
    • Filming locations
      • Los Angeles City Hall - 200 North Spring Street, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Jackson/McHenry Company,The
      • Savoy Pictures
      • You Go Boy! Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $8,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $34,767,836
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $9,310,414
      • Apr 7, 1996
    • Gross worldwide
      • $35,599,803
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 48m(108 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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