Morris Chestnut reflected on the legacy of Boyz n the Hood ahead of the film’s 35th anniversary.
The actor recently appeared on The Drew Barrymore Show and spoke with Barrymore about whether he thought the film would have such a huge impact on pop culture. After admitting that he didn’t think it would, he explained why.
“I was on the set and I do the math,” he said. “This guy Cuba [Gooding Jr.] had a holding deal at the time, but the public didn't know who he was. So Cuba was a lead, I was a lead and nobody knew who I was."
He added that Ice Cube "was known" but "not as an actor and not a box office draw."
“So I was like, ‘No one is going to see this movie,’ but I was happy to be a part of it,” Chestnut continued. “And all of a sudden it was a hit.”
Chestnut also explained how the success of the film affected him.
"At that time people started to recognize me and notice me, but I would hear from many people that didn’t realize that that was happening in South Central,” he explained. “I did run into at least two people—one guy from France told me he learned English from watching Boyz n the Hood so many times.
Boyz n the Hood has become a cultural classic over the years. It grossed $57.5 million at the box office when it came out in 1991 and earned nominations for Best Director and Best Original Screenplay at the Oscars in 1992.
Chestnut is now starring in the new CBS series Watson in which he plays Sherlock Holmes’ partner, Dr. John Watson, who's continuing the former’s legacy after his death.
In a recent sitdown with CBS, Chestnut explained what makes his new show special.
"We're not just a typical medical drama," Chestnut said. "We solve the cases inside the hospital and outside of the hospital. We're doctors, but we're also detectives."