Movies News Talk
Released in 2004, "White Chicks" stars Shawn and Marlon Wayans as undercover FBI agents who pose as white socialites to protect them from kidnapping. It is now a hit on Netflix. While initially it did not resonate with critics and garnered a 15% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, it has been rediscovering success years later.
While its humor has received a lot of criticism and is now often viewed as problematic and outdated, its success on Netflix is likely due to its cult following, as well as the recognition of the strong supporting cast, featuring actors like Busy Phillips, Jennifer Carpenter and Terry Crews, all who have become stars in their own right.
While the Wayans Brothers lead the cast as the disguised agents, there’s a compelling and familiar supporting cast that is also worth a look. These include:
"White Chicks" was directed by Keenen Ivory Wayans. This comedy is part of a long tradition of movies with identity swaps and the Wayans' family is a major force behind a good number of those titles. Their blend of comedy and social commentary has become popular for audiences, especially their work on White Chicks.
Despite a negative 15% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, White Chicks is a cult classic that continues to hold a strong following even decades later. This suggests that sometimes audience preference trumps critics' reviews, making a film’s success more complicated to predict.
White Chicks has taken a top spot on Netflix's Top 10 charts in the US. This shows the film's enduring popularity, suggesting the movie’s themes, cast and style continue to resonate with audiences even though its release date was 20 years ago.
The film has been in a sort of sequel limbo. Fans of the Comedy Movie have expressed interest in seeing what’s next, but with its critics’ response and the passing of time, a sequel has not materialized yet. This film's return to popularity could help revitalize talks around White Chicks 2.