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Shawshank Redemption and the 10 best Morgan Freeman movies of all time

By Wesley Lara

PASADENA, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 10: Morgan Freeman of the television show "The Story of God" speaks during the National Geographic segment of the 2019 Winter Television Critics Association Press Tour at The Langham Huntington, Pasadena on February 10, 2019 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
PASADENA, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 10: Morgan Freeman of the television show "The Story of God" speaks during the National Geographic segment of the 2019 Winter Television Critics Association Press Tour at The Langham Huntington, Pasadena on February 10, 2019 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images) /
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9: Street Smart

Original Release Date: March 20, 1987

Box Office: The box office, unfortunately, couldn’t match up to its $6 million budget, only taking in $1,119,112 in total box office receipts.

Critical Acclaim: The film fared much better with critics, earning a 64% on Rotten Tomatoes and it’s also the film that jump-started Morgan Freeman’s film career with an Oscar nomination.

About the Role: Freeman plays Fast Black, a cold and fast-talking pimp wanted for murder and the main subject of a fabricated news story.

Simply the Best: Whenever we see Morgan Freeman, it’s hard to imagine the man playing a morally muddled character, as he is now known for playing many wise figures in film. His breakthrough in film also came when he was in his 50s, so this is the type of role many people (myself included) have associated him with. He’s practically on the level of Tom Hanks in terms of playing good guys in films. Street Smart is a little different than that.

The film that contains what Freeman himself considers to be his favorite Oscar-nominated performance, Street Smart showcases Freeman in one of his most intense and downright frightening roles, playing a pimp named Fast Black who is wanted for murder. Fast-talking, ruthless, and intimidating, it’s a far cry from the homely man we know him as, yet Freeman plays the part to sheer perfection, mixing a streetwise attitude with his calculated demeanor to create a memorable antagonist in a film far too underrated to not mention.

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