Juice director Ernest Dickerson celebrates film's 30th anniversary, talks 2Pac's impact, Hollywood embracing streaming and more (Exclusive)
This past Tuesday, January 11th marked the official 30th anniversary of hip-hop classic film Juice. To celebrate the massive milestone and acknowledge its 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray release, Attack The Culture spoke to the legendary director Ernest Dickerson to dish on everything from the film’s bonus features, working with the late Tupac Shakur and even his take on hip-hop still using the movie for priceless social media memes.
This past Tuesday, January 11th marked the official 30th anniversary of hip-hop classic film Juice. To celebrate the massive milestone and acknowledge its 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray release, Attack The Culture spoke to the legendary director Ernest Dickerson to dish on everything from the film’s bonus features, working with the late Tupac Shakur and even his take on hip-hop still using the movie for priceless social media memes.
From understanding the need for streaming in 2022 to a possible Juice meets Pixar spin-off actually happening, Ernest Dickerson doesn’t hold back on making this an unbelievably unforgettable conversation. Check out some of the highlights and scroll to the bottom to experience the entire Juice 30th anniversary discussion!
The Juice hype is still real in 2022
I’m just surprised interest in the film has lasted this long. When you’re making a movie, you’re just trying to get it done. You’re doing the day by day job of getting it made but I’m just glad that the movie has resonated and that the interest still exists to this day in hip-hop.
The story is something that still resonates today and the problems young African American and even young men have growing up in their different neighborhoods. Some of it is the same problems we had before with the problem with guns in America and many of our youth is still a problem. I’m happy that I was happy to put together such a great cast that just resonated with people and still resonate to this day. I’m really surprised.
Dickerson’s family showed him how much Juice is still celebrated
For years, I sort of let Juice go out of my mind and then my daughter told me she and her friends were having Juice parties where they would watch the movie and recite the dialogue. I was like, ‘No, you’ve gotta be kidding me.’ I couldn’t believe it. That’s what happened. And then we found a renewed interest in it when my wife spearheaded putting together the 25th anniversary DVD and Blu-ray five years ago.
The response we got from it was incredible. To find out that it’s still lasting to this day - and seeing it released on 4K, I just bought a 4K Blu-ray player so I’m going to be watching my copy.
Ernest loves the bonus content and remembers 2Pac’s greatness
I love that because those four guys were incredible young men. To hear them talk about their attitudes towards the film and their characters and the themes from the film really goes a long way. It’s really quite interesting. The great thing about 2Pac was that while we were shooting the film, he always had a notebook and he would always in-between set-ups always go into a corner and write. He always tried to connect with people in the neighborhood.
He’s talk to someone he thought was interesting or was going through something and he would go over and talk to them and then write it in the notebook. I like to think that was what was fueling his music when he finally got to record his first album. It was an incredible time.
I’m incredibly proud of those four men and we miss 2Pac to this day. I’m in contact with his family. We spent a lot of time with his family in Atlanta and they’re all part of my extended family now. Just hearing them tell their stories and their impressions and everything on that is great.
We finally get to see the true Juice ending
And I just love the fact that my original ending is in the extras as well. The studio made me cut the ending which was something in the 25 years since the film came out, it always bothered me. The studio threatened to not support the film if I didn’t cut it and soften the ending because it was a much softer ending than the original. It’s just one of those things you have to sit with and hate for all those years but finally the world can see it.
Check out the full interview below to hear Ernest Dickerson speak on streaming in 2022, a possible Pixar-type Juice spin-off and much more!
2Pac classic 'Juice' celebrates 30th anniversary w/ first-ever 4K Ultra HD rollout
If you’re really about the high-definition and insane quality life - plus you are a true culture hip-hop head, then there’s no better way to gear up for 2022 than with watching late music icon 2Pac’s classic Juice movie for the first time ever in 4K Ultra HD.
If you’re really about the high-definition and insane quality life - plus you are a true culture hip-hop head, then there’s no better way to gear up for 2022 than with watching late music icon 2Pac’s classic Juice movie for the first time ever in 4K Ultra HD.
2Pac’s ‘Juice’ Is 4K Ultra HD-ready
In celebration of its 30th anniversary, Paramount Home Entertainment is hitting the green light on delivering this cult classic to the masses in the highest quality form possible. In other words, January 11, 2022 can’t come soon enough.
A powerful morality tale steeped in 90s urban culture, JUICE marked the feature directorial debut of acclaimed cinematographer Ernest R. Dickerson and the first starring roles for Omar Epps and an electrifying Tupac Shakur. 30 years later, the gritty and influential film continues to be celebrated for its realistic portrayal of Harlem life, the early New York hip hop scene, and the fate of four friends in pursuit of the power and respect they call the Juice.
To mark the film’s 30th anniversary, Paramount Home Entertainment will release the film on 4K Ultra HD for the first time ever on January 11, 2022. The disc features access to a Digital copy of the film and legacy bonus content, including interviews with Dickerson, producer David Heyman (Harry Potter franchise), Epps, and fellow actors Khalil Kain and Jermaine Hopkins. The cast and crew look back on making the film, share heartfelt stories of working with Shakur, and reveal the influence that JUICE had on them both personally and professionally.
The in-depth featurettes are also loaded with footage of the cast on set and vintage interviews with Shakur, Queen Latifah, Cindy Herron of En Vogue, the Shocklee brothers, Eric B, EPMD, Cypress Hill and more. Along with commentary by the director, fans can enjoy the original ending and hear Dickerson detail the reasons that it was changed prior to the film’s theatrical debut.
Jam-packed with classic features
Juice originally arrived on January 17, 1992 but even with its initial VHS and eventual DVD release, the amount of special features don’t come close to what’s packed into this 2022 4K Ultra HD drop.
Commentary by director Ernest R. Dickerson
You’ve Got the Juice Now—A look back at the making of the film featuring interviews with director Ernest R. Dickerson, producer David Heyman and actors Omar Epps, Khalil Kain and Jermaine Hopkins. The piece details Dickerson’s struggle to remain true to his original vision, his desire to cast fresh new talent, the challenges of shooting on location in Harlem, and the reasons why the film’s ending was changed.
The Wrecking Crew—The film’s surviving lead actors talk about how they came to be cast in the film and the bonds they immediately formed with one another. They additionally share stories about Tupac Shakur’s drive, authenticity and unmistakable genius, as well as their delight at getting to work with Samuel L. Jackson, Queen Latifah and Cindy Herron.
Sip the Juice: The Music—Explores the essential role that music plays in the film. Features vintage interviews with the Shocklee brothers about their score, as well as Erik B, EPMD, and members of Cypress Hill speaking about their contributions to the unforgettable soundtrack and why they chose to be a part of the film.
Stay in the Scene: The Interview—Vintage interview with the four lead cast members on set. The piece demonstrates their rapport as they discuss the importance of the film and its message.
Photo Gallery—Unit photographer Adger Cowans’ photos taken on set.
The Juice’y details
Whether you’ve heard about Juice from old heads or sorta, kinda not really took the time to watch this classic, the amount of memes created over the past decade are legendary. It’s all about four friends and … well, let’s just get the official synopsis detailed out for you.
Q, Raheem, Bishop, and Steel spend their days hanging out and looking for a way to get the power and respect they call Juice. Q hopes to earn respect by becoming a scratch 'n' mix DJ. Bishop has a deadlier plan—take it through an armed robbery with his crew. Ernest R. Dickerson, the acclaimed cinematographer whose collaborations with Spike Lee include Do the Right Thing and Malcom X, made his directorial debut with this powerful drama steeped in ‘90s urban lifestyle. JUICEfeatures the acting debut of Tupac Shakur and a hit soundtrack that includes Eric B. & Rakim, Naughty by Nature, Big Daddy Kane and Salt N’ Pepa.
The nostalgic trailer
If the breakdown didn’t do it for you, then just kick back and enjoy this super vintage throwback trailer.