Movies Like Hell Up In Harlem (1973)

Hell Up In Harlem is a 1973 action, crime, drama, thriller film from Larry Cohen with a MovieMagicScore of 5.6/10. Here are 20 similar films, ranked by real viewer ratings — starting with Black Caesar and Original Gangstas.

Action Crime Drama Thriller

Black Caesar

1973

Raised in Harlem, Tommy Gibbs becomes a successful mob boss but he clashes with the rival Mafia and his old enemy, dirty cop McKinney.

5.8

MagicScore

Original Gangstas

1996

The Rebels rule the streets of Gary, Indiana. They shoot storekeeper Marvin Bookman for giving the police information about a drive-by shooting they committed. Marvin’s son, former NFL star and Rebel founder John returns to be with his father and, with a little help from some friends, to destroy the gang his way.

5.6

MagicScore

J.D.'s Revenge

1976

Although notorious New Orleans gangster J.D. Walker is shot and killed in the 1940s, his spirit remains restless for three decades, until a hypnotist's supernatural nightclub act allows him to take over the body of a mild-mannered law student and seek revenge on those who got him killed.

5.7

MagicScore

Across 110th Street

1972

In a daring robbery, some $300,000 is taken from the Italian mob. Several mafiosi are killed, as are two policemen. Lt. Pope and Capt. Mattelli are two New York City cops trying to break the case. Three small-time criminals are on the run with the money. Will the mafia catch them first, or will the police?

6.7

MagicScore

Shaft in Africa

1973

Detective John Shaft travels incognito to Ethiopia, then France, to bust a human trafficking ring.

6.0

MagicScore

Shaft's Big Score!

1972

John Shaft is back as the lady-loved black detective cop on the search for the murderer of a client.

6.0

MagicScore

Disco Godfather

1979

Retired cop and celebrity DJ Tucker Williams (aka The Disco Godfather) takes to the streets as a dangerous hallucinogenic drug called Angel Dust begins to take hold of the neighborhood.

5.4

MagicScore

Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song

1971

After saving a Black Panther from some racist cops, a black male prostitute goes on the run from "the man" with the help of the ghetto community and some disillusioned Hells Angels.

5.1

MagicScore

Black Shampoo

1976

A black hairdresser's sexual escapades with married customers lead to a confrontation with a jealous mobster.

4.4

MagicScore

#10

Coffy

1973

After her younger sister gets involved in drugs and is severely injured by contaminated heroin, a nurse sets out on a mission of vengeance and vigilante justice, killing drug dealers, pimps, and mobsters who cross her path.

6.6

MagicScore

#11

Truck Turner

1974

Truck Turner and his partner Jerry, who make their living as bounty hunters in Los Angeles, are hired to hunt down Gator, a pimp who has skipped bail.

6.4

MagicScore

#12

Shaft

1971

Cool Black private eye John Shaft is hired by a crime lord to find and retrieve his kidnapped daughter.

6.4

MagicScore

#13

The Spook Who Sat by the Door

1973

A black man plays Uncle Tom in order to gain access to CIA training, then uses that knowledge to plot a new American Revolution.

6.3

MagicScore

#14

Super Fly

1972

Priest, a suave top-rung New York City drug dealer, decides that he wants to get out of his dangerous trade. Working with his reluctant friend, Eddie, Priest devises a scheme that will allow him to make a big deal and then retire. When a desperate street dealer informs the police of Priest's activities, Priest is forced into an uncomfortable arrangement with corrupt narcotics officers. Setting his plan in motion, he aims to both leave the business and stick it to the man.

6.2

MagicScore

#15

Foxy Brown

1974

A voluptuous black woman takes a job as a high-class prostitute in order to get revenge on the mobsters who murdered her boyfriend.

6.2

MagicScore

#16

Sheba, Baby

1975

Sheba, a Chicago private detective returns back home to Louisville, Kentucky, to help her father fight mobsters.

5.8

MagicScore

#17

Black Gunn

1972

A successful and popular nightclub owner who believes financial independence is the path to equality and success, must act as a go-between for militant-minded brother and the white gang syndicate his brother has attacked and robbed. Their involvements lead to a breathless race course chase, the destruction of a dopepusher and a violent waterfront climax.

5.8

MagicScore

#18

Cleopatra Jones

1973

After federal agent Cleopatra Jones orders the burning of a Turkish poppy field, the notorious drug lord Mommy vows to destroy her.

5.7

MagicScore

#19

Hit!

1973

A federal agent whose daughter dies of a heroin overdose is determined to destroy the drug ring that supplied her. He recruits various people whose lives have been torn apart by the drug trade and trains them. Then they all leave for France to track down and destroy the ring.

5.6

MagicScore

#20

Bucktown

1975

Duke Johnson visits a small Southern town, intent on burying his brother. After the funeral, he learns that he must stay for 60 days, for the estate to be processed. A few locals convince Duke to reopen his late brother's nightclub, and soon the local redneck policemen are intimidating Duke with threats of violence. Duke refuses to pay the bribes they demand, so then he and his lady friend Aretha are threatened and attacked by the crooked cops. Rather than take them on himself, Duke calls on his old pal Roy. Roy brings a few buddies to Bucktown, and they bring justice to the small town. With the redneck cops out of the way, Duke lets his guard down. Then the situation gets out of hand again. Finally, Duke must settle the score himself.

5.4

MagicScore

Frequently asked

What are the best movies like Hell Up In Harlem?

The top films similar to Hell Up In Harlem by MovieMagicScore are Black Caesar (5.8), Original Gangstas (5.6), J.D.'s Revenge (5.7). Each shares action/crime/drama/thriller themes and is ranked by real viewer ratings, not critics or studios.

Is Hell Up In Harlem worth watching?

Hell Up In Harlem holds a MovieMagicScore of 5.6/10 from 44 viewer ratings.

What kind of movie is Hell Up In Harlem?

Hell Up In Harlem (1973) is a action, crime, drama, thriller film directed by Larry Cohen, starring Fred Williamson, Julius Harris, Gloria Hendry.

Where can I find more recommendations like Hell Up In Harlem?

Browse the full ranked list above, or explore more action recommendations on MovieMagicScore, where every list is ordered by genuine viewer ratings.

Keep exploring

Movies like Black Caesar Movies like Original Gangstas Movies like J.D.'s Revenge Movies like Across 110th Street Movies like Shaft in Africa Movies like Shaft's Big Score!

About movies like Hell Up In Harlem

This ranked list pairs Hell Up In Harlem (1973), a action and crime and drama and thriller film from Larry Cohen, with similar titles by genre, theme and cast overlap (fans of Fred Williamson take note). Unlike critic-driven sites, every position here is ordered by MovieMagicScore — a rating built only from real viewers, with no studio marketing or paid placement. Scores update as more people rate, so the list stays current.

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