While we’ve reviewed cult films on this blog before, we’ve never reviewed one quite like Black Dynamite. Back in 2009, this parody of, and homage to, 1970s blaxploitation films hit theaters to great reviews, but bombed at the box office, making only $296,557 against a $2.9 million budget, thanks to its rather limited release in a mere 70 theaters over just two weeks. Despite this, however, the Black Dynamite franchise expanded to include a two-season animated series on [adult swim] and a handful of comic book issues. My first exposure to Black Dynamite actually came from the cartoon, which I loved, but never finished watching as other life events got in the way. Once Max started removing even more content, however, with the Black Dynamite cartoon on the chopping block, I started revisiting it and thought that I should finally give the original film its due. Even without having seen any of the blaxploitation films that had inspired it, I’m glad that we can enjoy such an underrated gem.
