African-American student Malik is on a track scholarship; academics are not his strong suit, and he goes in thinking that his athletic abilities will earn him a free ride through college. Fudge, a "professional student" who has been at Columbus for six years so far, becomes friendly with Malik and challenges his views about race and politics in America.
Direction
Singleton's most ambitious, messiest swing — flawed but fearless.
Acting
Ice Cube's Fudge steals every scene with radical charisma.
Writing
Pre-Columbine school shooting plot that still chills.
Director
John Singleton
Omar Epps
Malik Williams
Kristy Swanson
Kristen Connor
Michael Rapaport
Remy
Jennifer Connelly
Taryn
Ice Cube
Fudge
Jason Wiles
Wayne
Tyra Banks
Deja
Cole Hauser
Scott Moss
Laurence Fishburne
Professor Maurice Phipps
Regina King
Monet
Busta Rhymes
Dreads
Bridgette Wilson-Sampras
Nicole
Vitamin C
Festival Singer
Kari Wührer
Claudia
Tony Donno
Gay Victim
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Released months after O.J. Simpson's arrest, it bombed as audiences rejected racial discourse — then Columbine made its climax horrifyingly prescient.
Singleton called it his 'most personal' film despite Boyz n the Hood's autobiography — he saw Higher Learning as his thesis on what education fails to teach about America.
US
