Director: Reginald Hudlin
Screenplay: Reginald Hudlin
Starring: Christopher “Kid” Reid, Christopher “Play” Martin, “Paul Anthony” George, Lucien “Bow-Legged Lou” George Jr, Brian “B-Fine” George, Robin Harris, Tisha Campbell, A.J. Johnson, Martin Lawrence, John Witherspoon, Barry Diamond, George Clinton
Country: United States
Running Time: 104 min
Year: 1990
BBFC Certificate: 15
Director Reginald Hudlin has had a varied and interesting career from directing a range of films over a 30 year period, including Boomerang (1992) with Eddie Murphy, producing movies like Quentin Tarantino’s Django Unchained (2012) and even co-producing the 88th Academy Awards ceremony in 2016.
He started his career with his debut feature film, the franchise launching teen comedy House Party (1990), starring hip-hop duo Kid ‘n Play, and based on his 1983 Harvard University student film of the same name, which is included on Criterion’s excellent new dual-format 4K UHD and Blu-ray release of Hudlin’s feature film version.
House Party follows Kid (Christopher “Kid” Reid) sneaking out to attend his friend Play’s (Christopher “Play” Martin) house party, after being banned from attending it by his father (Robin Harris) because of a fight Kid had at school earlier in the day.
Kid has an eventful journey to the party of the year before we witness that event, with plenty of feel good music and comedy, including dance-offs and rap battles, as well as some near misses, scrapes, run-ins with police and bullies along the way.
From the opening moment, we know we’re in for a very different and inventive teen comedy as a Steadicam prowls down a path and up some steps into a house where a party is underway in a smoke-filled room. The roof blows off, and then we are plunged into the main story. It’s an audacious opening that paves the way for an energetic film.
Memorable scenes then endure throughout, from Play causing despair for Bilal (Martin Lawrence) as he loads his expensive sound equipment and records into a car in a carefree way, and the reactions of neighbours to the party, and a cracking rap battle between Kid ‘n Play just over the halfway point in the film.
It’s not without problems, though, and is very much a product of its time, not least towards the end in a prison scene that features some homophobic lines and lyrics delivered by Kid, which is really uncomfortable to watch and hear in 2026. It was doing so well until that point.
The cast is all on fine form, though. It’s very much an ensemble piece with everyone playing their part well. Kid ‘n Play don’t feel out of place on the big screen, in a part widely rumoured to have originally been meant for DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince himself, Will Smith. This rumour has since been debunked with Kid ‘n Play always meant to be the leads, and DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince being alternatives. There are also some nice cameos from director Reginald Hudlin and his brother Warrington as two burglars.
The hip hop and R&B soundtrack is fantastic, featuring some killer tunes from the likes of Full Force (members of which appear in the film), Artz & Kraftz, Gene Griffin, Flavor Flav and more.
House Party is a very fun, funny and entertaining feature that hugely expands on an interesting student short film. It has proven to be the opener for an enduring franchise, with no less than five sequels, two of which came within four years of the opening, and the most recent coming in 2023.
In closing, I had a lot of fun with House Party, though there is some problematic content towards the end that really left a sour taste in my mouth. Before then the film is filled with memorable characters and scenes, contains a corking soundtrack, and is an at times innovative and always energetic teen comedy, that would lead to a franchise that had its most recent entry just three years ago.
Film: 
House Party is released on dual-format 4K UHD and Blu-ray by the Criterion Collection on 2nd February 2026. The new 4K digital restoration is excellent, providing a very natural filmic quality, spot-on colour grading and plenty of fine detail. The film looks good throughout. It also sounds excellent with music, effects and dialogue all sounding crisp and clear.
Director-approved 4K UHD and Blu-ray special edition features:
New 4K digital restoration, supervised by director of photography Peter Deming and approved by writer-director Reginald Hudlin, with 4.0 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack
One 4K UHD disc of the film presented in Dolby Vision HDR and one Blu-ray with the film and special features
New audio commentary featuring Hudlin
New conversation featuring Hudlin, producer Warrington Hudlin, and film scholar Racquel Gates
New cast reunion featuring actors B-Fine, Bowlegged Lou, and the Legend Paul Anthony of Full Force; Tisha Campbell; AJ Johnson; Christopher “Play” Martin; Daryl “Chill” Mitchell; and Christopher “Kid” Reid
House Party (1983), the student short by Reginald Hudlin on which his feature is based
Trailer
English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
PLUS: An essay by author Michael Harriot
Director Reginald Hudlin kicks off the disc with a rich, informative and entertaining commentary. Hudlin shares so much detail and information throughout the track, from the music choices to background on his career, the conception of the film, those who were involved in front of and behind the camera, scenes and gags he likes and much more. It’s a marvellous track.
House Party: Storytelling from the Inside Out is a new 32-minute conversation featuring director Hudlin, producer Warrington Hudlin, and film scholar Racquel Gates. It covers Reginald Hudlin’s inspirations for the film, the brothers’ childhood and their influences, the student film version of House Party and what it was based on, as well as some of the production and some of the scenes and themes. It’s a warm, fun and entertaining conversation that covers plenty of ground. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
A 38-minute new cast reunion is also excellent. It features actors B-Fine, Bowlegged Lou, and the Legend Paul Anthony of Full Force; Tisha Campbell; AJ Johnson; Christopher “Play” Martin; Daryl “Chill” Mitchell; and Christopher “Kid” Reid. It’s filmed like a virtual conference call. Everyone is on fine form, sharing what they felt made the film so special, their memories of working on the production, with some sharing how they signed on to be in the film, and its legacy. It’s a really good piece.
A wonderful inclusion is the original 1983 short film that director Hudlin made as a Harvard University student, on which the feature film is based. Also called House Party, Hudlin filmed it on 16mm as his senior thesis. The 20-minute short starts with the Kid character being told by his dad that he can’t go to a party. It’s beautifully shot with Hudlin showing assured direction. It’s good to see the echoes in the feature film, and their origins.
The 90-second trailer is very late 1980s/ early 1990s and easy to see how the film would have appealed at the time of release.
I wasn’t provided with the essay to comment on it.
In closing, Criterion have provided a fabulous package for an infectious and entertaining teen comedy. The picture and sound quality are excellent, and the extra features are strong, from the welcome inclusion of director Hudlin’s original short student film that the feature was based on to a great commentary and two brilliant conversations which total over an hour. Highly recommended for fans of the film.
Disc/packaging: