Editing Baby Boy (film) (section)

== Reception ==

===Box office===
In its opening weekend, the film grossed $8,606,403 in 1,533 theaters in the United States, averaging $5,614 per theater, and ranking #5 at the [[box office]]. It grossed a total of $28,734,552 domestically and $647,097 elsewhere for a total of $29,381,649, above its $16 million production budget.<ref name="mojo" />

===Critical response===
''Baby Boy'' received positive reviews from critics and has a rating of 72% on [[Rotten Tomatoes]] based on 93 reviews with an average score of 6.2/10. The consensus states: "Preachy and repetitive in parts, ''Baby Boy'' still manages to exude authenticity, thanks to its competent cast."<ref>{{Cite web|title=Baby Boy (2001)|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/baby_boy|website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]}}</ref> The film also has a score of 55 out of 100 on [[Metacritic]] based on 26 critics indicating 'Mixed or average reviews'.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Baby Boy (2001)|url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/baby-boy|website=Metacritic}}</ref>

[[Roger Ebert]] gave the film 3½ stars out of 4, and stated in his review: "''Baby Boy'' is a bold criticism of young black men who carelessly father babies, live off their mothers and don't even think of looking for work. It is also a criticism of the society that pushes them into that niche. There has never been a movie with this angle on the African-American experience" and "[it] doesn't fall back on easy liberal finger-pointing. There are no white people in this movie, no simplistic blaming of others; the adults in Jody's life blame him for his own troubles, and they should."<ref>{{Cite web|last=Ebert|first=Roger|title=Baby Boy movie review & film summary (2001) {{!}} Roger Ebert|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/baby-boy-2001|access-date=2021-10-17|website=rogerebert.com|language=en|archive-date=2021-10-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211017101132/https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/baby-boy-2001|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Kenneth Turan]], film critic for the ''Los Angeles Times'', praised the film for being "...Compelling.... heartfelt and personal..." Jonathan Rosenbaum of ''Chicago Reader'' also liked the film, stating: "Like John Singleton's other features, this is far from flawless.... But the characters are so full-bodied and the feelings so raw and complex that I'd call this the best thing he's done to date..."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/baby-boy/Film?oid=1049677|title=Baby Boy|last=Rosenbaum|first=Jonathan|website=Chicago Reader|date=26 October 1985|access-date=2016-10-01|archive-date=2017-12-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201200435/https://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/baby-boy/Film?oid=1049677|url-status=live}}</ref>

The film ultimately received ten nominations at the [[Black Reel Awards of 2002]], including [[Black Reel Award for Outstanding Film|Outstanding Film]], and three nominations at 2002 [[NAACP Image Awards]], including [[NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Motion Picture|Outstanding Motion Picture]].<ref>{{Citation|title=Baby Boy - IMDb - Awards|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0255819/awards|access-date=2021-10-17}}</ref> The film was also screened at the 2001 [[Locarno International Film Festival]] in competition for the [[Golden Leopard]], and would receive a 'Special Mention' from the jury for "For its innovative concept and ensemble acting."<ref>{{Cite web|title=2001|url=https://www.locarnofestival.ch/en/LFF/about/the-festival/palmares/2001|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211017103831/https://www.locarnofestival.ch/LFF/about/the-festival/palmares/2001.html|archive-date=2021-10-17|access-date=2021-10-17|website=Locarno Film Festival|language=en}}</ref>

Director John Singleton was very proud of the movie: "It was just soulful, I made a movie that I wanted to be as soulful as a Marvin Gaye record. That was my goal for better or worse. Not necessarily a perfect film, but just something that you watch, it’s memorable. That’s what I love about that movie."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/john-singleton-says-studios-aint-690486/|title=John Singleton Says Studios 'Ain't Letting Black People Tell Stories,' Unveils Tupac Biopic Plans (Video)|website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date=24 March 2014|access-date=2 April 2022|archive-date=25 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221125033727/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/john-singleton-says-studios-aint-690486/|url-status=live}}</ref>