Super Fly

This week's sharpest crime pick in the US on Hoopla is Super Fly. A tight runtime that never overstays its welcome. 161 people have weighed in on TMDB, and the verdict leans heavily positive. Ron O'Neal leads a cast that carries the story without ever feeling mechanical. Start it on Hoopla whenever you need something guaranteed to land.

Super Fly arrived without much fanfare and built its audience the hard way — through word of mouth. Super Fly treats its mystery as a means, not an end in itself. Priest, a New York City drug kingpin, devises a scheme to get out of the business and retire with a big payday, but his plans are complicated when a street dealer rats him out to the police. The writing gets a boost from Ron O'Neal and Carl Lee, who sell every scene they're in. It hit screens in 1972. What distinguishes the best crime dramas from the rest is whether the character work can carry scenes where the mystery takes a breath — Super Fly passes that test consistently. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

Crime and mystery fans will find exactly what they are after in Super Fly. It does not lean on comparisons to make its case. Best experienced as a single, sustained watch from start to finish. Watch Ron O'Neal work — it is a masterclass in the genre. Few crime dramas earn their twists this consistently.

Super Fly was released in 1972, directed by Gordon Parks Jr.. The full 91-minute film is available to watch now. Find exactly where it's streaming below, and TV Butler Pro makes it effortless to track your progress as you go. Just search the name, and Butler finds it instantly, tells you which service has it, and remembers exactly where you left off.