What happens when you combine Blazing Saddles, The Magnificent Seven, and Blood and Bone into one epic movie? You get Outlaw Johnny Black, starring martial artist and actor Michael Jai White. The cult comedy/Western, which was released in 2023, will soon be available to stream for free on Tubi. In addition to appearing in some of the most beloved modern martial arts and action movies, like the aforementioned Blood and Bone, Never Back Down, and Falcon Rising. (Oh, and did we mention he’s Spawn and had a supporting role in The Dark Knight?) Still, Michael Jai White is perhaps best known for the cult comedy Black Dynamite. Last year, the same creative team produced Outlaw Johnny Black – the unofficial sequel fans have long been waiting for.
Starring White as the titular outlaw, Johnny Black, the film blends the classic Western revenge story with the absurd comedy that Black Dynamite fans have grown to love. The movie pairs its love for the Western genre with a dissection of the blaxploitation films. The film received decent reviews from critics but was adored by audiences, boasting a 93% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. The official synopsis reads:
“Cowboy Johnny Black vows to gun down Brett Clayton, the man responsible for the death of his father. As he seeks vengeance, he becomes a wanted outlaw while posing as a preacher in a small mining town taken over by a notorious land baron.”
Outlaw Johnny Black streams for free on Tubi from November 1 . Alongside Michael Jai White, the film stars Anika Noni Rose, Erica Ash, Chris Browning, Barry Bostwick, Randy Couture, Tomy Davidson, and Gary Anthony Williams. Michael Jai White directed and co-wrote the movie with Byron Minns (the creator of the Black Dynamite animated series).
Michael Jai White’s Comedies Blend Exciting Action and Hilarious Dialogue
Outlaw Johnny Black is Michael Jai White’s second outing as the leading man in a wacky action/comedy. Black Dynamite has become a cult hit, with its devout fan base helping spawn a highly successful animated series on Adult Swim, which ran for two seasons. Both Outlaw Johnny Black and Black Dynamite are filled with insanely quotable lines. Everyone knows that fiendish Dr. Wu’s “knowledge of scientific biological transmogrifications is only outmatched by your zest for kung fu treachery.” It’s a genre that fans are desperate for Michael Jai White to do more of in the future.
Related
Black Dynamite Star’s Highly Praised Action Comedy Will Be Streaming Free on Tubi
The action comedy has been met with high praise following its Fantastic Fest debut.
But, the killer insults and quotable lines of Black Dynamite and Outlaw Johnny Black would be nothing without kick-ass action to back them up. While the films don’t feature any multi-million dollar, CGI-fraught action sequences, Michael Jai White’s lifelong dedication to martial arts has made him one of the most beloved cult-action movie stars working today, a talent he brings to his most insane of comedies. While Black Dynamite is declaring war on anybody who sells drugs in the community, the actor is showing off his flying kicks and his own personal zest for kung-fu treachery. By adding revolvers into the equation, Outlaw Johnny Black gives White a platform to get even zanier and more over-the-top with the action choreography.
4.5/5