6 Guilty Pleasure Films To Binge Following ‘Mea Culpa’

'Butter/Never 2 Big'

This 1998 action thriller stars Shemar Moore as Freddy Roland, brother to superstar Blusette Ford (Salli Richardson). She gets murdered by corrupt record executive Curtis “8 Ball” Harris (Ernie Hudson) and his goons, Tommy “Tiny” Lister, and Tony Todd, after completing rehab and deciding to turn her life around—which included leaving her current label and management.

They attempt to frame Roland for the murder, but he goes on the run, enlists the help of Carmen Jones (Nia Long), and his brother, Dexter Banks (Terrence Hudson) to solve the crime and clear his name. The film was internationally known as Butter, but domestically was titled Never 2 Big and premiered on HBO as an HBO Original Film. It’s currently streaming on Tubi.

'Motives'

This 2004 erotic thriller stars Shemar Moore as Emery Simms, Vivica A. Fox as Constance “Connie” Simms, Sean Blakemore as Brandon Collier, and Golden Brooks as Allanah James.

Emery is a high-profile businessman who winds up in an adulterous fling with the free-spirited vixen, Allanah. While concealing the fact that he accidentally murders someone, he resumes his life while the detectives—played by Mel Jackson and Victoria Rowell—investigate. The fling not only leads to more dead bodies, but lands Emery in a intense goose chase as he discovers the costs of both loyalty and betrayal. The film concludes with one of the most satisfying—albeit sinister—plot twists ever.

If this isn’t enough for you though, also check out the sequel, Motives 2: Retribution—starring Brian J. White as Emery’s brother.

'Trois/Trois 2: Pandora's Box'

The Trois franchise is one of those hot messes that you can’t look away from because it’s so entertaining. The first film follows Kenya Moore (pre-RHOA) and Gary Dourdan, a newly married couple looking to spice up their life with a ménage à trois. However, as the tagline— “be careful what you ask for”—suggests, Dourdan realizes that severing ties with their third-party may cost him his marriage and his life.

The sequel, which is arguably the more popular of the two films, stars Monica Calhoun, the late Kristoff St. John, Michael Jai White, Tyson Beckford, Joey Lawrence, and Chrystale Wilson. Calhoun, who plays psychologist Mia DuBois, takes on Tammy Racine (Wilson) as a client following the death of her husband, Lance (Beckford). While helping Tammy, Mia learns about Pandora’s Box and explores it in an effort to help her marriage and understand her client. Mia gets swept in a web of danger after meeting Hampton (White). Will Mia’s marriage also end in murder? Only time will tell.

Trois 2: Pandora’s Box and Trois 3: The Escort are both streaming on STARZ, while Trois is available on Tubi.

'Uninvited Guest'

This thriller begins with Silk (Mekhi Phifer) robbing a local convenience store. He flees the scene after killing the store owner, but is approached by a stranger and asks, “Who the f**k are you?” Later, Silk shows up at the home of couple Debbie (Mari Morrow) and screenwriter Howard (Mel Jackson) after his car “breaks down.”

Instead of celebrating, he busies himself with his friends, Mo (Wanya Morris) and Tre (William-Christopher Stephens) as they work on another script. Silk seduces Debbie, but that’s not where the craziness ends. As the film goes on, other ulterior motives surface and more people end up dead, but the question arises: will the truth of what actually transpired be brought to light? This film is streaming on Tubi.

'Plug Love'

This is one of those films that you just so happen to stumbled across, but somehow implores you to get cozy for some very exaggerated drama.

The film centers Carmen (Jessica Ryan), who gets tired of her philandering fiancé, Lorenzo (Sino Harris). She decides to get her lick back with Murda (Murda Pain), but while uncovering the meaning of true love, she also learns of the danger associated with this double life and the competitive fight for power in the city.

It can be equated to a low-end version of Power—and yes, it’s available on Tubi.

'Gun Hill'

This intense drama stars Larenz Tate as both Bird and Trane Stevens—identical twin brothers who went down two very different paths. One is a cop and the other is a con, but one night, their lives get intertwined after one brother gets killed and the other assumes his identity in order to solve/avenge his brother’s death. While navigating that mystery, everyone gets caught up in the web of lies, so much so that falsehood becomes one’s reality.

The Reggie Rock Bythewood-directed film is streaming on BET+.