Watch The Hate U Give

In the drama The Hate U Give, a girl from a poor neighborhood attends a prep school in a wealthy community. There, she's forced to straddle two worlds. She manages the situation well, but the cultural differences create a persistent tension. The conflict becomes huge when one of her friends is killed unjustifiably by a police officer. The young woman is called upon to testify. In doing so, she draws the unwelcome attention of a violent street gang. Now she is threatened by both the police and the criminal element in her neighborhood. The young woman, Starr, finds herself caught between two very different groups. She must stand up for what she believes is right. When the situation bubbles up into full-blown protests and violent reactions, she must take a leadership role. She finds herself in a position to fight for the future of her community. The Hate U Give is an adaptation of a popular young adult novel. The film received a limited theatrical release in 2018. It was released on DVD and on-demand digital video in 2019. Critics gave the film nearly unanimously positive reviews. The film received renewed attention in the spring and summer of 2020. At that time, real-life events in America echoed some of the situations portrayed in the film. It was also the subject of some controversy during production. One of its lead actors, Kian Lawley, was fired after his use of racist slurs was discovered. The role was recast with Riverdale star KJ Apa coming on board to join the cast.