Riot (1997)

As the final gavel strikes in the infamous Rodney King verdict of April 1992, the city of Los Angeles morphs into a perilous war zone, setting the stage for the intertwining tales of four distinct narratives. From the heart of South Central L.A., nestled amongst the tumult, is Good Neighbor Liquor. Here, Jeff Lee and his parents, bearers of traditional Asian values, navigate an increasingly unfamiliar landscape, their world set to collide with a modernity they never anticipated. In the tale entitled Caught in the Fever, a seemingly ordinary day at the mall spirals into an unimaginable nightmare for Manuel Alvarado, the eldest offspring of an underprivileged Hispanic family, and his beloved Iris. They find themselves unwillingly drawn into a whirlwind of violence and chaos, a cataclysmic afternoon they'll never forget. Meanwhile, in Homecoming Day, Turner Coates revisits the South Central neighborhood of his formative years, a journey back to his mother's abode marred by the gloomy shadow of an inescapable menace. Elsewhere, Boomer Phillips, an LAPD officer dining in a South Central eatery, receives a belated directive from his dispatcher to evacuate the area. But the command is too little, too late - he's already caught in the eye of the storm, and there's no turning back. With the shocking Rodney King verdict echoing through the city, violence engulfs every block. In the wake of this monumental injustice, the destinies of the Lee family, Manuel and his companions, Officer Phillips, and Coates and his mother converge in a deeply impactful crossroads. Each person is stretched to their breaking point, their resilience tested, and their spirit challenged in an unforgettable day that unfolds under the gaze of a captivated nation.

Riot is a drama movie featuring Luke Perry and directed by David C. Johnson.

Riot is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on Plex, Plex Player, The Roku Channel and Tubi TV and it's also available on fuboTV.