They Cloned Tyrone is a Netflix original film from Juel Taylor, starring John Boyega as Fontaine, Jamie Foxx as Slick, and Teyonah Parris as Yo-yo. The movie combines elements of mystery, comedy, and sci-fi as the trio comes across a series of eerie events that reveal that their entire community is being controlled and monitored by a seedy government agency.
To celebrate the recent release of the certified fresh film, we look at the best moments in They Cloned Tyrone, ranked.
10 Secret Elevator
Hot on the heels of investigating his own murder, Fontaine brings Slick and Yo-yo to a house where the van that took his body was parked. In the house, Fontaine finds a secret elevator that brings the trio face to face with Fontaine's body, and the early hints that something foul is afoot.
For a film that starts gritty and yet to hit its comedic stride, this introduction to the concept of a grander conspiracy plaguing their neighborhood is a delightful twist that sets the tone for the rest of the film.
9 They Put That Stuff in Everything
One of the discoveries in the laboratory was from Slick sampling some "product," only to find himself with a severe case of the giggles. After heading out for dinner at the popular chicken joint, shown in background commercials throughout the film, the three begin to let loose and enjoy themselves despite the gravity of the situation.
However, Slick puts two and two together and realizes that the substance in the lab is being put into the food. This is the first instance of products being controlled by the government to elicit specific emotions. A concept that is well played throughout as everything from perm cream to 'purple drink' is deviously used to control the populace.
8 Finding the Test Site
As the film progresses, it is only a matter of time before the trio gets a better idea of the scale of the conspiracy. After swiping an access card and taking an elevator hidden inside a church, the three finally reach the central hub. Here they see the degree to which their community is experienced.
This scene also marks a pivotal shift in Fontaine and Slick as characters. Faced with their clones, the two face the harsh reality that their lives and memories are not their own.
7 Meeting Your Maker
While this is the "big reveal" of Fontaine's background with the social experiment, it does not land much higher on the list due to the somewhat predictable turn here. Still, Fontaine learning that one of the key scientists involved in the social experiment is his original self nicely ties up some loose ends. Notably, his memories of his brother who died get validity, giving Fontaine a more significant reason to keep on fighting despite knowing he is a clone.
6 The Man's Fashion Is Killer
Slick and Yo-yo's relationship is one of the more endearing side stories within They Cloned Tyrone, moving past the pimp and ho label initially introduced to the viewers. In the final showdown, where Yo-yo is cornered by the main "baddie" in Nixon (Kiefer Sutherland), she bides some time commenting on her love of Slick's impeccable fashion sense after Nixon had just killed the man.
However, the body is a decoy clone (poor guy), allowing the real Slick to sneak up and land the killing blow. Besides being a touching moment between the two characters, this is a gloriously violent scene that will catch the viewer off guard.
5 A Thriller Moment
Much like the products throughout the community that alter people's personalities, music also has a role in controlling the emotions of others. In one scene, the trio head to a dance club where the DJ shifts the mood to a hypnotic beat that turns the crowd into a mob chasing down Fontaine and crew, to which the trio deems it a "Thriller Moment."
This scene showcases just how much of the populace are clones made to go through the motions, and it also sets up an introduction to Nixon's character and the power he wields over the town's denizens.
4 My Mother Is a Voice Recording, and My Brother Is a Memory
There is a point where Fontaine and his cohorts are given an alternative by the powers that be, either continuing as if nothing happened or being taken out of the equation. Fontaine wisely chooses to have his life back, even if it is a sham and his role as a drug dealer is pre-ordained.
However, the weight of this becomes too much to bear as Fontaine realizes his dead brother may just be an implanted memory, and he also learns that his mother, who stays locked up in her room, is nothing but a voice recording. Now realizing his only responsibility is to himself, Fontaine shows his true courage and uses these realizations as a drive to push him to seek revenge instead of drowning his sorrows.
3 I Will Give You Money to Shoot Me
Acting as the perfect rival, Isaac (J. Alphonse Nicholson) is responsible for the initial death of Fontaine and a consistent antagonist throughout the film. As Fontaine becomes more focused on the task of taking down the government agency beneath the streets, he hatches a plan which requires Issac to shoot him, so he can fake his death to be brought back into the underground facility.
What ensues is a hilarious back-and-forth where the two try to negotiate the faked killing of Fontaine through confused subordinates. This also gives us the best line in the film, "Thirty! He shot me for free last time!"
2 Storming the Lab
Sweet, sweet vengeance. With the entire neighborhood now in one the long con, they decide to swarm the underground facility to reclaim their city. Gunfights, nude confused clones, and general chaos, this is a wonderfully cathartic turn of events as the government elitist finally face the consequences of their actions. Moreover, the raid on the building leads to other notable moments in the film, including Slick and Yo-yo admitting their feelings as well as Fontaine learning his true origins.
1 Who Is Tyrone?
One of the best gags in the film does not even happen until the end of the film. Before this instance, most will wonder, "Who is Tyrone," as none of the characters carry this name. Yet, the closing introduces us to Tyrone (Boyega), who lives a similar life to Fontaine but in a different neighborhood.
As clones are popping up around the States as the power structure crumbles, Tyrone is sitting with his friends when they see a clone of him on the news. This is a great comedic sting to close out the film, which is made all the better by entering the credits with a remix of the Erykah Badu song Tyrone changed to include mention of cloning.