The Shaft franchise returns in Shaft (2025) — a stylish, gritty, and surprisingly emotional continuation of one of cinema’s most iconic detective legacies. Directed by Antoine Fuqua and blending the sharp-tongued charisma of its predecessors with a darker modern tone, the film reintroduces audiences to the lineage of John Shaft — but this time, with a new generation fully in control.
Set five years after the events of the 2019 reboot, the story follows John Shaft III (Jessie T. Usher), now a full-fledged private investigator working independently in Harlem. After his father, John Shaft II (Samuel L. Jackson), goes off the grid during an investigation into a string of brutal underground killings, Shaft III is pulled into a conspiracy involving a corrupt tech mogul, AI surveillance abuse, and a violent gang of ex-military enforcers.
The twist? Shaft III can’t do it alone. When clues begin to point back to 1970s cold cases, the original Shaft — Richard Roundtree’s John Shaft I, thought to be long-retired — makes a surprising return, playing a shadowy mentor role one last time.
Shaft (2025) balances action, comedy, and legacy with more finesse than previous entries. While the 2019 film leaned into comedy, this new chapter swings back toward the neo-noir roots of the original 1971 classic. Antoine Fuqua’s direction adds a sense of tension and moral complexity, grounded in real-world concerns like surveillance, gentrification, and generational identity.
Usher delivers a stronger, more grounded performance this time. His Shaft is no longer the tech geek from the previous film, but a man shaped by violence, family, and betrayal. Jackson, as always, dominates every scene he enters with explosive energy and effortless cool. Roundtree, in his final appearance (the character’s fate is handled with respect and dignity), gives the film its emotional core.
Visually, the movie pops with New York grit — dark alleys, jazz bars, and rain-slicked streets — but also features sleek modern set pieces, including a rooftop drone chase and a final shootout inside a data farm. The soundtrack blends classic funk with contemporary soul and drill, making the city feel alive across generations.
Though not every subplot hits its mark, Shaft (2025) is a worthy continuation of a legendary name. It understands what made Shaft great — attitude, justice, and fearless cool — and reclaims that energy for a new era.
