Nia Long Talks About “Love Jones” as a 'Cultural and Iconic' Film Despite Being a 'Box Office Flop' in 1997

Angela AndaloroTue, April 14, 2026 at 7:31 PM UTC

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Larenz Tate and Nia Long in "Love Jones"Credit: Michael P Weinstein/New Line/Kobal/Shutterstock -

Nia Long starred in the 1997 romantic drama Love Jones with Larenz Tate

Long looks back at the film in her recent Playboy interview

Long also discusses teaming up with Tate again for an upcoming film, based on Maxwell’s Urban Hang Suite album

Nia Long will always have a soft spot for Love Jones.

In a recent sitdown with Playboy, the actress was asked about her feelings about the 1997 romantic classic. Long explains that despite the film's legacy today, at the time, she didn't know what it would mean within her career.

"When I read the script, it was the same feeling I had when I read Boyz n the Hood. … I felt like Love Jones was such an extension of who I am. My father was a poet; my mother’s an artist. We’re from Brooklyn, but Chicago and New York have some symmetry. I just knew it was honest, and I think when something is honest, it’s good," she shared.

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"When Love Jones came out, it was considered a box office flop. We didn’t make a lot of money, but what we created was something cultural and iconic. That is more valuable than anything."

Long also discussed her upcoming work with Tate on a new romantic drama, based on Maxwell’s Urban Hang Suite album.

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"I love Maxwell. I grew up listening to Maxwell; he’s a personal friend. It took us three years to get the film set up, and it’s a really cool concept. It’s sort of an extension of where Nina and Darius [from Love Jones] could be today, but it’s a completely different film," she teased.

"There’s a lot more comedy. We’re parents now. We literally just wrapped a couple of weeks ago. I love Larenz. That’s my guy, forever and ever and ever."

Of the pair's on-screen chemistry, she added, "When we were about to start shooting, I think we were both nervous because it had been years since we had shared camera time together. And after the first day, I think we both looked at each other like, 'Yeah, we still got it.' "

Last year, the pair opened up to PEOPLE about their chemistry when they were first cast in the film.

"I thought hw as adorable. When we had to do our chemistry tests, I was like, 'Oh, he's cute. He's not as mean as the character he played in Menace II Society," Long shared.

"I was like, 'This is Nia Long,' " Tate laughed, adding, "I had to keep it professional."

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”