Dope

Malcolm Adekanbi, a high school senior, dreams of attending Harvard. His passion for 1990s hip-hop culture and excellent academic record set him apart from his peers.

During a meeting with his counselor, Mr. Bailey, Malcolm faces harsh criticism regarding his aspirations. Bailey dismisses Malcolm's straight A's as meaningless, calling his ambitions arrogant.

Malcolm meets local drug dealer Dom, who instructs him to invite Nakia to a party. Nakia shows interest in attending only if Malcolm is there, leading Malcolm to share this exciting news with his friends.

At Dom's birthday party, chaos erupts when rival gang members invade, leading to a terrifying shootout. Amidst the panic, Malcolm protects Nakia, forging a deeper connection with her.

The next day, Malcolm’s life takes a turn when he finds drugs and a firearm in his backpack. These were mistakenly placed there by Dom, triggering a series of events he never anticipated.

Malcolm receives a desperate call from Dom, who is in custody and claims he has been set up. Dom instructs Malcolm to meet a contact, setting off a chain of events that deepens Malcolm's troubles.

Malcolm, Jib, and Diggy meet Jaleel and his half-naked sister, Lily, at an unfamiliar address. This encounter leads to some humorous yet embarrassing situations that complicate their plans.

Surprisingly, Malcolm learns that AJ is the man's contact he needs to meet for his college interview. This unexpected twist leads to a proposal involving the very drugs he is entangled with.

Faced with limited options, Malcolm and his friends enlist their stoner hacker acquaintance, Will Sherwood, to devise a scheme to sell the drugs using Bitcoin. They aim to stay undetected while making money.

The drugs accidentally nicknamed 'Lily' after an embarrassing incident involving Lily, gain popularity in the streets. Malcolm must now navigate his responsibilities while dealing with the escalating situation.

As Malcolm continues dealing with the drugs, his relationship with Nakia becomes strained. She accuses him of being just like the troublesome guys in her life, putting their budding romance in jeopardy.

In a moment of reflection, Malcolm begins writing a college essay that presents two contrasting sides of himself. He poses a thought-provoking question: 'Which student do you think I am?'

The story culminates on prom night, where Malcolm and Nakia reconcile their differences. Their bittersweet farewell marks a pivotal moment in Malcolm's journey, full of hope for the future.

Returning home, Malcolm finds an important envelope from Harvard, filled with anticipation. This moment signifies the potential for a new beginning in his life as his journey comes full circle.

With a knowing smile aimed at the audience, Malcolm reflects on his challenges and victories throughout his tumultuous experience. His journey encapsulates the struggles of youth and the promise of redemption.