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Characters & Themes

Project Power (2020) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
2020 · 113 min · English
Echo score 60
JustWatch #4,812 19
Directed by
Ariel SchulmanHenry Joost
Starring
Dominique Fishback, Jamie Foxx, Allen Maldonado, Amy Landecker, Andrene Ward-Hammond, Casey Neistat
Budget
$85M

In New Orleans, the sudden appearance of a strange pill unleashes unpredictable superpowers among its users. Experiences vary widely, with some gaining incredible strength or invincibility, while others face dangerous side effects. As chaos erupts, a dedicated police officer, a resourceful street hustler, and a former soldier find themselves unexpectedly united. They must confront the shadowy organization responsible for the pill and work together to bring order back to the city, even if it means risking their lives.

On this page (8)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Characters explained (3)
  3. 3 Where & when it takes place
  4. 4 Themes & meaning (3)
  5. 5 Character & meaning questions
  6. 6 Movie threads
  7. 7 Movies like Project Power
  8. 8 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Project Power (2020)

Where can you watch Project Power? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Netflix and Netflix Standard: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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3 main characters · contains spoilers

Project Power Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of Project Power (2020), heroes and villains: what drives them, how they change over the course of the story and what each of them reveals about the film's bigger ideas.

  • Robin (Dominique Fishback)

    Robin is a resourceful and resilient teenager thrust into a perilous world due to the city's drug crisis. Her character exhibits courage as she navigates dangerous encounters while forming a bond with Art. She aspires to be a rapper, showing her creative ambitions alongside her fight for survival.

    • 🎤 Aspirations
    • 🏃‍♀️ Survival
  • Art (Jamie Foxx)

    Art is a determined and skilled individual on a mission to uncover the truth behind the Power epidemic. His troubled past and deep-seated motivations drive him to act as both a father and protector. Art's character reflects themes of redemption and sacrifice as he grapples with his extraordinary abilities.

    • 👮‍♂️ Vigilante
    • 💔 Redemption
  • Frank (Joseph Gordon-Levitt)

    Frank is an NOPD officer caught in a moral dilemma as he navigates his role in a corrupt system. His character evolves from compliance to resistance against the drug crisis after learning the truth behind Project Power. Frank's journey underscores the battle between duty and integrity.

    • 🚓 Law Enforcement
    • ⚖️ Morality

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 18:47

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Setting

Where and When Does Project Power Take Place?

The setting of Project Power (2020): the year and time period, the places and locations, and how they shape the characters, the mood and the tension of the story.

Time period

The movie unfolds in a contemporary setting, highlighting current social and urban issues, particularly related to crime and drug use. The narrative reflects themes of personal struggle against a backdrop of societal decay, which resonates with present-day realities.

Location

New Orleans

New Orleans is a vibrant and culturally rich city known for its unique blend of French, African, and Spanish influences. It's famous for its music scene, particularly jazz, and its festive atmosphere, especially during events like Mardi Gras. The city's distinct neighborhoods, like the French Quarter, showcase its historical architecture and lively spirit.

  • 🏙️ City
  • 🌊 Bayou

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 18:47

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3 major themes

Project Power Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is Project Power (2020) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Drug Crisis

    The film delves into the ramifications of drug culture and the quest for power through substance abuse. It portrays how the mysterious pill, Power, creates chaos in the lives of those who seek extraordinary abilities, highlighting the societal challenges posed by addiction and exploitation.

  • Family Bonds

    At its core, the movie emphasizes the importance of family ties and the lengths to which individuals will go to protect loved ones. Art's journey to save his daughter and Robin's commitment to helping her community reflect the strong familial bonds that drive characters forward amidst turmoil.

  • Empowerment

    Empowerment emerges as a central theme, illustrated through the characters who strive to harness their abilities. The film questions the ethics of power and manipulation, as well as the significance of choosing one's own path in life, ultimately showcasing personal growth and resilience.

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 18:47

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Character & theme questions

Project Power Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about Project Power (2020): who the characters really are, their relationships, what the symbols mean, where it takes place and what the movie is really about. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Where is Project Power set?

Project Power is set in New Orleans, a city known for its rich cultural blend of French, African, and Spanish influences. The film prominently features the French Quarter, showcasing its historical architecture and vibrant atmosphere, while also exploring the city's bayou areas.

  • new orleans
  • french quarter
  • setting
  • locations
  • bayou
Q2

When does Project Power take place?

Project Power is set in the present day, reflecting contemporary urban issues like crime and drug use. The narrative addresses current societal challenges, making the story feel relevant to modern audiences.

  • contemporary
  • modern
  • time period
  • present day
Q3

What is the Power pill in Project Power?

The Power pill is a mysterious drug that gives users unpredictable superpowers for five minutes. Some users gain incredible strength or invincibility, while others experience dangerous or fatal side effects. The pill has created chaos throughout New Orleans.

  • power pill
  • superpowers
  • drug
  • abilities
Q4

Who is Robin in Project Power?

Robin is a resourceful and resilient teenager played by Dominique Fishback. She's thrust into the dangerous world of the city's drug crisis and forms a bond with Art. Robin is an aspiring rapper, showing her creative ambitions alongside her fight for survival.

  • robin
  • dominique fishback
  • teenager
  • rapper
Q5

Who is Art in Project Power?

Art is a determined character played by Jamie Foxx who seeks to uncover the truth behind the Power epidemic. Driven by his troubled past and a mission to save his daughter, Art embodies themes of redemption and sacrifice as he grapples with his extraordinary abilities.

  • art
  • jamie foxx
  • father
  • redemption
Q6

Who is Frank in Project Power?

Frank is an NOPD officer played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt who finds himself in a moral dilemma within a corrupt system. His character evolves from compliance to resistance as he learns the truth about Project Power, highlighting the battle between duty and integrity.

  • frank
  • joseph gordon-levitt
  • police officer
  • nopd
Q7

What are the main themes in Project Power?

Project Power explores several major themes including the drug crisis and its societal impact, family bonds and the protection of loved ones, and empowerment through personal growth. The film questions the ethics of power, manipulation, and individual choice.

  • themes
  • drug crisis
  • family bonds
  • empowerment
  • meaning
Q8

How does Project Power handle the theme of family?

Family bonds are central to Project Power, exemplified by Art's mission to save his daughter and Robin's determination to survive for her future. The film shows how familial connections drive characters to risk everything amid turmoil, emphasizing the strong ties that motivate heroic actions.

  • family
  • father daughter
  • bonds
  • love
  • protection
Q9

What does empowerment mean in Project Power?

Empowerment in Project Power centers on characters striving to harness their abilities and choose their own paths. The film explores personal growth and resilience while questioning the ethics of power and manipulation, ultimately showcasing individuals taking control of their destinies.

  • empowerment
  • personal growth
  • power
  • resilience
  • choices
Q10

Is Project Power based on a true story?

Project Power is not based on a true story. It is a fictional science fiction action thriller that uses the conceit of a mysterious power-granting pill to explore contemporary issues like drug culture and urban crime.

  • based on true story
  • fiction
  • origin
Q11

What genre is Project Power?

Project Power is an action science fiction thriller with crime elements. It combines high-octane fight sequences and chase scenes with a dystopian premise about a mysterious pill that grants superpowers, all set against the backdrop of a city's drug crisis.

  • genre
  • action
  • sci-fi
  • thriller
  • crime

Movie threads

More Movies Like Project Power, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Project Power tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Ethical Sci-Fi Thrillers like Project Power

High-tech dangers tested on the streets, forcing heroes to confront the moral cost of power. If you liked the gritty, high-stakes world of Project Power, explore more movies like it. These urban sci-fi thrillers combine explosive action with thought-provoking questions about technology, power, and morality, often set against a dystopian city backdrop.

  • gritty
  • tense
  • urgent
  • dangerous
  • cynical
  • hopeful
  • Tone: dark, cynical, urgent
  • Pacing: fast, relentless
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Stories typically unfold with the introduction of a dangerous new technology or substance into a vulnerable urban population. A reluctant hero or group is forced to confront the powerful entity behind it, leading to a high-stakes conflict where personal sacrifice and moral lines are tested amidst intense action sequences.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped by their shared core of a sci-fi premise grounded in a tangible, often decaying urban world. They mix high-intensity action with a dark, cynical tone and a heavy emotional weight derived from themes of exploitation and sacrifice, creating a distinct, propulsive viewing experience.

Movies about Unlikely Alliances like Project Power

A cop, a soldier, and a hustler walk into a conspiracy. They might be the only hope. Fans of the team dynamic in Project Power will enjoy these films. Discover movies where a cop, a soldier, and a civilian must form a reluctant partnership to battle a formidable foe, filled with tense action and character-driven drama.

  • tense
  • urgent
  • hopeful
  • traumatic
  • dangerous
  • gritty
  • Tone: dark, bittersweet, urgent
  • Pacing: fast, character-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern centers on a crisis that forces a law enforcement officer, a morally grey expert, and a figure with a military or traumatic past into a temporary alliance. Their journey involves overcoming mutual distrust, leveraging their specific talents, and facing personal demons to achieve a shared, desperate goal against a superior force.

Why they belong together: This grouping is defined by a specific character archetype dynamic and the resulting narrative tension. The films share a fast pace driven by the urgency of the mission, a heavy emotional weight from the characters' sacrifices, and a bittersweet tone as the alliance is tested to its limits.

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Movies Like Project Power

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Every angle

Project Power (2020) Explained: Plot, Ending, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Project Power in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning, the ending explained and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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