The film follows four close friends living in Los Angeles: Stony (played by Jada Pinkett Smith), Cleo (played by Queen Latifah), Frankie (played by Vivica A. Fox), and Tisean (played by Kimberly Elise). All four women are struggling with poverty, dead-end jobs, and the oppressive conditions of their inner-city neighborhood.
When Tisean is fired from her job as a bank teller due to a misunderstanding involving a security guard’s sexual harassment, the women are pushed to their breaking point. Determined to take control of their own destinies and escape poverty, they decide to turn to a life of crime.
The group begins by robbing a local grocery store, using the money to pay off bills and provide for their families. However, they soon set their sights on bigger targets, including banks and armored trucks.
As they become more successful, the women’s criminal activities attract the attention of the police, led by Detective Strode (played by John C. McGinley). The pressure mounts as the women are pursued by law enforcement while also dealing with personal betrayals and conflicts within their group.
In the film’s climax, the women plan a daring heist to rob a federal bank. Despite their meticulous planning, the robbery goes awry when a security guard is killed. The women find themselves surrounded by police and engage in a dramatic shootout.
Tragically, all four women are killed in the ensuing gunfire. Their deaths are portrayed as a tragic consequence of the systemic injustices and poverty that drove them to a life of crime.
“Set It Off” is praised for its powerful performances, particularly by its four lead actresses, and its gritty portrayal of the struggles faced by African American women in inner-city America. It has become a cult classic and is celebrated for its exploration of themes of friendship, sisterhood, and the cycle of poverty and violence.