Marlon Wayans Reveals His Top Wayans Family Film

When it comes to famous families in showbiz, the Wayans clan is hard to beat. Marlon Wayans, known for his work on sitcoms and in comedy, is just one of many talented siblings. His brother Shawn starred alongside him in The Wayans Brothers, Damon Sr made his mark on Saturday Night Live, Damon Jr popped up in New Girl, Kim is a sharp impressionist, and Dwayne has written and composed for the screen. And that’s just scratching the surface.

Among this creative bunch, Keenen Ivory Wayans stands out as the trailblazer. He was the first to really crack the industry, opening doors for the rest of the family. Keenen’s best known for directing Scary Movie, which for a while held the record as the highest-earning film by a Black director in the US, and kicked off a franchise that just kept going. He’s also picked up an Emmy and inspired his younger siblings, especially Marlon.

Family Inspiration and Early Days

In a chat about his top five films, Marlon gave a nod to one of Keenen’s early works. He singled out I’m Gonna Git You Sucka, a project he’d been involved with from the get-go.

“I was eight years old when Keenen sent me that script,” Marlon remembered. “I [had] never laughed so hard. It inspired me. I knew that was what I wanted to do. It’s really my number one – I mean, I think it’s crazy if I put my brother as number one. You’d think I was being biased, of which I probably am, but I’m not, because I really love that film and my brother. I think he’s a brilliant genius.”

Released in 1988, I’m Gonna Git You Sucka was written and directed by Keenen, who also took the lead role. The story follows a soldier returning home after his younger brother’s death, determined to take on a local crime boss. The film is a send-up of 1970s Blaxploitation flicks, mixing homage with a good dose of parody. While critics were split, the film struck a chord with Black audiences, who embraced its humour and style.

Launching a Legacy

For Marlon, who was just 16 when he made a quick cameo in the film, the experience was a turning point. It wasn’t just about being on set – it was about seeing what was possible when family backed each other and took creative risks. The film’s success was enough to catch the attention of Fox, who approached Keenen about developing a new show. His idea? A sketch comedy series with a Black cast, something like a local version of Saturday Night Live.

That idea became In Living Color, a programme that would launch the careers of not just more Wayans siblings, but also Jamie Foxx and a young Jim Carrey. The show became a cultural touchstone, known for its sharp humour and for giving a platform to fresh talent.

Personal and Professional Impact

Some might reckon it’s a bit much for Marlon to pick a film he was involved in as his favourite, but it’s hard to argue with the impact it had on him. If your brother wrote a script when you were a kid, managed to get it made, and then turned that into a groundbreaking career, you’d be pretty chuffed too. For Marlon, I’m Gonna Git You Sucka isn’t just a film – it’s a symbol of what’s possible when family sticks together and takes a punt on something new.