5 Things to Know About Bobby Womack's 'Across 110th Street' in Film

Quentin Tarantino used the song as the opening and closing track for Jackie Brown (1997). It sets the tone for the film’s 1970s blaxploitation homage.

Ridley Scott featured the same song in American Gangster (2007). The track plays during a key montage, reinforcing the film’s gritty crime narrative.

Both directors chose the song for its thematic resonance. The lyrics about struggle and survival fit stories of crime and redemption.

The song was originally written for the 1972 film of the same name. It was not a hit at the time but gained cult status through these later uses.

Tarantino’s use is more iconic and memorable. Jackie Brown made the song a signature piece of its soundtrack, while Scott’s use is more functional.