“The Citizen Kane
of kung-fu pimpin’ movies”
Fans of comedy, hip hop, punk rock, and independent film consider him both a hero and a spokesperson for the independent spirit.
He’s known throughout the music industry as “The Godfather of Rap” and “King of the Party Records”, but it is his incredible set of films that defined him and brought him to ever widening audiences.
“Dolemite” is pioneering comedian Rudy Ray Moore’s iconic, fly-clothes-wearing, baddass, Black action-hero with his own unbending set of principles.
The character and the films have as large a status in Black America and the hip hop world as that of a major comic book; and have now been embraced by new generations of wider audiences attracted by its inherent authenticity, its timeless coolness, and rare blend of action, comedy, and kitsch.
“These films are indescribably wonderful”
Rudy Ray Moore’s Dolemite character has been a major figure in the Black Community for over 50 years.
….It started to gain notice among young, white audiences 30 years ago, following the spread of Hip-Hop, Gangster Rap, and cult movies…
….and has become firmly entrenched with the comic-book-reading, action-film-going youth of today.
All this has happened without ever losing the original fan base nor one ounce of its plentiful authenticity.
“’Stead of them kickin’ US in the ass, I’m kickin’ THEM in the ass”
Rudy Ray Moore on his groundbreaking film “Dolemite”
A short time ago, long time fan Eddie Murphy is starring as Rudy Ray Moore in Netflix’s “DOLEMITE IS MY NAME”.
Joining Murphy is a who’s-who of Rudy Ray Moore fans: Wesley Snipes, Craig Robinson, Titus Burgess, Chris Rock, Snoop Dogg, Keegan-Michael Key, and Bob Odenkirk. The end result premiered at the Toronto Film Festival to standing ovations, and will be released theatrically before moving on to the Netflix service. Oscar™ talk is in the air.
Many of the events in the film come directly from Xenon’s documentary film “The Legend of Dolemite”, and it also pulls heavily from the “Dolemite” sequel. “The Human Tornado”.
Some of the promotional material from NETFLIX’s “Dolemite is my Name” starring Eddie Murphy, Wesley Snipes, Craig Robinson, Snoop Dogg and more!
Rudy Ray Moore’s DOLEMITE has been a crossover cultural phenomenon for decades…
Eddie Murphy and DOLEMITE IS MY NAME took the original, and Rudy Ray Moore’s follow-up films’ popularity to untold levels for years to come.
The Films
and — in development— from the Oscar™ nominated writer of “Straight Outta Compton”
The Rights
Xenon Pictures has been the home of Rudy Ray Moore’s legacy for nearly four decades. Beginning in the mid-1980s, we worked directly with Moore to distribute his original classics Dolemite, The Human Tornado, Petey Wheatsraw and Disco Godfather, and to produce both a biographical documentary and a concert film that captured his unique voice and vision. Prior to his passing in 2008, Moore entrusted Xenon with his life’s work, and we secured all rights, title, and interest to his films, characters, dialogue, and related properties. As the exclusive rights holder and longtime creative partner, Xenon is uniquely positioned to both honor and expand the Dolemite legacy for a new generation.
Dolemite | The Human Tornado | Petey Wheatstraw | Disco Godfather | Eat Out More Often (aka Rude) | The Legend of Dolemite
Dolemite
The Human Tornado
Petey Wheatstraw
Disco Godfather
Eat Out More Often (aka Rude)
The Legend of Dolemite
Xenon controls the Rudy Ray Moore / Dolemite film properties as a broad entertainment-rights package, not merely as catalog distribution titles. The rights include the copyrights and renewals, together with the ability to develop, license, distribute, sublicense, merchandise, adapt, remake, sequel, reboot, spin off, and otherwise exploit the properties and their associated titles, characters, music, trademarks, name-and-likeness elements, and ancillary rights across all media, platforms, formats, territories, and fields of use, worldwide and in perpetuity.
Rudy Ray Moore: Live at Wetlands
The title is co-owned by the Estate of Rudy Ray Moore and the producer, with Xenon holding licensed distribution rights from both parties on an effectively perpetual basis.
The Dolemite Explosion
A later Rudy Ray Moore / Dolemite-related production built around the Dolemite character and underlying IP now owned by Xenon. Xenon was involved early in the project and retains long-term distribution control of the film.
Materials
Beyond the rights themselves, Xenon holds a deep legacy archive connected to these properties — original and intermediate film elements, negatives, interpositives, release prints, trailers, vintage ads, posters, key art, stills, video masters, packaging materials, promotional materials, and decades of collected ephemera.
Xenon also has 2K masters of the vintage features, giving the library immediate practical value for modern distribution, restoration, reissue, deluxe physical editions, streaming, documentary use, books, merchandise, collectibles, marketing campaigns, and future projects that can draw directly from the authentic visual and historical record of the Rudy Ray Moore / Dolemite universe.
Here are a few we’ve kicked around…
CASINO GAMES
(Rudy was an avid poker player, the Video Poker idea would be built on a fully interactive animation of Rudy and would use his voice.)
BEVERAGES
GAMING APPS
“ADULT SWIM” TYPE SATURDAY MORNING CARTOON SATIRE
Xenon’s Rudy Ray Moore and Dolemite holdings represent precisely the kind of iconic, culturally significant legacy IP that has never been fully developed relative to its recognition and influence. With deep roots in comedy, music, film, street culture, and independent Black entertainment, these holding offer substantial untapped potential across film, television, apparel, gaming, spirits, digital media, collectibles, and broader lifestyle licensing.
Xenon has served as a long-term steward of these assets, preserving the films, materials, artwork, trailers, masters, and related rights while the broader commercial possibilities have remained largely unrealized. With the right strategic partner, this is not simply a catalog opportunity, but a rare platform for revitalizing and expanding one of the most culturally resonant franchises in history.
All content © Xenon Pictures, Inc. All rights reserved.