Black history films are deeply woven into the fabric of American cinema and television. From Academy Award winners to cult classics, these films shine a spotlight on Black voices, struggles, triumphs, and culture. Whether you’re a history buff or just looking for a great movie night, this list features stunning performances. You will also find stories that define generations—Black history and the films that made history.
Don’t hesitate to sound off in the comments if I missed your favorite Black history films. I’ll work on updating this to keep the list going.
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Slave Stories
- 12 Years a Slave (2013) – Starring Chiwetel Ejiofor, Lupita Nyong’o, and Michael Fassbender, this Best Picture winner tells the harrowing true story of Solomon Northup, a free Black man kidnapped and sold into slavery.
- Amistad (1997) – Directed by Steven Spielberg, starring Djimon Hounsou and Morgan Freeman, this courtroom drama centers on the 1839 slave ship mutiny.
- Glory (1989) – Featuring an Oscar-winning performance from Denzel Washington, this Civil War epic follows the first all-Black regiment in the Union Army.
- Django Unchained (2012) – Quentin Tarantino’s Western thriller stars Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz, and Leonardo DiCaprio, reimagining a former slave’s revenge tale.
- Beloved (1998) – Starring Oprah Winfrey and Danny Glover, this haunting drama, based on Toni Morrison’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, explores the scars of slavery.
- Harriet (2019) – Cynthia Erivo stars as Harriet Tubman in this thrilling biopic about her escape from slavery and work on the Underground Railroad.
- The Birth of a Nation (2016) – Nate Parker directs and stars in this retelling of Nat Turner’s 1831 slave rebellion.
Early to Mid 1900s
- Rosewood (1997) – A harrowing account of the 1923 massacre, starring Ving Rhames and Don Cheadle.
- The Color Purple (1985 & 2023) – The classic, starring Whoopi Goldberg, Oprah Winfrey, and Danny Glover, returns in 2023 with Fantasia Barrino and Taraji P. Henson in a star-studded musical remake.
- Fences (2016) – Featuring Denzel Washington and Viola Davis, this adaptation of August Wilson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play tells the story of a former Negro League baseball player grappling with personal and societal struggles in 1950s Pittsburgh.
- The Banker (2020) – Anthony Mackie and Samuel L. Jackson portray two entrepreneurs fighting for economic justice in the 1960s.
- Bessie (2015) – Queen Latifah stuns as the legendary blues singer Bessie Smith.
- Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (2020) – Featuring an Oscar-nominated performance from Viola Davis and the late Chadwick Boseman, this film adapts August Wilson’s play about the blues queen.
- The Cotton Club (1984) – Richard Gere and Gregory Hines star in this Harlem Renaissance gangster drama.
Civil Rights Era
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- Till (2022) – Danielle Deadwyler gives an Oscar-worthy performance as Mamie Till, fighting for justice after the lynching of her son, Emmett.
- Selma (2014) – David Oyelowo leads this Oscar-winning retelling of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s historic 1965 marches.
- Malcolm X (1992) – Denzel Washington delivers one of his best performances as the fiery civil rights leader in Spike Lee’s biopic.
- The Butler (2013) – Forest Whitaker and Oprah Winfrey lead this sweeping film spanning decades of White House history.
- Hidden Figures (2016) – Starring Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, and Janelle Monáe, this uplifting drama follows the true story of three Black female mathematicians at NASA who played a crucial role in launching astronaut John Glenn into orbit.
- Mississippi Burning (1988) – Gene Hackman and Willem Dafoe investigate the real-life murders of civil rights activists.
- One Night in Miami (2020) – Kingsley Ben-Adir, Aldis Hodge, Leslie Odom Jr., and Eli Goree portray an imagined meeting of four icons—Malcolm X, Muhammad Ali, Jim Brown, and Sam Cooke.
- 42 (2013) – The late Chadwick Boseman shines as baseball legend Jackie Robinson.
Modern True Stories & Cult Classics
- Do the Right Thing (1989) – Spike Lee’s timeless classic starring Lee, Danny Aiello, and Rosie Perez, tackling race and gentrification in Brooklyn.
- Boyz n the Hood (1991) – Featuring an Oscar-nominated performance by Cuba Gooding Jr., this John Singleton classic follows three childhood friends growing up in South Central L.A.
- Menace II Society (1993) – Starring Tyrin Turner, Larenz Tate, and Jada Pinkett Smith, this raw and gripping coming-of-age crime drama follows a young man navigating the dangerous streets of South Central Los Angeles. A cult classic of the 1990s, the film delivers a stark, unflinching look at systemic violence and survival.
- Fruitvale Station (2013) – Michael B. Jordan delivers a heartbreaking portrayal of Oscar Grant’s final hours.
- Moonlight (2016) – This Best Picture Oscar winner features Mahershala Ali in a moving coming-of-age story.
- Get Out (2017) – Daniel Kaluuya earned an Oscar nomination for Jordan Peele’s breakout horror film on racial tensions.
- Black Panther (2018) – Chadwick Boseman, Lupita Nyong’o, and Michael B. Jordan power this cultural phenomenon and Marvel blockbuster.
- Judas and the Black Messiah (2021) – Lakeith Stanfield and Daniel Kaluuya dramatize Fred Hampton’s assassination.
- The Woman King (2022) – Viola Davis transforms into a fierce African warrior leading an all-female army.
- They Cloned Tyrone (2023) – John Boyega, Jamie Foxx, and Teyonah Parris lead this stylish sci-fi mystery.
Musicals and Biopics
- Ray (2004) – Jamie Foxx won an Academy Award for his stunning portrayal of music legend Ray Charles.
- Dreamgirls (2006) – Featuring Beyoncé, Jennifer Hudson, Jamie Foxx, and Eddie Murphy, this hit musical follows the rise of a Motown girl group inspired by The Supremes.
- What’s Love Got to Do with It (1993) – Angela Bassett and Laurence Fishburne star in this electrifying biopic of Tina Turner.
- Cadillac Records (2008) – A look at Chess Records, starring Adrien Brody, Beyoncé, Jeffrey Wright, and Mos Def.
- Respect (2021) – Jennifer Hudson delivers a powerhouse performance as the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin.
Honorable Mention:
- Sarafina! (1992) – Starring Leleti Khumalo, Whoopi Goldberg, and Miriam Makeba, this powerful musical drama follows a young girl in apartheid-era South Africa as she finds her voice in the fight for freedom. With an electrifying soundtrack and heartfelt performances, Sarafina! captures the resilience and revolutionary spirit of a generation.
Thanks for checking out my ultimate Black History films watchlist! Again, sound off in the comments if I missed your favorite. I’ll work on updating this to keep the list going.
